US 6,553,183 B1 · Recording apparatus for performing hierarchical overwrite recording of video and/or audio data to a recording medium · patentgrep

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Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device for hierarchical overwrite recording of video and/or audio data to a recording disc without an accompanying complicated mechanical operation. To achieve the object, a block generator generates blocks of a uniform size from data belonging to hierarchical layers produced by the hierarchical coding operation of a hierarchical encoder. A recording controller controls a recorder to record the blocks generated by the block generator in a linear consecutive sequence to the recording disc until the recording disc becomes full. After the recording disc becomes full, the recording controller selects lower layer blocks from the blocks generated by the block generator, selects higher layer blocks from the block sequence on the recording disc, and controls the recorder to record the selected lower layer blocks by overwriting them to the selected higher layer blocks in sequence starting from a block near the beginning of the block sequence.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a hierarchical coding means for hierarchically coding input video and/or audio data so that data in a bottom layer is independently decoded, and data in a layer other than the bottom layer is decoded by referring to lower layers;
a block generating means for generating a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from data in each hierarchically coded layer obtained by said hierarchical coding means;
a recording means for recording a block generated by said block generating means to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording means;
and
a recording control means for controlling said recording means;
wherein said recording control means:
until the recording medium becomes full, controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating means to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a plurality of lower layer blocks as blocks to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a plurality of higher layer blocks from a block sequence on the recording medium as blocks to be overwritten;
and
controls said recording means to record a lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks in a sequence of β block cycles in a first recording stage until the recording medium becomes full, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2} and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater;
and
in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α) after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a block from layer 1 to layer (β/γ) when selecting a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a block from layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) when selecting a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
when recording the lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to the higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence, controls said recording means to record the layer 1 to layer (β/γ) blocks by overwriting to the layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) blocks in a sequence of (β/γ) block cycles.

17 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a hierarchizing means for hierarchizing input video and/or audio data so that data of a highest priority is hierarchized to a bottom layer, and as data priority decreases, the data is hierarchized to a higher layer;
a block generating means for generating a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from data in each hierarchized layer obtained by said hierarchizing means;
a recording means for recording a block generated by said block generating means to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in coding, and contained in said recording means;
and
a recording control means for controlling said recording means;
wherein said recording control means:
until the recording medium becomes full, controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating means to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
controls said recording means to record a lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks in a sequence of β block cycles in a first recording stage until the recording medium becomes full, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2} and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater;
and
in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α) after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a block from layer 1 to layer (β/γ) when selecting a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a block from layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) when selecting a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
when recording the lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence, controls said recording means to record the layer 1 to layer (β/γ) blocks by overwriting to the layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) blocks in a sequence of (β/γ) block cycles.

17 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a block generating means for generating a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from input video and/or audio data;
a recording means for recording a block generated by said block generating means to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording means;
and
a recording control means for controlling said recording means;
wherein said recording control means:
until the recording medium becomes full, controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating means to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
controls said recording means to record a block to be recorded by overwriting to a block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
and
wherein when selecting a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α;
and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater) after the recording medium becomes full in a first recording stage, said recording control means selects a total of (β/γ) blocks, including (β/(γ(γ−1))) blocks recorded in each recording stage 1 to (γ−1) as overwrite blocks in each cycle of β blocks, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2}.

12 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a block generating means for generating a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from input video and/or audio data;
a recording means for recording a block generated by said block generating means to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording means;
and
a recording control means for controlling said recording means;
wherein said recording control means:
until the recording medium becomes full, controls said recording means to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating means to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
selects a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating means;
selects a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
controls said recording means to record a block to be recorded by overwriting to a block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
and
wherein when selecting a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α;
and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater) after the recording medium becomes full in a first recording stage, said recording control means selects a total of (γ−1) blocks, including 1 block in each recording stage 1 to (γ−1) as overwrite blocks in each cycle of blocks, where the number of blocks in each cycle is equal to the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2}.

12 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a hierarchical coding device operable to hierarchically code input video and/or audio data so that data in a bottom layer is independently decoded, and data in a layer other than the bottom layer is decoded by referring to lower layers;
a block generating device operable to generate a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from data in each hierarchically coded layer obtained by said hierarchical coding device;
a recording device operable to record a block generated by said block generating device to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording device;
and
a recording control device operable to control said recording device;
wherein said recording control device is operable to:
until the recording medium becomes full, control said recording device to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating device to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
select a plurality of lower layer blocks as blocks to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a plurality of higher layer blocks from a block sequence on the recording medium as blocks to be overwritten;
and
control said recording device to record a lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
control the recording device to record a plurality of blocks in a sequence of β block cycles in a first recording stage until the recording medium becomes full, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2} and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater;
and
in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α) after the recording medium becomes full:
select a block from layer 1 to layer (β/γ) when selecting a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a block from layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) when selecting a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
when recording the lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to the higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence, control said recording device to record the layer 1 to layer (β/γ) blocks by overwriting to the layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) blocks in a sequence of (β/γ) block cycles.

17 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a hierarchizing device operable to hierarchize input video and/or audio data so that data of a highest priority is hierarchized to a bottom layer, and as data priority decreases, the data is hierarchized to a higher layer;
a block generating device operable to generate a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from data in each hierarchized layer obtained by said hierarchizing device;
a recording device operable to record a block generated by said block generating device to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in coding, and contained in said recording device;
and
a recording control device operable to control said recording device;
wherein said recording control device is operable to:
until the recording medium becomes full, control said recording device to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating device to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
select a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
control said recording device to record a lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
control said recording device to record a plurality of blocks in a sequence of β block cycles in a first recording stage until the recording medium becomes full, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2} and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater;
and
in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α) after the recording medium becomes full:
select a block from layer 1 to layer (β/γ) when selecting a lower layer block as a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a block from layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) when selecting a higher layer block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
when recording the lower layer block to be recorded by overwriting to a higher layer block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence, control said recording device to record the layer 1 to layer (β/γ) blocks by overwriting to the layer (β/γ+1) to layer (β/(γ−1)) blocks in a sequence of (β/γ) block cycles.

17 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a block generating device operable to generate a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from input video and/or audio data;
a recording device operable to record a block generated by said block generating device to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording device;
and
a recording control device operable to control said recording device;
wherein said recording control device is operable to:
until the recording medium becomes full, control said recording device to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating device to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
select a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
control said recording device to record a block to be recorded by overwriting to a block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
and
wherein when selecting a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α;
and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater) after the recording medium becomes full in a first recording stage, said recording control device is operable to select a total of (β/γ) blocks, including (β/(γ(γ−1))) blocks recorded in each recording stage 1 to (γ−1) as overwrite blocks in each cycle of β blocks, where β is the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2}.

12 more elements

A video and/or audio recording apparatus for recording input video and/or audio data, said apparatus comprising:

a block generating device operable to generate a plurality of blocks of a uniform size from input video and/or audio data;
a recording device operable to record a block generated by said block generating device to a recording medium, the recording medium being rewritable, randomly accessible, accompanied by a mechanical operation in recording, and contained in said recording device;
and
a recording control device operable to control said recording device;
wherein said recording control device is operable to:
until the recording medium becomes fill, control said recording device to record a plurality of blocks generated by said block generating device to the recording medium so that blocks are arranged in a linear and consecutive sequence;
and
after the recording medium becomes full:
select a block to be recorded from blocks generated by said block generating device;
select a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten;
and
control said recording device to record a block to be recorded byoverwriting to a block to be overwritten in sequence from a block near a beginning of the block sequence;
and
wherein when selecting a block from a block sequence on the recording medium as a block to be overwritten in a γth recording stage (where γ=2, 3, . . . , α;
and α is a desirable constant integer value of two or greater) after the recording medium becomes full in a first recording stage, said recording control device is operable to select a total of (γ−1) blocks, including 1 block in each recording stage 1 to (γ−1) as overwrite blocks in each cycle of blocks, where the number of blocks in each cycle is equal to the least common multiple of {α, α−1, α−2, . . . , 2}.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/250,606Filed 17 Feb 1999
Priority: JP 10-03448617 Feb 1998
Granted: 22 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H04N 5/9261
By pulse code modulation: involving data reduction
G11B 20/00007
Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor: time or data compression or expansion
G11B 20/10527
Digital recording or reproducing: audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements
G11B 27/036
Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals: insert-editing

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