JP3530454B2 - Recording and playback device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing device capable of recording and reproducing a television broadcast signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic program guide (EPG: Electronic Program G) in which a broadcast time, a program name, a genre name, performers, etc. are stored in a television broadcast signal.
guide, hereinafter referred to as “EPG information”. ) Is multiplexed and transmitted. When the recording / reproducing apparatus receives the television broadcast signal in which the EPG information is multiplexed, the EPG information is separated from the television broadcast signal and stored in the EPG database storage device via the EPG database creating device. Then, the EPG information is displayed on the display device via the reservation selection device, and the user selects a program to be recorded from the program names displayed on the display device to make a recording reservation.

Then, the EPG of the program reserved for recording
The information is converted into a timer reservation command for the recording device by the recording control device, and when the recording start time is reached by the time information from the timer, the recording device specifies the tuner and starts recording.

[0004]

However, in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus, the EPG information is used only for the reservation of the program. That is, the EPG information corresponding to the program is extracted by selecting the program name displayed on the display device, and the recording of the program is started based on the broadcast start time included in the EPG information. Therefore, when the user manually records the program, the EPG information is not used, and if the user wants to record the program, he / she inputs "record start" to the recording / reproducing apparatus, and if the broadcast ends, ""Recordingend" must be input to the recording / playback apparatus, which is complicated.

Further, when a call comes in while watching a program and the program cannot be continuously watched, conventionally, when the call comes in, a "record start" is instructed to record. I was watching the recorded program after the end. Therefore, even if the call ends, it is inconvenient because the program cannot be viewed retroactively at the time when the call comes in immediately. Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem, and even when the user manually records, the recording end time can be automatically set if the “recording start” is indicated even if the user does not instruct the “recording end”. The purpose is to provide a device.

Further, according to the present invention, even when it is necessary to stop watching a program for some reason, when the cause of the cancellation is gone, the recording / playback can be traced back to the time of the cancellation. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0007]

[Effect of the unit and the invention for solving the problems] The present onset
Ming is a recording / playback apparatus for receiving a television broadcast signal in which an EPG including at least a broadcast time is multiplexed, and recording and playing back the television broadcast signal, the EPG database storage device, the EPG search device, and the recording / playback device. It is a recording and reproducing device including and.

The EPG database storage device stores the EPG separated from the television broadcast signal as a database. Further, the EPG search device searches the EPG database storage device for the EPG of the program currently being broadcast based on the recording instruction from the user, and detects the end time of the program currently being broadcast from the searched EPG.

Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus starts recording of the television broadcast signal currently being broadcast on the recording medium based on the recording instruction from the user, and the recording medium based on the end time detected by the EPG searching apparatus. The recording of the television broadcast signal in the recording medium is ended, and the recorded television broadcast signal is reproduced from the recording medium based on the reproduction instruction from the user.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention ,
When the TV broadcast signal with the EPG multiplexed therein is received by the recording / playback apparatus, the EPG is separated from the TV broadcast signal, and E
It is stored in the PG database storage device. When the user gives a recording instruction, the EPG of the program currently being broadcast is displayed.
Is searched from the EPG database storage device, and the end time of the program currently being broadcast is detected from the searched EPG. Then, the recording / reproducing apparatus starts recording the program on the basis of the instruction from the user, ends the recording on the basis of the detected end time, and, if there is a reproducing instruction from the user, records the television broadcast signal from the recording medium. To play.

Therefore, according to the present invention , even when a user manually records a program, the recording can be ended based on the end time of the program included in the EPG, which is convenient. Also, the user can watch the recorded program when he or she wants to. The invention according to claim 1 is a recording / reproducing apparatus for receiving a television broadcast signal in which an EPG including at least a broadcast time is multiplexed and recording and reproducing the television broadcast signal, the EPG database storage device and the EPG search device. And a recording / reproducing apparatus.

The EPG database storage device stores the EPG separated from the television broadcast signal as a database. Further, the EPG search device searches the EPG database storage device for the EPG of the program currently being broadcast based on the recording instruction from the user, and detects the end time of the program currently being broadcast from the searched EPG.

Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus starts recording of the television broadcast signal currently being broadcast on the recording medium based on the recording instruction from the user, and based on the end time detected by the EPG searching apparatus, the recording medium. The recording of the television broadcast signal to the recording medium is finished, and the television broadcast signal recorded from the recording medium is reproduced based on the reproduction instruction from the user while the program is being recorded .

In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the television broadcasting signal multiplexed with the EPG is received by the recording / reproducing apparatus, the EPG is separated from the television broadcasting signal and stored in the EPG database storage device. It When the user gives a recording instruction, the EPG of the currently broadcast program is searched from the EPG database storage device, and the end time of the currently broadcast program is detected from the searched EPG. Then, the recording / reproducing apparatus starts recording the program based on the instruction from the user, ends the recording based on the detected end time, and records the program.
If there is a reproduction instruction from the user during the period , the recorded television broadcast signal is reproduced from the recording medium.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, even when the user manually records a program, the EP
It is convenient because the recording can be ended based on the ending time of the program included in G. Also, the user is recording the program
You can see the program dating back to the time of starting the recording in the middle. Also, recording the invention according to claim 2, in the recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, the recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising a recording head, a multiplexer / demultiplexer, and 2 system line, and a control circuit It is a playback device.

The recording / reproducing head records and reproduces a television broadcast signal on a recording medium. The multiplexer / demultiplexer encodes and decodes the television broadcast signal. The two lines have one end connected to the multiplexer / demultiplexer and the other end connected to the recording / reproducing head.

Further, the control circuit encodes the television broadcast signal based on the recording instruction from the user, and records the encoded television broadcast signal on the recording medium via one of the two lines. , A multiplexer / demultiplexer for reproducing a television broadcast signal recorded from a recording medium through the other line of the two systems based on a reproduction instruction from a user and decoding the reproduced television broadcast signal. To control.

[0018] In the recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, based on the recording instruction from the user, the multiplexer / demultiplexer, encodes the received television broadcast signal, one of the lines of the two systems lines The encoded television broadcast signal is transmitted to the recording / reproducing head through the recording / reproducing head. Then, the recording / reproducing head records the transmitted television broadcast signal on the recording medium. While recording the program
When there is a reproduction instruction from the user, the recording / reproducing head reproduces the television broadcast signal recorded on the recording medium, and the reproduced television broadcast signal is transmitted to the multiplexer / demultiplexer via the other line of the two lines. And is decoded by the multiplexer / demultiplexer.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 2 , while recording a certain program, the already recorded portion can be reproduced. As a result, even if the watching of the program is stopped during the broadcast, when the cause of the stopping disappears, the program can be viewed retroactively to the time of the stopping.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention,
Antenna 1, tuner 2, data separation device 3, display selection device 4, display device 5, EPG database creation device 6, EPG database storage device 7, and EPG
Search device 8, reservation selection device 9, and recording control device 10
And a recording / reproducing device 11, a timer 12, and a user instruction device 13.

The antenna 1 receives a television broadcast signal. An EPG that stores information such as a broadcast time, a program name, a genre name, and performers is multiplexed on the television broadcast signal. The tuner 2 selects a television broadcast signal corresponding to the program selected by the user from the television broadcast signals received by the antenna 1 and outputs it to the data separation device 3. The data separation device 3 separates the EPG from the television broadcast signal, outputs the EPG to the EPG database creation device 6, and outputs the television broadcast signal from which the EPG has been removed to the display selection device 4 and the recording / reproducing device 10. The display selection device 4 selects the EPG input from the reservation selection device 9 and the program input from the recording / playback device 11, and outputs the selected program to the display device 5. The display device 5 displays the EPG or program selected by the display selection device 4.

The EPG database creating device 6 is an EPG database
A database is created on the basis of information such as broadcast programs, program names, genre names, performers, etc. included in, and the created database is output to the EPG database storage device 7. The EPG database storage device 7 stores the input database. When the user issues a recording instruction to the recording / reproducing device 11 via the user instruction device 13, the EPG search device 8 uses the channel number being recorded and the current time as keywords from the EPG database storage device 7,
The EPG corresponding to the program being recorded is searched, and the end time of the program being recorded is detected from the searched EPG. Then, the detected end time is output to the recording control device 10.

The reservation selection device 9 takes out the EPG from the EPG database storage device 7 and outputs it to the display selection device 4 and the recording control device 9 when the user gives an instruction through the user instruction device 13. The recording control device 10 controls the recording / reproducing device 11 based on the EPG from the reservation selecting device 9. Further, when the end time of the program is input from the EPG search device 8, the recording control device 10 ends the recording of the program based on the input end time. When the user gives a recording instruction of a program through the user instruction device 13, the recording / reproducing device 11 gives the recording instruction to the EPG search device 8.
Output to and start recording the program. And E
The end time detected by the PG search device 8 is the recording control device 1
When it is input via 0, the recording of the program is ended based on the time information input from the timer 12. In addition, the recording / reproduction device 11 reproduces the recorded program and outputs it to the display selection device 4 when a reproduction instruction is given from the user via the user instruction device 13.

The timer 12 outputs time information to the recording / reproducing device 11. The user instruction device 13 outputs the user instruction to the reservation selection device 9 and the recording / reproducing device 11.
2, the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 includes an A / D converter 110, an MPEG2 video encoder 111, an audio encoder 112, a multiplexer / demultiplexer 113, buffers 114 and 115, and an HD.
A D controller module 116, an HDD 117,
System controller 118 and audio decoder 1
19, an MPEG2 video decoder 120, and a D / A converter 121. In FIG. 2, signal lines shown by thick lines are signal lines showing the flow of video and / or audio data, and signal lines shown by thin lines are the signal lines showing the flow of control signals.

The A / D converter 110 converts the video signal and the audio signal of the analog TV broadcast signal from which the EPG is removed, which is input from the data separation device 3, into a digital signal, and the digital video signal is sent to the MPEG2 video encoder 111. At the same time, the digital audio signal is given to the audio encoder 112. The MPEG2 video encoder 111 compresses the supplied digital video signal and supplies it to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113, and the audio encoder 112 compresses the supplied digital audio signal and supplies it to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113. The multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 multiplexes the supplied video signal stream and audio signal stream and converts them into an MPEG2 system stream.

In this recording / reproducing apparatus, a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 117 having a built-in hard disk as an example of a randomly accessible recording medium,
It is detachably attached. In the following description, the single HDD 117 itself is regarded as a writable / readable recording medium for convenience. The writing of data to the HDD 117 and the reading of data from the HDD 117 are
It is executed by the HDD controller module 116 as described later.

Between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 described above and the HDD controller module 116, there is provided a first data bus including the buffer memory 114 on the way and a second data bus including the buffer memory 115 on the way. 2 channels of data channels are provided. Therefore, as will be described later, MPEG2 system stream data is exchanged between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 and the HDD controller module 116 via the buffer memories 114 and 115.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 113
Is received from the buffer memories 114 and 115.
The PEG2 system stream is demultiplexed into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream, and the former is given to the MPEG2 video decoder 120 and the latter is given to the audio decoder 119. The MPEG2 video decoder 120 decodes the supplied video signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 121, and the audio decoder 119 decodes the supplied audio signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 121. The D / A converter 121 converts each of the supplied signals into an analog signal and supplies the display selection device 4 with an analog television broadcast signal including a video signal and an audio signal.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 113
The operation of the HDD system controller 116 is controlled by a control signal provided from the system controller 118. The basic operation principle of recording, reproducing, erasing, etc. of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described later in detail in relation to the file format of the recording medium (hard disk in the embodiment) used in the present invention. First, regarding the characteristic operation of the present invention, FIG.
Will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3 and the timing diagrams of FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording / reproducing apparatus has M
One system of PEG2 encoding circuit (MPEG2 video encoder 111) and one system of MPEG2 decoding circuit (MPEG2 video decoder 120) are provided, and it is possible to simultaneously operate these two systems while maintaining real-time performance. It is a thing. [Normal Recording Function] First, FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the recording operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

At the time of normal (timer) recording, for example, the user can select the channel of the television program to be recorded, the recording start time,
The recording end time is set by operating the user instruction device 13. For example, if channel 1 is set to record from 8 pm to 10 pm, system controller 118 assigns tuner 2 to channel 1 at 8 pm based on the information from timer 12, and tuner 2 Is channel 1 from the signal wave received by antenna 1.
Select the signal radio wave of and demodulate.

The demodulated signal is E
The PG is removed, and the A / D converter 11 is used as described above.
0, an MPEG2 video encoder 111, an audio encoder 111, and a multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to be converted into an MPEG2 system stream. The system controller 118 selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 114, and accordingly, the MPEG2 system stream passes through the buffer memory 114 to the HDD controller module 11.
Given to 6. HDD controller module 116
Writes data to the HDD 117 using an interface command with the HDD 117.

In FIG. 3, (a) shows the time axis,
(B) shows the write processing time from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to the buffer memory 114, and (c).
Indicates the write processing time from the buffer memory 114 to the HDD 117 via the HDD controller module 116. Multiplexer / demultiplexer 113
The MPEG2 system stream formed in 1 is constantly sent to the buffer memory 114 provided in the first data bus at the bit rate of the system stream.

The amount of data in the buffer memory 114 is H
The data is monitored by the DD controller module 116, and when the data amount exceeds a certain threshold value, a process of writing the data amount corresponding to the threshold value into the HDD 117 is performed. Since the writing speed to the HDD 117 is higher than the bit rate of the system stream,
The write processing time to the HDD 117 by the controller module 116 is short. That is, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 is activated at the time indicated by the thick line in FIG.
Amount of data transferred from the buffer memory 114 to
The amount of data transmitted from the buffer memory 114 to the HDD 117 at the time indicated by the thick line in (c) is the same.

In this way, the recording of channel 1 is performed from 8 pm to 10 pm, and the recording ends at 10 pm. [Normal Playback Function] FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the playback operation of the digital recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

During normal reproduction, for example, the user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct reproduction of a desired title. The system controller 118 responds to the HD
For the D controller module 116, the HDD 11
It is instructed to read the data of the desired title from 7. At this time, the system controller 118 selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 114, and accordingly, the data read from the HDD 117 passes through the HDD controller module 116 and the buffer memory 114 to the multiplexer / decoder. It is transferred to the multiplexer 113.

In FIG. 4, (a) shows the time axis,
(B) shows data read from the HDD 117 via the HDD controller module 116 to the buffer memory 1
14 shows the processing time for writing to the memory 14, and (c) shows the processing time for writing from the buffer memory 114 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113. System controller 1
When the reproduction start is instructed by 18, the HDD controller module 116 performs a process of reading data from the HDD 117 and writing the data in the buffer memory 114. At this time, the HDD controller module 116 monitors the data amount of the buffer memory 114, and when the data amount becomes less than or equal to a certain threshold value, a certain amount of data is stored in the HDD 11
7 and write to the buffer memory 114.

The writing of data from the buffer memory 114 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 is constantly performed at the bit rate of the system stream. Since the read speed from the HDD 117 is higher than the bit rate of the MPEG2 system stream, the HD
The processing time for writing data to the buffer memory 114 by the D controller module 116 is short.

That is, the amount of data transferred from the HDD 117 to the buffer memory 114 at the time shown by the thick line in FIG. 4B, and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 11 from the buffer memory 114 at the time shown by the thick line in FIG. 4C.
3 is the same as the amount of data transferred. The video signal and audio signal demultiplexed by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 are sent to the MPEG2 video decoder 120 and the audio decoder 119, respectively.

Then, as described above, the video signal decoded by the MPEG2 video decoder 120 and the audio signal decoded by the audio decoder 119 are D / A.
It is converted into an analog television signal by the converter 121 and reproduced and displayed on the display device 5 via the display selection device 4. [Chase Playback Function] FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for explaining the so-called chasing playback function of the recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

The so-called "chase playback" means a function of simultaneously playing back recorded programs while recording television broadcasting. For example, if the user is watching a program on channel 1 from 8 pm to 10 pm and a call comes in at 9 pm, a recording instruction is given to record the program being watched. ,
The system controller 118 designates the tuner 2 as the channel 1, and the tuner 2 selects and demodulates the signal radio wave of the channel 1 from the signal radio waves received by the antenna 1.

The demodulated signal is E
With the PG removed, as described above, the A / D converter 11
0, an MPEG2 video encoder 111, an audio encoder 112, and a multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to be converted into an MPEG2 system stream. At this point, since the two data buses are not used, the system controller 118
Selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 114, and accordingly, the MPEG2 system stream is transferred from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to the HDD controller module 116 via the buffer memory 114. The HDD controller module 116 writes data to the HDD 117 by using an interface command with the HDD 117.

The user finishes the call and goes to the TV station at 9 pm
When the user returns to the hour 30 minutes and wants to see the title of the channel 1 being recorded from 9 pm, the user instruction device 13 is operated to instruct the reproduction of the title being recorded. In response to this, the system controller 118 instructs the HDD controller module 116 to read the title being recorded from the HDD 117.

At this time, since the first data bus via the buffer memory 114 is already used between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 and the HDD controller module 116, the second data bus via the buffer memory 115 is used. The system controller 118 instructs the use. The data read from the HDD 117 is stored in the HDD controller module 116,
It is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 via the buffer memory 115.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 113
Demultiplexes the MPEG2 system stream received from the buffer memory 115 into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream, and the former is MPEG.
The second video decoder 120 and the latter are supplied to the audio decoder 119. The MPEG2 video decoder 120
Decodes a given video signal stream and performs D / A
The audio decoder 119 is provided to the converter 121.
Decodes the given audio signal stream and
/ A converter 121. D / A converter 12
Reference numeral 1 converts each of the given signals into an analog signal, and gives an analog television broadcast signal consisting of a video signal and an audio signal to the display device 5 via the display selection device 4.
The display device 5 reproduces and displays the given television broadcast signal.

In the case of this chasing playback, the HDD controller module 116 alternately outputs the two MPEG2 system streams in units of a fixed length.
Writing / reading is performed for 17. That is,
While the channel 1 system stream data is being read from the HDD 117 and being written in the buffer memory 115, the channel 1 system stream generated by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 is accumulated in the buffer memory 114.

On the other hand, the system stream data of channel 1 is read from the buffer memory 114 and the HDD 117 is read.
During writing, the system stream data of channel 1 accumulated in the buffer memory 115 is supplied to the MPEG2 video decoder 120 and the audio decoder 119 via the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113.

The chasing playback operation using these two channels will be described in more detail with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 5, (a) shows a time axis,
(B) shows the write processing time from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to the buffer memory 114,
(C) shows the write processing time from the buffer memory 114 to the HDD 117 via the HDD controller module 116, and (d) shows the data read from the HDD 117 via the HDD controller module 116 and written to the buffer memory 115. Shows the processing time, (e) is
The write processing time from the buffer memory 115 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 is shown.

When the start of recording is instructed, the recording process described with reference to FIG. 3 is performed. After that, when the reproduction start is instructed, the reproduction process described with reference to FIG. 4 is performed. At that time, both the writing process from the buffer memory 114 and the reading process for transferring to the buffer memory 115 are performed on the HDD 117. Adjustment of these two processes is performed by the HDD controller module 116.

Specifically, in FIG. 5, when the reproduction is started, the HDD 1
Since 17 is in a usable state, a process of reading data from HDD 117 and writing it in buffer memory 115 is performed. While this process is being performed, the amount of data in the buffer memory 114 exceeds the threshold value, and the HDD 117
It is conceivable that writing to is required. However, in this case, since the HDD 117 is in use, writing is waited until the processing is completed.

When the reading of the data from the HDD 117 is completed, the writing process from the buffer memory 114 is started. On the contrary, if the HDD 117 is in use at the start of reproduction, the process of reading the data from the HDD 117 and writing the data in the buffer memory 115 is performed until the HDD 117 becomes available. As described above, from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the recording of channel 1 and the reproduction of the title of channel 1 being recorded are simultaneously performed. EPG
Recording of channel 1 ends at 10 pm based on the end time of the program from the search device 8, and reproduction of the title recorded at 10:30 pm ends.

In this chasing playback as well, since data is transferred at high speed between the HDD controller module 116 and the HDD 117, two buffer memories 1 are used.
Only by providing 14 and 115, real-time recording / reproduction of two MPEG2 system streams can be realized. The HDD controller module 116 determines the capacity of each buffer memory and the unit block length of writing / reading that is necessary to prevent the buffer memories from becoming empty during reproduction.
Transfer rate between HDD and HDD 117, and HD
It can be calculated from the worst value of the seek time of D117.

[Capacity of Buffer Memory] Next, as described above, the capacity C of the buffer memory, the unit block length L of writing / reading, and the HDD controller necessary for simultaneously handling a plurality of stream data in real time. The relationship between the worst case data transfer rate Bhdd between the module 116 and the HDD 117, the MPEG2 system stream rate Bsys, and the worst value Tw of the seek time of the HDD 117 will be described in detail.

However, the worst value Tw of the seek time is
For error correction such as seek time, rotation waiting time, head switching time, ECC / EDC, etc. that takes from the start of seek to the actual writing / reading of data, not just the time required for merely seeking the head. This is the time that takes into consideration all the worst values of the group delay such as the time required. When the number of streams to be processed at the same time is N, in order to maintain the real-time property of all streams, it is necessary to satisfy the following formula.

Bhdd × Ts> N × (Tw + Ts) × Bsys (1) where Ts is the time required to write / read the unit block length L of writing / reading to / from the HDD 117, and Ts. = L / Bhdd In the above equation (1), in the case of reading (reproducing) data, the amount of data read in a unit block in a certain stream is N seek times and N times required to process N streams. It means that it is necessary to design so as not to consume the data within the total time of the data writing / reading time.

Further, in the case of writing (recording) data,
In the worst case, the amount of data accumulated in the buffer memory during the time required to process N streams is N ×
This means (Tw + Ts) × Bsys.
Therefore, the capacity C of the buffer memory needs to satisfy the following formula. C> N × (Tw + Ts) × Bsys ... (2) By designing to satisfy the above equations (1) and (2), N streams can be simultaneously processed in real time. However, Bhdd> N ×
N must be set within a range that satisfies Bsys.

[OPF] Next, the file format of the recording medium (the HDD 117 in the embodiment) used in the present invention will be described. The file format described below is referred to as Objective Pool Format (hereinafter, OPF) for convenience. FIG. 6 is a diagram for schematically explaining the structure of the OPF file.

As shown in FIG. 6, the OPF file format includes a real-time extent 301, a container information file 302, and a title set file 3.
03 and a title file 304. The role of each file will be described below with reference to FIG. (1) Container A container is a basic unit of data operation in OPF. In the system of the present invention, each container is an MP
The data structure of the EG is closed, and data reproduction by the container alone is guaranteed. The size of the container in the system of the present invention is as follows: (Sector size of HDD 117) * 5376 = 512 bytes * 5376 = 27525212 bytes A container of this capacity stores video data and audio data for a certain period of time. . In addition, in the system of the present invention, the video data (Group
of Pictures: hereinafter, GOP) and audio data corresponding thereto are multiplexed by a multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to form a system stream.

Since the number of pictures of 1 GOP is set to 15, the reproduction time of 1 container is as follows. 5 * (15/30) = 2.5 seconds Here, it is verified whether or not the reproduction in container units is guaranteed for these parameters.

In the above definition, if the unit block (container) length for writing / reading is L = 2752512 bytes, the MPEG2 system stream rate Bsys
Is Bsys = L / 2.5 = 11101004 bytes / second. In the system of the present invention, the number of streams is N = 2, and the worst value of seek time is Tw =
50ms, HDD controller module 116 and HD
If the worst case data transfer rate with D117 is Bhdd = 5 MB / sec, then Ts = L / Bhdd = 550 msec. Therefore, Bhdd * Ts = 5 × 10 ^ 6 * 550 = 2.7 × 10
^ 6 N * (Tw + Ts) * Bsys = 2 * (50 + 550)
* 1101004 = 1.32 × 10 ^ 6 holds, which means that the above equation (1) is satisfied. Therefore, the reproduction of the data in container units is guaranteed with these defined parameters.

(2) Real Time Extent The real time extent 301 is a multiplexer /
MPEG2 created by the demultiplexer 113
The system stream is a region of the HDD 117 that is stored as the above-mentioned container-unit data. Therefore, the total capacity of the real-time extent 301 is
It is always an integral multiple of the capacity of the container itself. Further, also in the HDD 117 which records in sector units, the start address of the real-time extent 301 must be from the address that corresponds to the container delimiter. This is because in the container information file 302 described later, the disk space is regarded as an address space in container units.

(3) Container information file The container information file 302 regards the real-time extent 301 in the recording area of the HDD 117 as an address space in container units and stores container numbers (R0, R1, R).
2, ...) are added in order to manage the record information of each container. If the number of references (link count) for each container is 0, it means that MPEG2 data has not been recorded in the container from the beginning or that the user is erasing the data. Shows that new data recording is possible. In the example of FIG. 6, the containers R8 and R15 correspond to recordable containers. When the reference number (link count) is 1, the container is referenced by at least one of the title files (the data of MPEG2 is stored), and the container cannot be recorded. .

(4) Title File In the title file 304, link information about the title is recorded. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, in each title file, header information and address information of the start position of the container referred to in the real-time extent 301 are sequentially recorded. In FIG. 6, the title file (title 0) 304-1 stores the start addresses of the real-time extents R0 to R3 and R6, and the title file (title 1) 304-2 stores the real-time extent R.
The start address of each of R4, R5, R7, and R9 to R12 is stored, and the title file (title 2) 3
04-3 is the real-time extents R13, R14,
The start address of each R16 is stored.

(5) Title set file The title set file 303 is the title file 3
This is a file for managing 04. The structure includes header information and a start address of each title file in the HDD 117. In FIG. 6, the title 0 descriptor is the title file (title 0) 304-
The start address of No. 1 is stored, and the title 1 descriptor is the title file (title 1) 304-2.
The start address of the title file (title 2) 304-3 is stored in the title 2 descriptor.

[Recording / reproducing operation using OPF]
The basic operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 using the above OPF file format will be described in detail. Although all the above OPF files are recorded in the HDD 17, when the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 is activated, the OPF files are recorded.
Among them, the container information file 302 and the title set file 303 are read out and used for address control by the system controller 118. The content of the updated file is written in the file of the HDD 117 at an appropriate timing, and the OPF is updated.

(1) Recording Operation First, the operation of recording the MPEG2 system stream data in the HDD 117 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, start (step S
1) When the user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct recording (step S2), the system controller 1
18 refers to the container information file 302 read from the HDD 117 and refers to the real-time extent 301.
A writable area (container) is secured (step S3). That is, the container having the reference number (link count) of 0 is searched from the container information file 302. Then, 1 is added to the number of the corresponding container whose reference number in the container information file 302 was 0 so that it will not be used by another recording procedure (step S4). And H corresponding to the retrieved container number
Data for one container is written in the real-time extent 301 of the DD 117 (step S5).

A user instruction device 1 receives an end instruction from the user.
3 (step S6), the title file 304 is generated and the title set file 303 is generated.
Is updated and the recording process is terminated (step S8). If there is no end instruction, the steps S3 to S6 are repeated. The recording stop request from the user is instructed at an arbitrary timing after the recording is started. The instruction request is temporarily stored in the memory and processed in step S6. This completes the recording operation (step S8).

In the state of FIG. 6, when the recording instruction is received in step S2, the area (container) initially secured in step S3 is R8 having a reference number of 0. Then, in step S4, 1 is set in the area R8 of the container information file 302. Step S5
HDD1 corresponding to the start address of container R8 in
Multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 in 17 areas
Write one container of MPEG2 system stream data from. Then, in step S3, the next region R15 having the reference number 0 is secured, and the recording operation is repeated in the same manner. When the recording end instruction is received in step S6, step S
Generate a title file (title 3) in 7.
Stores link information consisting of discretely recorded container numbers. Then, the title set file is updated and the recording ends.

(2) Reproducing Operation Next, the operation in the case of generating the MPEG2 system stream data recorded in the HDD 117 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the reproduction operation starts (step S11) and the user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct a title to be reproduced (step S1).
2), the system controller 118 initializes the container pointer for reproduction (step S13). It should be noted that the container pointer is a pointer indicating which container is currently pointed within the corresponding title file.

Then, the corresponding title file 304 is selected from the title set file 303, the link information to the container referred to therein is scanned by the value of the container pointer, and the container to be reproduced is searched (step S14). . H corresponding to the searched container number
Data for one container is read from the real-time extent 301 in the disk area of the DD 117 and reproduced (step S15).

Here, when the end instruction from the user is received via the user instruction device 13 (step S16), the end processing is performed and the reproducing operation is ended (step S1).
9). The reproduction stop request from the user is instructed at an arbitrary timing after the reproduction is started, and the instruction request is temporarily stored in the memory and processed in step S16. If there is no end instruction, one is added to the container pointer to refer to the container to be reproduced next (step S17). Here, it is checked whether the container pointer has reached the end of the corresponding title file 304 (step S18). When the end of the title file is reached, the process goes to the ending process (step S19) and ends. When the container pointer has not reached the end of the title file 304, steps S14 to S18 are repeated.

A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. When the instruction to reproduce the title number 1 is received in step S12, the start address of the title file (title 1) is searched in step S14 to obtain the container number R4 to be referred to. In step S15, H
1 from the address corresponding to the container number R4 of DD117
The data for the container is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 113 to reproduce the data. Step S
If the reproduction stop command is not received at 16, the container pointer is incremented by 1 at step S17.

Returning to step S14, the container number R5 pointed to by the container pointer is obtained. Playback is performed by repeating the same procedure. Playback progresses, container number R1
When 1 is added to the container pointer in step S17 when the reproduction of 2 is completed, it is determined that the end of the title file has been reached in step S18, and thus the ending process of step S19 is performed to end the reproduction operation.

(3) Erase Operation Next, the operation of erasing the MPEG2 system stream data recorded in the HDD 117 in units of title files 304 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the erasing operation starts (step S21) and the user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct the title file to be erased (step S22), the system controller 118 erases from the title set file 303 stored in the HDD 117. The title file 304 that should be searched, and the corresponding title file 30
The link count of the container information file 302 corresponding to the container number pointed to by 4 is decremented by 1 (step S
23). As a result, the container having a link count of 0 becomes an empty area because it is not referenced in any title file. Next, the designated title file is erased (step S24), and the title set file is updated (step S25).

For example, assume that an instruction to delete the title file (title 0) is received from the state of FIG. 6 (step S22). In response to this, in step S23, the link counts of the portions R0 to R3 and R6 in the container information file 302 are decremented by 1 to 0. Then, in steps S24 and S25, the title file (title 0) is deleted, and the title zero descriptor is deleted from the title set file. This completes the erase operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10
A flowchart relating to the automatic setting of the recording end time in 0 will be described. When the operation starts (step S3
1) The user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct recording of the program (step S32), the recording / reproducing device 11 acquires the current time from the timer 12, and the EPG searching device 8
Acquires the current time and the channel number of the program from the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 (step S33). Then,
The EPG retrieval device 8 retrieves the recorded program from the EPG stored in the EPG database storage device 7 using the acquired current time and channel number as keywords (step S34). Then, the end time of the program being recorded included in the retrieved EPG is acquired (step S35), the end time of the acquired program is output to the recording control device 10, and the recording control device 10 determines the input end time. The recording end time is set (step S36). Then, the operation of automatically setting the recording end time ends (step S37).

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 11, a flowchart regarding automatic saving of the EPG during recording will be described. When the operation starts (step S41), the user operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct recording of the program (step S4).
2) The recording / reproducing apparatus 11 acquires the current time from the timer 12, and the EPG retrieval apparatus 8 acquires the current time and the channel number of the program from the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 (step S43). Then, the EPG search device 8 uses the acquired current time and channel number as keywords to store the EPG stored in the EPG database storage device 7.
The recorded program is searched from (step S44). And
The program information such as the broadcast time, the program name, and the cast included in the searched EPG is acquired (step S45), and the acquired broadcast time, the program name, and the program information such as the cast are output to the recording / reproducing device 11, The recording / reproducing apparatus 11 saves the program information such as the input broadcast time, program name, performer, etc. in the recording medium as auxiliary information of the stream currently being recorded (step S46). Then, the operation of automatically saving the EPG being recorded ends (step S47).

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is assumed that the user returns home at 8:00 pm and is watching a certain program broadcast from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. In this case, the television broadcast signal of the program is received by the antenna 1 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100,
Selected by the tuner 2, the EPG is removed by the data separation device 3. Then, the separated EPG is input to the EPG database creation device 6, the EPG database creation device 6 creates an EPG database, and the EPG database storage device 7 stores the EPG database. Then, the television broadcast signal from which the EPG is removed is displayed on the display device 5 with the display selection device 4 faced, and the user is watching the television program displayed on the display device 5.

At 9:00 pm, the phone came in and the user had to stop watching the program,
I operated the user instruction device 13 and instructed to record the program, and answered the telephone. Then, based on the input of the instruction signal from the user instruction device 13, the recording / reproducing device 11 inputs the television broadcast signal from which the EPG is removed from the data separation device 3,
The recording operation is started by the operation described above, the current time is acquired from the timer 12, and the acquired time and the channel number of the program are output to the EPG search device 8. Then, the end time of the program is automatically set by the operation described above. After that, the user returns to the television at 9:30 pm and operates the user instruction device 13 to instruct the reproduction of the program by going back to 9:00 pm. Then,
As described above, the recording / reproduction device 11 reproduces the already recorded program while recording the program, outputs the reproduced program to the display device 5 via the display selection device 4, and the display device 5 reproduces the reproduced program. Display the programs you have done. Thus, the user can record the program while watching the program retroactively at 9 pm. Then, at 10 pm set by the automatic setting of the end time of the program, the recording operation ends,
The recording / reproducing device 11 performs only a reproducing operation. Then, the reproduction operation ends at 10:30 pm, and the user can continuously watch the program interrupted by telephone from 9:30 pm.

In the above description, the program is recorded.
Although the case of instructing the reproduction of the recorded program in the middle has been described, in the present application, the recorded program may be reproduced after the recording operation is completed. Further, in the above description, an analog television broadcast signal is described as an object, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a digital television broadcast signal may be applied. In this case, the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 (see FIG. 2) constituting the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 shown in FIG.
The configuration is such that the / D converter 110 and the D / A converter 121 are omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a recording / playback apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a flow of processing at the time of recording in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a flow of processing at the time of reproduction in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a flow of processing during chasing playback in the recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a file format of OPF.

7 is a flowchart at the time of recording in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart at the time of reproduction in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

9 is a flowchart at the time of erasing in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

10 is a flowchart of automatic setting of a recording end time in the recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of saving an EPG in the recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 antenna, 2 tuner, 3 data separation device,
4 display selection device, 5 display device, 6 EPG database creation device, 7 EPG database storage device, 8 E
PG search device, 9 reservation selection device, 10 recording control device, 11 recording / reproducing device, 12 timer, 13 user instruction device, 110 A / D converter, 111 MP
EG2 video encoder, 112 audio encoder, 113 multiplexer / demultiplexer, 1
14, 115 buffer, 116 HDD controller module, 117 HDD, 118 system controller, 119 audio decoder, 120 MPEG
2 video decoder, 121 D / A converter, 301
Real-time extent, 302 container information file, 303 title set file, 304 title file

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus for receiving a television broadcast signal in which an EPG including at least a broadcast time is multiplexed and recording and reproducing the television broadcast signal, wherein an EPG separated from the television broadcast signal is a database. And an EPG database storage device for storing the EPG database storage device, and searching the EPG database storage device for the EPG of the program currently being broadcast based on a recording instruction from the user, and determining the end time of the program currently broadcast from the searched EPG. Based on the detected EPG search device and the recording instruction from the user, recording of the television broadcast signal currently being broadcast on the recording medium is started, and the EPG is searched.
The recording of the television broadcast signal to the recording medium is terminated based on the end time detected by the search device, and the recording medium is recorded from the recording medium based on a reproduction instruction from the user during recording of the program. Recording / reproducing apparatus including a recording / reproducing apparatus for reproducing the above-mentioned television broadcast signal. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus includes a recording / reproducing head for recording and reproducing the television broadcast signal on the recording medium, a multiplexer / demultiplexer for encoding and decoding the television broadcast signal, and a multiplexer / demultiplexer at one end. The television broadcast signal is encoded based on two lines connected to the demultiplexer and the other end connected to the recording / reproducing head, and the television broadcast signal is encoded based on a recording instruction from the user. A television broadcast signal recorded on the recording medium through one of the lines and recorded from the recording medium through the other line of the two systems based on a reproduction instruction from the user. The multiplexer / demultiplexer so that the reproduced television broadcast signal is decoded. Recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control circuit for controlling the grasses.