Information-signal recording and reproducing apparatus

• US 6,751,170 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Ueki, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/908,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30.23, 369/53.37, 369/47.33, 369/47.16, 369/47.24, 369/53.22, 369/60.01, 369/32.01, 369/53.11, 369/124.06, 369/275.1, 369/275.3, 369/47.1, 369/47.15, 369/124.01
• US Class Current: 369/32.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/1062 Data buffering arrangements, e.g. recording or playback buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10703 processing rate of the buffer, e.g. by accelerating the data output
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10722 wherein the size of the buffer is variable, e.g. by adding additional memory cells for coping with input streams that have high bit rates
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10916 Seeking data on the record carrier for preparing an access to a specific address
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10953 Concurrent recording or playback of different streams or files
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10962 wherein both recording and playback take place simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• 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 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0079 Zoned data area, e.g. having different data structures or formats for the user data within data layer, Zone Constant Linear Velocity [ZCLV], Zone Constant Angular Velocity [ZCAV], carriers with RAM and ROM areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/152 : by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 : in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp. The predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the first transfer rate Ra, the second transfer rate Rb, the size Ya of the first information signal, the size Yb of the second information signal, a seek time Tab taken by the head to move from the first area to the second area of the recording medium, and a seek time Tba taken by the head to move from the second area to the first area of the recording medium are in a relation as follows:

(Ya+Yb)≧Rp·(Ra+Rb)·(Tab+Tba)/(Rp−Ra−Rb).

Claims

1. An apparatus for reproducing information from a recording medium having “

n”

areas on which “

n”

information signals are recorded respectively, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the “

n”

information signals from the “

n”

areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced “

n”

information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

a buffer memory for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for partitioning the buffer memory into “

n”

areas in accordance with values of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, wherein the “

n”

areas in the buffer memory are assigned to the “

n”

information signals respectively.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for partitioning the buffer memory into “

n”

areas in accordance with an operation mode, wherein the “

n”

areas in the buffer memory are assigned to the “

n”

information signals respectively.

17. An information-signal communication apparatus comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and an interface connected with the buffer memory for communication with an external.

2. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn; and

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium respectively on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

3. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information on and from a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein at least a first area among the “

n”

areas is loaded with a first information signal among “

n”

information signals, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first information signal at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp; and

a buffer memory for receiving the first information signal from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first information signal, and for outputting the first information signal at a first transfer rate R1 lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

the buffer memory being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

the head being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

wherein the head implements reproduction of the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and recording of the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area on a time sharing basis while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

4. An apparatus for reproducing information from a recording medium having “

n”

areas on which “

n”

information signals are recorded respectively, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the “

n”

information signals from the “

n”

areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced “

n”

information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

a buffer memory for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and an allowable seek time S taken by the head to move from present one to next one of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

5. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn; and

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium respectively on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and an allowable seek time S taken by the head to move from present one to next one of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

6. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information on and from a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein at least a first area among the “

n”

areas is loaded with a first information signal among “

n”

information signals, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first information signal at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp; and

a buffer memory for receiving the first information signal from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first information signal, and for outputting the first information signal at a first transfer rate R1 lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

the buffer memory being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

the head being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

wherein the head implements reproduction of the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and recording of the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area on a time sharing basis while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and an allowable seek time S taken by the head to move from present one to next one of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

7. An apparatus for reproducing information from a recording medium having “

n”

areas on which “

n”

information signals are recorded respectively, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the “

n”

information signals from the “

n”

areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced “

n”

information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

a buffer memory for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the buffer memory having a capacity Ym;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, the capacity Ym of the buffer memory, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

8. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, the buffer memory having a capacity Ym; and

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium respectively on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium;

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, the capacity Ym of the buffer memory, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

9. An apparatus for recording and reproducing information on and from a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein at least a first area among the “

n”

areas is loaded with a first information signal among “

n”

information signals, the apparatus comprising;

a head for reproducing the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first information signal at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp; and

a buffer memory for receiving the first information signal from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first information signal, and for outputting the first information signal at a first transfer rate R1 lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the buffer memory having a capacity Ym;

the buffer memory being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, the transfer rates R2, R3, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

the head being for receiving the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

wherein the head implements reproduction of the first information signal from the first area of the recording medium and recording of the “

n”

information signals except the first information signal on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium except the first area on a time sharing basis while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium; and

wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, the capacity Ym of the buffer memory, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

10. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn;

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium respectively on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium;

means for deciding whether or not parameters including the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

11. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium having “

n”

areas, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, the apparatus comprising;

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn;

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the “

n”

areas of the recording medium respectively on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium;

means for deciding whether or not parameters including the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for rearranging the “

n”

information signals into “

n”

rearrangement-resultant information signals in the buffer memory, and for sequentially transmitting the “

n”

rearrangement-resultant information signals from the buffer memory to the head to sequentially record the “

n”

rearrangement-resultant signals.

13. An apparatus for recording information on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

a buffer memory for receiving “

n”

information signals at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, for temporarily storing the “

n”

information signals, and for outputting the “

n”

information signals at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp higher than the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2;

a head for receiving the “

n”

information signals from the buffer memory, and for recording the “

n”

information signals on the recording medium on a time sharing basis and at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp;

first means for causing the head to record the “

n”

information signals on at least two areas in the recording medium on a time sharing basis while moving the head among the areas in the recording medium under conditions where the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the areas in the recording medium are in a relation as follows;

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the third means comprises means for selecting and enabling one of the first and second means in response to one of types of the “

n”

information signals, user'"'"'s requirement, apparatus specifications, a type of the recording medium, and a condition of a usable area in the recording medium.

18. An information-signal recording medium having “

n”

areas on which “

n”

information signals are recorded respectively, where “

n”

denotes a predetermined natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein the “

n”

information signals can be reproduced from the “

n”

areas and can be transmitted by a head on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while the head moves among the “

n”

areas of the recording medium, wherein the “

n”

information signals outputted from the head can be received by a buffer memory at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp and can be temporarily stored in the buffer memory before being outputted from the buffer memory at transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn respectively, the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn being lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, wherein the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, a sum Σ

Rn of the transfer rates R1, R2, . . . , Rn, a sum Σ

Yn of sizes of the “

n”

information signals, and a sum Σ

Sn of seek times taken by the head to move from present ones to next ones of the “

n”

areas of the recording medium are in a relation as follows;