KR100811349B1 - Media File System and The Method of the Management - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a configuration and operation method of a media file system for efficiently managing fragmented empty spaces generated in a storage medium during editing and deletion of image programs in a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) series or a TV with a PVR embedded therein. By separating and managing fragmented spaces of the storage medium by a hash function, when a user wants to store other program data on the storage medium, the space can be immediately provided without searching for an empty space.

The present invention includes the steps of checking the memory area usage state on the storage medium, and checking and counting the fragmented empty space area; Determining whether the number of the fragmented empty space areas is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n; If the number of fragmented empty spaces is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (n), classifying the empty spaces by size and managing the hash spaces in a hash table if the number of fragmented empty spaces is less than a predetermined number (n); If a user wants to store data in the storage medium, designating and storing a space of a suitable size to store the data among the fragmented empty space areas managed in the hash table. It relates to how to operate the system.

Media file systems, storage media, hash functions, hash tables, defragrs

Description

Media File System and The Method of the Management

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a media file system according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a media file system according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a media file system for managing an empty space area of a storage medium according to the present invention.

4 illustrates a fragmented empty space area generally generated due to storing, deleting, and editing data on a storage medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of empty spaces in sizes according to the present invention and arranged in a hash table. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating rearrangement by classifying fragmented empty space of a storage medium by size after providing empty space at a user's request according to the present invention;

<Name of the code for the main part of the drawing>

11, 21 --- Storage 12, 22 --- Application program interface

13, 23 --- Scheduler 24 --- Defragmenter                 

25 --- Counting Means 26 --- Free Space Management

27 --- blank space designator

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PVR-based media file system. In particular, in the process of storing, deleting, and editing a video signal A / V stream in a storage medium, empty spaces are generated in the storage medium. The present invention relates to a media file system for managing empty space for securing and a method of operating the same.

Recently, a product having a function of storing digital broadcasting data in a storage medium by mounting a DTV set or STB disk drive has been released.

That is, when referring to PVR (Personal Vedio Recorder), information is recorded / reproduced on a storage medium such as a hard disk instead of a conventional magnetic tape when playing or recording an image program. It looks like a traditional VTR or DVD player, but inside it's the same way as a PC. The PVR consists of a central processing unit for playback, a memory chip containing an operating system, playback software, and a mass storage medium.

In addition, the storage medium drive records and plays back digital broadcast data programs on the mass storage medium.

The meaning of storing the digital broadcast data in a storage medium can be considered by dividing it into two types of buffering and recording.

Buffering is the automatic storage of the A / V stream type, which is the video signal of the channel being played back while the user does not recognize it, on the storage media. Recording is the direct or scheduled recording of the desired broadcast program or part thereof. To save.

       The video signal A / V stream stored for the above buffering is data that is automatically deleted from the storage medium after a certain period of time or a channel change, and the video signal A / V stream for recording is recognized and deleted by the user. It is not deleted until before.

Conventionally, these buffering and recordings are managed and stored in separate areas, and programs stored in the buffering area are in the form of circular queues, which are automatically deleted from the old ones, and newly buffered A / V streams. This is saved. On the other hand, programs recorded in the recording area are deleted only at the request of the user.

However, if the user adds the function of converting the buffered area to the recording area to support the recording function, both areas are recognized as the recording area, and the separate management of the buffering and recording areas becomes meaningless. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the empty space area generated during the buffering and editing of the recorded video signal A / V stream.

In addition, since a PVR using a storage medium having a limited capacity is provided with various functions and data must be written and erased, a method for more efficiently managing and providing an empty space area generated in the process is required.

Here, referring to the prior art, FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a media file system according to the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 1, a storage medium 11 capable of storing data; An application program interface (12) for storing an A / V (Audio / Vedio) stream as an image signal in the storage medium (11) and supporting a function of deleting or editing the stream; A scheduler 13 for receiving a command to execute the application program interface 12; It is configured to include.

The conventional media file system configured as described above secures an empty space area by searching the entire storage medium 11 through a FAT (File Allocation Table) to find and store data generated as described above. .

Until now, the FAT system used the entire FAT to calculate the free space to calculate the free space on the storage media.

Moreover, in the case of the improved conventional technology, when an editing function for cutting and pasting a desired part of the recorded program is added, since the occurrence of the empty space area is increased due to the editing, separate management of the empty space area is further required. Do.

Fragmented empty spaces are generated in the storage medium due to partial use of the storage medium due to various editing functions, storage and deletion of the video signal A / V stream. This phenomenon results in more and more empty space areas as more and more detailed editing functions are provided, such as the use of a function of editing a buffered part and storing it in a desired part.

Therefore, the conventional method has a problem in that the time for accessing the storage medium is long and the stability is inferior.

The present invention has been created in view of the above-mentioned conditions, and manages an empty space area generated by buffering and editing of a recorded video signal A / V stream on a storage medium of a PVR system to access a storage medium more quickly. The purpose is to manage the free space area of the storage medium to secure stable PVR performance and reliability.

In addition, when the empty space area of the storage medium is more than a predetermined number (n), another purpose is to manage the storage medium empty space to prevent the deterioration of the function of the PVR storage medium by automatically defragmenting.

The configuration of the media file system according to the present invention in order to achieve the above object,

A storage medium capable of storing data;

Counting means for counting the number of fragmented empty spaces of the storage medium;

A management unit classifying the counted fragmented empty space of the storage medium by a hash function and managing the hashed table in a hash table;

A designation unit for providing a fragmented empty space area classified by the management unit when a user request for data storage is performed on the storage medium;                     

The counting means is characterized in that it comprises a defragmenter to automatically defragment if a predetermined number (n) or more.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the operating method of the media file system according to the present invention,

Checking a memory area usage state on a storage medium, and checking and counting a fragmented empty space area;

Determining whether the number of the fragmented empty space areas is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n;

If the number of fragmented empty spaces is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (n), classifying the empty spaces by size and managing the hash spaces in a hash table if the number of fragmented empty spaces is less than a predetermined number (n);

If the user wants to store the data in the storage medium, it is characterized in that it comprises the step of designating and storing a space of a suitable size to be stored in the fragmented empty space areas arranged in the hash table.

According to the present invention, when the user stores, deletes or edits the video signal A / V stream, the user divides and manages the fragmented empty space by size to efficiently manage the fragmented empty spaces generated on the storage medium. When you want to save the data, you can provide the free space immediately without searching for a separate free space so that you can perform the functions of the PVR stably by reducing the time saving and defragmentation access to the storage media.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.                     

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a media file system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the media file system includes: a storage medium 21 capable of storing data; An application program interface 22 for storing an A / V (Audio / Vedio) stream as an image signal in the storage medium 21 and supporting a function of deleting or editing the A / V stream; A scheduler (23) for receiving a command to execute the application program interface (22); Counting means (25) for counting the number of fragmented empty spaces of the storage medium (21); A management unit 26 for classifying and managing fragmented empty space of the storage medium 21 by mapping by a hash function; A designation unit 27 which manages the fragmented empty space by size in the empty space management unit 26 and designates and provides a fragmented empty space area to be stored when a region request for data storage is requested from a user; The counting means 25 is characterized in that it comprises a deflector 24 to automatically defragment if the predetermined number (n) or more.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method of operating a media file system for managing a free space area of a storage medium according to the present invention.

Prior to examining each step of the method for operating the media file system according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a fragmented empty space area generally generated by storing, deleting, or editing data in a storage medium.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage medium 21 has an area in which data is stored, and fragmented empty spaces generated by data storage and editing are distributed.

Therefore, referring to the step of operating the media file system according to the present invention for managing the free space area of the storage medium 21, the number of fragmented free spaces of the storage medium 21 to the counting means 25 The counting step s31 is performed.

A step S32 is performed to determine whether the number of fragmented empty spaces counted s31 is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n.

If the number of fragmented empty space areas of the storage medium 21 is less than the predetermined number n, the management unit 26 maps the hash space through a hash function according to whether the empty space is greater than or equal to the predetermined number n. In operation S33, the hash table is classified and managed according to the size of an empty area.

Here, referring to a method by a hash function performed in the step S33 of classifying and managing the fragmented empty spaces, FIG. 5 illustrates that the empty spaces are classified into sizes and arranged in a hash table according to the present invention. It is a schematic drawing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mapping by the hash function may distinguish the size of the fragmented empty space according to the table size value determined by the function value. The fragmented empty space region mapped by the hash function is classified and managed by the size in the hash table.

Classifying and managing the fragmented empty space (s33) manages the empty space area, and when the user wants to store the data in the storage medium 21 at the request of the user automatically designated the largest bin 27 If the space is designated and provided, or if the user recognizes and requests the program size, the step S34 of designating and providing an empty space corresponding to the data size is performed.

The provision method of the empty space performed in the step of providing the empty space is to prevent the data from being fragmented if the data size is larger than the fragmented space to be provided when storing the data on the storage medium. .

6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a rearrangement by dividing the fragmented empty space of the storage medium by size after providing the empty space at the request of the user according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, after specifying and providing the fragmented empty space, the management unit 26 classifies and rearranges the empty space region fragmented again by mapping by the hash function according to the size in the hash table (S35). Will be performed.

In the determining of whether the number of fragmented empty spaces is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n, when the number of fragmented empty spaces of the storage medium 21 is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n, the fragment collector 24 In step (a), the automatic defragmentation is performed. Here, the direct execution of the defragmentation step s36 of the storage medium 21 causes the scheduler 23 to perform the command according to the defragmenter 24.

Here, an application program for assisting the scheduler 23 to directly perform when the defragmenter 24 of the step of performing the automatic defragmentation (S36) instructs the scheduler 23 to perform a command. Interface 22 is supported.                     

The operation method using the media file system according to the present invention manages the fragmented empty space area on the storage medium so that the user can immediately provide a space without a separate search when the user requests a fragmented empty space area for data storage.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, the configuration and operation method of a media file system for managing an empty space area of a storage medium according to the present invention efficiently eliminates fragmented empty space areas generated by storing, deleting, and editing data on the storage medium. When the user wants to save data by providing it immediately without searching for an empty space area, the access time can be shortened to the storage medium and the storage medium can be stably accessed.

Claims (6)

A storage medium capable of storing data; Counting means for counting the number of fragmented empty spaces of the storage medium; A management unit classifying the counted fragmented empty space of the storage medium by a hash function and managing the hashed table in a hash table; A designation unit for providing a fragmented empty space area classified by the management unit when a user request for data storage is performed on the storage medium; And a defragmenter for automatically defragmenting the number of empty spaces in the counting means. Checking a memory area usage state of the storage medium, and checking and counting a fragmented empty space area; Determining whether the number of the fragmented empty space areas is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n; If the number of fragmented empty spaces is greater than or equal to a predetermined number n, if the number of fragmented empty spaces is less than a predetermined number n, classifying the empty spaces by size and managing the hash spaces in a hash table; And when the user wants to store the data in the storage medium, designating and storing a space of a suitable size in which the data is to be stored among the fragmented empty space areas arranged in the hash table. How file systems work. The method of claim 2, The fragmented empty space area in the step of managing the fragmented empty space is managed by classifying according to the size of the fragmented empty space in the hash table by mapping by a hash function. The method of claim 2, In the step of designating the space where the data is to be stored, the largest fragmented empty space among the managed spaces in the hash table is automatically designated and provided, or when the user recognizes the data size and requests the fragmented empty space suitable for the data. Operating method of the media file system, characterized in that provided by providing. The method of claim 2, After providing the fragmented empty space area for storing data to the user, the method further includes reclassifying the fragmented empty space area of the storage medium according to size by mapping through a hash function and managing the fragmented empty space area in a hash table. A method of operating a media file system.  The method of claim 2,  Counting the number of fragmented empty space areas of the storage medium in the step of determining whether the number of areas of the empty space is more than a predetermined number (n), and if the number is more than the predetermined number (n) automatically defragmentation is performed. Method of operating a media file system, characterized in that.

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