JP4893757B2 - Recording / reproducing apparatus, transmitting apparatus, and transmitting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / playback apparatus, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method capable of recording information such as image data on a medium and transmitting the information to an external device.

  An apparatus for recording and reproducing an image photographed by a camera on an optical disk medium as digital compressed data has been commercialized. In a randomly accessible recording medium such as a DVD-RAM, the recorded image data can be reproduced through a plurality of reproduction paths by taking advantage of high-speed access performance. That is, the user can select a favorite image from the recorded images, record reproduction path information called a playlist in which the reproduction order is defined, and perform reproduction according to the information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, as communication channels have become wider, devices have been proposed that have a function of transmitting image data taken by a user to an external device via a communication channel.

JP 2000-348467 A (FIG. 4)

  In the prior art, reproduction path information called a playlist defining a reproduction order is recorded on a recording medium, and images are reproduced in the order set by the user. However, no consideration has been given to usability when transmitting image data to a communication path. That is, when image data recorded on a randomly accessible recording medium is to be transmitted on a communication channel, it is desirable that the user can specify which part of the image data is to be transmitted. Further, considering the case where transmission conditions are confirmed later, retransmission is performed, or the same image is sent to different destinations, the contents of the transmitted image data may be stored as they are. However, the method of recording and saving the transmitted image data as it is consumes a large amount of the capacity of the recording medium, and is inefficient.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a recording / reproducing apparatus, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method that are easy to use when transmitting information such as an image.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a recording / reproducing circuit for recording / reproducing information such as image data on a recording medium, a sending circuit for sending information to an external device, a recording / reproducing circuit, and a sending circuit. And a control circuit for controlling the operation. The recording / reproducing circuit records reproduction path information of information to be transmitted on the recording medium, reproduces information from the recording medium according to the reproduction path information, and the sending circuit transmits information according to the reproduction path information.

  A transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes a reproduction circuit that reproduces information from a recording medium, a transmission circuit that transmits reproduced information to an external device, and a control circuit that controls operations of the reproduction circuit and the transmission circuit. Reproduction path information of information to be transmitted is recorded on the recording medium, the reproduction circuit reproduces information from the recording medium according to the reproduction path information, and the transmission circuit transmits information according to the reproduction path information.

  The transmission method of the present invention includes a step of recording reproduction path information of information to be transmitted on a recording medium, a step of reproducing corresponding information from the recording medium according to the reproduction path information, and transmitting the reproduced information to an external device. And a step of performing.

  Here, the reproduction path information includes transmission event information such as a transmission date and time and a transmission destination of the information, and information on a signal format of the information to be transmitted.

  In addition, the playback path information read from the recording medium is displayed on the display unit, and when the user selects the playback path information, a message as to whether or not to transmit information according to the playback path information selected by the user is displayed. When the user chooses to send, information according to the selected playback path information is played back from the recording medium and transmitted. When the user chooses not to send, an image according to the selected playback path information Plays data from the recording medium but does not send it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method that are easy to use when transmitting information.

  FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and shows an example applied to a video camera. FIG. 1 shows an example of the appearance of the video camera and the arrangement of operation keys. An image photographed by the optical lens 21 is displayed on a small liquid crystal display unit 24 provided in the viewfinder 22. The openable and closable liquid crystal display unit 23 is provided with, for example, a 2 to 4 inch LCD panel 25, and displays an image being recorded, a reproduced image, an edit screen (to be described later), a playlist list, and other menu screens. The disc navigation key 26 is an instruction key for switching display of an image being shot and display of a navigation image such as an editing screen or a menu screen, and the screen is switched each time the key is pressed. The menu key 27 is an instruction key for instructing display of a pull-down menu, and the display / non-display is switched every time the menu key 27 is pressed. The direction instruction means key 28 is an instruction key for performing various selection operations from the image menu, and each button indicates four directions (up, down, left, right). The decision key 30 is a key for confirming the selected menu or thumbnail. The cancel key 29 is a key for returning an operation or ending a series of operations.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the video camera shown in FIG.

  A subject image obtained from the optical lens is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup element 301 such as a CCD sensor, and is input to a signal processing circuit 305 to be converted into Y, U, and V signals. The operation keys 302 are input means for operating the video camera, and are configured by various operation keys shown in FIG. The LCD display panel 25 is for copying an input video, a reproduced image, and a navigation screen.

  In the case of recording, the signal processing circuit 305 compresses the image data of Y, U, and V signals to about 1/30 and multiplexes with the audio data to generate an MPEG-2 data stream. This MPEG-2 data stream is sent to the recording / reproducing circuit 306. The recording / reproducing circuit 306 processes the MPEG-2 data stream into a data format according to the DVD standard, adds a correction code, performs digital modulation, and records the data on the optical disc 303. The recording / reproducing circuit 306 is integrated with a tracking / focusing / disc spindle servo circuit for DVD optical disc and an error correction circuit for data writing / reading.

  The optical disk 303 is a recording medium such as a DVD-R or a DVD-RAM, and is typically a disk having a diameter of 8 cm, but any other disk having a diameter of 12 cm or 6 cm can be used. In this embodiment, an optical disk is described as a recording medium. However, a hard disk may be used, and a randomly accessible recording medium other than a disk such as a large-capacity solid-state memory may be used. A network 304 is an external communication line connected to the video camera, and is connected to the video camera body by wireless or wired connection.

  In the case of reproduction, pit information is read from the optical disk 303 in a digitally modulated state, and waveform equalization and servo signals are detected by the recording / reproduction circuit 306 and output as an MPEG-2 stream. The MPEG-2 stream is expanded by the signal processing circuit 305 and displayed on the LCD display panel 25 as a reproduced image. Similarly, since the NTSC video signal is output from the signal processing circuit 305, it can be displayed on an external TV from the video output terminal provided in the camera.

  The graphic circuit 308 generates character / graphic information such as menus and icons, and displays them on the display panel 25 in a manner superimposed on the display image output from the signal processing circuit 305.

  The system control circuit 309 controls the graphic circuit 308 and the signal processing circuit 305 to configure a desired navigation screen according to a user instruction input via the operation keys 302 (disc navigation function). The system control circuit 309 also controls the signal processing circuit 305 and the recording / reproducing circuit 306 in recording and reproducing operations. Also, playlist data in accordance with the DVD standard is created from a user instruction input via the operation key 302, and the signal processing circuit 305 and the recording / reproducing circuit 306 are controlled to comply with the DVD standard on the optical disk 303. Record in the playlist data storage area (playlist registration function). Further, the system control circuit 309 controls the signal processing circuit 305 and the recording / reproducing circuit 306 to acquire playlist data from the optical disk 303, and controls the graphic circuit 308 to display playlist information. Then, the signal processing circuit 305 and the recording / reproducing circuit 306 are controlled so as to perform reproduction according to the playlist selected by the user via the operation keys 302 (playlist reproduction function).

  The video camera of this embodiment is characterized in that it has a transmission function to the external network 304. When transmission is performed, the signal processing circuit 305 converts the reproduction MPEG-2 stream transmitted from the recording / reproduction circuit 306 into a signal format suitable for communication as necessary. In this case, it is suitable to convert to an MPEG-4 stream in terms of error resistance and bit rate. The sending circuit 307 sends the MPEG-4 stream to the network 304. The system control circuit 309 controls the signal processing circuit 305, the recording / reproducing circuit 306, and the sending circuit 307 so that an image designated by the user via the operation key 302 is reproduced, converted, and transmitted.

  In the video camera of this embodiment, when transmitting to the external network 304, “transmission playlist = playback path information” is created and registered in the recording medium with the transmission procedure of the image to be transmitted and the transmission information associated therewith. To do. The user selects image data according to the created playlist or from a registered playlist, and transmits image data corresponding to the selected playlist. These functions are realized by the system control circuit 309 controlling the signal processing circuit 305, the recording / reproducing circuit 306, the sending circuit 307, and the like.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart at the time of image transmission using the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In particular, a procedure for transmitting images and registering transmission contents using the navigation screen will be described.

  First, when transmission image editing is instructed by the user selecting a menu or the like, a transmission image editing screen is displayed, and the user's editing operation on this screen is accepted (step 41).

  Here, step 41 will be described in detail with reference to the transmission image editing screen example of FIG. The recording thumbnail display area 1 is an area for displaying a representative image (thumbnail) for each scene of a moving image recorded on the optical disc 303, and thumbnails 4, 5, 6, and 7 are thumbnails for each scene. Each thumbnail is read from a thumbnail-dedicated recording area on the optical disc 303, or is generated by reproducing a stream and extracting a representative image and reducing it. In the operation guidance display area 3, operation guidance for operation keys is shown. The user moves the cursor on the thumbnail of the scene to be transmitted by pressing the direction instruction means key 28. The thick frame shown around the thumbnail is the cursor, and the cursor is on the thumbnail 4 in the example of FIG. When the determination key 30 is pressed after moving the cursor over a desired thumbnail, the thumbnail is copied to the transmission thumbnail display area 2. FIG. 4 shows a state where the thumbnail 4 is selected. The thumbnail 4 is copied and displayed as the thumbnail 8. In this way, sequentially selected thumbnails are added to the right side of the transmission thumbnail display area 2. When the cancel key 29 is pressed after selecting the start point and end point of the image data to be transmitted and the thumbnail to be transmitted in this way, step 41 is terminated and the process proceeds to the next step.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the continuation will be described. When the transmission image editing is completed, the editing information is stored in the memory. Specifically, the scene and the order selected by the user on the transmission image editing screen shown in FIG. 4 (step 42).

  Next, the MPEG-2 stream is reproduced from the optical disk 303 according to the editing information, converted into an MPEG-4 stream, and transmitted to the network 304 (step 43).

  When the transmission is completed, the user is confirmed whether or not to register the transmission image in the playlist (step 44).

  Here, step 44 will be described in detail using the registration confirmation screen example of FIG. When the transmission is completed, a dialog box 10 is displayed, and a message asking whether or not to register in the playlist is displayed. The user depresses the direction instruction means key 28 and moves the cursor to select the answer box 11 indicating “register” or the answer box 12 indicating “not registered”. In FIG. 5, a thick frame indicates a cursor. In this example, “register” is selected. After selecting a desired answer, pressing the enter key 30 confirms the answer and proceeds to the next step.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the continuation will be described. If the answer is “not registered”, the process returns to step 41 to accept editing of the next transmission image. In the case of “register”, playlist data in accordance with the DVD standard is created from the editing information stored in step 42. At this time, information for identifying a transmission event such as the transmission date and time, the transmission destination, and the signal format of the transmitted stream at the time of transmission in step 43 is added to the playlist data. These are described, for example, in the form of titles and comments (step 45).

  Next, the created playlist data is recorded in a playlist data storage area in accordance with the DVD standard on the optical disk 303 (step 46).

  When step 46 ends, the process returns to step 41 to accept editing of the next transmission image.

  As described above, the contents of transmission are stored in the playlist format by the series of procedures shown in FIG. 3, so that the consumption of the capacity of the recording medium is greatly reduced compared to the method of recording the transmission data as it is on the recording medium. In addition, image data can be easily reproduced and transmitted by using the saved playlist.

  Also, by displaying the playlist registration confirmation screen and allowing the user to select whether or not to register, it is not necessary to create an unnecessary playlist.

  In addition, by adding information for identifying a transmission event to a playlist and registering it, the user can determine which transmission event the playlist belongs to and the transmission condition when displaying the playlist list as described later. It becomes easy to do.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows another flowchart at the time of image transmission using the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In particular, a transmission procedure using a registered playlist will be described.

  First, when a playlist selection is instructed by an operation such as selecting a menu by the user, a playlist list screen is displayed, and the user selects a playlist on this screen (step 61).

  Here, step 61 will be described in detail using the example of the playlist list screen of FIG. The playlist list 71 is an area for displaying a list of registered playlists. In the example of FIG. 7, playlists 72, 73, and 74 are registered, and the respective titles are shown. The data to be displayed is read from the playlist data storage area on the optical disc 303 in accordance with the DVD standard. In the example of FIG. 7, the playlists 73 and 74 indicate a case where the transmission contents are registered in the playlist by the series of procedures shown in FIG. 3, and the transmission date and the transmission destination are the titles of the playlist. Is shown. The signal format of the transmitted stream can also be included. In this way, it becomes obvious at a glance which playlist is transmitted by which playlist and in which signal format. The user moves the cursor on the desired playlist by pressing the direction instruction means key 28. A thick frame is a cursor, and in the example of FIG. When the enter key 30 is pressed after moving the cursor over the desired playlist, the playlist selection is confirmed and the process proceeds to the next step.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the continuation will be described. When the playlist is confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not to transmit to the user (step 62).

  Here, step 62 will be described in detail using the example of the transmission confirmation screen in FIG. When a playlist is selected, a dialog box 80 is displayed, and a message asking whether or not to transmit is displayed. The user depresses the direction indicating means key 28 and moves the cursor to select the answer box 81 indicating “send” or the answer box 82 indicating “not send”. In FIG. 8, a thick frame indicates a cursor, and in this example, “Send” is selected. After selecting a desired answer, pressing the enter key 30 confirms the answer and proceeds to the next step.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the continuation will be described. If the answer is “not send”, the MPEG-2 stream is reproduced from the optical disk 303 according to the playlist and displayed (step 64). Upon completion of playback, the process returns to step 61 to accept selection of the next playlist.

  If the answer is “send”, the MPEG-2 stream is reproduced from the optical disk 303 according to the playlist, converted to an MPEG-4 stream, and sent to the network 304 (step 63).

  In other words, the present embodiment has two modes, that is, the case where only the image is reproduced according to the playlist and the case where the reproduced image data is transmitted according to the playlist, and the user can select these modes.

  When the transmission is completed, the user is confirmed whether to register the transmission contents in the playlist. Details are the same as in step 44 (step 65).

  If the answer is “not registered”, the process returns to step 61 to accept selection of the next playlist. In the case of “register”, a piece of replayed playlist data related to a transmission event is rewritten as information at the time of transmission in step 63, and is created as new playlist data (step 66).

  Next, the created playlist data is recorded in a playlist data storage area in accordance with the DVD standard on the optical disk 303 (step 67).

  When step 67 ends, the process returns to step 61 to accept selection of the next playlist.

  According to the series of procedures shown in FIG. 6, the image data according to the playlist created in advance can be easily transmitted, and is particularly convenient when transmitting the same image as the previously transmitted image. It is. Alternatively, if the quality of the previously transmitted image has deteriorated, the signal format information at that time is stored, so measures such as converting to another signal format with priority on image quality and retransmitting are taken. be able to.

  Although the case where image data is transmitted from a video camera to an external device has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a case where arbitrary information such as audio data and character data is transmitted as well as image data. Further, the transmission source apparatus can be applied not only to a video camera but also to an arbitrary recording / reproducing apparatus and a transmitting apparatus that reproduces and transmits information from a medium.

It is one Embodiment of the image recording / reproducing apparatus by this invention, The example applied to the video camera is shown. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the video camera of FIG. 1. 5 shows a flowchart at the time of image transmission using the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the transmission image edit screen of step 41 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the registration confirmation screen of step 44 of FIG. 6 shows another flowchart at the time of image transmission using the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The figure which shows the play list list display of step 61 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the transmission confirmation screen of step 62 of FIG.

  301: Image sensor 302: Operation key 303 ... Optical disc 304 ... Network 305 ... Signal processing circuit 306 ... Recording / reproducing circuit 307 ... Sending circuit 308 ... Graphic circuit, 309 ... System control circuit, 1 ... Recording thumbnail display area, 2 ... Transmission thumbnail display area, 3 ... Operation guidance display area, 71 ... Playlist list, 72, 73, 74 ... Playlist

Claims (8)

In a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of transmitting information recorded on a recording medium to an external device via a network,
Recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing information on a recording medium;
A transmission means for transmitting information to an external device;
An input means for inputting an instruction to edit information to be transmitted by the transmission means;
A control means for controlling the operation of the recording / reproducing means and the transmitting means;
The recording / reproducing circuit reproduces information from the recording medium according to editing information based on an instruction input by the input means,
The sending circuit transmits information reproduced according to the editing information by the recording / reproducing circuit to an external device via a network,
The recording / reproducing circuit, after the transmission , converts the editing information into reproduction path information and records it on the recording medium ,
The recording / reproducing circuit sequentially reproduces information recorded on the recording medium using the reproduction path information ;
A recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a signal conversion circuit for converting information reproduced to transmit the information to an external device into another signal format. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
After the transmission, the recording / reproducing circuit records transmission event information such as a transmission date / time and a transmission destination of the transmitted information and information on a signal format of the information to be transmitted together with the editing information on the recording medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
A display unit for setting and displaying the editing information;
A recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the editing information is created from information to be transmitted designated by a user using the display unit. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
After the transmission, comprising confirmation means for allowing the user to confirm whether or not to record the editing information on the recording medium,
The recording / reproducing circuit records the editing information on the recording medium when the user confirms that the editing information is recorded on the recording medium;
A recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that the information is image data. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording / reproducing circuit records the editing information as a playlist on the recording medium;
A recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information is video data,
The edit information is information indicating a start point and an end point of the moving image data;
A recording / reproducing apparatus.

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