JPH0945052A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: It is possible to minimize division of recorded data into parts on a recording medium, and to prevent an increase in the number of access between parts during reproduction. A recordable time length for each free area on a recording medium is determined, and a time length of each data unit for recording is determined. Then, the recordable time length of each free area is compared with the time length of each data unit,
The combination of each data unit and the unrecorded area is set so as to minimize the recording of one data unit at physically divided positions on the recording medium. Then, during the recording operation of each data unit, the recording head is controlled so that the data unit is recorded in the free area corresponding to the set combination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a management information to record, for example, audio data on a disk-shaped recording medium having management information for managing a data position of a track unit and an unrecorded area. The present invention relates to a recording device that can perform.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Data rewritable disc media on which a user can record music data and the like are known. In such disc media, an area where data such as music has already been recorded or an unrecorded area has been recorded. A data area (user TOC, hereinafter referred to as U-TOC) for managing (free area) is provided, and for example, recording, editing,
This management data is also rewritten every time an operation such as erasing is completed.

When recording a certain piece of music, for example, the recording device seeks a free area on the disc from the U-TOC and records audio data there. Further, in the reproducing apparatus, the area in which the music (track) to be reproduced is recorded is U
-From the TOC, the area is accessed and the reproducing operation is performed.

In a recordable disc medium such as a magneto-optical disc, random access is extremely easy as compared with a tape-like recording medium such as a DAT or a compact cassette tape. Therefore, from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the disc. It is not necessary to record in order from the first track to the n-th track toward the side. In other words, even if each song is physically recorded at different positions on the disc, as long as the recorded address of each song from the 1st track to the nth track is managed, it is played back in the correct song order. You can do it.

Further, for example, one track (song) is always recorded in continuous parts (a part means a part where temporally continuous data is recorded at physically continuous positions). There is no need, and there is no problem if the data is discretely divided into a plurality of parts and recorded on the disc.

Particularly, in a system in which data read from a magneto-optical disk is temporarily stored in a buffer memory at a high rate, read from the buffer memory at a low rate, and demodulated as an audio reproduction signal, access between parts is performed. As a result, even if the data reading from the magneto-optical disk is temporarily interrupted, the reproduced sound can be output without interruption. Therefore, if the recording / reproducing operation in the parts and the high-speed access operation (the access operation that is completed within the reproducible time due to the amount of data accumulation caused by the difference between the write rate and the read rate of the buffer memory) are repeated, one music piece is reproduced. Even if the track is physically divided into a plurality of parts, recording / playback of the music can be prevented.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the first music piece is recorded as a part TK ₁ , the second music piece is recorded as a part TK ₂ and the third music piece is recorded as a part TK ₃ , and the fourth music piece is recorded. The fifth song is parts TK _{4 (1)} -
It is also possible to record by dividing into a plurality of parts on the disc as shown by M _{4 (4)} , M _{5 (1) to} M _{5 (2)} . Moreover, as can be seen from the figure, it is not always necessary that the tracks are arranged in the track number order from the inner peripheral side. In addition,
FIG. 11 is merely a schematic diagram, and in reality, 1
One part often covers several to several hundred tracks or more.

When recording or erasing music on a magneto-optical disk is repeated, vacant areas on the tracks are irregularly generated due to the difference in the playing time of the recorded music or the playing time of the erased music. By executing the discrete recording in this way, it becomes possible to record, for example, a music longer than the erased music by utilizing the erased portion, and by repeating recording / erasing, the data recording area Waste is eliminated. It should be noted that what is recorded is not necessarily a “song”, and any sound signal is included, but in the present specification, a song is recorded as one unit of data (track) that is continuous in terms of content. Will be explained.

Of course, for such a disc,
During recording, recording must be continued while accessing a plurality of unrecorded parts, and during reproduction, the parts must be accessed so that one music piece can be correctly and continuously reproduced. The data for connecting the parts (for example, TK _{4 (1) to} TK _{4 (4)} ) in one music necessary for this purpose and the data indicating the unrecorded area are recorded or erased as described above. UT rewritten for each operation
It is held as OC information, and the recording / reproducing apparatus is controlled so that the recording / reproducing operation is properly executed by reading this U-TOC information and accessing the head.

[0010]

By the way, although it is possible that data that is temporally continuous as described above is recorded at physically separated positions, access between parts is performed during playback. During this period, the data accumulated in the buffer memory is being output as reproduced sound.

As a function of the buffer memory, even if a situation such that a track jump occurs due to external vibration or the like and data cannot be read from the disk, the reproduced sound is not interrupted. However, from the viewpoint of the function as a buffer memory, the access operation between parts cannot read the data during that time,
This is exactly equivalent to the inability to read data due to disturbance. Therefore, if the parts are accessed too frequently, the dependence on the stored data in the buffer memory increases correspondingly, the amount of stored data decreases, and the vibration resistance capability against external vibration and the like decreases. That is, there is a problem that the possibility of skipping of the reproduced voice is increased.

Looking at the conventional recording method, when recording, new data is recorded in order from the free area on the inner circumference side. In such a case, each data is recorded. Depending on the size of the free area and the length of time of the music to be recorded, there will be more opportunities to be divided into parts and recorded. FIG.
The occurrence of such a state will be described in Section 2.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the innermost peripheral side of the disc 1 is a lead-in area 1a, the outermost peripheral side is a lead-out area 1c, and a space between them is a recording area 1b. FIG. 12B shows the recording area 1b in the form of a strip in the radial direction.
It is assumed that 1 to TK7 are recorded in order from the inner circumference side. In the state of FIG. 12 (b), during reproduction, reproduction can be continued from the inner peripheral side without accessing parts as shown in the lower part of FIG. 12 (b).

Here, the tracks TK2, TK4, TK6
If it is erased, that portion is managed as free areas F1, F2, F3 as shown in FIG. Also, the tracks after the track TK3 are TK2, TK4, and TK.
The track number is filled with the erasure of 6.

When newly recording music on the disc of FIG. 12 (c), it is used from the free area F1 on the inner peripheral side of the disc. For example, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 12 (d), the free areas F1, F2, Recording is performed by sequentially accessing F3. This recorded data is shown in FIG.
In the state of (c), the last track is the track TK4, so the track TK5 is set. Then, for example, when the recording is finished at a position in the middle of the free area F3, a new track TK5 has three parts TK5 ₍₁₎ , as shown in FIG.
It was recorded as TK5 ₍₂₎ and TK5 ₍₃₎ .
The remaining part of the free area F3 is newly set as the free area F1.

In a disc in such a state, a large number of access operations AC as shown in the lower part of FIG. For example, if the parts are required to be accessed many times as in this example, the anti-vibration function is deteriorated as described above.

Further, the increase in the number of times of access between parts causes a problem that the power consumption increases due to the access drive of the optical head, and the usable time becomes short in a battery-driven device, for example.

[0018]

In view of the above problems, the present invention minimizes the division of recorded data into parts on a recording medium, and the number of times of access between parts during reproduction. The purpose is not to increase.

Therefore, in the recording apparatus, a recordable time length discriminating means for discriminating the recordable time length of each unrecorded area (free area) on the recording medium, and a unit of each data to be recorded on the recording medium. A data time length determination means for determining the time length is provided. Then, the recordable time length of each unrecorded area determined by the recordable time length determination means by the combination setting means and the time length of each data unit determined by the data time length determination means are compared with each other to obtain one. The combination of each data unit and the unrecorded area is set so that the data unit is recorded at the physically divided positions on the recording medium to the minimum. Then, the recording control unit controls the recording head so that, during the recording operation of each data unit, the data unit is recorded in the unrecorded area corresponding to the combination set by the combination setting unit.

By providing each of the above means, when there are a plurality of free areas, the most suitable combination, that is, a certain track, is selected in consideration of the length of the music piece to be recorded and the length of each free area. It is possible to set and record a combination that minimizes the division of parts.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an example as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, the recording device is a mini disk (hereinafter, MD) which is a magneto-optical disk.
MD recording / reproducing device using CD as a recording medium, and C using a compact disc (hereinafter referred to as CD) as a recording medium.
An example will be given of one realized as a composite device equipped with the D playback device section. The description will be given in the following order. 1. Composition of compound equipment 2. 2. U-TOC sector Outline of operation during recording 4 Processing example during recording

1. Configuration of Compound Device FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the essential parts of the compound device. FIG.
In, MD1 is loaded in a portion which will be the MD recording / reproducing device section. An MD (magneto-optical disk) 1 is used as a medium capable of recording audio data, and is rotationally driven by a spindle motor 2 during recording / reproduction. Optical head 3
Irradiates the magneto-optical disk 1 with laser light at the time of recording / reproducing, thereby performing the operation as a head at the time of recording / reproducing. That is, a high level laser output is provided for heating the recording track to the Curie temperature during recording, and a relatively low level laser output for detecting data from the reflected light due to the magnetic Kerr effect is provided during reproduction.

Therefore, the optical head 3 is equipped with a laser diode as a laser output means, an optical system including a polarization beam splitter and an objective lens, and a detector for detecting reflected light. The objective lens 3a is 2
It is held by a shaft mechanism 4 so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the disk and in the direction of moving toward and away from the MD1, and the entire optical head 3 is movable by a sled mechanism 5 in the radial direction of MD1. Further, the magnetic head 6a is arranged at a position facing the optical head 3 with the MD 1 interposed therebetween. The magnetic head 6a performs an operation of applying a magnetic field modulated by the supplied data to MD1. Magnetic head 6
A is movable in the disk radial direction by the sled mechanism 5 together with the optical head 3.

By the reproducing operation, the optical head 3 causes M
The information detected from D1 is supplied to the RF amplifier 7.
The RF amplifier 7 extracts a reproduction RF signal, a tracking error signal, a focus error signal, groove information (absolute position information recorded as a pre-groove (wobbling groove) in the MD 1) and the like by calculating the supplied information. Then, the extracted reproduction RF signal is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 8. The tracking error signal and the focus error signal are supplied to a servo circuit 9, and the groove information is supplied to an address decoder 10 and demodulated. The address information decoded from the groove information, the address information recorded as data and decoded by the encoder / decoder unit 8, the subcode information, and the like are supplied to the system controller 11 configured by a microcomputer and used for various controls. . The system controller 11 functions as the overall control unit of this composite device.

The servo circuit 9 drives various servos based on the supplied tracking error signal, focus error signal, track jump command, access command, rotation speed detection information of the spindle motor 2, etc. from the system controller 11 composed of a microcomputer. A signal is generated and the biaxial mechanism 4 and the sled mechanism 5 are controlled to perform focus and tracking control, and the spindle motor 2 is controlled to a constant linear velocity (CLV).

The reproduced RF signal is sent to the encoder / decoder unit 8
After the EFM demodulation and the decoding processing such as CIRC are performed by the memory controller 12, the buffer memory 13 is temporarily processed by the memory controller 12.
Is written to. The reading of data from the MD1 by the optical head 3 and the transfer of the reproduced data in the system from the optical head 3 to the buffer memory 13 are 1.41 Mbit / s.
It's ec, and it's done intermittently.

The data written in the buffer memory 13 is read out at a timing when the transfer of the reproduction data becomes 0.3 Mbit / sec, and is supplied to the encoder / decoder section 14. Then, reproduction signal processing such as decoding processing for audio compression processing is performed, and the audio data of 16-bit quantization and 44.1 KHz sampling is supplied to the terminal T _MD of the switching circuit 50. During the reproduction operation of MD1, the system controller 11 controls the switching circuit 50 so as to connect it to the terminal T _MD , so that the digital audio signal output from the encoder / decoder unit 14 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 51. And the terminal 5 through the amplifier circuit 52.
3 is output as a reproduced voice signal. For example, they are output as L, R analog audio signals.

Here, the operation of writing / reading data to / from the buffer memory 13 during reproduction will be described. Writing / reading of data to / from buffer memory 13 is performed by being addressed by memory controller 12 under the control of the write pointer and the read pointer. FIG. 7 conceptually shows the operation of writing / reading data to / from the buffer memory 13, and it is assumed that addresses 0 to n are provisionally set as areas for data in the buffer memory 13. In addition, in addition to the audio signal data, TOC data for controlling the recording / reproducing operation and the like are actually held in the buffer memory 13, so a storage area other than the audio signal data is also set.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the write pointer W and the read pointer R are sequentially incremented from address 0 to address n, and the address 0 is re-addressed after the address n. It is controlled in a so-called ring form that is reset to. Then, when the reproduction operation is started and the data is read from the disk 1 by the optical head 3 and supplied to the buffer memory 13, the write pointer W is sequentially incremented as shown in FIG. 7B. Data is written to each address accordingly. In addition, the read pointer R is sequentially incremented at substantially the same time (or when the data is stored to some extent), and data is read from each address and supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 14. Go.

Here, the write pointer W is as described above.
The read pointer R is incremented at a timing of 1.41 Mbit / sec, while the read pointer R is incremented at a timing of 0.3 Mbit / sec. Therefore, at a certain point, the address indicated by the write pointer W is read out as shown in FIG. 7C. It catches up with the address indicated by the pointer R. That is, when the read pointer R is the address x, the address of the write pointer W becomes x−1, and the buffer memory 13 is in a state in which the full capacity of data is accumulated. At this time, the increment of the write pointer W is stopped, and the data read operation from the disk 1 by the optical head 3 is also stopped. However, since the read pointer R is continuously incremented, the reproduced voice output is not interrupted.

After that, only the read operation from the buffer memory 13 is continued, and the data storage amount N in the buffer memory 13 becomes less than or equal to a set predetermined amount at a certain point as shown in FIG. 7D, for example. Suppose Here, the data read operation by the optical head 3 and the increment of the write pointer W are restarted again, and are executed until the address of the write pointer W catches up with the address of the read pointer R again. As described above, the write operation of the read data from the disk 1 to the buffer memory 13 is performed intermittently.

This operation relationship is shown in FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c). As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, if the reproducing operation is started at time t ₀ , the data reading from the disk 1 and the storage in the buffer memory are started first, and immediately after that, the data reading from the buffer memory 13 is started. Reading and reproduction output as an acoustic signal are started. Then, assuming that the data storage amount N of the buffer memory 13 becomes full at time t ₁ (FIG. 8C), the data reading from the disk 1 and the storage operation to the buffer memory 13 are stopped at that time, and T ₂ when the amount of accumulated data decreases to the level where N ₁
Not executed until time point. Then, the data reading operation from the disk 1 and the storage operation in the buffer memory 13 are executed from the time point t _{2 to the} time t ₃ when the data storage is full again.

Here, the period t ₁ to t ₂ is, for example, about 1.5 seconds,
The period from t _{2 to} t ₃ is, for example, about 0.5 second, and the operation is repeated at such timing as long as the normal operation is performed thereafter. That is, the optical head 3 repeats an operation (writing / reading period) of about 0.5 seconds and an operation stop (standby period) of about 1.5 seconds.

By outputting the reproduced sound signal via the buffer memory 13 as described above, the reproduced sound output is not interrupted even if the tracking is missed due to disturbance or the like, and the data accumulation remains. By accessing to the correct tracking position and restarting the data reading while the operation is in progress, the operation can be continued without affecting the reproduction output. That is, the vibration resistance function can be remarkably improved. In particular, by the relatively detailed operation of repeating the write / read period of about 0.5 seconds and the standby period of about 1.5 seconds,
As shown in FIG. 8C, the accumulated amount N ₁ is still relatively large.
By resuming the writing to the buffer memory 13 at the time when the level becomes, the data amount that is as close to the full capacity as possible is always accumulated, so that the performance as the vibration resistance function is always constant to some extent. It will be held above.

When the recording operation is performed on the MD1 shown in FIG. 1, the recording signal (analog audio signal) supplied to the input terminal 17 is 16-bit quantized by the A / D converter 18 at 44.1 KHz. After being converted into sampling digital data, it is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 14 and subjected to audio compression encoding processing for compressing the data amount to about ⅕. The recording data compressed by the encoder / decoder section 14 is temporarily written to the buffer memory 13 by the memory controller 12, read out at a predetermined timing, and sent to the encoder / decoder section 8. Then, the encoder / decoder unit 8 sets the CIRC
After the encoding process such as encoding and EFM modulation,
It is supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 6.

The magnetic head drive circuit 6 supplies a magnetic head drive signal to the magnetic head 6a according to the encoded recording data. That is, the magnetic field 6a is applied to the MD1 by the magnetic head 6a. Also,
At this time, the system controller 11 supplies a control signal to the optical head so as to output a recording level laser beam.

In the case of this MD recording operation, as a control for the buffer memory 13, the write pointer (write address) is incremented at a timing of 0.3 Mbit / sec, contrary to the time of reproduction, and the input is performed. The voice data thus created is written in the buffer memory 13 as needed. Then, when a certain amount of data is accumulated in the buffer memory 13, the read pointer becomes 1.41 Mb.
The data that has been incremented and accumulated at the timing of it / sec is read out and sent to the encoder / decoder unit 8. Therefore, the write operation to the MD1 by the optical head and the magnetic head 6a is intermittently performed according to the storage amount of the buffer memory 13.

By the way, when the recording / reproducing operation is performed on the MD1, the management information recorded on the MD1, that is, the P-TOC (pre-mastered TOC) and the U-TOC are recorded.
(User TOC) must be read. The system controller 11 determines the address of the area to be recorded on the MD1 and the address of the area to be reproduced according to the management information. This management information is held in the buffer memory 13. Therefore, the buffer memory 13
In the above, the recording data / playback data buffer area and the area for holding the management information are divided and set. Then, the system controller 11 reads out these management information by executing a reproducing operation on the innermost circumference side of the disc on which the management information is recorded when the MD 1 is loaded, and stores it in the buffer memory 13. After that, the MD1 can be referred to during the recording / reproducing operation.

The U-TOC is edited and rewritten according to the recording and erasing of data, but the system controller 11 stores this editing process in the buffer memory 13 every time the recording / erasing operation is performed. -TOC information is performed, and the U-TOC area of MD1 is rewritten at a predetermined timing according to the rewriting operation.

A CD (optical disk) 30, which is a reproduction-only disk, is loaded in a portion which will be a CD reproduction device section. The CD 30 is rotationally driven at a constant linear velocity (CLV) by the spindle motor 31 during the CD reproducing operation.
Then, the data recorded in the pit form on the CD 30 is read by the optical head 32 and supplied to the RF amplifier 35. Objective lens 32a in the optical head 32
Is held by the biaxial mechanism 33 and can be displaced in the tracking and focus directions. The optical head 32
Can be moved in the radial direction of the CD 30 by the sled mechanism 34.

In the RF amplifier 35, in addition to the reproduced RF signal,
A focus error signal and a tracking error signal are generated, and these error signals are supplied to the servo circuit 36. The servo circuit 36 generates various drive signals such as a focus drive signal, a tracking drive signal, a sled drive signal, and a spindle drive signal from the focus error signal and the tracking error signal, and the biaxial mechanism 33, the sled mechanism 3
4 and the operation of the spindle motor 31 are controlled.

The reproduced RF signal is supplied to the decoder 37. The decoder 37 performs EFM demodulation, CIRC decoding, etc., and decodes the information read from the CD 30 into a digital audio data format of 16-bit quantization and 44.1 KHz sampling. The decoder 37 also extracts control data such as TOC and subcode, which are supplied to the system controller 11 and used for various controls.

The digital audio data output from the decoder 37 is supplied to the terminal T _CD of the switching circuit 50. During the CD reproduction operation, the system controller 11 switches the switching circuit 50.
, The terminal T _CD is selected, and the reproduced audio data from the CD 30 is supplied to the D / A converter 51. Then, it is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 51, and is output as a reproduced audio signal from the terminal 53 via the amplifier circuit 52. For example, they are output as L, R analog audio signals.

The reproduced audio data from the CD 30 is also supplied to the encoder / decoder section 14. Then, audio compression encoding is performed by the encoder / decoder unit 14 and written in the buffer memory 13. In other words, the dubbing recording from the CD 30 to the MD 1 can be performed by executing the reproduction of the CD 30 and the recording of the MD 1 at the same time.

The operation unit 19 is provided with a recording key, a reproduction key, a stop key, an AMS key, a search key and the like so as to be operated by the user, so that reproduction / recording operations for the MD1 and the CD 30 can be performed. Has been
That is, the operation information from the operation unit 19 is supplied to the system controller 11, and the system controller 11 causes the respective units to perform a required operation based on the operation information and the operation program.

Further, the display section 20 carries out a required display operation when the MD1 and the CD 30 are reproduced or recorded. For example, the time information such as the total playing time, the progress time at the time of reproduction and recording, and various displays such as the track number, the operation state, and the operation mode are displayed under the control of the system controller 11.

2. U-TOC Sector As described above, when the recording / reproducing operation is performed on the MD1, the system controller 11 reads the P-TOC and U-TOC as the management information recorded on the MD1, and refers to this. Will be done. Here, a U-TOC sector will be described as management information for managing recording / reproducing operations of tracks (musical pieces and the like) in the MD 1.

The TOC information includes U-TOC and P-
Although the TOC is provided, the P-TOC is formed in the innermost pit area of the MD 1 and is read-only information. The P-TOC manages the position of a recordable area (recordable user area), a lead-out area, a U-TOC area, and the like on the disc. In addition, in the mini-disc system, it is possible to use a read-only optical disc (premastered disc) in which all data is recorded in a pit form,
In the case of the premastered disc, the music recorded in the ROM by the P-TOC can be managed, and the U-TOC is not formed. P-
Detailed description of the TOC is omitted, and here, the U-TOC provided in the recordable magneto-optical disk will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the format of the U-TOC sector 0. In addition, as the U-TOC sector, sector 0 to sector 7 can be provided,
Sectors 1 and 4 are character information, and sector 2 is an area for recording the recording date and time. Here, only the U-TOC sector 0 that is absolutely necessary for the recording / reproducing operation of the MD 1 will be described. The U-TOC sector 0 is a data area in which management information is mainly recorded on music recorded by the user and on free areas in which new music can be recorded. For example, when attempting to record a certain piece of music on the MD1, the system controller 11 searches for a free area on the disc from the U-TOC sector 0 and records audio data there. At the time of reproduction, the area in which the music to be reproduced is recorded is determined from U-TOC sector 0, and the reproduction operation is performed by accessing the area.

The data area of U-TOC sector 0 (4 bytes × 588, 2352 bytes) has all 0s at the beginning position.
Alternatively, a synchronization pattern in which all 1-byte data are formed side by side is recorded. Then the cluster address (Clust
er H) (Cluster L) and an address to be a sector address (Sector) and mode information (MODE) are added by 4 bytes,
This is the header.

The sector is a data unit of 2352 bytes as described above, and 36 sectors make up one cluster. Regarding the synchronization pattern and address, this U-TO
Not only the C sector 0, but also a P-TOC sector and a data sector in which audio data is actually recorded are recorded in sector units. The cluster address consists of the upper address (Cluster H) and the lower address (Cluster L).
The sector address (Sector) is described by one byte. Next, the manufacturer code, model code, and track number (F
irst TNO), track number of last track (Last T
NO), data such as sector usage (Used sectors), disk serial number, and disk ID are recorded.

Further, in order to identify the area of the track (music or the like) or the free area recorded by the user by making it correspond to a management table section to be described later, various tables are used as a correspondence table instruction data section. Pointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TN
O255) is recorded.

The table pointers (P-DFA to P-TNO25)
5) (01h)
There are provided 255 parts tables from (FFh) to (FFh). In each of the parts tables, a start address serving as a starting point, an end address serving as an end, and mode information (track mode) of the part are recorded. ing. In addition, since the parts indicated in each part table may be successively connected to other parts, link information indicating the part table in which the start address and the end address of the connected parts are recorded can be recorded. Have been. In the present specification, the numerical value with “h” is in a so-called hexadecimal notation.

In this type of recording / reproducing apparatus, as described above, the data of one music piece is physically discontinuous, that is, even if the data is recorded over a plurality of parts, the parts are accessed and reproduced. Since there is no hindrance to the playback operation, a music piece or the like to be recorded by the user may be recorded in a plurality of parts for the purpose of efficiently using the recordable area.

Therefore, the link information is provided, and the parts tables can be connected by designating the parts table to be connected by the numbers (01h) to (FFh) given to the respective parts tables.
In other words, in the management table section in the U-TOC sector 0, one parts table represents one part. For example, for a music composed of three parts connected, three parts connected by link information The position of the part is managed by the table. Note that the link information is actually indicated by a numerical value which is a byte position in the U-TOC sector 0 by a predetermined arithmetic processing. That is, the part table is designated as 304+ (link information) × 8 (byte).

Each part table from (01h) to (FFh) in the management table section of the U-TOC sector 0 is a table pointer (P-DF) in the corresponding table instruction data section.
A, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TNO255)
The contents of the part are shown as follows.

The table pointer P-DFA is shown attached to the defective area on the MD1, and is the beginning of one part table or a plurality of parts tables in which a track portion (= part) which becomes a defective area due to a scratch or the like is shown. The parts table of is specified. In other words, when there is a defective part, one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded in the table pointer P-DFA, and the defective part is indicated by the start and end addresses in the corresponding parts table. . If another defective part exists, another part table is designated as link information in the part table, and the defective part is also shown in the part table. Then, if there is no other defective part, the link information is, for example, "(00h)", and thereafter there is no link.

The table pointer P-EMPTY indicates the head part table of one or a plurality of unused part tables in the management table section. If there is an unused part table, the table pointer P-EMPTY is set as the table pointer P-EMPTY. , (01h) to (FFh) are recorded.
If there are multiple unused part tables, the part table specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY is sequentially specified by link information, and all unused part tables are connected on the management table section Is done.

The table pointer P-FRA indicates a free area (including an erasing area) in which data can be written on the MD1, and one or a plurality of parts in which a track portion (= part) to be a free area is shown. The top part table in the table is specified. In other words, when there is a free area, (0
Any one of 1h) to (FFh) is recorded, and the parts that correspond to the corresponding parts are indicated by the start and end addresses. When there are a plurality of such parts, that is, when there are a plurality of parts tables, the link information sequentially specifies the parts table having the link information of "(00h)".

FIG. 10 schematically shows the management state of the parts which are the free area by the parts table. This is when the parts (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h) are set as the free area, this state corresponds to the corresponding table instruction data P-FRA.
Continuing on, the parts table (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h)
Shows the state represented by the link. Note that the management form of the above-mentioned defective area and unused parts table is similar to this.

By the way, if it is a magneto-optical disk on which no audio data such as music is recorded and there is no defect,
Parts table (01h) by table pointer P-FRA
Is specified, which indicates that the entire recordable user area of the disc is a free area. In this case, since the remaining part tables (02h) to (FFh) are not used, the part table (02h) is designated by the above-mentioned table pointer P-EMPTY, and the part table (02h) is not used. The parts table (03h) is specified as link information, and so on, so that the parts table (FFh) is linked. In this case, the link information of the parts table (FFh) is set to "(00h)" indicating that there is no connection thereafter. At this time, the parts table (0
As for 1h), the start address of the recordable user area is recorded as the start address, and the address immediately before the lead-out start address is recorded as the end address.

The table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 are M
D1 shows a track such as a music piece recorded by the user. For example, the table pointer P-TNO1 indicates a temporally leading part of one or a plurality of parts in which the data of the first track is recorded. The specified parts table is specified. For example, when the track designated as the first track is recorded on the disc without dividing the track, that is, when it is recorded by one part, the recording area of the first track is in the parts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1. It is recorded as the start and end addresses.

Further, for example, when a music piece designated as the second track is discretely recorded in a plurality of parts on the disc, each part is designated in a temporal order to indicate the recording position of the second track. To be done. In other words, from the parts table specified by the table pointer P-TNO2, further parts tables are sequentially specified by the link information according to the temporal order, and the parts table whose link information is "(00h)" is linked. (The above-mentioned form similar to FIG. In this way, for example, all the parts in which the data constituting the second song is recorded are sequentially designated and recorded, so that the data of the U-TOC sector 0 is used to reproduce the second song or the second song. When performing overwriting recording on the area (1), it becomes possible to access the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 to take out continuous music information from discrete parts, and perform recording using the recording area efficiently.

As described above, in the rewritable magneto-optical MD1, area management on the disc is performed by the P-TOC, and music recorded in the recordable user area, free area, etc. are performed by the U-TOC. .

3. Outline of Operation During Recording Next, a recording operation that is a characteristic operation in the composite device according to the present embodiment will be described. CD30 here
The case where the music data reproduced from is recorded on the MD1 will be described as an example.

Now, it is assumed that data is recorded in the recording area of MD1 as shown in FIG. That is, it is assumed that tracks TK1 to TK4 are recorded and that free areas F1, F2 and F3 are present. Here, in the free area F1, the address S _F1 is used as a start address, and it is a part capable of recording for 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
The free area F2 has a start address at the address S _{F2 and} is a part capable of recording for 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Further, it is assumed that the free area F3 has a start address at the address S _{F3 and} is a part capable of recording for 5 minutes and 25 seconds. The position of each such free area is determined by the table pointer P- in the above-mentioned U-TOC.
The start address and end address are described and managed in the parts table linked from the FRA.

For such MD1, the user selects C
Suppose you try to dubb two tracks # 1 and # 2 on D30. Here, it is assumed that the playing times of the track # 1 and the track # 2 of the CD 30 are 5 minutes 3 seconds and 6 minutes 58 seconds, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2B.

Track # 1 and Track # from CD30
The reproduction data as 2 is recorded in the free area in MD1. Here, the system controller 11 reproduces the free area parts to be used at the time of recording and the recordable time of each free area part. Assigned according to the playing time of the track, preferably 1
Make sure that one track is not divided into multiple parts and recorded.

For example, in this case, the free area F on the inner circumference side
If you start recording from 1 onwards, track # 1 will fit in free area F1, but track # 2 will be recorded as three parts across free areas F1, F2, and F3. Become. However, in the present embodiment, since the track # 1 is 5 minutes 3 seconds, the free area having a recordable time longer than 5 minutes 3 seconds and having a recordable time close to 5 minutes 3 seconds is first set. Select and assign to track # 1. The same applies to track # 2.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2C, the track # 1 is recorded using the free area F3.
Track # 2 is recorded using the free area F1. In other words, when track # 1 is played, M
The optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a access the address S _F3 with respect to D1, and recording is performed. Then, when the reproduction of the track # 1 is completed and the recording of the track TK5 on the MD1 is completed, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a are subsequently moved to the address S by the reproduction of the track # 2.
_F1 is accessed and recording as track TK6 is performed. By doing this, tracks # 1 and # 2
Will be recorded as tracks TK5 and TK6 formed by one part on MD1.

4 Processing Example During Recording An example of processing by the system controller 11 for performing the above recording operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the processing of the system controller 11 when the MD 1 is loaded. When the MD 1 is loaded, the system controller 11 first drives the MD 1 to execute the reading operation by the optical head 3 to read the TOC information on the inner circumference side of the disc. That is, the data as P-TOC and U-TOC is read and this data is stored in a predetermined area of the buffer memory 13 (F10
1).

Here, it is confirmed from the read U-TOC data whether or not a free area exists in the MD1 (F102). This is an operation for confirming the table pointer P-FRA, and if the table pointer P-FRA = "00h", there is no free area. If there is a free area, it is next determined whether or not there are a plurality of parts as free areas (F103). In other words, the part table linked from the table pointer P-FRA is 1
It is sufficient to confirm whether it is two or more.

When there is only one part as the free area, the process proceeds to step F111 to calculate the recordable time of the free area, that is, the remaining recordable time in MD1. The recordable time may be obtained by subtracting the start address from the end address written in the parts table to obtain the address length as a free area and converting it to the time. When the recordable time of the free area is obtained, the recordable time is displayed on the display unit 20 in step F112.

On the other hand, if there are a plurality of parts as free areas, the process proceeds from step F103 to F104, and the number of parts as free areas is substituted into the variable N. For example, in the case of MD1 in the state as shown in FIG. 2A, the variable N =
It becomes 3. Then, the variable n is set to 1 (F105), and the time length of the free area part F (n) is calculated (F106). Here, F (n) means the table pointer P-FRA on the U-TOC.
The free area parts shown in the parts table connected to the n-th item are shown.

First, since the variable n = 1, the start address is subtracted from the end address written in the first part table linked from the table pointer P-FRA to obtain the address length as a free area. You will get it and convert it to time. After calculating the time length,
Start address _{SF (n)} shown in the parts table
And the calculated time length T _{F (n)} is stored in the internal register.
(F107). If n = N is not satisfied in step F108, the variable n is incremented (F109) and the process returns to step F106. In other words, the time length is similarly calculated for the free area parts shown in the next linked parts table, and the start address S _{F (n)} and the calculated time length T _{F (n)} are stored in the internal register. .

In step F108, n = N is reached when the processing in step F107 is completed for all existing free area parts. At this time, if the MD 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 2A, for example, each free area part F1, is stored in the internal register of the system controller 11.
For F2 and F3, as shown in FIG. 5A, the time lengths T _F1 , T
_F2 , T _F3 , and start addresses S _F1 , S _F2 , S _F3 are stored. In the next step F110, M
The remaining recordable time as D1 is calculated. This is the time length of each free area part (T _F1 , T _F2 ... T _{F (N)} )
Is the total value of. When the recordable time of the entire free area is obtained, the recordable time is displayed on the display unit 20 in step F112.

When the MD1 is loaded, the system controller 11 performs the above-mentioned processing, that is, when there are a plurality of free areas, the time length and start address of each free area part are grasped. There is.

Next, the case where the CD 30 is loaded will be described. When the CD 30 is loaded, the system controller 11 performs the processing shown in FIG. First, the CD 30 is driven to cause the optical head 32 to perform a reproducing operation, and the TOC information recorded on the innermost circumference side is read (F201). CD
The TOC information of 30 records the number of tracks recorded on the disc, the total playing time, the start position of each track, etc. in a format different from that of MD1. In the case of a CD, the address is equivalent to the time information, that is, the start position address of each track is recorded as the absolute time information.

After reading such TOC information, the system controller 11 reads and stores the playing time of each recorded track (F202). For the playing time of each track, subtraction processing can be performed using the absolute position address (absolute time information) that is the calculated starting position of the track and the absolute position address (absolute time information) that is the starting position of the next track. Good.

When the CD 30 is loaded, the system controller 11 reads the TOC information in this way and also carries out the processing for grasping the playing time of each track. At this stage, the user can change from CD30 to MD
The case of performing the dubbing operation to 1 is shown as the processing after step F203 in FIG.

When the dubbing operation is performed, the system controller 11 first compares the total reproduction time of the loaded CD 30 with the recordable time of MD1 calculated in the processing of FIG. 3 (F204). If the total playback time of the CD 30 is longer, it is not possible to copy all the recorded songs of the CD 30 to the MD 1. Therefore, the process proceeds to step F205, and a message is displayed on the display unit 20 to inform the user that the recording cannot be completed. In order to perform the dubbing, it is requested that the music to be dubbed is selected and programmed.

If the user has designated and programmed some songs (tracks) to be dubbed, the process proceeds from step F206 to F207 to calculate the total reproduction time of the programmed tracks. Then, returning to step F204, the total reproduction time is compared with the recordable time of MD1. Here too, if the total playback time of the CD 30 is longer, the process goes to step F205 again.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step F204, the flow proceeds to step F208 to take in the playing time of each track reproduced on the CD 30 for processing. For example, if tracks # 1, # 2, and # 3 are reproduced from the CD 30, then FIG.
Playback playing time T # for each track as shown in (b)
_{Take in 1} , T # ₂ and T # ₃ .

Next, in step F209, it is confirmed whether the MD1 side has one free area part or a plurality of free area parts. When there is only one free area part on the MD1 side, each track reproduced on the CD 30 is inevitably recorded on the free area part. Then, in step F210, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a are made to access the head of the free area. At the same time, the optical head 32 executes the reproducing operation of the designated track from the CD 30. Then, the reproduced voice data is subjected to voice compression encoding, CIRC encoding, EFM encoding, etc., and is supplied as recording data to the magnetic head 6a to execute recording.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step F209 that there are a plurality of free area parts, then in step F211, which free area parts should be recorded for each track to be reproduced is assigned, and when the allocation is determined. In step F212, the audio data of each track reproduced from the CD 30 is transferred to the MD1 according to the allocation.
The recording operation is performed in the predetermined free area above.

As the allocation processing in step F211, for example, matrix calculation of the time length of each free area part and the time length of the reproduction track may be performed. For example, FIG.
When there are free area parts and reproduction tracks as shown in (a) and (b), as shown in FIG. 6, reproduction tracks # 1, # 2, and F3 are reproduced for the respective time lengths of the free areas F1, F2, and F3. A value obtained by subtracting the time length of # 3 is calculated.

In the example of FIG. 6, the free area parts F
The value obtained by subtracting the time length T # 1 of the track # 1 from the time length T _{F1 of 1} is "-3", and the time length T of the free area part F1 is
The value obtained by subtracting the time length T # ₂ of track # 2 from _F1 is "-
1 ", and the value obtained by subtracting the length of time T # ₃ of track # 3 from the time length T _F1 of free area parts F1 is that it was a" 1 ". With respect to the other free area parts F2 and F3, the value obtained by subtracting the time length of each reproduction track from the time length is obtained.

Here, it is determined that the value obtained as a result of such an operation is a positive value and the smallest value is the most suitable combination. That is, a free area part having a recordable time longer than the playing time of the reproduced track and having the recordable time closest to the playing time is suitable for recording the reproduced track. In other words, the track can be recorded with one part on the MD1 and the remaining free area is the minimum part.

In the case of FIG. 6, it is determined that the combination indicated by diagonal lines, that is, the free area F1 and the track # 3, the free area F2 and the track # 2, and the free area F3 and the track # 1 are the optimum combinations. .

Therefore, in this case, in step F212, first, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a are moved to the head of the free area F3 at the timing when the reproduction of the track # 1 is started.
That is, the start address S _F3 is accessed. Then, the reproduction operation of the track # 1 from the CD 30 is executed by the optical head 32, the reproduced audio data is subjected to audio compression encoding, CIRC encoding, EFM encoding, etc., and is supplied to the magnetic head 6a as recording data to be supplied to the free area F3. To record to.

When the recording on the free area F3 of the track # 1 is completed, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 are recorded.
a is accessed to the start address S _F2 of the free area F2. Then, the audio data supplied by the reproduction operation of the track # 2 is subjected to audio compression encoding and CIR.
C encoding, EFM encoding, and the like are performed, and the data is supplied to the magnetic head 6a as recording data to execute recording in the free area F2. Similarly, at the timing when the reproduction of the track # 3 is started, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 are
a is accessed to the start address S _F1 of the free area F1, and the audio data supplied by the reproducing operation of the track # 3 is recorded in the free area F3.

By this operation, each track to be reproduced is recorded in MD1 by one part as much as possible. That is, the operation outlined in FIG. 2 is realized.

Of course, there is not necessarily a suitable free area part for all tracks to be recorded, but the number of tracks divided into parts is minimized by this processing. By minimizing the division of parts in this way, the number of times of accessing parts is minimized during reproduction. Therefore, in the composite device according to the present embodiment, the function of the buffer memory 13 is increased more than necessary during reproduction. The vibration-proof function can be maintained at high performance without deteriorating. In addition, minimizing the number of times that parts are required leads to a reduction in power consumption, and extends battery life.

By the way, the time length is 7 as a free area.
Minutes, 5 minutes, 4 minutes free area parts F1, F2
Tracks # 1, # 2, # where F3 exists and are played back
If the performance time of 3 is 8 minutes, 6 minutes and 2 minutes respectively, the total number of parts divisions must be at least 2 places. In that case, for example, the following two types of allocation are considered. To be

One is track # 1 ... 7 minutes in free area F1, 1 minute in free area F2 Track # 2 ... 4 minutes in free area F2, 2 minutes in free area F3 Track # 3 .... Allocation of 2 minutes to free area F3, the other is track # 1 ...
・ 1 minute to free area F1, 5 minutes to free area F2,
2 minutes in free area F3 ... 6 minutes in free area F1 ... 2 minutes in track # 3 ... free area F3.

That is, the main point is to reduce the number of parts divided for one track, or increase the number of tracks that are not divided even if one track is divided into multiple parts. It will be a difference in processing. Which is adopted depends on the design specifications of the device,
It may be determined in consideration of the usage mode.

Although various kinds of allocation processing may be actually considered for determining the combination of the data to be recorded and the free area parts, a processing algorithm that minimizes the parts division is adopted in any case. Good.

Further, although the embodiment has been described as a CD-MD composite device, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied even if the reproducing side is a CD changer. Of course, the present invention can be applied to recording of a reproduction signal from a medium such as a video CD or DAT whose performance time information can be discriminated in advance in addition to the CD. Further, as a modified example of the present invention, there is also a processing method in which the status of the existing free area is displayed to the user in the form of a map or a graph, and the fade-out is selected for the track which cannot fit in the free area parts. Conceivable.

[0099]

As described above, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, when there are a plurality of free areas, the most suitable combination considering the length of the data unit to be recorded and the length of each free area, In other words, because a combination that minimizes the division of a certain data unit into parts is set for recording, access between parts during playback is minimized, and the vibration resistance function of the buffer memory is unnecessarily reduced. This has the effect of preventing the reproduction operation and improving the reliability of the reproducing operation. Further, by reducing the number of accesses for the same reason, it is possible to save the power consumption for the access drive, and it is possible to achieve the long life of the battery-driven device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composite device as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a recording operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing during MD loading according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process when loading a CD in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of captured data of a free area time length and a reproduction performance time length in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an allocation process for a combination of a free area and a reproduction track according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the buffer memory according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the buffer memory according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of U-TOC sector 0 of MD.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a link form of U-TOC sector 0 of MD.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a discrete recording state on the MD disc.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which a track is divided into parts in MD.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 MD 3,33 Optical head 6a Magnetic head 8 Encoder / decoder section 9,36 Servo circuit 11 System controller 12 Memory controller 13 Buffer RAM 14 Encoder / decoder section 17 Input terminal 18 A / D converter 19 Operation section 20 Display section 30 CD 37 Decoder 50 Switching circuit 51 D / A converter 53 Output terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium on which management information for managing the positions of a data recorded area and an unrecorded area is recorded,
In a recording apparatus capable of recording data using the management information, a recordable time length determining means for determining a recordable time length for each unrecorded area on the recording medium, and recording on the recording medium. The data time length determining means for determining the time length of each data unit to be performed, the recordable time length for each unrecorded area determined by the recordable time length determining means, and the data time length determining means Compare the time length of each data unit with each other,
Combination setting means for setting a combination of each data unit and an unrecorded area so as to minimize recording of one data unit at physically divided positions on the recording medium; A recording control unit that controls the recording head so that a data unit is recorded in an unrecorded area corresponding to the combination set by the combination setting unit during a recording operation. Recording device.