JPH11177936A - Recording/reproducing device, its method and recording/ reproducing service method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a recording/reproducing device allowed to be used only for a specified period by providing the device with a means for restricting the reproduction of image and sound information reproducing frequency and time. SOLUTION: Information indicating that a reproducing key 16 is depressed is sent to a reproducing frequency counter 18. When a power supply for the proposed device is turned on, the counter 18 loads reproducing frequency information from a flash memory 19 for recording the reproducing frequency information indicating the total reproducing frequency. The reproducing frequency information of the counter 18 is saved in the memory 19 immediately after its increment. The reproducing frequency information and a reproducing frequency limiting value are displayed on a display panel 20. The counter 18 controls a display switch 9 at a closed state until the reproducing frequency information exceeds the limiting value. When the reproducing frequency exceeds the limiting value, the reproduction of videos (or images) and sounds is disabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and method, and a recording / reproducing service method, such as a video camera or an electronic still camera capable of recording and reproducing an image (or a video) and a sound. The present invention relates to a simple recording and reproducing apparatus and method, and a recording and reproducing service method using such a recording and reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In consumer video cameras and electronic still cameras, after recording image information and audio information obtained by capturing moving images and still images on a predetermined medium, the image information and audio information are provided in a main body. It can be freely reproduced by the image display device and the sound reproducing device. In addition, by transmitting image information and audio information to television receivers and stationary VTR devices, and recently to personal computers and printers, it is possible to reproduce and process images and audio captured using such devices. it can.

[0003]

The silver halide cameras are available in a variety of price ranges from high-end cameras to inexpensive compact types and films with lenses, which are also called "disposable cameras". Have. On the other hand, it is difficult to produce components such as an image sensor constituting a video camera or an electronic still camera, various semiconductor chips, and a drive system of a recording medium at low cost. For this reason, there is a limit in an approach to greatly reduce the manufacturing cost of the component and thereby expand the variations of the video camera and the electronic still camera to a wide price range as with the silver halide camera.

[0004] It is desired that video cameras and electronic still cameras be widely spread like silver halide cameras without significantly reducing the manufacturing cost.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus which can be used only for a predetermined period.

Further, it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing service method using a recording / reproducing apparatus which can be used only for a predetermined period.

[0007]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

[0008] A recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing images and sounds, comprising a recording means for recording input images and sound information on a medium, and an image recorded on the medium. And reproduction means for reproducing sound information, and restriction means for restricting reproduction by the reproduction means by the number of times of reproduction or time.

A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing images and sounds, comprising: recording means for recording input images and sound information on a medium; and reproducing means for reproducing images and sound information recorded on the medium. Means for adding noise or a predetermined pattern to reproduced image information when the reproduction time or the number of reproductions by the reproduction means exceeds a limit value.

A recording / reproducing method according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing method for recording and reproducing an image and a sound, wherein the input image and sound information are recorded on a medium,
The image and sound information recorded on the medium is reproduced within a predetermined number of reproductions or within a predetermined time.

The present invention also relates to a recording / reproducing method for recording and reproducing an image and a sound, wherein the input image and sound information are recorded on a medium, and the image and sound information recorded on the medium are reproduced. When the reproduction time or the number of times of reproduction of the sound information exceeds the limit value, noise or a predetermined pattern is added to the reproduced image information.

[0012] A recording / reproducing service method according to the present invention comprises:
What is claimed is: 1. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing images and sounds, comprising: recording means for recording input images and sound information on a medium; reproducing means for reproducing images and sound information recorded on the medium; Means for limiting the reproduction by means by the number of times of reproduction or time, using a recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus is lent and collected for a period limited by the number of times of reproduction or time. And copying the image and sound information recorded on the medium in the recording and reproducing apparatus to another medium, and providing a medium on which the image and sound information are copied.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a method of providing a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a video camera or an electronic still camera for photographing, recording and reproducing a moving image or a still image at low cost, a video camera or an electronic still camera is provided as an apparatus. Instead, a service that provides a function of capturing, recording, and reproducing moving images and still images is conceivable.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, a device such as a video camera or an electronic still camera is lent only for a certain period of time (step S1), and an image (or image) taken and recorded (step S2) during the period is lent. ) And sound information are collected (step S3), then copied to a video tape or video disk (step S4), and given to the customer (step S5). Naturally, the device is collected after its use period, but image information and audio information remain at the customer's hand.

In order to realize the above services, it is desirable to use a system in which when the film is used up, such as a film with a lens, the film and the apparatus main body are collected.
However, a normal video camera, electronic still camera, or the like, which can capture, record, and reproduce images without restriction, can be continuously used even after a lapse of the use period, and therefore, it is difficult to collect the same. In a service that provides a function of capturing, recording, and reproducing a moving image and a still image, it is desired that the recording / reproducing device be promptly collected after the use period has elapsed.

Hereinafter, a recording / reproducing apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017]

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, light condensed by a single focus lens 1 forms an image on a CCD image sensor 2. An image signal output from the CCD image sensor 2 is converted into a digital video signal by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 3, input to a camera signal processing circuit 4, and subjected to predetermined processing.
On the other hand, a sound signal output from the microphone 6 is subjected to predetermined processing by an audio processing circuit 7 and is converted into a digital sound signal.
Is input to the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 together with the digital video signal output from.

The camera signal processing circuit 4 and the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 include a control unit 12 for receiving various key inputs.
Is controlled by Keys for controlling the operations of the camera signal processing circuit 4 and the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 include recording (REC)
Key 13, fast forward (FF) key 14, rewind (REW) key 15, play (PB) key 16, stop (STOP) key 17, and the like.

When the recording key 13 is pressed, the video signal and the sound signal are converted into a recording signal of a predetermined format by the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 and recorded in the flash memory 8. At about the same time, the recording signal is sent to the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5.
, And are sent as a reproduced video signal and a reproduced sound signal to a display panel 10 such as an LCD and a speaker 11 via a display output switch 9 for reproduction. The recording in the flash memory 8 is stopped when the recording key 13 is pressed again.

When the reproduction key 16 is pressed, the recording signal recorded in the flash memory 8 is transmitted to the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5.
Through a display output switch 9 as a reproduced video signal and a reproduced audio signal.
And sent to the speaker 11 for reproduction.

Information indicating that the reproduction key 16 has been pressed is also sent to the reproduction number counter 18. When the power of the apparatus is turned on, the reproduction number information is loaded from the flash memory 19 in which information indicating the total number of reproduction times (hereinafter, referred to as reproduction number information) is recorded. Therefore, the reproduction count information is incremented by the information indicating that the reproduction key 16 has been pressed. The reproduction frequency information of the reproduction frequency counter 18 is saved in the flash memory 19 immediately after the increment. In addition, the display panel 20
Displays the number-of-reproductions information and the limit value of the number of reproductions using a message as shown in FIG.

The reproduction number counter 18 controls the display switch 9 to be in a closed state unless the reproduction number information exceeds a limit value, that is, 20 in the example of FIG. Therefore, as long as the number of times of reproduction does not exceed the limit value, the reproduced video signal output from the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 is input to the display panel 10 via the switch 9-1, and the reproduced sound signal is also transmitted via the switch 9-2. The video (or image) and sound are reproduced. On the other hand, if the number of views exceeds the limit,
Since the reproduction number counter 18 controls the display switch 9 to the open state, reproduction of video (or image) and sound is disabled. At this time, the reproduction number counter 18 displays on the display panel 20 a message indicating that reproduction is not possible, as shown in FIG.

When the stop key 17 is pressed, the above-mentioned reproducing operation is stopped. Information indicating that the stop key 17 has been pressed is also sent to the number-of-reproductions counter 18, and the number-of-reproductions counter 18 enters a stampedy state for incrementing the number-of-reproductions information at the next reproduction. Thereafter, even if the power of the apparatus is turned off, the information on the number of times of reproduction recorded in the flash memory 19 is retained, so that the next time the apparatus is turned on, the counting is started from the previous number of times of reproduction. Can be.

The fast-forward key 14 and the rewind key 15
When is pressed, a process of temporally searching the video (or image) represented by the recording signal recorded in the flash memory 8 in the forward direction or the reverse direction is performed.

[0026]

[Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, a recording and reproducing apparatus and a method thereof according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that, in the present embodiment, for a configuration substantially similar to that of the first embodiment,
The same reference numerals are given and the detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the flash memory 8 and the reproduction counter 18 are replaced by a magnetic tape medium 28 for recording video signals and sound signals, and a magnetic tape medium. media
A reproduction time integrator 29 for accumulating the reproduction time of 28 is provided, and a cryptographic input terminal 21, a cryptographic comparator 23, a switch 22 whose opening and closing are controlled by the cryptographic comparator 23, and an external output terminal 24 are provided. is there.

When the recording key 13 is pressed, the video signal and the sound signal are converted into a recording signal of a predetermined format by the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 and recorded on the magnetic tape medium 28. At about the same time, the recording signal is sent to the recording / reproduction processing circuit.
The playback signal is sent to a display panel 10 and a speaker 11 via a display output switch 9 to be played back as a playback video signal and a playback sound signal. Recording on the magnetic tape medium 28 is stopped when the recording key 13 is pressed again.

When the reproduction key 16 is pressed, the recording signal recorded on the magnetic tape medium 28 is subjected to reproduction processing by the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5, and is output as a reproduction video signal and a reproduction audio signal via the display output switch 9. Then, it is sent to the display panel 10 and the speaker 11 and reproduced.

Information indicating that the reproduction key 16 has been pressed is also sent to the reproduction time integrator 29. The playback time integrator 29
When the device is turned on, the reproduction time information is loaded from the flash memory 19 in which information indicating the total reproduction time (hereinafter, referred to as reproduction time information) is recorded. Therefore, the reproduction time information is increased with time by the information indicating that the reproduction key 16 has been pressed. The reproduction time information of the reproduction time integrator 29 is saved in the flash memory 19 at predetermined time intervals. Further, the display panel 20 displays reproduction time information and a limit value of the reproduction time by a message as shown in FIG.

As long as the reproduction time information does not exceed the limit value, that is, 30 minutes in the example of FIG.
Is controlled to a closed state. Therefore, as long as the playback time does not exceed the limit value, the playback video signal output from the recording / playback processing circuit 5 is input to the display panel 10 via the switch 9-1, and the playback sound signal is also provided via the switch 9-2. The video (or image) and sound are reproduced. On the other hand, if the playback time exceeds the limit,
Since the reproduction time integrator 29 controls the display switch 9 to be in the open state, reproduction of video (or image) and sound becomes impossible. At this time, the playback time integrator 29
Then, a message indicating that reproduction is not possible is displayed as shown in FIG.

When the stop key 17 is pressed, the above-mentioned reproducing operation is stopped. Information indicating that the stop key 17 has been pressed is also sent to the playback time integrator 29,
Becomes a stamp-pay state for integrating the reproduction time at the next reproduction. After that, even if the power of the apparatus is turned off, the reproduction time information recorded in the flash memory 19 is retained, so that the integration should be started from the previous integration time the next time the apparatus is powered on. Can be.

The recording signal recorded on the magnetic tape medium 28 is transmitted to the switch 22 through the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5. The switch 22 is controlled by the encryption comparator 23, and is normally in an open state so that the recording signal is not transmitted to the external output terminal 24. When the cipher input from the cipher input terminal 21 matches the cipher previously recorded in the flash memory 19, the cipher comparator 23 closes the switch 22 and the recording signal is transmitted to the external output terminal 24. So that

[0035]

[Third Embodiment] Hereinafter, a recording and reproducing apparatus and a method thereof according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that, in the present embodiment, for a configuration substantially similar to that of the first embodiment,
The same reference numerals are given and the detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7 differs from the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that, instead of the flash memory 8 and the number-of-reproductions counter 18, an MO or DVD-RAM for recording a video signal and a sound signal is used. Magnetic disk media 3
1, a reproduction time integrator 29 for accumulating the reproduction time of the magnetic disk medium 31; a switch 32 for opening and closing the path of a recording signal input to the magnetic disk medium 31; a noise generator 34; Is provided with a vessel 35. The function of accumulating the reproduction time of the reproduction time integrator 29 is the same as that of the second embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the recording key 13 is pressed, the video signal and the sound signal are converted into a recording signal of a predetermined format by the recording / reproducing processing circuit 5 and recorded on the magnetic disk medium 31. At about the same time, the recording signal is subjected to reproduction processing by the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5, and is sent to the display panel 10 and the speaker 11 as a reproduction video signal and a reproduction sound signal and reproduced. Recording on the magnetic disk medium 31 is stopped when the recording key 13 is pressed again.

When the reproduction key 16 is depressed, the recording signal recorded on the magnetic disk medium 31 is reproduced by the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5 to produce a reproduction video signal and a reproduction audio signal as the display panel 10 and the speaker 11. To be played back.

Information indicating that the reproduction key 16 has been pressed is also sent to the reproduction time integrator 29. The playback time integrator 29, when the playback time information exceeds the limit value, in the example of FIG. 5, exceeds 30 minutes,
The noise generator 34 generates noise. Noise generator 34
Is added to the reproduced video signal by the adder 35, and the video (or image) reproduced on the display panel 10 becomes hard to see due to the noise. On this occasion,
The reproduction time integrator 29 displays a message on the display panel 20 indicating that the reproduction is restricted, as shown in FIG.

Further, a pattern generator or a character generator can be provided in place of the noise generator 34. In this way, a predetermined pattern generated by the pattern generator or a character image generated by the character generator can be superimposed on the reproduced video (or image).
Therefore, the function realized using the display panel 20, the display of the reproduction time and the reproducible time, the message display when the reproducible time is exceeded, and the like can be performed by the superimposed pattern or image. Eliminating it can reduce the cost of the device.

Further, when the reproduction time information exceeds the second predetermined time (for example, 45 minutes), the reproduction time integrator 29 opens the switch 32 which is normally closed, and outputs the output from the recording / reproduction processing circuit 5. The recording signal to be recorded is
Not recorded in 1. At this time, the playback time integrator 2
9 displays on the display panel 20 a message indicating that recording is prohibited, as shown in FIG.

In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which the reproduction time (number of times) and the reproducible time (number of times) are displayed as character information. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to display the possible time graphically. By adopting such a display,
Not only can the playback time and the reproducible time be intuitively grasped, but also the remaining reproducible time can be displayed at the same time. Needless to say, the display method shown in FIG. 10 can also be applied to the case where the number of times of reproduction and the number of times of reproduction are displayed.

In each of the above embodiments, the medium on which the video (or image) and the sound information are recorded is provided on the device so that the person who lent the device cannot remove or replace the device. Fixed. Of course, if the magnetic tape media, magnetic disk media, or media is damaged after a predetermined period of use,
It can be replaced at a service center. Further, when lending the device, a new medium may be mounted on the device, and when the device is collected, the medium may be removed and handed to the customer.

As described above, according to each of the above embodiments, the reproduction function of the video camera or the electronic still camera can be restricted for a certain period. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing service system capable of promptly collecting a device whose use period has expired.

Further, according to the second embodiment, by inputting a code that matches the code recorded in the flash memory in advance, the image and sound information recorded on the medium can be output to the outside. For example, by inputting a predetermined code into a video camera or the like collected at a service center, the video (or image) and sound information recorded on the medium are read out, sent to an external recording device, and recorded on another medium. be able to. Therefore, the information recorded on the medium inside the apparatus can be easily copied to another medium, and the medium on which the information has been copied can be delivered to the customer. For example, a video tape, a DVC tape, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-ROM, or the like can be used as a medium for recording image and sound information read from inside the device. If the image is a still image, it may be a magnetic disk or an optical disk, for example, and it is desirable to copy the image to a medium desired by the customer.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a service of recording video (or image) and sound information recorded on a medium inside the apparatus on another medium and supplying the medium. Then, a video camera or an electronic still camera used to obtain the video (or image) and the sound can be collected, and a system for reusing the collected device can be realized. Therefore,
Even if the cost of the video camera or electronic still camera itself is high, it is possible to provide a low-priced recording / playback service. And can be widely spread.

[0048]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that an (operating system) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing device that can be used only during a predetermined period.

Further, it is possible to provide a recording / reproducing service method using a recording / reproducing apparatus which can be used only for a predetermined period.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a message according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a message according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a message according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a message according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a third embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a message according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a message according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a message.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a recording / reproducing service according to the present invention.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing images and sounds, comprising: recording means for recording input images and sound information on a medium; and reproduction for reproducing images and sound information recorded on the medium. And a limiter for limiting the reproduction by the reproduction unit by the number of times of reproduction or the time. 2. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing images and sounds, comprising: recording means for recording input images and sound information on a medium; and reproduction for reproducing images and sound information recorded on the medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: means for adding a noise or a predetermined pattern to reproduced image information when a reproduction time or the number of reproductions by the reproducing means exceeds a limit value. 3. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying information indicating the number of times of reproduction or the time. 4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information indicating the number of times of reproduction or the limit value of the time is displayed on the display means. 5. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying information indicating the number of times of reproduction or the remaining time. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting image and sound information recorded on said medium when predetermined information is input. The described recording and playback device. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a prohibition unit for prohibiting recording on said medium when reproduction by said reproduction unit exceeds a predetermined number or time after exceeding said limit value. A recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 8. A recording and reproducing method for recording and reproducing an image and a sound, wherein input image and sound information are recorded on a medium, and the image and the sound recorded on the medium within a predetermined number of times of reproduction or time. A recording / reproducing method characterized by reproducing information. 9. A recording and reproducing method for recording and reproducing an image and a sound, comprising: recording input image and sound information on a medium; reproducing the image and sound information recorded on the medium; A recording / reproducing method characterized by adding noise or a predetermined pattern to reproduced image information when the reproduction time or the number of reproductions of sound information exceeds a limit value. 10. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying information indicating the number of times of reproduction or time. 11. After the reproduction time or the number of reproductions of the image and the sound information exceeds the limit value,
10. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 9, wherein when the number of times exceeds a predetermined number or time, recording on the medium is prohibited. 12. A recording / reproducing service method using the recording / reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the recording / reproducing device is lent for a period limited by the number of times of reproduction or time. And a recording / reproducing service method comprising: copying the recovered image and sound information recorded on the medium in the recording / reproducing apparatus to another medium; and providing a medium on which the image and sound information are copied.