Method for recording digital data including a data conversion or format conversion, and apparatus using the method

• US 6,147,823 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Juri, Tatsuro, Yamada, Masazumi, Kitamura, Yoshinori, Matsumi, Chiyoko, Iketani, Akira, Kurano, Yukio, Yamamitsu, Chojuro, Arimura, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): FABER, ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/893,612
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 360/8, 360/9.1, 360/18, 360/19.1, 360/64, 360/47, 360/70, 386/96, 386/98, 386/99, 386/101, 386/109, 386/112
• US Class Current: 360/8
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 by sensing recorded signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/125 conditioned by the operating function of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1875 adaptations for special effects or editing signal processing or indexing therefor G11B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/4671 by controlling simultaneously the speed of the tape and the speed of the rotating head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/4673 by controlling the speed of the tape while the head is rotating
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/4731 control of headwheel rotation disposition or construction of headwheel motor G11B5/53, G11B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/52 by using signals recorded on, or derived from, record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/602 for track selection, acquisition or following
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10981 Recording or reproducing data when the data rate or the relative speed between record carrier and transducer is variable
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/0086 : using cyclically driven heads providing segmented tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/09 : Digital recording
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/00 : Coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or error correction; Coding theory basic assumptions; Coding bounds; Error probability evaluation methods; Channel models; Simulation or testing of codes error detection or error correction for analogue/digital, digital/analogue or code conversion H03M1/00 – H03M11/00; specially adapted for digital computers G06F11/08; for information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B, e.g. G11B20/18; for static stores G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 7/30 : Compression speech analysis-synthesis for redundancy reduction G10L19/00; for image communication H04N; Expansion; Suppression of unnecessary data, e.g. redundancy reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 : for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9205 : the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9267 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/945 : for signals recorded by pulse code modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode

Abstract

A plurality of digital signals having total data rates of n bit/s or less are input to a digital recording device recording digital signals having a data rate of n bit/s. The digital signals are subjected to format-conversion for the digital recording device to be recorded therein. Furthermore, signals having a data rate of n/i₁ bit/s or less are subjected to format-conversion to be recorded i₁ times in the digital recording device. In the case where the data rate of the digital signals to be input is n/j bit/s, the digital signals are subjected to format-conversion so that the amount of data capable of being recorded per unit time is decreased by i/j; thus, the digital signals are recorded for a long period of time under the condition that the data recording time is prolonged j times. Furthermore, when input data to be recorded on a magnetic tape at a normal data rate by using a magnetic head mounted on a rotary cylinder is recorded, the recording device of the present invention makes it possible to select a plurality of types of track angles generated by the rotation number of the cylinder, the tape traveling speed, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for recording digital data by using a recording device recording a data stream having a predetermined data rate of n bit/s (n is a positive number) on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

performing a data conversion step by receiving a plurality of input data streams having total data rates of n bit/s or less and multiplexing the plurality of input data streams into a single output data stream without compressing the input data streams, said output data stream having a data rate of n bit/s or less; and

performing a data recording step by recording step by recording the single output data stream.

2. A method for recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of input data streams include i₂ data streams each having a data rate of n/i₂ bits/s (n is a positive number, and i₂ is an integer of 2 or more) or less.

3. A method for recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein the data conversion step includes the step of receiving i₃ input data streams each having a data rate of n/i₃ /i₄ bit/s (n is a positive number, and i₃ and i₄ are integers of 2 or more) and converting the plurality of input data streams into the single output data stream having a data rate of n/i₄ bit/s, and

the data recording step includes the step of recording the single output data stream for i₄ times.

4. A method for recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating the number of the input data streams on the recording medium.

5. A method for recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating the number of the input data streams on an auxiliary storage medium provided in a cassette accommodating the recording medium.

6. A method for recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein the conversion step is performed by obtaining data rates of the input data streams, selecting the input data streams so that the total data rates are n bit/s or less, generating additional data corresponding to difference between the total data rates and data rate of the output data stream, and adding the additional data to the input data streams.

7. A method of recording digital data according to claim 6, wherein said additional data indicates format of data included in said output data stream.

8. A method of recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of input data streams includes a plurality of video data streams.

9. A method of recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of input data streams are respectively different.

10. A method of recording digital data according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of input data streams have respectively different data rates.

11. A method for recording digital data by using a recording device recording a data stream having a predetermined data rate of n bit/s (n is a positive number) on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

performing a data conversion step by receiving a single input data stream having a data rate of n/i₁ bit/s (n is a position number, and i₁ is an integer of 2 or more) and converting the single input data stream into a single output data stream having a data rate of n bit/s or less; and

performing a data recording step by recording the single output data stream for i₁ times, wherein the data recorded i₁ times is the same data.

12. A method for recording digital data according to claim 11, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating the number of the input data streams and the number of repetition of recording on the recording medium.

13. A method for recording digital data according to claim 11, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating the number of the input data streams and the number of repetition of recording on an auxiliary storage medium provided in a cassette accommodating the recording medium.

14. A method for recording digital data according to claim 11, wherein the data conversion step is performed by deciding the number i₁, generating additional data corresponding to difference between the total data rates and data rate of the output data stream, and adding the additional data to the input data streams.

15. A method of recording digital data according to claim 14, wherein said additional data indicates format of data included in said output data stream.

16. A method for recording digital data by using a recording device having a head mounted on a rotary cylinder, the recording device recording a data stream having a predetermined data rate of n bits/s (n is a positive number) on a traveling recording medium, comprising the steps of:

performing a data recording step by receiving an input data stream having a data rate of n/j bit/s or less (j is an integer of 2 or more), setting a traveling speed of the recording medium to be l/j of a standard traveling speed and recording the output data stream on the recording medium by l/j of scan times of the recording medium by the head, wherein

the data recording is performed by generating additional data corresponding to a difference between data rate of the input data steam and data rate of the output data stream, and adding the additional data to the input data stream.

17. A method for recording digital data according to claim 16, wherein the recording device includes paired heads, the paired heads are respectively provided so as to be symmetric with respect to a rotation axis of the rotary cylinder and have different azimuths, the recording device records the output data stream by helically scanning the recording medium, and the j is an odd number.

18. A method for recording digital data according to claim 17, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating a value of the j on the recording medium.

19. A method for recording digital data according to claim 17, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating a value of the j on an auxiliary storage medium provided in a cassette accommodating the recording medium .

20. A method for recording digital data according to claim 16, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating a value of the j on the recording medium.

21. A method for recording digital data according to claim 16, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data including a value of the j on an auxiliary storage medium provided in a cassette accommodating the recording medium.

22. A method of recording digital data according to claim 16, wherein said additional data indicates format of data included in said output data stream.

23. A method for recording digital data by using a recording device recording a data stream having a predetermined data rate of n bit/s (n is a positive number) on a recording medium, comprising the step of:

performing a data recording step by receiving an input data stream having a data of n×

(k₁ \k₂) bit/s (k₁ and k₂ are integers of 2 or more, and k₁ <

k₂), setting a traveling speed of the recording medium to be k₁ \k₂ times, and recording the output data stream on the recording medium, wherein

the data recording is performed by generating additional data corresponding to a difference between data rate of the input data stream and data rate of the output data stream, and adding the additional data to the input data streams.

24. A method for recording digital data according to claim 23, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating a value of the k₁ /k₂ on the recording medium.

25. A method for recording digital data according to claim 23, wherein the data recording step includes the step of recording digital data indicating a value of the k₁ /k₂ on an auxiliary storage medium provided in a cassette accommodating the recording medium.

26. A method of recording digital data according to claim 23, wherein said additional data indicates format of data included in said output data stream.

27. A method for recording compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data using a recording apparatus having a predetermined recording rate, comprising the steps of:

receiving the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data each having a respective data rate,

inserting an additional data into the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data so that a total data rate of the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data and the additional data is the same as the predetermined recording rate, and

recording the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data and the inserted additional data.

28. A method for recording compressed audio/video digital data according to claim 27, wherein a data for distinguishing between the audio/video digital data and the additional data is recorded with the audio/video digital data and the additional data.

29. A method of recording digital data according to claim 28, wherein said additional data indicates format of said recorded compressed audio or video data.

30. A method for recording compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data using a recording apparatus having recording modes for recording at predetermined recording rates of n bps and l/j (j:

a predetermined positive integer) of n bps, compressing the steps of;

retrieving at least a part of the inputted compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data as a recording data stream having a respective data rate,

deciding which of the recording modes is used, in accordance with a data rate of the inputted compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data,

inserting an additional data into the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data so that a total data rate of the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data and the additional data is the same as the predetermined recording rate of the decided recording mode, and

recording the compressed audio digital data or compressed video digital data and the inserted additional data.

31. A method for recording compressed audio/video digital data according to claim 30, wherein a data for distinguishing between the audio/video digital data and the additional data is recorded with the audio/video digital data and the additional data.

32. A method of recording digital data according to claim 31, wherein said additional data indicates format of said recorded compressed audio or video data.