JPH0828058B2 - Digital data recording / reproducing device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a tape as a recording medium to record digital data in units of preset group data,
The present invention relates to a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus that manages digital data in units of data volume, which is a set of group data.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital recording / reproducing technology has been applied to a wide range of fields, and in particular, has achieved remarkable development in the field of digital audio, and a rotary head type digital audio tape recorder (DAT) and the like have been put to practical use. Has reached. On the other hand, attempts to apply digital data recording / reproducing technology using a rotary head type tape such as DAT as a recording medium to an auxiliary recording device of a computer have become popular. These devices sequentially record digital data supplied from a computer instead of digitized audio data for each data block which is a preset fixed amount of data format, and at the time of reproduction, as in the case of audio use, digital data is recorded. The data is read and output as a data block. Also, as a data recording method, a method of dividing the tape into one or more data volume areas and recording and managing a series of data for each data volume area was devised. , And can be saved.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above conventional configuration, when forming a new data volume area, the capacity of the data volume area must be set in advance and the area corresponding to the capacity must be formatted. The first problem is that it takes a lot of time to newly form a data area in the reserved area, and the capacity of the data volume area is set in advance, which causes a problem when append recording data to the reserved area. The second problem that append recording beyond the reserved area is not possible even when there is an unformatted area following the reserved area on the tape and the beginning of a data volume area
In the case of searching by the high-speed search operation peculiar to DAT, since the recorded information on the tape is reproduced only intermittently, there is a third problem that the searched information cannot be obtained when the data volume area is short. Was there.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus which realizes efficient management of a data volume area.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a data area recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing data in a data area on a tape and a reserved area forming for forming a reserved area. Means and a data volume management means for recording the data volume capacity information in a preset area on the tape, wherein the data volume management means comprises a detection procedure for detecting the final data volume area on the tape, An update procedure for updating the final data volume capacity information recorded by the volume management means and a control procedure for setting the minimum capacity of the data volume area are provided.

Effect The present invention has the above-described configuration, divides the tape into a plurality of data volume areas, and records and manages the capacity of the data volume area, thereby shortening the formation time of the final data volume area and the final data volume area. By adding data of arbitrary length and managing the minimum capacity of the data volume area, the final data volume area can be reliably detected by the high speed search operation.

Embodiment An embodiment of a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cassette half, 2 is a reel, 3 is a tape, 4 is a cylinder, 5a and 5b are heads, 6 is a capstan for running the tape 3, 7 is a reel 2, a cylinder 4 and a capstan 6. A mechanism control unit for controlling the operation, 8 is a head for encoding a digital signal in the recording operation.
The recording signals are supplied to 5a and 5b, and in the reproducing operation, the track synchronizing signal is separated from the reproducing signal obtained from the heads 5a and 5b, the track synchronizing signal is transmitted to the mechanism control unit 7, and the reproducing signal is decoded and digitalized. A signal processing unit that outputs a signal, a communication unit 9 that transmits and receives digital data and control information to and from an external device, and a data buffer 10 that temporarily stores the digital data that the communication unit 9 transmits and receives, Reference numeral 11 denotes an auxiliary data processing unit that supplies data volume identification information for identifying a data volume area to the signal processing unit 8 as auxiliary data in the recording operation, and extracts and outputs the data volume identification information in the reproducing operation. 12 controls the data transfer of the data buffer 10,
A data area recording / reproducing control section that sends and receives the data volume identification information from the auxiliary data processing section 11, 13 is a reserved area recording control section that controls recording of a track synchronization signal on the tape 3, and 14 is a data area. In the recording / reproducing operation, the data volume capacity information is sent and received from the data buffer 10 and is controlled, the data area recording / reproducing control section 12 is controlled, and in the reserved area recording operation, the reserved area recording control section 13 is controlled. A reference numeral 15 is a system control unit for inputting the control information from the communication unit 9 and controlling a series of recording / reproducing operations.

The operation of the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above includes a data recording / reproducing operation which is a basic operation and a data management operation which is a practical operation, which will be described in detail below.

First, the data recording / reproducing operation, which is the basic operation, will be described. The data recording / reproducing operation includes a track forming operation and a track reproducing operation, and the track forming operation includes a data area forming operation and a reserved area forming operation.

First, the data area forming operation of the track forming operation will be described. In FIG. 1, the data volume management controller 14 gives a control command to the data area recording / reproducing controller 12. The data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 gives an operation command to the mechanism control unit 7 via the system control unit 15, and signals the data temporarily stored in the data buffer 10 from the external device via the communication unit 9 as main data. The data is transferred to the processing unit 8 and the auxiliary data is supplied to the auxiliary data processing unit 11. The mechanism control unit 7 follows the control command and drives the reel 2
The tape 3 is driven at a constant speed by applying a tension to and the capstan 6 is rotated at a constant speed, and further the cylinder 4 is rotated at a constant speed. The signal processing unit 8 processes the auxiliary data supplied from the auxiliary data processing unit 11 and the main data supplied from the data buffer 10 to add a track synchronization signal, converts the track synchronization signal into a track formation signal, and outputs it to the heads 5a and 5b. Tape 3 by outputting sequentially
Diagonal tracks are continuously formed on the top.

Next, the reserved area forming operation of the track forming operation will be described. The data volume management control unit 14 gives a control command to the reserved area recording control unit 13. The reserved area control unit 13 gives an operation command to the mechanism control unit 7 via the system control unit 15, and the mechanism control unit 7 gives tension to the reel 2 according to the control command to rotate the capstan 6 at a constant speed. Drive the tape 3 at a constant speed, and further rotate the cylinder 4 at a constant speed. The signal processing unit 8 successively outputs a track synchronization signal to the heads 5a and 5b to continuously form diagonal tracks on the tape 3.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of tracks on the tape 3 formed by the track forming operation. One track shown by A in FIG. 2 is composed of an auxiliary data recording area shown by B, a track synchronization signal recording area shown by C, and a main data recording area shown by D. Further, as shown by E, a plurality of tracks having the same structure as the track shown by A are continuously formed on the tape 3.

Next, in the track reproducing operation, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 executes basic control. In FIG. 1, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 gives an operation command to the mechanism control unit 7 via the system control unit 15. The signal processing unit 8 extracts a track synchronization signal from the reproduction signals output from the heads 5a and 5b and outputs it to the mechanism control unit 7. The mechanism controller 7 applies tension to the reel 2 and controls the rotational speed of the capstan 6 and the rotational phase of the cylinder 4 on the basis of the track synchronization signal, so that the heads 5a and 5b are formed on the tape 3. Accurately trace the track. On the other hand, the signal processing unit 8 processes the reproduced signal and outputs the auxiliary data to the auxiliary data processing unit 11 and the main data to the data buffer 10. The data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 can accurately read the data recorded on the tape 3 by sequentially transferring the main data temporarily stored in the data buffer 10 to the communication unit 9 as data.

Next, the data management operation, which is the practical operation of the present embodiment, will be described in detail. The data management operation includes a data volume creating operation, a data recording operation, and a data reproducing operation.

First, the data volume creating operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. If the immediately preceding data volume forms an area corresponding to the preset data volume capacity in step 1, the process proceeds to step 3. On the other hand, if it has not been formed, the process proceeds to step 2, and the reserved area recording control unit 13 forms a reserved area in an area of the immediately previous data volume which is insufficient in the preset data volume capacity. Next, in step 3, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 sets the data volume identification information to be recorded as auxiliary data in the data area in the auxiliary data processing unit 11, and in step 4, the data is stored in the main data area.
The data volume identification information is recorded in the auxiliary data area. In the data volume identification information, serial numbers of data volumes consecutive from the head data volume are recorded. In step 5, if the capacity of the recorded data area is equal to or larger than the preset minimum capacity, the operation proceeds to step 7, and if it is smaller than the minimum capacity, the operation proceeds to step 6 in which the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 The damee data is recorded in the main data area and the data volume identification information is recorded in the auxiliary data area so that the area becomes equal to or larger than the minimum capacity. Proceeding to step 7, the data volume management controller 14 sends the data volume capacity information to the data buffer 10, controls the data area recording / reproducing controller 12 to record the data volume capacity information in a preset area, and To finish.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the data volume formed on the tape 3. The head data volume area is a data volume F, the last data volume area is a data volume H, and the data volume area immediately before the data volume H is a data volume G. The data volume is composed of a data area and a reserved area. The data volume H is formed with only the data area, and when a new data volume is formed immediately after that, the reserved area is provided in an area short of the preset data volume capacity. Form. Further, data block capacity information is recorded in the data volume F.

Next, the data recording operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 8, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 searches for the target data volume based on the data volume identification information. Next, proceeding to step 9, it is judged whether this data recording operation is append recording or post-record recording on already recorded data, and if it is append recording, step
Go to 10. In step 10, the data volume identification information of the final volume is compared with the reproduced data volume identification information, and if the data volume to be append-recorded is the final data volume, the process proceeds to step 11 and the data area recording / reproduction control unit 12 Data is recorded continuously in the area, and in step 12, the data volume management control unit 14
The new data volume capacity information is sent to the data buffer 10 and the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 is controlled to record the data volume capacity information in the data volume F and the processing is terminated. Next, if the volume is not the final volume in step 10, the process proceeds to step 13 and the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 records the data in the reserved area and ends the process. Next, when append recording is not performed on the recorded data in step 9, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 post-records the data in the data area and ends the processing.

Next, the data reproducing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 15, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 searches for a target data volume based on the data volume identification information. Next, in step 16, the data area is reproduced and the processing is ended.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the final data volume area formation time is shortened, data of an arbitrary length is added to the final data volume area, and the minimum capacity of the data volume area is managed to manage the final data volume area. It is possible to easily realize the reliable detection of the volume region by the high-speed search operation.

The mechanism control unit 7, the auxiliary data processing unit 11, the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12, the reserved area recording control unit 13, the data volume management control unit 14, and the system control unit 15 are independent control units. May be implemented as software by integrating some of them with a microcomputer.

Further, although the data volume management control unit 14 of this embodiment collectively records the data volume capacity information in the first data volume area, it may also be recorded in each area or specific area for each data volume.

In the data area recording / reproducing control unit 12 of the present embodiment, the serial number from the first data volume area is recorded as the data volume identification information and the final volume is detected by the serial number, but a flag indicating the final volume is provided. It may be detected by a flag.

As described above, the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a data area recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing digital data in a data area which is a set of a plurality of tracks, and an arbitrary zero or more data associated with the data area. Reserved area forming means for forming a reserved area which is a set of continuous tracks, and data volume management means for recording the data volume capacity information consisting of the data area and the reserved area in a preset area on the tape. The data volume management means includes a detection procedure for detecting the final data volume area on the tape, an update procedure for updating the final data volume capacity information, and a capacity of the data volume area not less than a preset capacity. When a new data volume area is formed by providing the control procedure, Therefore, although the capacity of the data volume area is set, it is not necessary to format the area corresponding to the capacity in advance, and the wasteful time required for the format can be saved.
Moreover, when data is append-recorded following the data area of the final data volume area, the formation of a data area of an arbitrary length can be realized. Further, by setting the capacity of the data volume area to be equal to or larger than a preset capacity, the heads of all the data volume areas can be searched by a high speed search, and there are excellent features such as a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a tape format, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a data volume area creating operation of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the data volume operation of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the data recording operation of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the data reproducing operation of the present invention. 1 ... cassette half, 2 ... reel, 3 ... tape,
4 ... Cylinder, 5a, 5b ... Head, 6 ... Capstan, 7 ... Mechanism control section, 8 ... Signal processing section, 9 ...
... communication section, 10 ... data buffer, 11 ... auxiliary data processing section, 12 ... data area recording / reproducing control section, 13 ... reserved area recording control section, 14 ... data volume management control section, 15
...... System control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data area recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing digital data in / from a data area, which is a set of continuous tracks obliquely formed on a tape by rotating one or more heads, and the data area. Reserved area forming means for forming a reserved area which is an accompanying set of any continuous tracks of zero or more, and data volume capacity information which is information indicating the capacity of the data volume area composed of the data area and the reserved area. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a data volume management unit for recording in a preset area on the tape. 2. The data volume management means comprises a detection procedure for detecting the final data volume area on the tape and an update procedure for updating the final data volume capacity information. The described digital data recording / reproducing apparatus. 3. The digital data according to claim 1, wherein the data volume management means has a control procedure for controlling the reserved area forming means to make the capacity of the data volume area equal to or larger than a preset capacity. Recording / playback device.