JPH02273368A - Information filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the carrying time of an optical disk by providing a storage control means and an attribute control means and obtaining an empty position closest to a reading position in a storing state to store a recording medium at the empty position. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit 1 detects the insertion of a disk into an auto- changer 5 and checks a stacker control file 8a via a storage control circuit 8 to select an empty stacker #6 closest to a recording and reproducing part 5b. Then the circuit 1 instructs to a carrying part 5c to store a recording medium (disk) into the stacker #6. An instruction is received via a keyboard 6 to store the disk attribute in the prescribed area of a control file 9a. Thus the circuit 1 updates a stacker control file 8a and an attribute information control file 9a and stores the disk into the empty stacker closest to the part 5b to register the attribute information. When the disk is ejected, the circuit 1 controls the auto-changer 5 via the circuit 8 and an attribute control circuit 9 to exchange the stacker to another one closer to the part 5b for the disk. In such a constitution, the access speed of the recording information is increased to the disk.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) In the field of industrial application, the invention stores a plurality of removable recording media, and selects an appropriate one from the stored storage media to record or reproduce information. The present invention relates to an information file device equipped with an autochanger that can be used.

(Background Art) In recent years, optical disks have been put into practical use as storage media that use laser light to reproduce or record information.

For example, an optical disk such as the one described in 2 can be used to optically read documents, drawings, etc., record the read image information on the optical disk, and read out the image information as necessary to print on a CRT7'f display or printer. Used for information file devices that output files such as

Optical discs are large-capacity storage media, but they have a limited storage capacity, so when recording a huge amount of information, the information must be recorded across multiple optical discs. .

When a series of information is recorded on a plurality of optical disks, it takes time to access the necessary information recorded on the optical disks.

Therefore, in order to speed up information access, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-220167, multiple optical discs are stored, an appropriate optical denosk is selected from among them, and the system is automatically accessed. Some information file devices are equipped with an autochanger that transports an optical disc to a position where information is reproduced or recorded (hereinafter referred to as a recording/reproducing section).

C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In an autochanger, when recording or reproducing information by selecting an optical disk in a storage section that stores a plurality of optical disks, the optical disk must be transported from the storage section to the recording/playback section. (1゜yL,='+The time to transport the disks to the recording and reproducing section depends on the distance from the stacker in which each optical disk is stored in the storage section to the recording and reproducing section, so the optical disks should be transported as much as possible. In order to attach it to the recording/playback section in a short time, the operator must:
Must be specified to be stored in a stiff position close to the recording/playback section.
Must be.

Also, when the optical disc stored in the stacker is taken out from the autochanger, the optical disc stored in another stacker is replaced with the empty stacker so that the disc is stored in the stacker as close to the recording/playback unit as possible. need to be kept in condition.

Furthermore, since attribute information used for searches, etc. is usually recorded in correspondence with the main information (for example, image information) recorded on the optical disc, when the optical disc is stored in the stacker, the stiffness of the stored optical disc is Accordingly, the attribute information of the optical discs stored in each stacker is read. Therefore, when changing the stacker in which the optical discs are stored, the attribute information must be read and loaded again.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a storage unit that removably stores a plurality of storage media;
An information file device comprising an autochanger equipped with at least a reading means for reading information stored in a storage medium and a conveying means for transporting the storage medium to a storage section or a reading means, the storage section in which the storage medium is stored. A storage management means for managing the position, and an attribute management means for storing and managing information stored in the storage medium stored in the storage unit at the position where the storage medium is stored, or information related to the information. When storing the storage medium in the autochanger, the storage management means determines the position closest to the reading means among the positions where no medium is stored, and stores the storage medium at that position. It is something.

(Since the storage management means manages the position where the storage medium is stored, when a new storage medium is stored in the autochanger, this storage management means controls the position where the storage medium is not stored. The position closest to the reading means can be immediately obtained.By storing the storage medium at that position, the storage medium can be stored as close to the reading means as possible.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information file apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which uses an optical disk as a storage medium.

(1) is a control circuit that controls the entire device, (2) is a CR
3 is a video memory in the form of a focus map that stores the display data of the differential display (2); This is a display control circuit that controls the display in step 2).

(5j is a storage part (5a',) consisting of a plurality of stator hs that can store a plurality of optical discs, a recording and reproducing part that records information on the optical disc or reproduces information recorded on the optical disc. (5b!
(reading means), and a transport section (5c) for moving an optical disc (in a shipway) in an autochanger (5).

6) is the operation command and the main information recorded on the optical disc (
Here, it is a keyboard for inputting data such as attribute information used for searches, etc., corresponding to image information). still,
In this embodiment, the attribute information corresponding to the image information recorded on the optical disk is recorded on the optical disk together with the image information, but it may also be recorded on a storage medium (for example, a floppy disk or a memory card) that is separate from the optical disk. You can leave it there.

Codec (7) is a codec that compresses image information recorded on an optical disc or restores compressed information recorded on an optical disc.

(8) is a storage management circuit as a storage management means for managing which star/power of the storage unit (5a) an optical disc is stored in. The attribute information file of the attribute management circuit (described later) is stored in correspondence with each stacker. A stacker management file (8a) is provided for area information.

9) is an attribute management circuit including an attribute information management file <9a) that stores (tj-excremented attribute information in an area corresponding to the stored stacker) corresponding to the image information recorded on the optical disc; Processes such as searching for attribute information stored in the attribute information management file (9a) (that is, searching for image information corresponding to the attribute information) are performed in response to commands from a control circuit, which will be described later.

(10) is image memo 1 that stores image information, (11)
) uses the image memory (10) to scan the scanner (12).
This is an image memory control circuit that controls the reading of image information from an optical disk, the recording of images on recording paper by the printer (13), the display on the display (1), etc.

In this embodiment, the optical disc contains image information read by a scanner (12) and attribute information used for searches, etc. assigned by a keyboard (6) or a word selector (not shown) corresponding to the image information. is recorded.

It is now assumed that the stackers in the storage section (5a) of the autochanger (5) have a stun force of 10 WA with stacker numbers 1 to 10, and the smaller the number, the closer the stacker is to the recording/reproducing section (5b). Therefore, the stacker management file (8a) has 10 areas, and the attribute information management file (9a) has an area for storing attribute information of 10 optical discs corresponding to each stun force.

Now, when five optical discs are stored in the storage section (5a) of the autochanger (5), as shown in Fig. The disc is stored. In the area of each stacker number, the area number of the attribute information management file (9a) in which attribute information corresponding to the optical disk of the stacker is stored is stored.

Further, each area of the attribute information management file (9a) stores attribute information read from the optical disc, and in FIG. 3A, the stacker number to which the attribute information belongs is shown in correspondence with the area number. There is.

That is, the attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 1 is stored in the area number 5 of the attribute information management file (9a), the attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 2 is stored in the area number 8, and the attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 2 is stored in the area number 8 of the attribute information management file (9a). The attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 3 is stored in the area number 1, the attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 4 is stored in the area number 3, and the attribute information of the optical disc stored in stacker number 5 is stored in the area number 1. It is stored in area 2.

From this state, open the new autochanger (5) storage compartment (
When storing an optical disc in the autochanger 5a), when the insertion of a disc in the autochanger +', 5) and \ is detected t', the control circuit (1) stores the stacker management file (t') via the storage management circuit (8). The registration status of item 8a) is checked, and stacker number 6 is obtained as the stacker closest to the recording/reproducing section (5b) among the vacant stackers. Then, the transport section (5
c) is instructed to store the disc in the stacker with stacker number 6. The transport unit (5c) stores the inserted disc in the stun force of stacker number 6, and also stores the attribute information read from the optical disc into an attribute information management file (9a) for the optical disc to be stored.
Input from the keyboard (6) indicates in which area the data should be stored. Here, the attribute information management file (
Assume that an instruction is given to store the attribute information of the disk stored in stacker number 6 in area 7 of 9a).

Therefore, the control circuit (1) sets an area in each of the storage management circuit (8) and the attribute management circuit (9) as an area for the stacker number 6 that stores the disk and the attribute information management file (9a) corresponding to that stacker. Give 7 information.

Then, the storage management circuit (8) stores the stacker management file (
8a) as shown in FIG. 2B, and the attribute management circuit 10) updates the attribute information management file (9a) as shown in FIG. 3B.

By the above process 1-, when an optical disc is stored in the autochanger (5), the disc is stored in the stacker closest to the recording/playback unit (5b) among the available stackers, and when opened, the attribute information is stored. The storage area is also registered.

Next, a case will be described in which the optical discs stored in the stacker of the storage section (5a) are ejected to the outside of the autochanger (5).

When the ejection process of the optical disk is selected from the keyboard toy 6), the control circuit (1) associates the optical disk stored on the display (2) with the area of the attribute information management file (9a) (not shown). The user is prompted to select the optical disc to be ejected using the area number of the attribute information management file (9a).

Here, it is assumed that a disk corresponding to area 8 of the attribute information management file (9a) is selected as the disk to be ejected.

Then, the control circuit (1) detects, via the attribute management circuit (9), that the disk corresponding to area 8 of the selected attribute information management file (9a) is stored in the stacker with stacker number 2. do. Then, the optical disc is taken out from the stacker with stacker number 2 to the transport section (5c) and ejected to the outside of the autochanger (5).

When the discharge is completed, the control circuit (1) controls the storage management circuit [
8) Add stacker number 2 in the stacker management file (8a)
(Figure 2 C: 1, attribute management circuit (
9) to reset area 8 of the attribute information management file (9a) (FIG. 3C).

Here, the control circuit (1) checks, via the storage management circuit (8), whether an optical disk is stored in the area after the reset stacker number 2 from the registered state of the stacker management file (8a).

Since it is registered that the optical disc is stored in the area of stacker number 3 or lower, the control circuit 1.1 first transfers the disc stored in the stacker with stacker number 3 to the stacker with stacker number 2, and transfers it to the transport section. (5C).

When the movement is completed, the attribute management circuit (9) changes the stacker number of the area (ie, area l) managing the stacker number 3 of the attribute information management file (9a) to 2 (FIG. 3D). In addition, the storage management circuit (8) obtains the area 1 that has undergone this change and stores it in the area of the stacker number 2 of the stacker management file (8a) in the attribute information management file (9a).
) and reset the area with stacker number 3 (FIG. 2D).

In the history, the control circuit (1) determines whether the optical disc is stored in the stacker after stacker number 3, which became empty after moving the disc, or whether the stacker management file (8a ), and for subsequent optical discs, refill the optical disc, and update the attribute information management file (93) and stacker management file (8a) in the same manner as above.
) changes and updates. This process starts from the area of the updated stacker number in the stacker management file (8a).
This continues until it is determined that the storage of the optical disc has not been registered.

The stacker management file at the time the refilling process is completed (
8a) is shown in Figure 2E, and the attribute information management file (9a) is shown in Figure 2E.
The state of a) is shown in Figure 3E.

Incidentally, the refilling of the discs in this embodiment involves moving the discs sequentially to empty stackers, but it is not limited to just two discs, and the discs are moved to the empty stacker due to ejection, and to the recording/reproducing unit (5b). - The disc stored in the farthest stacker may be directly moved, and the stacker management file (8a) and attribute information management file (9a) may be updated accordingly.

<)) Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a stacker in which optical discs are stored and a file for managing an area in which attribute information of the optical discs stored in the stacker is stored. By using these files, you can check the storage status of discs in the stacker, and when storing a new disc in the autochanger, store the disc in the stacker near the internal writing/recording/playback section of an empty stacker [-1]. Furthermore, when an optical disc is ejected from the autochanger, the optical disc is automatically refilled so that it is closer to the recording/reproducing section. Therefore, the time required to transport the optical disc from the storage unit to the recording/reproducing unit in order to access the optical disc can be minimized.

Furthermore, since the operator can store the optical disc in the autochanger without being aware of the relationship between the optimal position for storing the optical disc and the area in which the corresponding attribute information is stored, operability can be improved. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 A to E
Figure 3A is a diagram showing the registration status of the stacker management file.
9 to E are diagrams showing the registration status of attribute information management files. (1)...control circuit, (2)...display,
t3 video memory, (4) display control circuit,
f5J autochanger, (5a)...storage section,
(5b) Recording and reproducing section, (5c) Transport section, (6)
・・Keyboard, (8) Storage management circuit, (88)
Stacker management file (8a) (9) - Attribute management circuit, (9a)... Attribute information management file (9a), (
10)...Image memo, (11)...Image memory control circuit, (12)...Scanner, (]3)...Printer. Person in charge Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. agent Patent attorney Takuji Nishino and two others Figure 2 Stacker number ■ Figure 3 Area

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An information file equipped with an autochanger equipped with a storage unit that removably stores a plurality of storage media, a reading unit that reads out information stored in the storage medium, and a transport unit that transports the storage medium to the storage unit or the reading unit. In the apparatus, a storage management means for managing the position of the storage unit in which the storage medium is stored, and information stored in the storage medium stored in the storage unit corresponding to the position where the storage medium is stored, or information related to the information. and an attribute management means for storing and managing related information, and when storing a storage medium in the autochanger, the storing section management means obtains the position closest to the reading means among the positions where the storage medium is not stored. , an information file device characterized in that a storage medium is stored in that position. (2) When a storage medium is removed from the autochanger, the storage medium stored at a position farther from the reading means than the position where the removed storage medium was stored is
2. The information file apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is refilled to a position close to the reading means by the transport means, and further, the contents of the storage management means and the attribute management means are updated in accordance with the position of the refilled storage medium.