JPH0822679A - Tape type magnetic storage medium, tape recording/ reproducing method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform addition recording of an image and to prevent damage of a tape caused by accessing always the same part by recording image data in a tape including control data region in which at-tribute data is recorded successively to an image data region. CONSTITUTION:A figure (A) shows data arrangement before image data is added and recorded, image data A to image data Q are recorded on a tape, successively a control data region 104 is arranged. On the contrary, in a figure (B), image data R newly added is overwritten and recorded at a tape position where an original control data region 104 is arranged. Therefore, the control data region 104 is changed to a form including attribute data of the image data R, and recorded behind the added image data deviating from the position in the figure (A). Thereby, such damage caused by accessing always the same part as a conventional tape in which the control data region is arranged before the image data region can be prevented, while an image can be easily added and recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape-shaped magnetic storage medium, and a tape recording / reproducing method and apparatus for recording / reproducing image data on the tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When data is recorded on a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium such as a digital audio tape (DAT), the audio data itself is recorded in a main area for recording the audio data among tracks of the audio tape.
In the sub area for recording the ID for high-speed search, the playing time, etc., ID data for search other than image data, track numbers, etc. have been recorded.

Such a digital audio tape (D
At the time of recording the image data in AT), the individual identification data is added to each data such as the serial number and the position code indicating the physical position of the tape in the main body of each image data, and is recorded in the main area of the track. The attribute data such as the title and the creation date indicating the characteristics of the image data are recorded in a main area different from the image data in association with the identification data. In particular, a portion where the attribute data is recorded is called a management area, and such a management area is arranged at the head of the tape from the viewpoint of easily searching the image data. Then, when the image data is reproduced, the data in the management area is reproduced prior to the reading of the image data. Further, identification ID data for distinguishing this management area from the image data area is recorded in the sub-area on the track where data suitable for high speed retrieval is recorded. Although not shown, the system controller identifies the management area by the identification ID data, reproduces the management area, and accumulates the management information in the internal memory to grasp the physical position of each image data. Then, each image data is easily searched.

When additionally recording image data on the tape, after recording the image data on the tape, the management information stored in the internal memory of the controller is updated, and then the tape is moved to the beginning of the tape. After rewinding, the management information in the internal memory was overwritten and recorded in the management area on the tape.

For example, FIG. 6 showing the data arrangement on the tape.
In the tape, the lead-in area 61 for normally taking in data is located on the tape as seen from the beginning (BOT) of the tape, and then the above-mentioned management area 63, and each image data 64 is located behind the management information 63. It is recorded with.
Behind the area of the image data 64, there is a non-recording area 66 divided by the lead-out area 65 up to the end of the tape (EOT).

The operation when reproducing the above-mentioned tape will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the microprocessor (not shown) detects that a tape-shaped recording medium is loaded (step S701), it checks in step S702 whether the tape read position is the head of the tape (step S70).
2). If it is not the beginning of the tape, the tape is rewound in step S703 to the beginning of the tape. Then, in step S704, the management area 63 is cued.
When this cueing is completed, the process proceeds to step S705, the tape reproducing process is started, and the information recorded in the management area 63 on the tape is taken into the management area memory in the system (not shown) (step S706). When the file name of the image data to be reproduced and displayed is input by the operator's instruction after that, the management information stored in the management area memory is searched and included in the management information. The position information such as the track number of the current track is acquired (step S708). Then, the process proceeds to step S709, where the position of the desired image data is grasped by the track number or the like, and the desired image data is accurately searched from the tape based on the position information (step S70).
9) The image data is reproduced (step S710).
The image data acquired in this manner is timely signal-processed and then transmitted to the display device for display (step S71).
1).

Next, the process of additionally writing image data in such an image data recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the image data to be additionally written is acquired (step S801), seek is performed to the end of the image data recording area of the tape (step S802), and the acquired image data is recorded on the tape (step S80).
3). After that, the contents stored in the tape are sought up to the end of the tape (step S804), and the management area 63
Is reproduced and loaded into the memory for the management area of the controller (step S805). Then, the management data of the image data is added to the management area memory (step S806), the tape is sought again to the start end, and the management area 63 on the tape is cued (step S8).
07), the data in the management area 63 stored in the management area memory of the controller is transferred to the management area 6 on the tape.
3 is overwritten (step S808).

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the management area 63 is always recorded at the same location on the tape. Therefore, every time image data is added or recorded, the management area 63 on the tape is recorded. As the number of times of access to the tape increases, only the portion of the tape where the management area 63 is recorded suffers a lot of damage. As a result, the data existing in the management area 63 has a higher frequency of occurrence of a data error than the other areas, and finally, there is a problem that error correction becomes impossible. Therefore, even though the part of the tape where the image data is recorded is still normal. Since the part corresponding to the management area 63, which is the most important data part of the tape, is damaged, all the image data recorded on the tape may become unusable.

Further, since the management area 63 is arranged near the beginning of the tape and the image data is arranged behind it, it is necessary to first define the capacity of the management area 63.
Therefore, since the capacity of the management area 63 is limited from the beginning, the data amount of the management information 63 of each image data is limited, or the recording capacity of the tape on which the image data can be recorded is sufficient. , The number of image data to be additionally recorded had to be limited. Since the management information 63 and the number of pieces of data depend on the content of the data to be recorded, limiting the capacity of the management area 63 in advance has been a factor in reducing the operability when recording image data on the tape.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape-shaped magnetic storage medium in which management data including management data of each image data is recorded after the recorded image data. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape recording method and apparatus which facilitates additional recording of image data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape reproducing method and apparatus for retrieving and reproducing image data recorded on a tape.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the tape-shaped magnetic storage medium of the present invention has the following structure. That is, it includes an image data area in which image data is recorded in the order of recording in the scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area in which attribute data is recorded following the image data area.

In order to achieve the above object, the tape recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a tape recording for recording image data on a tape including an image data area for recording image data in the order of recording in the scanning direction of the tape and a management data area for recording attribute data following the image data area. A method of reading the management data area and storing the management data in a memory when recording of image data is instructed; and an area including the management data area on the tape of the image data of which recording is instructed. Overwriting the recorded data, updating the management data stored in the memory according to the recorded image data, and updating the updated management data as a management data area after the recorded image data. And a step of recording.

In order to achieve the above object, the tape reproducing method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a tape reproducing method for reading and reproducing image data from a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, and when reproduction of the image data is instructed, the management data stored in the tape is read and the management data is stored in a memory. A step of holding the data, a step of referring to the management data held in the memory to determine an address of the tape on which the image data for which reproduction is instructed is recorded, and an address position of the tape are set to a read position. And a step of reading the image data from the address position of the tape and reproducing the image data.

[0018]

In the above structure, when the recording of the image data is instructed, the management data area is read and the management data is stored in the memory, and the image data instructed to be recorded is stored in the management data area on the tape. Record by overwriting the area containing. Depending on the image data recorded in this way,
The management data stored in the memory is updated, and the updated management data is recorded as a management data area after the recorded image data.

Further, according to the tape reproducing method of the present invention, when the reproduction of the image data is instructed, the management data stored in the tape is read and the management data is referred to,
The address of the tape on which the image data for which reproduction is instructed is recorded is determined, and the tape is conveyed so that the address position of this tape comes to the read position. When the tape is conveyed to the reading position in this way, the image data is read from the address position of the tape and reproduced.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tape recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU, which executes various controls according to a control program stored in the program memory 206 to control the operation of the entire apparatus. A tape drive unit 202 mounts a tape (tape cassette), records data on the tape, and reads and reproduces data from the tape.
A memory (RAM) 203 temporarily holds various data such as image data to be recorded on the tape and management information, or various data such as image data read from the tape. The memory 203 is also used as a work area when the CPU 201 operates. A display unit 204 displays image data, the operating state of the apparatus, or a message to the operator. An operation panel 205 is operated by an operator, and is provided with key switches and the like for instructing recording of image data on a tape and reproduction of the tape. A CPU bus 207 connects the above-described units to the CPU 201 and exchanges data, commands, states, etc. between the units.

In the above structure, when recording on a tape, the CPU 201 takes in image data input from an image input device or an image input unit (not shown) according to an instruction input from the operation panel 205, and temporarily stores it in the memory 203. Hold. This image data is transferred to the tape drive unit 202 and recorded on the tape. Further, when reproducing the tape, the CPU 201 outputs a command to the tape drive unit 202 in accordance with an instruction from the operation panel 205 to reproduce the image data or the like recorded on the tape. The image data thus read is temporarily stored in the memory 203 and displayed on the display device 204.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording data format of a tape recorded or reproduced by the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1A, a lead-in area 101 in which a mark or the like for distinguishing from a non-recorded portion is recorded is present at the beginning of the tape, and an image in which each image data group is recorded thereafter. The data area 103 continues.
Then, the management data area 104 for managing the image data is arranged at the end of the image data area. Further, after the management data area, a lead-out area 105 in which a mark or the like for distinguishing from the non-recorded portion 106 is recorded.
Following the, there is a non-recording section 106.

Here, in the lead-out area 105,
Only data "0" is written in the main area of the tape track so that it can be distinguished from other data areas, and an end ID indicating the end of the data is written in the sub area of the tape track. There is.

FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the recording format of each image data.

A preamble 112 is provided before and after the image data body 111 to distinguish it from other image data.
And a postamble 113 are arranged.

FIG. 1C shows the management data area 104.
It is a figure which shows the data structure of.

Following a preamble 114 similar to the preamble 112 in FIG. 1B, information indicating the characteristics of the tape itself, such as tape label name, creation date, update date, tape length, recording format of management data, etc. There is a tape system area 115 in which is written. Further, after that, management information of each image data recorded in the image data area 103, including file name, creation date, update date, file number, data start track number, data length, data end track number, etc. are included. A management information area 116 for each image data is recorded for each image data.

Now, the process of reproducing the tape having the above-mentioned data arrangement will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program for executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is stored in the program memory 206.

First, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S301.
When it is detected that the tape medium is inserted in the tape drive unit 202, the tape drive unit 202 is driven to reproduce the tape (step S30).
2) It is detected whether any data is written on the tape (step S303). If the read portion is the non-recorded portion of the tape, the tape is rewound (step S304) until the end ID is detected in step S305, and if any data is recorded, the end ID is determined in step S307. The tape is fast-forwarded until it is detected (step S306).

Then, in step S308, the tape is rewound at a low speed and the management data area is cued. When cueing of the management data area is completed, step S3
Proceed to 09 to play the tape. Next in step S10
Then, the information of the management data area is taken into the management data area of the memory 203 from the main area on the track of the tape. Next, the process proceeds to step S311, and when the file name of the image data to be reproduced is instructed by, for example, the operator inputting the file name of each image data from the operation panel 205, the position information of the image data is changed to the above-mentioned information. It is acquired based on the information in the management data area stored in the memory 203. Then, in step S313, the tape drive unit 202 is driven to move the tape so that the desired image data position recorded on the tape is at the read position. And step S3
In step 14, the image data is read from the tape position, the image is reproduced, and the image is displayed on the display unit 204.

Next, the operation of additionally recording image data on a tape on which some image data has already been recorded will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is also stored in the program memory 206.

First, in step S401, when the CPU 201 detects that the tape medium is mounted in the tape drive unit 202, the tape reproduction is started to detect whether any data is written on the tape (S).
402). If the read tape portion is a non-recording portion, the process proceeds to step S403 to rewind the tape, and this rewinding process is executed until the end ID is detected in step S404.

On the other hand, if some data is recorded on the tape portion in step S402, step S40
5, the fast forward of the tape is started, and step S406
This fast forward is executed until the end ID is detected at.

In this way, when the end ID is detected in step S404 or S406, the flow advances to step S407 to rewind the tape at a low speed to locate the management data area.
When the cueing of the tape is completed, the process proceeds to step S408, and the information of the management data area recorded on the tape is read and stored in the memory 203. Thus the memory 20
The update date of the data in the management data area of the tape stored in No. 3 is compared with the date of the information in the management data area stored in the management data area of the memory 203. In step S9, if the management data recorded on the tape (information read out in step S407) is newer, the process proceeds to step S410, the data in the management data area recorded on the tape is fetched, and the process proceeds to step S411. move on. On the other hand, if not, the process directly proceeds to step S411.

In step S411, the management data area is searched again, that is, the rearmost postamble of the image data recording area 103 recorded at that time is searched. Next, proceeding to step S412, the image data that has already been captured is recorded subsequent to the end that has been recorded as the image data area 103 until then (overwriting on the original management data area). When the additional recording of the image data on the tape is completed, the process proceeds to step S413,
Data corresponding to the newly added image data is added to the original management data area stored in the management data area of the memory 203 to create new management data. Then, in step S414, the new management data is recorded on the tape subsequent to the added image data. Then, after that, the lead-out area 105 is recorded (step S415), and the operation of additional recording is ended.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison of the data arrangement on the tape before and after the image data added and recorded in this way. In FIG. 5, the left side shows the head side of the tape, and the right side shows the tape end side. FIG. 5 (A)
In (B), the upper and lower relative positions are the same.

FIG. 5 (A) shows a data arrangement before image data is added / recorded, and image data A to image data Q are recorded on the tape, and a management data area is provided behind it. 104 are arranged.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, the newly added image data R is overwritten and recorded at the tape position where the original management data area 104 was recorded.
Therefore, the management data area 104 is changed to a format including the management data of the image data R, and the position is shifted and recorded after the added image data R. in this way,
The position of the management data area 104 is relatively moved and recorded on the tape.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, considering the case where the image data is added near the end of the tape, the image data can be recorded, but the management is accompanied by the addition of the image data. It is conceivable that the capacity of the tape becomes insufficient when the area is recorded, and in this case, the management data area may not be recorded on the tape.

In such a case, in order to invalidate the previously recorded image data, the tape is rewound to the head position where the image data is stored, and the image data of the image data added to the management data area is further rewound. Delete the management data area on the memory. After this, the management data area returned to the bottom is recorded on the tape, and a warning indicating that the tape capacity is insufficient is issued. However, this increases the number of times the tape is accessed near the end of the tape, rather than increasing the amount of useless work.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, before recording the image data, it is judged whether or not recording on the tape is possible, and then the recording operation is started. In order to make this determination, in the second embodiment, the data length of the lead-out area 105, which is the boundary between the data recording area and the non-recording area 106, is set to 2 of the data length of the management data area.
It is realized by making it more than double.

This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A control program for executing this process is stored in the program memory 206.

At the time of additional recording of the image data, the reading of the data in the management data area is the same as the processing from step S401 to step S410 in FIG. 4, and in this embodiment, thereafter, step S901 to step S901 in FIG. The process is performed as shown in S911.

That is, after the data in the management data area is obtained, the management data area of the tape is searched for (step S901), and the data amount (K) of the management data area is calculated (step S902). Next, the process proceeds to step S903 to calculate the additional data amount (T) (step S90
3) The data amount (K) is compared with the data amount (T) (step S904). If T> K, a warning display indicating that the remaining amount of tape is insufficient is displayed (step S90).
5) Then, a series of operations is completed.

On the other hand, if T <K, the flow advances to step S906 to execute recording on the tape. That is, step S90
After recording the image data in 6, the management data of the image data is added to the memory 203 (step S907), and the management data created in the memory 203 is recorded on the tape (step S908).

Next, in step S909, the data length of the new management data area is calculated, and the data length of the new lead-out area 105 is determined (step S90).
9). Then, the process proceeds to step S910 to start recording in the lead-out area 105. Lead-out area 10
If the recording of No. 5 is according to the previously planned data length, the process ends as it is, but if not, that is, if the data length is less than that, the process proceeds to step S905, and a warning of zero tape remaining amount is displayed. After that, the process ends.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. The present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the management data including the file name, the creation date, etc. on the tape are
When the management data body is placed after the image data area 103 and the image data is added, the added image data is recorded at the end of the image data, and then the management data area is rearranged, so that an error occurs. It is possible to prevent damage to the tape due to access to an extremely large number of specific parts of the tape at times. Furthermore, the management data amount of the image data additionally recorded is no longer limited.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily add an image by recording the management data including the management data of each image data after the recorded image data.

Further, according to the present invention, since the management data area is moved according to the increase / decrease of the image data, there is no problem that the same portion of the tape is always accessed and damaged.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that additional recording of image data can be easily performed.

According to the present invention, the image data recorded on the tape can be searched and reproduced.

[0056]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a data arrangement on a tape according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tape recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a tape reproducing operation in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an adding / recording operation in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of data on a tape before and after addition / recording in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of data on a tape in a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing tape reproduction processing in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of additionally recording data on a tape in a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an additional recording process in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 lead-in area 103 image data area 104 management data area 105 lead-out area 106 non-recording area 201 CPU 202 tape drive unit 203 memory (RAM) 204 display 205 operation panel 206 program memory

Front page continued (72) Inventor Keiji Inoue 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image data area in which image data is recorded in a recording order with respect to a scanning direction of a tape, and a management data area in which attribute data is recorded following the image data area. Tape-shaped magnetic storage medium. 2. The management data area includes at least a name of each image data, a creation date of each of the image data,
The tape-shaped magnetic storage medium according to claim 1, wherein a track number on which each of the image data is recorded is stored. 3. Image data on a tape including an image data area for recording image data in a recording order with respect to a scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area for recording attribute data following the image data area. A tape recording method for recording image data, the step of reading the management data area and storing the management data in a memory when image data recording is instructed; Recording by overwriting on an area including a data area, updating management data stored in the memory according to the recorded image data, and updating the management data of the recorded image data. And a step of later recording as a management data area. 4. The method further comprises a step of comparing the amount of image data instructed to be recorded with the remaining amount of the tape, and a step of determining whether or not to record an image according to the comparison result. The tape recording method according to claim 3, wherein 5. A tape reproducing method for reading and reproducing image data from a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, wherein when the reproduction of the image data is instructed, the management data stored in the tape is read out and stored in a memory. A step of holding management data on the tape, a step of referring to the management data stored in the memory to determine the address of the tape on which the image data instructed to be reproduced is recorded, A tape reproducing method comprising: a step of transporting a tape so as to come to a reading position; and a step of reading and reproducing image data from an address position of the tape. 6. The tape includes an image data area in which image data is recorded in the order of recording with respect to the scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area in which attribute data is recorded following the image data area. The tape reproducing method according to claim 5, wherein: 7. Image data on a tape including an image data area for recording image data in a recording order with respect to a scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area for recording attribute data following the image data area. A recording device that records the management data area and stores the management data when the recording of the image data is instructed; and the management data area on the tape that stores the image data instructed to be recorded. An image recording unit that overwrites and records in an area including the image, an updating unit that updates the management data stored in the storage unit according to the image data recorded by the image recording unit, and an updating unit that updates the management data. Management data recording means for recording management data as a management data area after the recorded image data, the tape recording comprising: Location. 8. A tape reproducing apparatus for reading and reproducing image data from a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, comprising: instruction means for instructing reproduction of image data; and management data of the image data instructed by the instruction means. A reading unit for reading from the tape, a judging unit for judging the address of the tape on which the image data for which reproduction is instructed is recorded by referring to the management data read by the reading unit, and the judging unit. A tape reproducing apparatus comprising: a tape conveying unit that conveys an address position to a reading position; and a reproducing unit that reads and reproduces image data from an address of the tape. 9. The tape includes an image data area in which image data is recorded in the order in which it is recorded in the tape scanning direction, and a management data area in which attribute data is recorded following the image data area. The tape reproducing device according to claim 8, wherein 10. An image is recorded on a tape including an image data area for recording image data in a recording order with respect to a scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area for recording attribute data following the image data area. A tape recording method for recording data, comprising the steps of reading the management data area and storing the management data in a memory when recording of the image data is instructed, and recording the image data instructed to be recorded on the tape. Recording overwriting on an area including a management data area, updating management data stored in the memory according to the recorded image data, and updating management data on the recorded image data And a recording area as a management data area, and the management data area is followed by a non-recorded area and a separation area in which data that can be separated is recorded. Tape recording method characterized by comprising the steps, a. 11. The tape recording method according to claim 10, wherein the area of the classification area is changed each time recording is updated. 12. The tape recording method according to claim 10, wherein the separation area has an area tone that is at least twice as large as that of the management data area. 13. The method further comprises a step of comparing an image data amount for which recording is instructed with a data amount of the management data area, and a step of determining whether or not to record an image according to the comparison result. The tape recording method according to claim 3, further comprising: 14. A step of comparing a preset data length with an actually recorded data length after recording the separation area, and generating a warning signal of zero remaining amount according to the comparison result. The tape recording method according to claim 10, further comprising a step. 15. An image is recorded on a tape including an image data area in which image data is recorded in a recording order with respect to a scanning direction of the tape, and a management data area in which attribute data is recorded following the image data area. A tape recording device for recording data, comprising: storage means for reading the management data area and storing the management data in a memory when recording of the image data is instructed; and image data on the tape for which recording is instructed. Recording means for overwriting and recording in an area including the management data area; updating means for updating management data stored in the memory according to the recorded image data; and updated management data for recording. Means for recording as a management data area after the image data, and a separation for recording the management data following the area and data that can be separated as a non-recorded area Tape recording apparatus characterized by comprising: a generation unit configured to generate a frequency, a. 16. The tape recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the area of the classification area is changed each time recording is updated. 17. The tape recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the classification area has an area tone that is at least twice as large as that of the management data area. 18. A comparing means for comparing the image data amount of which the recording is instructed with the data amount of the management data area, and a determining means for determining whether or not to record the image according to the comparison result. 16. The tape recording device according to claim 15, further comprising: