WO2002043383A1

WO2002043383A1 - Organization of audio and video on a hard disk drive

Info

Publication number: WO2002043383A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/043466
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shu Lin
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
Priority date: 2000-11-21
Filing date: 2001-11-21
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Also published as: AU2002226914A1

Abstract

A method of organizing recordation of video and audio data files on a hard disk drive including recording video data into a first circular area (Fig. 1, 'Video Zone 1') and recording related audio into a second circular area (Fig. 1, 'Audio Zone 2'). Preferably, the first and second circular areas are concentric and have no overlapping portions between them (Fig. 1). Multiple pairs of video and audio data can be recorded onto multiple concentric circular areas (Figs. 2 and 4-5, 'audio & video zones').

Description

ORGANIZATION OF AUDIO AND VIDEO ON A HARD DISK DRIVE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to hard disk drives and, more particularly, to organization of video and audio data recorded on a hard disk drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, laser discs and video CDs have been developed as optical storage media for storing multimedia data such as digital moving picture data, audio data and sub-picture data.

Devices for reproducing video signals from a storage device, such as a videocassette recorder (VCR), commonly provide user-controlled playback functions. Among these functions are reverse playback, slow-reverse playback, and frame-by-frame-reverse playback, in addition to standard playback, fast forward, and fast reverse capabilities. With the development of digital video signal recording technology, it is expected that digital video signal reproduction devices will provide similar playback functionality with improved image quality. However, current hard disk drive recording formats for audio and video data do not provide these functions with the same proficiency as provided by videocassette recorders. Playback features from hard disk drive recordings of video and audio data under current formats are very limited in both capabilities and quality.

There is no standard for the recording of audio and video (AV) data on a hard disk drive (HDD). The organization of AV data on a hard disk drive is essential for AV applications providing playback features such as trick play, and multiple and simultaneous recording and playback. Currently, most AV applications store video and audio files as a regular computer file. Typically, storage of multimedia components, e.g., video and audio files, is fragmented onto different areas of the hard disk drive resulting in excessive scanning across the disk surface to perform rudimentary playback functions.

Accordingly, there is a need for organization of recording audio and video data on a hard disk drive so that robust playback features can be provided.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A method of storing multimedia data including video data and audio data onto a storage medium includes recording video data in a first area on said storage medium that is intended for video information, and recording audio data in a second area on said storage medium intended for audio information, said first and second areas being adjacent to one another. Preferably, the storage medium is a hard disk drive and the first and second areas are concentric and distinct circular ring areas.

A method of organizing recordation of video and audio data onto a storage medium includes organizing storage areas on said storage medium into a plurality of pairs of distinct video and audio zone areas, maintaining no overlap between individual said video and audio zone areas and no overlap between pairs of related video and audio zone areas, and locating said video and audio zone areas for each said pair proximal to each other.

A method for recording multiple programs of video and related audio information on a hard disk drive includes multiplexing video and audio data from each program into a single data stream, dividing a hard disk drive into multiple zones of a first type and a second type, each type of said zones always being adjacent to a different type of said zone, and recording multiplexed video and audio data from each program into a different one of said zones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exemplary diagram of an the inventive organization of video and audio zones on a hard disk drive. Fig, 2 shows an inventive organization of multiple video and audio zones.

FIG. 3 shows a normal recording zone and an additional time shifting zone.

Fig. 4 shows separate video and audio zones in time shifting and sequential placement.

Fig. 5 shows multiple video and audio zones used for separate video and audio recordings.

Fig. 6 shows multiple zones used for multiple program recording.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the FIGURES of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Presently, audio and video (AV) recording on a hard disk drive (HDD) is a new application for which there is no standard. Important features for consumers playing back audio and video data recorded on a hard disk drive include trick play, and multiple simultaneous recording and playback. The organization of AV data on a hard disk drive is essential for these type of AV applications. AV applications such as trick play and, multiple and simultaneous recording playback, are facilitated by the inventive organization of audio and video (AV) data on a hard disk drive (HDD) .

The present invention solves the problem of how to store separate audio and video files, and how to store multiple streams of video and audio files.

The schematic 10 of Fig. 1 depicts an inventive organization of video and audio recordings on a hard disk drive. An inner audio zone 2 is surrounded by an outer video zone 1 . Only an audio file/data is stored in the audio zone 2 and only a video file/data is stored in the video zone 1 . The recording is also one way directional for both video and audio information. The size of each of the video and audio zones depends on the application involved. For example, an application has typical bit-rates for audio and video streams. If it is assumed that the video bit rate is Vb and the audio bit rate is Va, then we have the relationship that the size of video zone to the size of the audio zone is proportional to Vb/Va. Restated as a mathematical formula:

size of video zone = Vb size of audio zone Va

Alternatively, a hard disk drive can be divided into multiple zones of alternative video and audio data, as shown 20 in Fig. 2. Advantages from multiple zones include avoiding frequent large scan jumps across the hard disk drive during playback, less frequent scans back and forth during playback which reduces hard disk drive noise, and an increase in hard disk drive life. The sizes of adjacent video and audio zones 21 and 22 are also determined by the above formula relating the sizes of the video and audio zones and their respective bit rates. The zones can be static assigned or dynamic assigned. If the zones are divided and they stay unchanged then they are static zones. On the other hand, if the zones can be changed from one recording to another then they are dynamic zones. Obviously, the dynamic zones use space more efficiently than static zones. This known size could be 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or even 2 hours. In an audio zone, multiple audio streams can be recorded, but the size of the audio zone needs to be increased.

An AV recorder might require recording multiple programs simultaneously, such as recording one program and time shifting other programs. This involves recording two programs and playing back one program simultaneously. The hard disk drive head moves back and forth to accomplish the recording of multiple programs simultaneously. How frequently the hard disk head drive moves back and forth depends on the buffer size and recording strategies.

In the case of two programs being recorded, the two programs can be converted into a single multiplexed program. The multiplexer is required to multiplex the program streams into a single stream. After conversion, it becomes a simple sequential recording. The disadvantage with this method is that while you playback one program the other program needs to be filtered out. This requires an additional demultiplexer, buffer and more bandwidth. When a program is deleted, the space of the deleted files cannot be reused until both programs are deleted. This would significantly reduce the available hard disk capacity. A certain amount of space can be reserved for the time shifting, as shown 30 in Fig. 3. The normal recording zone 32, which includes video and audio zones, is surrounded by a time shifting zone 31 . The time shifting works like a circular buffer. The time shifting program will not be kept unless it is copied to another area before the space is reused. The normal recording program is treated as a single stream, one directional recording.

If the audio and video data are recorded in separate files then the hard disk drive is divided into two spaces, one space for normal recording and the other space for time shifting. This is depicted 40 in Fig. 4 showing separate video and audio zones, 41 and 42, 43 and 44, in time shifting and sequential organizations.

Application of the inventive organization of multiple video and audio zones for recording multiple programs with separate video and audio data recorded is shown 50 in Fig. 5. An outer video and audio pair of zones 51 and 52 surround a second pair of video and audio zones 53 and 54. The second video and audio zone pair 53 and 54 surrounds a third video and audio pair of zones 55 and 56. The third video and audio zone pair 55 and 56 surround a central video and audio zone pair 57 and 58.

In another case where there are multiple programs to be recorded, audio and video data from the same single program are multiplexed into a single data stream. The hard disk drive is divided into multiple zones as shown 60 in Fig. 6. There are two kinds of zones, an even zones 62 and an odd zone 61 . If two data streams are recorded simultaneously then one stream is recorded in an odd zone and the other stream is recorded in an adjacent even zone if it is available. If an adjacent even zone 62 is not available, then the nearest even zone 62 would be used. In this manner the time shifting program can be maintained. A zone can be partially recorded with the remaining space used for the next recording.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, although the invention has been described in terms of specific examples, modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the essence of the invention. For example, in the embodiments more or less video and audio zone pairs can be shown to illustrate the inventive features. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A method of storing multimedia data including video data and audio data onto a storage medium, said method comprising the steps of: recording video data in a first area on said storage medium that is intended for video information; and recording audio data in a second area on said storage medium intended for audio information, said first and second areas being adjacent to one another.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising a time shifting zone for use as a buffer during playback of said video and audio data and adjacent to one of said first and second areas.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second areas are concentric circular areas with no overlap between their respective areas.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second areas each have an inner circular perimeter and a larger diameter outer circular perimeter, a diameter of said outer circular perimeter of said first area being smaller than a diameter of said inner circular perimeter of said second area, said outer circular perimeter of said first area being surrounded by said inner circular perimeter of said second area.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising recording additional video data in a third area on said storage medium that is intended for video information; and recording additional audio data in a fourth area on said storage medium intended for audio information, said third and fourth areas being adjacent to one another.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said third and fourth areas have no portions coinciding with each other and coinciding with said first and second areas.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said storage medium comprises a hard disk drive.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said first area is a circular area, said second area is a circular area concentric with and surrounding said first area, said third area is a circular area concentric with and surrounding said second area, said fourth area is a circular area concentric with and surrounding said third area.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is a hard disk drive.

10. A method of organizing recordation of video and audio data onto a storage medium comprising: organizing storage areas on said storage medium into a plurality of pairs of distinct video and audio zone areas; maintaining no overlap between individual said video and audio zone areas and no overlap between pairs of related video and audio zone areas; and locating said video and audio zone areas for each said pair proximal to each other.

1 1 . A method according to claim 10, wherein said video and zone areas are concentric ring areas with video and audio zone areas alternating.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said storage medium is a hard disk drive.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising reserving an area on said storage medium as a buffer area for facilitating time shifting.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said video and audio zone areas are each distinct concentric circular areas with no overlap between them.

1 5. A method for recording multiple programs of video and related audio information on a hard disk drive comprising: multiplexing video and audio data from each program into a single data stream; dividing a hard disk drive into multiple zones of a first type and a second type, each type of said zones always being adjacent to a different type of said zone; and recording the multiplexed video and audio data from each program into a different one of said zones.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said dividing further comprises configuring said zones as concentric circular areas with no overlap between them.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising recording two programs simultaneously by recording one multiplexed stream onto said first type of said zones and recording a second program onto an adjacent one of said zones.

18 A method according to claim 17, wherein if said adjacent zone is not available then a nearest zone of the same type is used.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second types of zones can be partially filled to complete recording of a particular said program.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein said multiple zones are distinct ring areas concentric with each other.