JP2006004380A - Recording control device, recording control method, recording/reproducing device, recording control program, and recording medium with the program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording control device capable of preventing a substitution process from being executed without degrading a processing speed in the case where files needing physical continuity are recorded at a recording position on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A table management part 46 sets an FAT by using an unused FC included in a mixing part detected by a detection part 48 as an UC. Then, the table management part 46 changes the FAT so that the UC is located behind a range of logical positions where FC groups with effective information recorded are arranged in a reading order represented by the FAT, in relation to the relevant file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording control apparatus for controlling an external recording apparatus using a FAT file system as an external recording apparatus in a personal computer, for example.

(Outline of FAT file system)
In recent years, with the widespread use of personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as PCs), many external recording / reproducing apparatuses using a FAT file system have been developed as external storage apparatuses. As a typical FAT file system, there is a file management system on a recording medium using FAT (File Allocation Table). For example, details are disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 described later. Specific devices employing such a file management system include, for example, a card reader / writer using a semiconductor memory card and an MO drive device using a magneto-optical disk.

  When the storage device as described above is connected, the PC first assigns a drive number to the storage device. Then, the PC reads the management information of the FAT file system existing in the drive, and interprets in what state the information is stored in the drive. As a result, information stored on the drive side is handled as a file, and recording / reproduction can be performed.

  In addition, recently, not only a storage device that can record / reproduce files only when connected to a PC as described above, but also information can be stored in a state where the file is operating independently without using a PC. A storage device capable of recording / reproducing data and a device equipped with the same have also been developed. For example, a digital camera using a memory card as a recording medium records an image as a file in accordance with the rules of the FAT file system when recording an image on the memory card. Also, when an image recorded on a card is displayed using a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided in the digital camera, the digital camera reads and decodes the image as a file and performs display processing. A system that performs management by the FAT file system without depending on the PC is generally called an “embedded FAT file system”.

  As described above, a file recorded in the storage device by the embedded FAT file system when the device is operating alone can be read and written as a file from the PC by attaching the storage device to, for example, a card reader / writer and connecting it to the PC. Is possible. In other words, the embedded FAT file system is very convenient for applications such as managing a large amount of information on a PC or processing and outputting information on a PC. Yes.

(FAT file system configuration example)
An area in the recording medium where information can be recorded and reproduced by the FAT file system is called a FAT volume. The FAT volume is composed of the following four areas. Actually, in addition to the FAT volume, there is an area on the recording medium in which information for managing the defect position on the recording medium can be stored. The FAT file system can manage the area within the FAT volume.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the recording area distribution of the recording medium including the FAT volume. As shown in the figure, the recording medium is divided into a FAT volume area and a non-FAT area which is an area other than the FAT volume. The FAT volume is divided into a reserved area, a FAT area, a root directory area, and a file & directory area.

  In the reserved area, basic parameters (BPB: referred to as bios parameter block) such as the capacity of the recording medium, the size of the root directory, and the size of the recording unit on the recording medium are recorded. An example of this BPB is shown in FIG.

  The FAT file system is based on the parameters recorded in the reserved area, the FAT table size, the number of FAT entries that constitute the table, and the FAT cluster size (the number of recording units on the medium as viewed from the FAT file system). Size) and the like. Based on these parameters, the FAT area is configured. That is, there are as many FAT entries as the total capacity of the recording medium divided by the recording unit on the recording medium, and these are recorded in the FAT area. Each FAT entry is numbered in ascending order from the top of the table, and this number is called a FAT cluster number.

  As shown in the file allocation table, the FAT area records a table for managing where the file is arranged on the recording medium and where it is an unused area. One FAT entry indicates a corresponding recording position on the recording medium.

An example of the relationship between the FAT entry and the FAT cluster is shown in FIG. In this example, the FAT cluster size is 16 KB and the recording medium capacity is MAX 512 KB. Each FAT entry has 2 bytes of information. This FAT entry information basically represents a pointer to the next cluster. If this value is a specific value (0000, FFFF, F7FF, etc.), the attribute (unused, terminated, defective, etc.) In the root directory area indicating information), information on the root directory is recorded. The root directory is a directory at the top layer of a directory (a place where management information of a plurality of file groups is collectively stored) recorded hierarchically. In the root directory area, file names, file attributes, file start FAT cluster numbers, and the like of files included in the root directory are recorded. An example of the structure of information recorded in this root directory area is shown in FIG.

  The file & directory area is an area where file information itself is recorded. A subdirectory corresponding to the lower level of the hierarchical structure is also recorded as one file information in this area. FIG. 10B shows an example of the structure of information on subdirectories.

  FIG. 10C shows an example of the data structure of each entry included in the root directory or subdirectory. In this example, each entry is made up of 32 bytes. The name area is 8 bytes, the extension area is 3 bytes, the attribute area is 1 byte, the reserved area is 10 bytes, the recording time area is 2 bytes, the recording date area is 2 bytes, and the head is 2 bytes. It includes a cluster area and a 4-byte file size area.

  The name area is an area indicating the name of the corresponding file or subdirectory. If the entry is unused, indicates the directory itself, indicates the pointer of the parent directory, if it is an erased entry, or if it is an entry that requires other exception processing, the name area This is indicated by the first Byte and the next Byte if necessary. For example, if the entry is unused, the first byte is “00”, if the directory itself is indicated, the first byte is “2E”, and if the pointer is a parent directory, the first byte is indicated. If the next byte is “2E” and the entry is an erased entry, the first byte is “E5”. If the first byte is “E5xx” in the kanji file name, the first byte is “05”. And

  In the attribute area, a bit indicating whether there is a copy of the file, a bit indicating whether it is a subdirectory, a bit indicating whether there is a volume label, a bit indicating whether it is a system file, A bit indicating whether or not the file is a hidden file, a bit indicating whether or not the file is read-only, and the like are included.

(File reading example)
Next, an example of reading a certain file via the FAT file system will be described. If the target file name is testdat1.txt, the FAT file system obtains testdat1.txt from the file name field of the directory entry. Here, as a method for obtaining a target file name, there are an automatically selected method and a user-selected method. The automatically selected method corresponds to, for example, a case where a file having a specific reserved file name is used when a specific application uses the file. As a method by user selection, for example, there is a method of using a user interface that displays a file name as an option on a display device and allows a user to select a specific file from these.

  When the file is specified, the FAT file system reads the file. As described above, since the file size and the start FAT cluster number are recorded in the file entry included in the directory, the FAT file system recognizes the position on the recording medium where the corresponding file should be read. Can do. In the above example, since 32 Kbytes is the FAT cluster size, the FAT file system reads the 32 Kbyte information at the head of the corresponding file.

  The position on the recording medium to be read next is recorded in the FAT area. In the example shown in FIG. 11A, a file whose start FAT cluster number is 5 is first read. When the start FAT cluster number is 5, “0600” of entry 5 in the FAT area is read. The 2-byte information of each entry in the FAT area is recorded in a sequence of lower bits and upper bits, and indicates a FAT cluster number to be read next. That is, the above “0600” indicates that information with the FAT cluster number of 6 is read next. In this way, the information is read sequentially, and the place where FFFFh is written in the entry in the FAT area is the position where the final data is recorded. In this way, the process of reading one file is performed while sequentially following the link information of the FAT.

(File writing example)
Next, an example of writing a file through the FAT file system will be described. The file name to be written is recorded in the unused entry portion of the file name field in the desired directory entry. In the example of the root directory shown in FIG. 10A, the file name to be written is recorded in the area A which is an unused entry, and in the example of the subdirectory shown in FIG. 10B, the file name to be written in the area B which is an unused entry is recorded. Is done.

  Here, as a method of acquiring in which directory the file to be written is recorded, there are a method of automatically selecting and a method of user selection. The automatically selected method corresponds to, for example, a case where a specific pre-reserved directory is used when a specific application writes a file. As a method by user selection, for example, there is a method of using a user interface that displays directories as options on a display device and allows a user to select a specific directory from these.

  The file entry has an unused part as shown in FIG. The writing program sequentially writes the information to the corresponding position on the recording medium while sequentially searching for the unused area or securing the unused area in advance. Then, the information “FFFF” is recorded in the FAT cluster in which the last information is recorded, and the file writing is completed.

  As can be seen from the above description, at the time of writing, recording is sequentially performed on the searched unused areas. The order of recording is recognized by link information of the next FAT cluster number in each FAT entry. Therefore, the next FAT cluster number written in the FAT entry is not necessarily consecutive. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, one file data is not always continuously recorded on the recording medium.

  Therefore, the concept of the logical number of the file data block and the concept of the actual FAT cluster number are required. In FIGS. 11A and 11B, A, B, C, D, and E represent the actual data block order in the file. FIG. 11A shows an example in which file data blocks are physically physically recorded, and FIG. 11B shows an example in which file data blocks are physically physically recorded. Has been.

  As described above, if the FAT file system is used, the data blocks can be logically reconfigured in the order of records regardless of the position where the block of file data is physically recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, the recording area on the recording medium can be managed efficiently.

(Relationship between physical recording / playback method and FAT cluster)
In the above, the concept of the FAT cluster has been described. However, there is a case where the size of the FAT cluster does not coincide with the recording size when the recording / reproduction is actually physically performed on the medium. The reason is as follows.
(1) Depending on the characteristics of the recording medium used in the recording / reproducing apparatus, there is the most efficient recording size (for example, an erase block unit).
(2) The recording unit when signal processing such as addition of an error correction code is performed also has an optimum value depending on the recording medium and the recording method.
(3) The size of the FAT cluster depends on the specifications of the operating system of the PC used. For example, in a certain operating system, the FAT cluster size is set to a multiple of 512 bytes and 32 Kbytes or less.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the recording size (hereinafter referred to as PB) when actually recording / reproducing physically on the medium is larger than the size of the FAT cluster (hereinafter referred to as FC), Two FC1 and FC2 are included in the PB. These relationships should be determined by the most efficient distribution according to the conditions (1), (2), and (3), and are not limited to this example.

  In the above example, since the PC operating system uses FC as a unit of file block, when the PC operating system writes a data block of a file on a medium, only FC1 may be recorded. If valid data is already recorded in FC2 at this time, the program on the external storage device side performs the following processing. First, information once recorded in FC2 is read into the work buffer, and FC1 is set in the work buffer. Then, signal processing such as addition of an error correction code is performed in the state of FC1 + FC2, and the data is simultaneously written in the PB.

(Defect area replacement processing)
If there is a defect in the physical recording unit PB1 due to scratches on the recording medium and the PB1 cannot be recorded, a part of the alternative area secured on the recording medium is regarded as PB1. Replacement processing is performed. In this case, a processing method using an alternative management table indicating which PB has been replaced with is common. This substitution management table is normally recorded in a non-FAT management area shown in FIG.

  By performing such processing, the operating system side of the PC has an advantage that it can be managed as if there is no defect in all areas, regardless of where the defect is on the recording medium. That is, even if all FCs have been replaced, it appears to the operating system to be normally continuous. However, when all the alternative areas are used up or in a special case, as shown in FIG. 9 and the like, a specific code (for example, FFF7h) is given as the FAT attribute information managing the FC as a defective FAT cluster, and recording / reproduction is possible. A process for distinguishing from a cluster is also performed. However, since replacement processing is usually performed first, it is considered that a defective cluster is generated on the FAT as a special case.

  In the above description, FC is described as a unit of file block. However, when the operating system of the PC actually reads and writes data, it is performed in units of sectors that are equally divided by a specific number. However, the FC is the smallest unit of the file block. For example, even when 1 byte of data is recorded, an area corresponding to the FC size is used for the file. This can be understood from the explanation of FAT.

  Details of the FAT technology are described in, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 described later, and examples of applying the FAT technology are disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described later, for example.

(Handling of streaming information)
The FAT file system technology described above is based on the FAT file system such as a FAT table, regardless of the type and characteristics of the external storage device and the recording medium used for the technology, and the physical recording position. By interpreting the management information, file blocks can be managed in units of FC. In addition, any type of file that can be handled by a PC can be recorded and saved. For these reasons, the FAT file system technology is widely used.

  In addition, an apparatus equipped with the above-described built-in FAT file system, for example, an apparatus for recording streaming information such as music and moving images has been developed. Information recorded by such a device can be read by a PC. Conversely, on a PC, for example, content purchased via the Internet can be transferred to the device as file information.

  As described above, the FAT file system technology has an advantage that it can handle file information regardless of the physical recording position of an external storage device or a recording medium used for the external storage device. However, the continuity of the physical recording location may be required depending on the recorded file. For example, streaming information such as music and moving images generally has a large amount of information. When the recording location of a file with such a large amount of information is physically divided on the recording medium, for example, in the case of a disk medium with a slow seek time, in the worst case, it is accessed until the next data to be reproduced is read. May not be in time and playback may be interrupted.

  For this reason, the recording control program on the apparatus side records data in a physically continuous area according to a standard for handling the file or the like when recording streaming information with a large amount of information such as music and moving images alone. Consideration is given to the system. For example, occurrence of a situation such as sound skipping or frame dropping of a moving image can be suppressed by setting recording conditions such that 10 FAT clusters are physically continuous.

Similarly, when recording a large amount of streaming information such as music and moving images from the PC side to the external device side, processing should be performed so that a continuous area is secured and recorded by a dedicated application program or the like. is there.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275325 (published on October 8, 1999) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-220893 (published on August 10, 1999) Microsoft Extensible Firmware Initiative FAT32 File System Specification, Version 1.03 December 6,2000 Microsoft corporation

  As described above, when information is recorded according to a technique for recording streaming information and a technique for substituting a defective area, there is a problem that a recording location is physically divided. For example, when a file F1 composed of streaming information is recorded on a recording medium, if a defect occurs in a part of the PB in the area where the file F1 is recorded, the information to be recorded in the PB is replaced with another location. Will be recorded.

  In order to solve the above problems, the recording control program can check the error during recording and record the file F1 while ensuring continuity. However, a problem occurs when Fc-d including information of the file F1 and FC-0 which is an unused FC are mixed in one PB. Such a state is shown in FIG. In such a state, for example, when recording is completed in the first half of PB (PB3 in FIG. 14A), the middle part of the already recorded area is erased, so that only the second half or only the first half of PB is erased. This occurs when the data is erased (PB1 and PB3 in FIG. 14B). In the example shown in FIG. 14A, information of the file F1 is recorded in FC1 to FC5, and FC6 becomes an unused FAT cluster. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the information of the file F1 is recorded in FC2 to FC5, and FC1 and FC6 become unused FAT clusters.

  The reason why such a situation becomes a problem is as follows. If the recording / reproducing apparatus records only the file F1 for recording, for example, streaming information on the recording medium, no problem occurs. However, as described above, the recording / playback apparatus can record and save any type of file Fx (for example, a general document file) as long as it can be handled by a PC.

  At this time, the operating system of the PC writes the information block of the file Fx while sequentially searching for unused FAT as described above. Therefore, for example, the information block of the file Fx may be written in PB1 and PB3 in FIG.

  Here, there is no problem if it is normally written, but when a write error occurs in PB1, for example, as described above, information to be recorded in PB1 is recorded in the substitute area by the substitute process. At this time, in FIG. 14B, the information constituting the file F1, which is a streaming file, is recorded in the FC1 included in the PB1, so that it is replaced with the alternative area together with the data block FC2 of the file Fx. It will be. In this case, there arises a problem that the physical continuity described above is lost.

  In order to prevent this, an unused FC in the same PB as the PB in which the information block of the file F1 is recorded is apparently used as a data block of the file F1 (hereinafter referred to as UC). ) Processing can be considered. Although the FAT is managed so that the unused FC is a part of the file F1, data corresponding to the UC is a dummy, and this UC does not include valid data of the file F1. This state is shown in FIG. If such a process is performed, when the file Fx is recorded, the substitute process is not performed for the PB in which the information of the file F1 is recorded.

  In the case of a dedicated application that records only the file F1, there is no problem even if the state shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B occurs. In such a case, the problem as described above occurs when the state shown in FIG. That is, when the recording medium is moved to a state that is not a single operation state in which only the file F1 is handled and a state that is not under the management of the dedicated host application that handles only the file F1, the state shown in FIG. It is necessary to keep.

  According to the method as described above, the problem relating to physical continuity when the file F1 is recorded on the recording medium is solved. However, when such processing is actually performed, there are the following problems. When UC management is performed as described above, the recording program determines whether or not the state shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B is obtained each time information is recorded. When it is determined that the state shown in (a) or FIG. 14 (b) is reached, a special process of performing the UC process as described above is performed. Therefore, there is a problem of placing a considerable burden on the software.

  Moreover, since the recordable capacity decreases as the number of FCs converted to UC increases, a means for releasing this becomes necessary. If there is no release means, for example, part of the file F1 is deleted, and even if Fn1 and Fn2 shown in FIG. 15 become unused FATs, UC1 and UC2 are still dummy invalid data blocks. It is recognized as a part of the information block of the file F1 and cannot be used.

  However, it is a very complicated process to detect and release a UC that can be released in a divided recording state that is complicatedly linked by FAT. Therefore, when the opening means as described above is provided, there is a problem that the processing speed decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to process speed when a file requiring physical continuity is recorded at a recording position on a recording medium. To provide a recording control device, a recording control method, a recording / reproducing device, a recording control program, and a recording medium on which a recording control program is recorded that can prevent substitution processing from being performed without causing a decrease is there.

  In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a first recording unit is set as a minimum recording unit, and recording / erasing of information is performed based on the first recording unit. A recording control apparatus for controlling an information recording apparatus that controls a recording / erasing process of information on a medium and performs a physical recording / erasing process on the recording medium for each second recording unit including a plurality of the first recording units. In correspondence with each first recording unit, information on the first recording unit to be read next to the first recording unit or identification information indicating that the first recording unit is unused is recorded. Table management means for controlling writing / reading of the management table and a second recording unit in which the first recording unit that is not used and the first recording unit in which valid information is recorded are mixed in the recording medium. Mixed A first recording unit in which the effective information is recorded as an unused first recording unit included in the mixed location detected by the detecting unit. The identification information is set as the temporarily used first recording unit constituting the file corresponding to the file, and the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded for the file is shown in the management table. The management table is changed so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located at a logical position different from the range of logical positions arranged in a row.

  In the recording control method according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a first recording unit is set as a minimum recording unit, and information recording / erasing is performed based on the first recording unit. Recording control for controlling an information recording apparatus for controlling recording and erasing processing of information on the recording medium and performing physical recording and erasing processing on the recording medium for each second recording unit including a plurality of the first recording units According to the method, information of a first recording unit to be read next to the first recording unit or identification information indicating that the first recording unit is unused is recorded corresponding to each first recording unit. A table management step for controlling writing / reading of the management table, and a second recording unit in which the unused first recording unit and the first recording unit in which valid information is recorded are mixed in the recording medium. A detection step of detecting a unit as a mixed location, and in the table management step, an unused first recording unit included in the mixed location detected by the detection step is recorded in the first information in which the valid information is recorded. Identification information is set as a temporarily used first recording unit constituting a file corresponding to one recording unit, and a first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded for the file is indicated in the management table. The management table is changed so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located at a logical position different from the range of logical positions arranged in the readout order.

  In the above configuration and method, first, a second recording unit in which an unused first recording unit and a first recording unit in which valid information is recorded is mixed is detected as a mixed location. If such a mixed portion exists, as described above, when an error occurs in recording with respect to the unused first recording unit, the substitution process is performed for the entire second recording unit. Therefore, a problem occurs when a file that requires physical continuity is recorded at a recording position on the recording medium.

  Here, in the above configuration and method, the mixed location is detected, and the unused first recording unit included in the mixed location corresponds to the first recording unit in which the valid information is recorded. It is set as a temporary used first recording unit constituting the file. As a result, it is possible to prevent recording in an unused first recording unit at the mixed location, and the above-described problems can be solved.

  Here, when the logical position of the first recording unit in which valid information is recorded and the logical position of the temporarily used first recording unit are recorded in a mixed state, temporary use is performed. The management table changing process for setting the first recording unit is complicated, resulting in an increase in processing time. On the other hand, according to the configuration and method of the present invention, the logical position of the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded for a certain file is arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. The management table is changed so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located at a logical position different from the range. As a result, the logical position of the temporarily used first recording unit is grouped into a position different from the logical position of the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded. Management table change processing for setting can be simplified. Also, the process of changing the temporarily used first recording unit to the unused state can be simplified.

  The range of logical positions where the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the reading order shown in the management table is the presence or absence of the temporarily used first recording unit and its physical recording position. Regardless of whether it is changed. Therefore, for example, even if a process for changing the temporarily used first recording unit to the unused state is performed, it is not necessary to change the management table relating to the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded. Become.

  As described above, according to the above configuration and method according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the processing speed of the recording control for the recording medium. Further, by simplifying the processing, it is possible to reduce the work memory capacity required for the processing.

  In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the order shown in the management table with respect to each file. A file management unit that controls writing / reading of file range information in which information indicating a range is recorded, and the table management unit stores a first record in which valid information is recorded based on the file range information; A configuration may be adopted in which the management table is changed by recognizing the range of logical positions in which the unit groups are arranged in the reading order shown in the management table.

  According to the above configuration, for each file, a file range in which information indicating a range of logical positions in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the order shown in the management table is recorded. Information is recorded. Therefore, the table management means can easily refer to the file range information to determine the logical position range in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. Can be recognized. That is, for example, it is not necessary to perform complicated processing such as searching and grasping the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded.

  Further, in the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the table management means is configured so that the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the reading order indicated in the management table. The management table may be changed so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located at a position logically behind the position range.

  According to the above configuration, the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is recorded at a position logically behind the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded. Even if the process of changing the already-recorded first recording unit to the unused state is performed, it is not necessary to change the logical position of the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded. Therefore, the process can be simplified.

  In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in the configuration described above, the file management means is a first logical unit that is logically last in the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded as the file range information. Information indicating the logical position of a recording unit may be recorded.

  According to the above configuration, the table management means recognizes that the range of the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is before the logical position indicated as the file range information. Is possible. Therefore, the table management means may change the management table so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located after the logical position indicated as the file range information. In other words, the file management means only needs to manage the logical position of the first recording unit that is logically last in the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded, so that the processing is simplified. Can be achieved. Also, since the amount of file range information can be reduced, the area for recording file range information can be reduced.

  For example, when data included in a certain file is deleted, the logical position recorded as the file range information may be shifted forward by the number of first recording units reduced by the deletion. Therefore, the file range information changing process is also simplified.

In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, a general file type recording is performed on the recording medium during a specific recording mode operation in which only recording of a specific file type is performed. Further comprising mode identifying means for identifying the general-purpose recording mode operation;
The detection unit may be configured to perform the detection process only immediately before shifting from the specific recording mode to the general-purpose recording mode according to the identification result by the mode identifying unit.

  When the specific recording mode is a mode in which recording is performed while ensuring the continuity of physical positions of recording, for example, when an error occurs due to recording in an unused first recording unit in a mixed location In this case, the recording at that location is stopped and no alternative processing is performed. On the other hand, in the general-purpose recording mode, since a general-purpose file type is recorded, the problem of the substitution process occurs. Therefore, as in the above configuration, if the detection process is performed only immediately before the transition from the specific recording mode to the general-purpose recording mode, and the temporary used first recording unit is set, the problem of the alternative processing in the general-purpose recording mode Can be eliminated.

  That is, according to the above configuration, it is possible to minimize the frequency with which the detection process by the detection unit is performed. Therefore, for example, as compared with a configuration in which detection processing is performed every time some recording is performed, the processing can be simplified, and the processing speed can be improved.

  In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the temporary table management unit immediately after the transition from the general-purpose recording mode to the specific recording mode according to the identification result by the mode identifying unit. The used first recording unit may be set as an unused first recording unit.

  According to the above configuration, immediately after the transition from the general-purpose recording mode to the specific recording mode, the temporarily used first recording unit is set as an unused first recording unit. In the specific recording mode, the problem of substitution processing does not occur as described above, so there is no problem in changing the temporarily used first recording unit to the unused first recording unit. Therefore, it is possible to increase the area that can be used for recording in the specific recording mode.

  Further, the recording control apparatus according to the present invention may be configured such that, in the above configuration, the detection unit detects the mixed location only for the first recording unit in which information on a file of a specific file type is recorded. Good.

  As described above, the problem of substitution processing occurs when a file that requires physical continuity is recorded at a recording position on a recording medium. That is, according to the above configuration, the mixed location is detected only with respect to the file of the specific file type as described above, so only the location where it is necessary not to cause the problem of the substitution processing is performed. On the other hand, it is possible to perform the process of setting the temporarily used first recording unit. Therefore, since the frequency of setting the temporarily used first recording unit can be minimized, the processing can be simplified and the processing speed can be improved.

  Further, in order to solve the above problems, a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording / reproducing unit for writing and reading information on a recording medium, and the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, The recording control device controls the operation of the recording / reproducing unit.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus having a high recording control processing speed for a recording medium and a low apparatus cost.

  In the recording control apparatus according to the present invention, as described above, the table management unit stores the unused first recording unit included in the mixed location detected by the detection unit, and the effective information is recorded therein. Identification information is set as a temporarily used first recording unit constituting a file corresponding to one recording unit, and a first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded for the file is indicated in the management table. The management table is changed so that the identification information of the temporarily used first recording unit is located at a logical position different from the range of logical positions arranged in the reading order. As a result, it is possible to improve the processing speed of the recording control for the recording medium. In addition, since the processing is simplified, there is an effect that the work memory capacity required for the processing can be reduced.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the recording control apparatus according to the present invention controls the operation of the recording / reproducing unit. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus having a high recording control processing speed and a low apparatus cost.

  An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

(Information processing system example)
First, an example of an information processing system including a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The information processing system includes a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and a PC 2.

  In the present embodiment, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is assumed to be an apparatus that records and reproduces a moving image with respect to a disk 3 as a disk recording medium. As a specific example of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, a moving image photographed by the imaging unit is encoded and recorded as moving image data on the disk 3, and the moving image data recorded on the disk 3 is displayed on the display unit. A device is assumed. Examples of the disk 3 include, but are not limited to, a magneto-optical disk corresponding to the DVD standard such as DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.

  When the PC 2 is connected to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the PC 2 can perform processing for reading data recorded on the disk 3 in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and processing for writing data to the disk 3. It has become. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the PC 2 is a notebook PC, but is not limited thereto, and may be a desktop PC. The PC 2 may be a more general-purpose computer device like a home server.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the PC 2 are connected by a communication line. Examples of the communication line include, but are not particularly limited to, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable and an IEEE 1394 cable. Further, communication between the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the PC 2 is not limited to wired communication, and wireless communication may be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the recording / reproducing process with respect to the disk 3 in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 by the PC 2 is performed by the communication connection between the PC 2 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not something. For example, the PC 2 is provided with or connected to a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing a recording / reproducing process on the disk 3, and the recording / reproducing apparatus removes the disk 3 taken out from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. Recording and reproduction may be performed.

  In this embodiment, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is configured to record and reproduce moving image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to record and reproduce music data, for example.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the disk 3 is used as an information recording medium is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk type recording medium may be used. .

  As processing examples in the information processing system as described above, the following may be considered. First, in a state where the connection between the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the PC 2 is released, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 performs a moving image shooting process based on a user instruction input. In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the moving image information photographed by the photographing unit is encoded, blocked, and recorded as moving image data on the disc 3. This moving image data is recorded as a file on the disk 3 in accordance with management by the FAT file system.

  Thereafter, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is communicatively connected to the PC 2 for processing by the PC 2. Then, the PC 2 performs a process of recording data generated and stored in the device itself onto the disk 3 in the recording / reproducing device 1. As the data recorded here, for example, a document file related to a moving image (a catalog or the like recording a moving image) is assumed, but it is not particularly limited. When the data recording process by the PC 2 is completed, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is disconnected from the PC 2 again, and a moving image recording process is performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 alone.

  Hereinafter, such a process, that is, a case where the recording / reproducing operation is performed on the disk 3 by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 alone and a case where the recording operation is performed on the disk 3 based on the control of the PC 2 are mixed. Processing in the usage mode to be performed will be described.

(Configuration of recording and playback device)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a disk mechanism unit 11, a recording / reproducing processing unit 12, and a control microcomputer (recording control device) 13.

  The disk mechanism unit 11 is a mechanism unit that actually performs recording / reproduction processing on the disk 3, and includes a magnetic head 11a, a pickup 11b, and various motors 11c. Magneto-optical recording is performed on the disk 3 by the cooperative operation of the magnetic head 11a and the pickup 11b. The various motors 11c correspond to a spin motor responsible for rotational driving of the disk 3, a slide motor responsible for driving access to the disk 3 of the magnetic head and pickup 11b, a head lifting motor, and the like.

  The recording / playback processing unit 12 mainly performs signal processing in the recording / playback processing with respect to the disk 3, and includes a digital RF processing unit 21, a digital servo unit 22, a signal processing unit 23, a command conversion unit 24, a decoding circuit 25, An encoding circuit 26, a microcomputer I / F 27, a cryptographic processing unit 28, and a host I / F 29 are provided.

  The digital RF processing unit 21 receives an RF signal read from the disk 3 via an RF circuit, converts it into digital data, and converts digital data to be recorded on the disk 3 into an RF signal. And processing to output to the RF circuit.

  The digital servo unit 22 performs servo control of the magnetic head 11a, the pickup 11b, and various motors 11c according to the processing state by the signal processing unit 23. This servo control is performed via the control microcomputer 13.

  The signal processing unit 23 performs signal processing related to recording / reproduction processing such as error correction in response to an instruction from the control microcomputer 13 or the PC 2. The command conversion unit 24 instructs the target circuit block to perform an operation based on a command or status from each interface, and monitors the entire operation of the recording / playback processing unit 12.

  The decoding circuit 25 performs a process of decoding the signal read from the disk 3 and outputting it to the audio / video output unit 17. The encoding circuit 26 performs an encoding process and transmits the signal input from the audio / video input unit 18 to the signal processing unit 23 in order to write the signal to the disk 3.

  The audio / video output unit 17 is a general term for members that output audio and output video, and includes a D / A converter and the like. The audio / video output unit 17 also includes, for example, a speaker as an audio output unit, an earphone output terminal, a digital audio output terminal, a video display unit driver as a video output unit, and a video output terminal. Note that the output from the video display unit driver is input to the display unit 32 (not shown) for display.

  The audio / video input unit 18 is a general term for members that input audio and input video, and includes an A / D converter and the like. For example, a microphone input terminal, a line input terminal, a digital audio input terminal, a CCD (charge-coupled device) as an image input means, an optical lens system component, an image input terminal, etc. include.

  The microcomputer I / F 27 functions as an interface with the control microcomputer 13. The host I / F 29 functions as an interface with the PC 2. The encryption processing unit 28 performs plain culture of the encrypted data read by the signal processing unit 23 on the content protected by copyright.

  The control microcomputer 13 controls the processing in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 as a whole. Functions of the control microcomputer 13 include a control function of the head driver 14 and the PWM driver 16, a control function according to an instruction input from the instruction input unit 33, a display control function of the display unit 32, and a FAT management control function in the disk 3. Etc. The control microcomputer 13 performs processing using the work RAM 31 as a work memory.

  The head driver 14 is a driver that controls operations of the magnetic head 11a and the pickup 11b. The PWM driver 16 is a driver that controls the operation of various motors 11c.

  The instruction input unit 33 corresponds to, for example, various input keys and a remote controller provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. The display unit 32 is a display unit provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal monitor.

  For example, when playing back a moving image file or music file recorded on the disk 3, the control microcomputer 13 first reads the FAT or directory entry on the disk 3 into the work RAM 31, and then first selects a desired file from the FAT file system. Ask for the address. Thereafter, a command and a command parameter indicating an instruction to read data from the address of the file are transmitted to the recording / playback processing unit 12. Further, the control microcomputer 13 controls the PWM driver 16 and the head driver 14 at the same time, thereby causing the disk mechanism unit 11 to perform an access operation to the disk 3 in accordance with the read position.

  Data read from the disk 3 by the pickup 11 b is converted into digital data through the RF circuit 15 and the digital RF processing unit 21 and sent to the signal processing unit 23. The signal processing unit 23 extracts target data by performing processing such as error correction for each processing block. Since video and music data is often data based on a standard compressed in a specific format, the data extracted by the signal processing unit 23 is decompressed by the decoding circuit 25 to be output as an audio / video output. It is reproduced from the part 17. The reverse procedure is used for recording.

  When recording / reproduction is performed based on an instruction from the PC 2, the PC 2 first reads a FAT or directory entry on the disk in advance via the host I / F 29 and records it on the disk 3 in accordance with the FAT management. The recorded data is regarded as a file and recording / reproduction processing is performed. When the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 operates alone, the control microcomputer 13 becomes the subject of FAT management, whereas when connected to the PC 2, the host PC2 becomes the subject of FAT management.

(Configuration of control microcomputer)
Next, the functional configuration of the control microcomputer 13 will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the control microcomputer 13 includes a mode determination unit 41, a processing unit I / F 42, a work RAM control unit 43, a driver control unit 44, a recording / playback instruction unit 45, a table management unit (table management means) 46, The configuration includes a control unit 47, a detection unit (detection unit) 48, a display control unit 49, an instruction input control unit 50, and a file management unit (file management unit) 51.

  The control unit 47 is a block that performs overall control of operations in the control microcomputer 13. The display control unit 49 is a block that performs display control in the display unit 32 based on control by the control unit 47. The instruction input control unit 50 is a block that performs instruction input control by the instruction input unit 33 based on control by the control unit 47.

  The processing unit I / F 42 is a block that functions as an interface to the recording / playback processing unit 12. The work RAM control unit 43 stores the information recorded on the disk 3 read from the recording / playback processing unit 12 via the processing unit I / F 42 in the work RAM 31 and the information stored in the work RAM 31. This block is output to the processing unit I / F 42.

  The recording / playback instruction unit 45 is a block that manages control related to recording / playback with respect to the disk 3. The driver control unit 44 is a block that controls the head driver 14 and the PWM driver 16 based on the control of the recording / reproducing instruction unit 45.

  The table management unit 46 is a block that controls reading and writing of FAT information read to the work RAM. The detection unit 48 is a block that detects, as a mixed location, a PB in which unused FCs and FCs in which valid information is recorded are mixed based on the above FAT. The file management unit 51 is a block that reads and updates MaxB, which will be described later. Details of the processing by the table management unit 46, the detection unit 48, and the file management unit 51 will be described later.

(Comparative Example 1)
First, as a comparative example, an example will be described in which, when a part of the file F1 recorded on the disk 3 is partially deleted, the UC conversion process is performed simultaneously with the information deletion process.

  FIG. 16A shows a state in which the file F1 is continuously recorded in the physically continuous free area on the disk 3. FIG. The FAT (management table) image is shown on the left side of the figure, and the logical image is shown on the right side of the figure. The FAT image is a diagram showing the FAT itself, that is, an image showing an actual recording state on the disc 3. The logical image corresponds to an image showing a recording state recognized based on management by the FAT, and the direction in which the logical position is the front side is the left direction, and the direction in which the logical position is the rear side is the right direction. It becomes. In the logical image, BOF indicates the beginning of the logical position of the file, and EOF indicates the end of the logical position of the file.

  For example, when the disk 3 is initialized, all areas are unused clusters. Therefore, when recording or the like is performed immediately after the initialization, the continuous state as shown in FIG. Recording is performed.

  PB (second recording unit) and FC (first recording unit) are equivalent to the concept described with reference to FIG. In this example, the file F1 is recorded in three PB areas where the PB numbers are n to n + 2. Each PB includes two FCs, and the three PB areas include six FCs from FC = 2 to FC = 7. Further, in this example, an area called Data Block obtained by further dividing the FC into two is provided. A Data Block is a collection of data that has a meaning in a file. In FC, Data Block shall be continuous. In the example shown in FIG. 16A, 12 Data Blocks 0 to 11 are included in the three PB areas.

  In the FAT image, an arrow from one FC to another indicates a FAT chain. As described with reference to FIG. 11, the FAT chain is a pointer indicating the FC number to be read next.

  Here, it is assumed that the area shown in FIG. 16B is partially deleted from the state shown in FIG. 16A, that is, the state in which the file F1 is continuously recorded both physically and logically. To do. In this example, the region from the second FC (= 3) included in the PB where PB = n to the first FC (= 6) included in the PB where PB = n + 2 is partially deleted. Become.

  Such partial deletion causes a state in which FC including the information of the file F1 and unused FC are mixed in one PB. In order to avoid such a state, as described with reference to FIG. 15, the FC in which FC = 3 and the FC in which FC = 6 are immediately converted to UC (provisionally used first recording unit). Should. The reason is as described above. In this way, the processing for immediately converting to UC will be described below.

  First, while tracing the FAT chain of the FC to be deleted, the FAT corresponding to the FC is released (set to an unused state). Further, the FAT chain in the FC immediately before the FC group to be deleted (FC = 2) is changed to be the FC immediately after the FC group to be deleted (FC = 7).

  Thereafter, it is checked whether an unused FC and an FC including information on the file F1 are mixed in one PB. When a mixed location is found, information about the location is temporarily stored.

  When the detection of all the mixed portions is completed, the FAT chain is further reconnected at the mixed portion. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 16C, a PB where PB = n and a PB where PB = n + 1 are mixed. Then, in the PB with PB = n, the FC FAT chain with FC = 2 is changed to FC = 3, and the FC FAT chain with FC = 3 is changed to FC = 6. The In addition, in the PB where PB = n + 1, the FAT chain of the FC where FC = 6 is changed to FC = 7.

  And unused FC in the mixed location is set as UC. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a state in which unused FCs and FCs including information on the file F1 are mixed in one PB. In the logical image of the file F1 in this state, as shown on the right side of FIG. 16C, FCs with FC = 2, 3, 6, and 7 are continuous in this order, and FC = 3, 6 FC becomes UC.

  When all the FCs included in one PB are UCs, it is necessary to release them to an unused state. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 16C, when an FC with FC = 2 or FC = 7 is deleted, one FC is UC and the other FC is unused FC within one PB. It becomes the state. That is, although the PB corresponding to the two FCs can be opened originally, it cannot be used due to the presence of the UC. Therefore, in order to prevent such a state, it is necessary to search for a state in which one PB is composed of all UCs, and a state composed of only UCs or unused FCs, and release this. It becomes.

  In the above, an example has been shown in which a partial deletion causes a state in which an FC including the information of the file F1 and an unused FC are mixed in one PB. When the recording is completed, even if the recording is completed up to the first half FC in one PB, a mixed location occurs.

  As shown in this comparative example, when a certain file F1 is recorded in a state where the logical position of FC where valid information is recorded and the logical position of UC are mixed, The FAT changing process for setting, that is, the link changing process becomes complicated, resulting in an increase in processing time.

  For example, when processing for changing the UC to an unused state is performed, it is necessary to perform processing for changing the FAT related to FC in which valid information is recorded, that is, processing for changing links. Furthermore, since the mixed check process as described above needs to be performed every time the deletion process or the recording process is performed, the processing time is further increased.

(Example)
Next, as an embodiment of the present invention, when a part of the file F1 recorded on the disk 3 is partially deleted, the specific recording mode is changed to the general-purpose recording mode without performing the UC conversion process simultaneously with the information deletion process. An example in which the UC process is performed only immediately before the transition will be described.

  FIG. 4A shows a state in which the file F1 is continuously recorded in the physically continuous free area on the disc 3. FIG. The FAT image is shown on the left side of the figure, the logical image is shown in the center of the figure, and MaxB (file range information) is shown on the right side of the figure. For example, when the disk 3 is initialized, all the areas are unused clusters. Therefore, when recording or the like is performed immediately after the initialization, the continuous state as shown in FIG. Recording is performed. Since the FAT image, logical image, Data Block, and FAT chain are the same as described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  MaxB is an area for storing the maximum number of logical numbers of Data Blocks in which valid information is recorded for the file F1. This MaxB is recorded in, for example, a management file different from the file F1. The location where MaxB information is recorded is not particularly limited. For example, the information may be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium as a specific disk format. In the state shown in FIG. 4A, 12 data blocks from 0 to 11 are included in the three PB areas, and MaxB is 11.

  Here, it is assumed that the area shown in FIG. 4B is partially deleted from the state shown in FIG. 4A, that is, the state in which the file F1 is continuously recorded both physically and logically. To do. In this example, the region from the second FC (= 3) included in the PB where PB = n to the first FC (= 6) included in the PB where PB = n + 2 is partially deleted. Become.

  Such partial deletion causes a state in which FC including the information of the file F1 and unused FC are mixed in one PB. In order to avoid such a state, as described with reference to FIG. 15, the FC where FC = 3 and the FC where FC = 6 should be immediately converted to UC. The reason is as described above. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the following processing is performed and this is not immediately converted to UC.

  First, the table management unit 48 opens the FAT corresponding to the FC while following the FAT chain of the FC to be deleted (sets it to an unused state). Further, the table management unit 48 changes the FAT so that the FAT chain in the FC immediately before the FC group to be deleted (FC = 2) becomes the FC immediately after the FC group to be deleted (FC = 7). To do. As a result, eight data blocks have been deleted, so 3 is the maximum value of the data block by subtracting 8 from the original 11. That is, the file management unit 51 rewrites MaxB to 3. This state is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the above processing is repeated while the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is operating alone (specific recording mode).

  The state shown in FIG. 4C is a state in which an FC including the information of the file F1 and an unused FC are mixed in one PB. Originally, an unused FC in such a mixed PB should be converted to UC immediately, but in this embodiment, UC is not performed for the following reason.

  The processing performed at this point is processing while the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is operating alone. Therefore, FC = 3 and FC = 6 are not rewritten by a general-purpose application in the PC 2 or the like.

  Here, when the UC conversion is performed as in the first comparative example, the UC-converted FC cannot be used, and the free space is reduced. On the other hand, this embodiment is advantageous in terms of securing capacity because the UC is not performed as in Comparative Example 1 during biliary tract movement.

  When the data of the file F1 is recorded in the FC where FC = 3, the following processing is required. First, FC information for FC = 2 is once read into the work buffer, and then information to be written to the FC for FC = 3 is set in the work buffer. Then, in the state of FC2 + FC3, signal processing such as addition of an error correction code is performed, and data is simultaneously written in the PB. That is, considering the danger of an error occurring when such processing is performed, it is better not to record the data of the file F1 in the mixed PB.

  Another main reason is that, as described in the comparative example 1, when the state of FIG. 16C is set, when the FC portion where FC = 2 or FC = 7 is deleted, one of the two is deleted. In UC, the other is in an unused FC state. In other words, although the PB corresponding to two FCs can be originally opened, the UC cannot be easily released. If this is to be released, the combination of one UC and the other unused FC must be searched and processed, which greatly increases the software load. For the above reasons, the UC process is not performed in this embodiment.

  Thereafter, when the mode determination unit 41 detects that the single operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, that is, the specific recording mode operation has been completed, the detection unit 48 uses the unused FC and file F1 in the PB as a trigger. The table management unit 46 converts the unused FC to UC based on the detection result. The end of the single operation includes when the disk 3 is removed from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and when the disk 3 is stored in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and connected to the PC 2.

  FIG. 4D shows a state where this UC processing has been performed. First, the detection unit 48 sequentially searches the FAT related to the file F1, and detects a place (mixed place) where an unused FC and an FC including information on the file F1 are mixed in one PB. Then, the link destination of the FAT chain of FC (FC = 7) corresponding to the Data Block number stored in MaxB is an unused FC (FC = 3) in the mixed PB detected first. The table management unit 46 rewrites the FC with FC = 7 in the FAT. Subsequently, when an FC with FC = 6 is detected as an unused FC in the mixed PB, the FC with FC = 3 is rewritten so that the link destination of the FAT chain of FC with FC = 3 becomes FC = 6. It is done. When detection of unused FCs in the mixed PB is completed, the last detected unused FC (FC = 6) becomes a terminator, and FFFFh is recorded in the FAT entry. FIGS. 5A to 5D show the FAT image on the left side and the file image on the right side, with the contents of the FAT chain clearly shown, and are respectively shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D. It corresponds to the state.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the UC processing is not performed during the single operation, that is, the specific recording mode, and the UC processing is performed collectively at the end of the single operation. The UC-converted FCs are collectively created behind the logical position of the FC group constituting the file F1.

  Here, in the comparative example 1 described above, every time partial deletion is performed, first, the FAT chain is changed by the deletion being performed, and further, as shown in FIG. The FAT chain is changed accordingly. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, when partial deletion is performed, only FAT chain reconnection due to the deletion is performed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the number of FAT chain reconnection processes can be greatly reduced.

  Next, in the present embodiment, a process for releasing a UC-converted FC will be described. In this embodiment, the release process is performed when the recording process by the general-purpose application in the PC 2 or the like (the general-purpose recording mode) is shifted to the single operation (specific recording mode) of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. . For example, there are a case where the disc 3 is inserted during a single operation, a case where the communication connection between the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the PC 2 is released, and these events are detected by the mode determination unit 41.

  In the release process, all the FCs converted into UCs are converted again to unused FCs. That is, the state shown in FIG. 4D is returned to the state shown in FIG. As a result, even if an FC with FC = 2, for example, is deleted during the single operation, an FC with FC = 3 belonging to the same PB becomes an unused FC, so that FC = 3 is obtained by the process at the end of the single operation. The FC part is not converted to UC. Hereinafter, the flow of the release process will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (d).

  FIG. 6A shows a FAT image and a file image immediately after the opening process is started. First, the file management unit 51 reads the value of MaxB, and this information is transmitted to the table management unit 46, so that the table management unit 46 recognizes the maximum number of valid Data Blocks. When the value of MaxB is recognized (3 in this example), the data block after the number (4 in this example) after the value indicated by MaxB is recognized in the file logical image of the file F1. The FC corresponding to the Data Block after the number (4 in this example) after the value indicated by MaxB is a UC-converted FC.

  When the UC-converted FC group is recognized by the table management unit 48, the first FC of the FC group (FC = 3 in this example) is obtained. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the table management unit 48 sets the FC corresponding to FC = 3 in the FAT to an unused state (0000h). Furthermore, the FAT chain of the FC corresponding to FC = 7 linked to FC = 3 is changed to FC = 6, which is the next candidate in the FC group converted to UC.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, the table management unit 48 sequentially sets the FCs corresponding to FC = 6 to the unused state, and corresponds to FC = 7 linked to FC = 6. Change FC FAT chain to EOF state (FFFFh).

  As described above, if the first UC is obtained, since it should be linked thereafter, a simple operation of sequentially releasing it may be performed. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6D, all the FCs that have been converted to UC can be returned to the unused FAT.

  In the present embodiment, the maximum value MaxB of valid data block numbers is reserved as an area, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a range of logical numbers indicating valid data block groups of the file F1 may be recorded, and the maximum valid data block number may be obtained from this information. For example, when the file F1 includes three pieces of data (for example, music data for three songs), the logical number range of the first data is 1 to 9, and the logical number range of the second data is 25. If the range of the logical number of the third data is recorded as 10 to 20, the logical number (30) of the largest data block is obtained from these.

  In addition, the number of data blocks included in one FC, the number of FC included in one PB, the size of the FAT, and the like shown in the above example are merely examples. In the above example, processing related to simple partial erasure has been described, but the same processing can also be applied when a data block is deleted by a plurality of erasures or other editing operations.

  Further, the detection unit 48 may detect a mixed location only for a file of a specific file type that requires physical continuity at a recording position on a recording medium. In this case, since the frequency with which the UC processing is performed can be minimized, the processing can be simplified and the processing speed can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Each functional block included in the control microcomputer 13 of the above embodiment may be realized by a calculation unit such as a CPU executing a program stored in a storage unit such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM. However, it may be realized by a hardware logic circuit that realizes each functional block.

  When the control microcomputer 13 is realized by software, the above functions and processes can be realized on an arbitrary computer by recording the program on a removable recording medium.

  As the recording medium, a memory (not shown) such as a ROM may be used as a program medium for processing by the microcomputer, and a program reader is provided as an external storage device (not shown). It may be a program medium that can be read by inserting a recording medium therein.

  In any case, the stored program is preferably configured to be accessed and executed by the microprocessor. Furthermore, it is preferable that the program is read out, and the read program is downloaded to the program storage area of the microcomputer and the program is executed. It is assumed that the download program is stored in the main device in advance.

  The program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the main body, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or a disk such as a CD / MO / MD / DVD. Fixed disk system, card system such as IC card (including memory card), or semiconductor memory such as mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), flash ROM, etc. In particular, there are recording media that carry programs.

  In addition, if the system configuration is capable of connecting to a communication network including the Internet, the recording medium is preferably a recording medium that fluidly carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network.

  Further, when the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, it is preferable that the download program is stored in the main device in advance or installed from another recording medium.

  The recording control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied as, for example, a recording control apparatus that controls an external recording apparatus using a FAT file system as an external recording apparatus in a personal computer. As such an external recording device, for example, a device that uses a magneto-optical disk and is equipped with a FAT file system, a music recording / playback function, and a storage function.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control microcomputer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information processing system containing the said recording / reproducing apparatus. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which files are continuously recorded in physically continuous free areas on the disc, and FIG. 4B is an area where partial deletion is performed from the state of FIG. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a state in which PB in which unused FCs and FCs including file information are mixed is generated by partial deletion according to FIG. FIG. 6D is a diagram showing a state in which the UC conversion processing has been performed from the state shown in FIG. 5 (a) to 5 (d) show the FAT image on the left side and the file image on the right side with the contents of the FAT chain clearly shown corresponding to the states of FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d), respectively. FIG. The same figure (a)-the figure (d) are figures which show the flow of an open | release process. It is a figure which shows the example of the recording area distribution of the recording medium containing a FAT volume. It is a figure which shows the example of a bios parameter block. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between a FAT entry and a FAT cluster. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of the structure of information recorded in the root directory area, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the structure of information related to subdirectories. ) Is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of each entry included in the root directory or subdirectory. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example in which one file data is continuously recorded on a recording medium. FIG. 2B is a diagram in which one file data is continuously recorded on the recording medium. It is a figure which shows the example which is not. It is a figure which shows the example in which two FC is contained in one PB. It is a figure which shows the example in which FC containing the information of a file and unused FC are mixed in one PB. FIG. 6A shows that when recording is completed in the first half of the PB, FIG. 5B shows that only the latter half of the PB or only the first half is erased by erasing the intermediate portion of the already recorded area. It is a figure which shows each case. It is a figure which shows the state in which the process which makes unused FC in the same PB as PB in which the information block of a file is recorded the FC used as a data block of a file apparently was performed. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which files are continuously recorded in physically continuous free areas on the disc in the comparative example, and FIG. 4B is a partial view from the state of FIG. FIG. 10C shows a state where a PB in which unused FCs and FCs containing file information are mixed is generated by the partial deletion shown in FIG. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording / playback device 2 PC
3 Disk 11 Disk mechanism 11a Magnetic head 11b Pickup 11c Various motors 12 Recording / reproducing processor 13 Control microcomputer (recording control device)
14 Head Driver 15 RF Circuit 16 PWM Driver 17 Audio / Video Output Unit 18 Audio / Video Input Unit 21 Digital RF Processing Unit 22 Digital Servo Unit 23 Signal Processing Unit 24 Command Conversion Unit 25 Decoding Circuit 26 Encoding Circuit 28 Encryption Processing Unit 32 Display unit 33 Instruction input unit 41 Mode determination unit 43 Work RAM control unit 44 Driver control unit 45 Recording / playback instruction unit 46 Table management unit (table management means)
47 Control unit 48 Table management unit 48 Detection unit (detection means)
49 Display control unit 50 Instruction input control unit 51 File management unit (file management means)

Claims (11)

A first recording unit is set as a minimum recording unit, and information recording / erasing processing is performed on a recording medium in which recording / erasing of information is performed based on the first recording unit. A recording control apparatus for controlling an information recording apparatus that performs a physical recording / erasing process on the recording medium for each of a plurality of second recording units,
Corresponding to each first recording unit, information of the first recording unit to be read next to the first recording unit or identification information indicating that the first recording unit is unused is recorded in the management table Table management means for controlling writing / reading;
Detecting means for detecting, as a mixed location, a second recording unit in which an unused first recording unit and a first recording unit in which valid information is recorded are mixed in the recording medium,
The table management means is
An unused first recording unit included in the mixed location detected by the detecting means is identified as a temporarily used first recording unit constituting a file corresponding to the first recording unit in which the valid information is recorded. Set information,
With respect to the file, the first recording unit group in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is located at a logical position different from the logical position range arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. A recording control apparatus, wherein the management table is changed so that unit identification information is located. For each file, writing / reading of file range information in which information indicating a range of logical positions in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the order shown in the management table is recorded. Further comprising a file management means for controlling,
Based on the file range information, the table management means recognizes and manages a range of logical positions in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. The recording control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table is changed.   The table management means places the temporary recording unit at a position logically behind the range of logical positions in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. 2. The recording control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management table is changed so that identification information of a used first recording unit is located.   The file management means records, as the file range information, information indicating a logical position of a first recording unit that is logically last in a first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded. The recording control apparatus according to claim 2. A mode identifying means for identifying a specific recording mode operation in which only recording of a specific file type is performed on the recording medium and a general recording mode operation in which general-purpose file type recording is performed,
2. The recording control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit performs the detection process only immediately before shifting from the specific recording mode to the general-purpose recording mode in accordance with an identification result by the mode identifying unit.   The table management unit sets the temporarily used first recording unit as an unused first recording unit immediately after shifting from the general-purpose recording mode to the specific recording mode according to the identification result by the mode identifying unit. 6. A recording control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:   2. The recording control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the mixed portion only with respect to a first recording unit in which information on a file of a specific file type is recorded. A first recording unit is set as a minimum recording unit, and information recording / erasing processing is performed on a recording medium in which recording / erasing of information is performed based on the first recording unit. A recording control method for controlling an information recording apparatus that performs a physical recording / erasing process on the recording medium for each of a plurality of second recording units,
Corresponding to each first recording unit, information of the first recording unit to be read next to the first recording unit or identification information indicating that the first recording unit is unused is recorded in the management table A table management step for controlling writing / reading;
Detecting a second recording unit in which a first recording unit that is not used and a first recording unit in which valid information is recorded are mixed in the recording medium as a mixed location;
In the above table management step,
The unused first recording unit included in the mixed location detected by the detection step is identified as a temporarily used first recording unit constituting a file corresponding to the first recording unit in which the valid information is recorded. Set information,
With respect to the file, the first recording unit group in which the first recording unit group in which valid information is recorded is located at a logical position different from the logical position range arranged in the reading order shown in the management table. A recording control method, wherein the management table is changed so that unit identification information is located. A recording / reproducing unit for writing and reading information to and from the recording medium;
A recording control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the recording control apparatus controls the operation of the recording / reproducing unit.   A recording control program that causes a computer to execute processing performed by each unit included in the recording control apparatus according to claim 1.   A recording medium on which the recording control program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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