JP2002008354A - Image recording and reproducing device and image retrieval method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording and reproducing device which enables a user to retrieve the arbitrary image data desired by a user and is to automatically capture the image data. SOLUTION: The image recording and reproducing device retrieves the index flag or tag information on a tape in retrieving the image data recorded on a tape. When the tag information is detected, the device outputs the image data with this tag information and when the tag information is not detected and the index information is detected, the device outputs the image data with the index flag (the image data in starting the recording).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image data on a medium, and a method for retrieving the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when searching (starting search) or capturing image data recorded on a medium such as a tape, it is performed using an index flag which is recorded as a head signal of recording start at the time of recording. .

A VTR capable of recording and reproducing the index flag will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproducing system of a conventional VTR, and FIG. 8 is a search (search-in search) in the VTR of FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of capture.

[0004] V which can record and reproduce an index flag
The TR includes a demodulation circuit 101 to which data reproduced from a tape by a reproduction head is input via an input terminal 100, as shown in FIG. The demodulation circuit 101 demodulates the input data, and the demodulated data is input to the error correction circuit 102. The error correction circuit 102 performs error correction decoding of the demodulated data, and the data after the error correction decoding, that is, the reproduced image data,
Is input to The expansion circuit 103 expands the input reproduced image data. This expanded playback image data is
After being temporarily stored in the memory 104, it is output to a monitor (not shown) via the output terminal 110.

The data demodulated by the demodulation circuit 101 is input to an index detection circuit 106, which detects an index flag from the demodulated data and sends a signal indicating the detection result to the controller 501. Output. The controller 501
When a search start signal is input via the input terminal 111, a control signal for memory freeze is output to the memory 104 based on a signal from the index detection circuit 106, and a control signal such as tape feed is output to the output terminal 50.
Output via 1

[0006] Retrieval in this VTR (cue search)
Alternatively, the capture operation will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the operation procedure of FIG.
No. 1.

When a search start signal is input to the controller 501 via the input terminal 111, a control signal for transporting the tape in the forward direction is output to the output terminal 502 in step S61 as shown in FIG. And transport the tape in the forward direction. Then, the process proceeds to a step S62, wherein it is determined whether or not an index flag is detected based on a signal from the index detection circuit 62. If the index flag is not detected, the process proceeds to the step S61.
And control is performed so that the transport of the tape in the forward direction is continued. This control is continued until an index flag is detected.

When the index flag is detected, the flow advances to step S63 to output a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction to the output terminal 502, and transport the tape in the reverse direction. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S64, where it is determined whether or not the index flag is no longer detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 62. When the index flag is detected, the process returns to step S63, and the tape is moved in the reverse direction. Is controlled so as to continue the transfer. This control is continued until the index flag is no longer detected.

When the index flag is no longer detected, the process proceeds to step S65, in which a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 502, and normal reproduction is performed. It is determined whether or not an index flag has been detected based on the determination. If the index flag has not been detected, the process returns to step S65 to control the normal reproduction to be continued. This control is continued until an index flag is detected. When the index flag is detected, the process proceeds to step S67, in which the memory 104 is frozen so that the image of the scene change (recording start point) is output to the monitor via the output terminal 110, and the process ends.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional VTR, image data is searched using an index flag recorded at a recording start point.
Only the frame at the recording start point of the image data can be searched, and it is not possible to search for any desired image data desired by the user and to satisfy the demand for automatic capture.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording / reproducing apparatus and an image searching method capable of searching for arbitrary image data desired by a user and automatically capturing the image data.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image recording and reproducing apparatus for recording image data on a medium and reproducing the image data, and recording the image data at the recording start time with recording start position information indicating the recording start position on the medium, A recording unit capable of adding tag information to image data at a position different from the recording start position and recording the image data on the medium; and a search unit for searching for image data recorded on the medium. When searching for image data on the medium, the search means searches for recording start position information and tag information recorded on the medium, and refers to the search result to add the tag information. The reproduced image data is preferentially reproduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the tag information is detected, the search means extracts the image data to which the tag information is added. When the recording start position information is detected without detecting the tag information, the image data to which the recording start position information is added is extracted and reproduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing / recording apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising: tag information recording instructing means for instructing recording of the tag information during recording of the image data by a user operation; The means records the tag information at a corresponding position on the medium when recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reproducing / recording apparatus according to the first aspect, recording of the tag information is instructed for image data at an arbitrary position recorded on the medium by a user operation. Tag information recording instructing means, wherein the recording means records the tag information at a corresponding position on the medium when recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the search means searches the medium in a positive recording direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the search means searches the medium in a reverse recording direction.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the medium is a tape-shaped medium.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image retrieving method for an image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image data on a medium, wherein a recording start position of the image data at the start of recording is indicated. Recording on the medium with start position information, recording on the medium with tag information on image data at a position different from the recording start position, and recording on the medium When searching for the searched image data, the recording start position information and the tag information recorded on the medium are searched, and the image data with the tag information is preferentially reproduced by referring to the search result. And a step of performing

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image search method according to the eighth aspect, when the tag information is detected, the image data with the tag information is extracted and reproduced, and the tag information is reproduced. When the recording start position information is detected without detecting the information, the image data to which the recording start position information is added is extracted and reproduced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image search method according to the eighth aspect, a step of instructing recording of the tag information during recording of the image data by a user operation, wherein the tag operation is performed by the user operation When information recording is instructed, the tag information is recorded at a corresponding position on the medium.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image search method of the eighth aspect, recording of the tag information is instructed for image data at an arbitrary position recorded on the medium by a user operation. And a step of recording the tag information at a corresponding position on the medium when recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image search method of the eighth aspect, a search is performed on the medium in a positive recording direction.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image search method according to the eighth aspect, a search is performed on the medium in a reverse recording direction.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image retrieval method according to the eighth aspect, the medium is a tape-shaped medium.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproducing system of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format configuration of data recorded on a tape by the recording system of FIG. In the present embodiment, a DV system image recording / reproducing device will be described as an example of the image recording / reproducing device.

First, a recording system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 5, the recording system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus has a memory 701 for holding image data inputted through an input terminal 700 and image data inputted simultaneously with an image data via an input terminal 708. An audio signal processing circuit 709 for performing signal processing on audio data, a controller 714 for controlling the operation of the entire recording system, and an instruction to start recording of image data, and image data to be searched during recording of image data And an operation switch 715 for designating (scene).

The image data held in the memory 701 is input to a compression circuit 702, and the compression circuit 702 compresses the input image data by variable-length coding based on DCT or the like. This encoded image data is AU
The signal is input to the X adding circuit 703. The audio data processed by the audio signal processing circuit 709 is A
It is input to the UX addition circuit 710.

The operation switch 715 outputs a tag generation instruction to the controller 714 when pressed by the user. The controller 714 instructs the index generation circuit 713 to generate an index flag at the start of recording,
Also, it instructs the tag generation circuit 712 to generate tag information in response to a tag generation instruction from the operation switch 715.

The index generation circuit 713 generates an index flag for a predetermined time from the start of recording based on an instruction from the controller 714. The generated index flag is stored in the sub code generation circuit 711 and the sync,
It is sent to the ID addition circuit 705. Tag generation circuit 712
Generates tag information based on an instruction from the controller 714, and the generated tag information is sent to each of the AUX addition circuits 703 and 710 and the subcode generation circuit 711.

Each of the AUX addition circuits 703 and 710 generates additional information such as recording date and time and time and packetizes the packet. The packetized additional information is encoded together with the encoded image data and audio data by the error correction circuit 704. Is output to The subcode generation circuit 711 includes the tag information from the tag generation circuit 712 or the index generation circuit 7.
Based on the index flag from 13, additional information such as time code information is generated and packetized, and the packetized additional information is output to the error correction circuit 704 as subcode data. The error correction circuit 704 detects each A
The encoded image data and audio data from the UX addition circuits 703 and 704 and the subcode data from the subcode generation circuit 711 are error-correction-coded and output to the sync / ID addition circuit 705.

The sync / ID adding circuit 705 adds sync and ID to the data from the error correction circuit 704 and outputs the data to the recording encoding circuit 706. The recording encoding circuit 706 includes sync,
The data from the ID adding circuit 705 is converted into encoded data for recording, and this data is output to an output terminal 707. The data output to the output terminal 707 is recorded on a tape (not shown) which is a recording medium.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to record tag information during the recording of image data in accordance with the operation of the operation switch 715 by the user, and it is also possible to record any tag information already recorded on the tape. It is possible to record tag information for the image data at the position.

Next, data recorded on the tape will be described with reference to FIG.

In the recording system, video data (image data), audio data and sub-mode data are recorded on a tape. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, one frame of image data is recorded on a plurality of tracks. One track includes an area for recording audio data, an area for recording video data, and an area for recording a subcode. As shown in FIG. 6B, the video data, audio data, and subcode data are processed in a predetermined unit, and sync and ID are added to form a sync block. Then, moving image data is recorded by recording a predetermined number of sync blocks in each area of audio data, video, and subcode. Each area of audio data, video, and subcode has an area for recording additional information (index flag, tag information). As shown in FIG. 6C, this additional information is composed of an m-byte (though smaller than the data size in FIG. 6B) packet including an ID and a data portion. It is identified by the ID, and the data of the additional information is written in the data portion. The packet of the additional information is packed and recorded in the data part (shown in FIG. 6B) of the sync block.

Next, a reproducing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1, blocks having the same functions as the blocks shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reproducing system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus includes a demodulation circuit 101 to which data reproduced from a tape by a reproducing head is input via an input terminal 100. The demodulation circuit 101 demodulates the input data,
The demodulated data is input to the error correction circuit 102 and the index detection circuit 107. Error correction circuit 1
02 performs error correction decoding of the demodulated data, and the data after the error correction decoding, that is, reproduced image data, is input to the decompression circuit 103, the tag detection circuit 107, and the index detection circuit 106. The expansion circuit 103 expands the input reproduced image data. The decompressed reproduced image data is temporarily stored in the memory 104 and then output to a monitor (not shown) via the output terminal 110.

The index detection circuit 106 is provided for receiving the demodulated data from the demodulation circuit 101 or the error correction circuit 10.
2. Detect index flag based on data from 2
A signal indicating the detection result is output to the controller 108. The tag detection circuit 107 detects tag information based on the data from the error correction circuit 102, and outputs a signal indicating the detection result to the controller 108.

The controller 108 controls the entire reproduction system including the output of a control signal such as a tape feed through an output terminal 109. When a search start signal is input through an input terminal 111, an index detection is performed. A control signal for memory freeze is stored in the memory 1 based on a signal from the circuit 106 or a signal from the tag detection circuit 107.
04.

Next, the operation of searching (searching for a cue) or capturing in the image recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a search (search for a cue) or a capture in a reproducing system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. Here, the operation procedure of this figure is performed by the controller 108.

When the search start signal is input to the controller 108 via the input terminal 111, a control signal for transporting the tape in the forward direction is output to the output terminal 109 in step S201 as shown in FIG. And transport the tape in the forward direction. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S202, and it is determined whether or not tag information is detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. When the tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S212 described later, and when the tag information is not detected, the process proceeds to step S203.
In step S203, it is determined whether or not an index flag has been detected based on a signal from the index detection circuit 106. If no index flag has been detected, the process returns to step S201 to continue the transport of the tape in the forward direction. Control. This control is continued until tag information or an index flag is detected.

If the index flag is detected without detecting the tag information, the process proceeds to step S204, where a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction is output to the output terminal 109, and the tape is transported in the reverse direction. Then, step S2
In step S05, it is determined whether or not the index flag is no longer detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. If the index flag is detected, the process returns to step S204 to convey the tape in the reverse direction. Control to continue. This control is continued until the index flag is no longer detected.

When the index flag is no longer detected,
In step S206, a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 109, and normal reproduction is performed. In step S207, it is determined whether or not the index flag is detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. If the index flag is not detected, the process returns to step S206, and controls to continue the normal reproduction. This control is continued until an index flag is detected. When the index flag is detected, the process proceeds to step S208, and the memory 104 is frozen in order to output a scene change (recording start point) image to the monitor via the output terminal 110.

Next, in step S209, a control signal for transporting the tape in the forward direction is output to the output terminal 109, and the tape is transported in the forward direction. Subsequent step S
At 210, it is determined whether or not tag information is detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. If no tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S211 and an index flag is detected based on a signal from the index detection circuit 106. Is determined. If no index flag is detected, the flow returns to step S209, and control for transporting the tape in the forward direction is continued.
This control is continued until tag information or an index flag is detected. Then, when the index flag is detected, the present process ends. As a result, the image data at the start of recording written in the memory in step S208 is searched for as an output image. On the other hand, when tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S212.

In step S212, a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction is output to the output terminal 109.
Transport the tape in the reverse direction. Subsequently, step S213
It is determined whether or not the tag information is no longer detected based on the signal from the tag detection circuit 107. When the tag information is detected, the process returns to step S212,
Control for transporting the tape in the reverse direction is continued. On the other hand, when the tag information is no longer detected, step S2
Proceeding to 14, a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 109, and normal reproduction is performed. Subsequent step S21
In step 5, it is determined whether or not tag information is detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. If no tag information is detected, the process returns to step S214 to control to continue normal reproduction. This control is continued until tag information is detected. When the tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S216, in which the freeze (step S208) for the image data of the scene change (recording start point) written in the memory 104 is released, and the image data with the tag information is deleted. The memory 10 is decompressed by the decompression circuit 103 at the time when writing to the memory 104 is completed.
Freeze 4. As a result, the image data with the tag information is searched for as the output image. Then, the present process ends.

As described above, when searching the image data recorded on the tape, the index flag or the tag information is detected, and when the tag information is detected, the image data with the tag information is output. When the tag information is not detected, the image data with the index flag (the image data at the start of recording) is output. When tag information is not added to the image data recorded on the tape, the image data with the index flag can be searched. Therefore, it is possible to search for any image data desired by the user,
When no tag information is added, image data with an index flag can be automatically captured.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of searching (searching for a head) or capturing of the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that this embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described first embodiment, and a description of the configuration will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, when tag information is detected, the image data to which the tag information is added is stored in the memory 104, and the tag information is not detected. When the first index flag is detected, the position of this index flag is stored,
The tape is transported in the forward direction to detect the tag information, and if the next index flag is detected without detecting the tag information during the transport, the tape is returned to the first index flag position recorded, The image data at the index flag position (image data at the start of recording) is held in the memory 104.

Specifically, when a search start signal is input to the controller 108 via the input terminal 111, a control signal for transporting the tape in the forward direction is first output in step S301 as shown in FIG. The signal is output to the terminal 109, and the tape is transported in the forward direction. Then step S
Proceeding to 302, it is determined whether tag information has been detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. When the tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S313 described later. When the tag information is not detected, the process proceeds to step S303.
Proceed to. In step S303, it is determined whether or not the index flag is detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. If the index flag is not detected, the process returns to step S301 to continue the transport of the tape in the forward direction. Control. This control
It continues until tag information or an index flag is detected.

If the index flag is detected without detecting the tag information, the process proceeds to step S304, where the detected index flag position is stored, and the process proceeds to step S3.
At 05, a control signal for transporting the tape in the forward direction is output to the output terminal 109, and the tape is transported in the forward direction. Then, the process proceeds to step S306 to determine whether or not tag information is detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. When this tag information is detected, step S described later
Proceeding to 313, if this tag information is not detected,
Proceeding to step S307, the index detection circuit 106
It is determined whether or not the index flag has been detected based on the signal from the CPU. If the index flag has not been detected, the process returns to step S305 to control the tape to continue to be transported in the forward direction. This control is continued until tag information or an index flag is detected.

If the index flag is detected without detecting the tag information, the flow advances to step S308 to output a control signal for conveying the tape in the reverse direction to the position stored in step S304 to the output terminal 109. And transport the tape in the reverse direction. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S309, where it is determined whether or not the index flag is no longer detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. When the index flag is detected, the process returns to step S308 and the tape is moved in the reverse direction. Is controlled so as to continue the transfer. This control is continued until the index flag is no longer detected.

When the index flag is no longer detected,
It is determined that the tape has been rewound past the position of the index flag stored in step S304, and the flow advances to step S310 to output a control signal for performing normal reproduction to the output terminal 109, perform normal reproduction, and continue. In step S311, it is determined whether or not an index flag has been detected based on a signal from the index detection circuit 106. If the index flag has not been detected,
Returning to step S310, control is performed so that normal reproduction is continued. This control is continued until an index flag is detected. When the index flag is detected, the process proceeds to step S312, in which the memory 104 is frozen to output a scene change (recording start point) image to the monitor via the output terminal 110, and the present process ends.

The above step S302 or step S3
If tag information is detected in step 06, step S31
Proceeding to 3, the control signal for conveying the tape in the reverse direction is output to the output terminal 109, and the tape is conveyed in the reverse direction. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S314, where the tag detection circuit 10
It is determined whether or not the tag information is no longer detected on the basis of the signal from No. 7, and when the tag information is detected, the process returns to step S313 to continue the control for transporting the tape in the reverse direction. On the other hand, when the tag information is no longer detected, the process proceeds to step S315, where a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 109, and normal reproduction is performed. In a succeeding step S316, the tag detecting circuit 10
It is determined whether or not the tag information is detected based on the signal from No. 7, and if this tag information is not detected, the process returns to step S315 to control the normal reproduction to be continued. This control is continued until tag information is detected. Then, when the tag information is detected, step S31
Proceeding to 2, the memory 104 is frozen, and this processing ends.

As described above, when the tag information is detected, the image data with the tag information is stored in the memory 104.
When the first index flag is detected without detecting the tag information, the position of the index flag is stored, and the tape is transported in the forward direction to detect the tag information. If the next index flag is detected without detecting the information, the tape is returned to the first index flag position recorded, and the image data at this index flag position (image data at the start of recording) is held in the memory 104. By doing so, when there is image data to which tag information is added by a user's instruction, this image data can be searched, and when tag information is not added to the image data recorded on the tape, , Image data to which an index flag is attached. Therefore, it is possible to search for any image data desired by the user,
When no tag information is added, image data with an index flag can be automatically captured.

The position of the index flag detected first is stored, and the tape is transported in the forward direction to detect the tag information. During the transport, the tag information is not detected and the next index flag is detected. Then, by returning the tape to the first recorded index flag position, the number of times of switching in the tape transport direction can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment, and the index flag is added. It is possible to quickly search for existing image data.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of searching (searching for a head) or capturing of the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that this embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described first embodiment, and a description of the configuration will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the search is performed while the tape is transported in the reverse direction as compared with the first embodiment described above.

Specifically, when a search start signal is input to the controller 108 via the input terminal 111, a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction is first output in step S401 as shown in FIG. Output to the terminal 109 and transport the tape in the reverse direction. Then step S
Proceeding to 402, it is determined whether tag information has been detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. When the tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S409 described later, and when the tag information is not detected, the process proceeds to step S403.
Proceed to. In step S403, it is determined whether or not an index flag has been detected based on a signal from the index detection circuit 106. If no index flag has been detected, the process returns to step S401 to continue transporting the tape in the reverse direction. Control. This control
It continues until tag information or an index flag is detected.

When the index flag is detected without detecting the tag information, the flow advances to step S404 to output a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction to the output terminal 109, and transport the tape in the reverse direction. And step S4
In step 05, it is determined whether or not the index flag is no longer detected based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. If the index flag has been detected, the flow returns to step S404 to continue the transport of the tape in the reverse direction. When the index flag is no longer detected, the process proceeds to step S406, in which a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 109, and normal reproduction is performed. In step S407, the index flag is determined based on the signal from the index detection circuit 106. Is determined, and if this index flag is not detected, the flow returns to step S3406 to control the normal reproduction to be continued. This control is continued until an index flag is detected. When the index flag is detected, the process proceeds to step S408, and the image of the scene change (recording start point) is output to the output terminal 1
The memory 104 is frozen in order to output to the monitor via 10, and the process is terminated.

When the tag information is detected in step S402, the flow advances to step S409 to output a control signal for transporting the tape in the reverse direction to the output terminal 109, and transport the tape in the reverse direction. Then, step S4
Proceeding to 10, it is determined whether or not the tag information is no longer detected based on the signal from the tag detection circuit 107. If the tag information is detected, the process returns to step S409 to return to step S409 for transporting the tape in the reverse direction. Continue control.
On the other hand, when the tag information is no longer detected, the process proceeds to step S411, where a control signal for performing normal reproduction is output to the output terminal 109, and normal reproduction is performed. Subsequent step S
At 412, it is determined whether or not tag information has been detected based on a signal from the tag detection circuit 107. If no tag information has been detected, the process returns to step S411 to control so as to continue normal reproduction. This control is continued until tag information is detected. Then, when the tag information is detected, the process proceeds to step S408, in which the memory 104 is frozen to output the image with the tag information to the monitor via the output terminal 110, and the process ends.

As described above, by searching the index flag or the tag information while transporting the tape in the reverse direction, the number of times of switching the transport direction of the tape can be further reduced, and the control can be simplified. it can. Further, it is possible to automatically and more quickly search for image data.

[0064]

As described above, according to the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the image data at the start of recording is recorded on the medium with recording start position information indicating the recording start position. A recording unit that attaches tag information to image data at a position different from the recording start position and can record the image data on a medium; and a search unit that searches for image data recorded on the medium. When searching for the image data on the medium, the search means searches the recording start position information and the tag information recorded on the medium, and refers to the search result to obtain the image data with the tag information. Since the reproduction is preferentially performed, any image data desired by the user can be searched, and the image data can be automatically captured.

When tag information is detected by the search means, the image data with the tag information is extracted and reproduced, and the recording start position information is detected without detecting the tag information. In this case, by extracting and reproducing the image data to which the recording start position information has been added, the image data to which the tag information has been added can be preferentially searched, and the tag data having no tag information can be searched. At times, it is possible to automatically capture image data with an index flag.

According to the image retrieval method of the present invention, the step of adding recording start position information indicating the recording start position to the image data at the start of recording and recording the image data on the medium; Adding tag information to the image data in the medium and recording it on the medium, and searching for the image data recorded on the medium, the recording start position information and the tag information recorded on the medium are Searching, and preferentially reproducing image data to which tag information has been added by referring to the search result, so that any image data desired by the user can be searched and automatically captured. can do.

When the tag information is detected, the image data to which the tag information is added is extracted and reproduced, and when the recording start position information is detected without detecting the tag information, By extracting and reproducing the image data with the recording start position information, the image data with the tag information can be searched preferentially. When the tag information is not added, the index flag is set. The attached image data can be automatically captured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproduction system of an image recording / reproduction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a search (search for a cue) or a capture in a reproduction system of the image recording / reproduction apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a search (search for a cue) or a capture of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a search (search for a cue) or a capture of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording system of the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format configuration of data recorded on a tape by the recording system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproduction system of a conventional VTR.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a search (search for a cue) or capture in the VTR of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Demodulation circuit 102 Error correction circuit 103 Decompression circuit 104 Memory 106 Index detection circuit 107 Tag detection circuit 108 Controller 703, 710 AUX addition circuit 704 Error correction circuit 705 sync, ID addition circuit 706 Recording coding circuit 711 Subcode generation circuit 712 Tag Generator 713 Index generator 714 Controller 715 Operation switch

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image data on a medium, wherein the image data at the start of recording is provided with recording start position information indicating the recording start position. Recording means for recording image data at a position different from the recording start position with tag information and recording the image data on the medium, and searching for the image data recorded on the medium. Searching means for searching for image data on the medium, searching for recording start position information and tag information recorded on the medium, and referring to the search result. An image recording / reproducing apparatus which preferentially reproduces the image data to which the tag information is added. 2. When the tag information is detected, the search means extracts and reproduces image data to which the tag information is added, and retrieves the recording start position information without detecting the tag information. 2. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when is detected, the image data to which the recording start position information is added is extracted and reproduced. 3. A tag information recording instructing unit for instructing recording of the tag information during recording of the image data by a user operation, wherein the recording unit is configured to instruct recording of the tag information by the user operation. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tag information is recorded at a corresponding position on said medium. 4. A tag information recording instruction unit capable of instructing recording of the tag information for image data at an arbitrary position recorded on the medium by a user operation, wherein the recording unit is And recording the tag information at a corresponding position on the medium when recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation.
The image reproduction / recording device according to the above. 5. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search means performs a search on said medium in a positive recording direction. 6. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search means performs a search on said medium in a reverse recording direction. 7. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium is a tape-shaped medium. 8. An image retrieving method for an image recording / reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces image data on a medium, wherein recording start position information indicating a recording start position is added to image data at a recording start time. Recording on the medium by adding tag information to image data located at a position different from the recording start position, and retrieving the image data recorded on the medium. Searching for the recording start position information and the tag information recorded on the medium, and preferentially reproducing the image data with the tag information with reference to the search result. An image search method characterized by the following. 9. When the tag information is detected, the image data with the tag information is extracted and reproduced, and when the recording start position information is detected without detecting the tag information. 9. The image search method according to claim 8, further comprising: extracting and reproducing the image data to which the recording start position information is added. 10. A step of instructing recording of the tag information during recording of the image data by a user operation, and when the recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation,
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tag information is recorded at a corresponding position on the medium. 11. A step of instructing recording of the tag information with respect to image data at an arbitrary position recorded on the medium by a user operation, wherein the recording of the tag information is instructed by the user operation 9. The image search method according to claim 8, wherein the tag information is recorded at a corresponding position on the medium when performed. 12. The image search method according to claim 8, wherein a search is performed on the medium in a positive recording direction. 13. The image search method according to claim 8, wherein a search is performed on the medium in a reverse recording direction. 14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the medium is a tape-shaped medium.