Image filing apparatus and method for storing image data and directory information

• US 5,838,967 A
• Filed: 12/29/1994
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Original Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Inventors: Hoshino, Hiroyuki, Okayama, Tetsuhisa, Yamaguchi, Hirohisa, Aoyama, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lintz, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US08/366,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/601, 395/615, 395/616, 358/335, 358/342, 358/909.1, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An addition unit adds information for managing a plurality of image-data files to directory information packets. A managing unit utilizes the added information for managing the plurality of image-data files. A retrieving unit retrieves, in accordance with an input retrieving information, a desired image-data file from among the plurality of image-data files recorded on a recording medium. An image-data input and output interfacing unit interfaces for input and output of image-data files. A recording-medium interfacing unit interfaces for information input and output by means of the recording medium. An output video-signal producing unit produces a video signal for output, the producing being effected by converting the retrieved image-data file into a corresponding analog video signal and using the analog video signal as the video signal for output. A signal combining unit combines the video signal for output, the combining being executed with a retrieval video signal, the video signal for output having been output from the output video-signal producing unit, and the retrieval video signal having been obtained by converting the input retrieving information into a corresponding analog video signal then used as the retrieval video signal. A microcomputer carries out the above functions.

Claims

1. Digital-data write/read apparatus comprising:

a disc for writing thereto/reading therefrom data, with the data stored in said disc being arranged in such a manner that said data defines a plurality of sectors/clusters of data, the recording area of said disc comprising a directory information region for storing directory information therein and an actual data region for storing data files therein, the regions being positionally and functionally separated from one another, said directory information comprising file name records, each of which comprises a file name, file production data/time, information for pointing the position of the file in said actual-data region, the file size and identification information;

identification information inputting means for inputting the identification information; and

data processing means for inputting/outputting and managing the data constituting the data files, said means comprising a microprocessor, first information storage means for storing therein a first type of information obtained from said disc, second information storage means for storing therein a second type of information produced from said first type of information and instruction means for receiving instructions from an operator and then giving said instructions to said microprocessor, wherein said second type of information comprises an identification-information retrieval table information using said identification information which comprises matters different from matters indicating positions on said disc.

2. The digital data write/read apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, said first type of information comprises said directory information stored in said directory information region of said disc;

and

said microprocessor comprises retrieval table production means for producing retrieval-table information as said second type of information, to be used for the data-file retrieval, using said directory information stored in said first information storage.

3. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second type of information includes identification-information retrieval table information having said identification information listed therein, in the order determined based on the contents of said identification information, together with information indicating the corresponding addresses in said directory information region.

4. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second type of information includes data retrieval table information having said identification numbers and serial numbers listed therein, in the order determined based on the respective file production date/time included in said directory information first and then based on the contents of said identification numbers and serial numbers, together with information indicating the corresponding addresses in said directory information region.

5. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, said identification information comprises:

an identification number which is arbitrarily specified; and

a serial number which is incremented file by file as long as the files are included in the same block and initialized when the file is included in a block different from the block in which preceding files are included.

6. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

first unused capacity calculating means for calculating the unused capacity ratio in said directory information region;

second unused capacity calculating means for calculating the unused capacity ratio in said actual data information region;

first determining means for determining which of the unused capacity ratios obtained by said first and second unused capacity calculating means is smaller;

second determining means for determining whether or not the unused capacity ratio determined by said first determining means is less than a predetermined value; and

warning means for warning an operator if said second determining means determines that the unused capacity ratio determined by said first determining means is less than the predetermined value.

7. The digital-data read/write apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the sectors/clusters constituting said file allocation table region being provided for said data files to be stored in said actual data region and either subsequent-sector/cluster-number information or end-of-file information being stored in each sector/cluster of said file allocation table region; and

each of said file name records further comprises an extension code indicating the file type, and said information for pointing the position of the file comprises the file start number indicating the file start sector/cluster number in said actual data region.

8. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said identification information inputting means includes a remote control unit for operator entry of input directory data into said apparatus for producing or editing a file and for searching for image data files, display means for providing a video display of said input directory data, and image memory means for storing said input directory data as image data from said display means wherein said microprocessor identifies a storage location in said first information storage means for said image data, writes file code information at said storage location for said image data and transfers the stored information at said storage location inclusive of said file code information to said disk for writing said transferred information into said directory information region and actual data region of said disk.

9. Digital-data write/read apparatus comprising:

a disc for writing thereto/reading therefrom data, with the data stored in said disc being arranged in such a manner that said data defines a plurality of sectors/clusters of data, the recording area of said disc comprising a directory information region for storing directory information therein and an actual data region for storing data files therein, the regions being positionally and functionally separated from one another, said directory information comprising file name records, each of which comprises a file name, file production data/time, information for pointing the position of the file in said actual-data region, the file size and identification information;

identification information inputting means for inputting the identification information; and

data processing means for inputting/outputting and managing the data constituting the data files, said means comprising a microprocessor, first information storage means for storing therein a first type of information obtained from said disc, second information storage means for storing therein a second type of information produced from said first type of information and instruction means for receiving instructions from an operator and then giving said instructions to said microprocessor, wherein said second type of information comprises identification-information, said identification information comprising a plurality of identification-information pieces, each piece of said plurality of identification-information pieces being relevant to a respective file of said date files, and said plurality of identification-information pieces being those such that contents of one piece of said plurality of identification-information pieces are allowed to be the same as contents of another piece of said plurality of identification-information pieces.

10. The digital-data write/read apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said identification information inputting means includes a remote control unit for operator entry of input directory data into said apparatus for producing or editing a file and for searching for image data files, display means for providing a video display of said input directory data, and image memory means for storing said input directory data as image data from said display means wherein said microprocessor identifies a storage location in said first information storage means for said image data, writes file code information at said storage location for said image data and transfers the stored information at said storage location inclusive of said file code information to said disk for writing said transferred information into said directory information region and actual data region of said disk.