Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Automatic control of a recorder mechanism – Controlling the record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-12-04
Neal, Regina Y. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Automatic control of a recorder mechanism
Controlling the record
C360S048000, C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327109
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a recording medium cartridge of the type which includes a memory for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium, and more particularly is related to a manner of storing information in the memory of such a recording medium cartridge so as to promote higher efficiency in the management and retrieval of the information stored in the memory and of the signals recorded on the recording medium.
In a known type of recording medium cartridge, such as a magnetic tape cassette, information concerning the magnetic tape, such as the thickness, the type, the length, the grade, etc., of the magnetic tape, can be determined on the basis of a plurality of detection holes (hereinafter referred to as “recognition holes”) that are provided at a corner of the rear face of the cassette.
However, as the size of cartridges has been reduced, it as has become increasingly difficult both to provide locations for the recognition holes and to provide a desired amount of information using the number of recognition holes which are available.
Moreover, in order to determine what materials are recorded on the magnetic tape, it is necessary to advance or rewind the magnetic tape to reach the position on the tape at which the material of interest is recorded. This often requires a significant period of time.
To overcome these problems, it has been proposed to include in a recording medium cartridge a memory, separate from the magnetic tape, for storing information with respect to the cartridge and the materials recorded on the tape. Such a recording medium cartridge is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,644 and 4,383,285.
With a recording medium cartridge of the type just described, having a memory for storing information concerning the materials recorded on the recording medium, it is important that the information stored in the memory accurately reflect the materials recorded on the recording medium and also that the information stored in the memory be managed efficiently. However, the prior art fails to disclose any system for managing the information stored in the memory.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of storing information in the memory of a recording medium cartridge using a predetermined technique which facilitates efficient management of the materials recorded on the recording medium.
Another object is to divide the program materials recorded on the recording medium into a number of separate groups corresponding to different categories of programs and to organize the groups in the form of a hierarchic or tree structure to facilitate management of the program materials.
A further object of the invention is to provide a recording medium cartridge having a memory for storing information concerning programs recorded on the recording medium, with the information being stored so as to divide the programs into groups for facilitating classification of the programs and searching for, and reference to, the recorded programs.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of storing information representative of signals recorded on a recording medium accommodated within a recording medium cartridge includes the steps of providing a memory device as part of the recording medium cartridge and storing the information in the form of a tree structure that includes at least a plurality of directory entries each having associated therewith a plurality of data items. Each of the data items represents a respective portion of the signals recorded on the is recording medium, and contains data indicative of a starting position and a ending position on the recording medium of the respective portion of the signals.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least some of the data items are formed of at least one data packet and each data packet has a fixed length and a predetermined format and includes a level code indicative of a level of the tree structure, the data packet being assigned to that level of the tree structure.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of retrieving information representative of signals recorded on a recording medium accommodated within a recording medium cartridge, with the information having been stored in the form of a tree structure in a memory device provided as part of the recording medium cartridge and the method including the steps of loading the recording medium cartridge in a recording and reproducing apparatus that is operatively connected to a display device, and displaying at least some of the information on the display device. According to further aspects of the invention the signals recorded on the recording medium include video signals, the display device is a video monitor or a television receiver, the information stored in the memory device includes image data representative of respective portions of the video signals and the displaying step includes displaying a plurality of images simultaneously in split-screen form, with each of the displayed images representing a respective portion of the video signals recorded on the recording medium.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording medium cartridge which includes a housing, a recording medium accommodated within the housing, a memory device carried by the housing, and terminals associated with at least one outer surface of the housing for providing electrical connections between the memory device and a reproducing apparatus with which the cartridge is to be used. The memory device has stored therein data signals representative of program information recorded on the recording medium. The data signals are stored in the form of a tree structure including at least a plurality of directory entries each having associated therewith a plurality of data items. Each of the data items represents a respective portion of the program information, and contains data indicative of a starting position and an ending position on the recording medium of the respective portion of the program information.
The information storage and retrieval methods and the recording medium cartridge as just described permit efficient management of the stored information relating to the recorded program materials and provide for rapid and convenient access to the recorded program materials.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4939595 (1990-07-01), Yoshimoto et al.
patent: 5325370 (1994-06-01), Cleveland et al.
patent: 5594601 (1997-01-01), Mimick et al.
patent: 5636078 (1997-06-01), Tsai
Kawamura Harumi
Kori Teruhiko
Ogawa Kazuyuki
Shima Hisato
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Neal Regina Y.
Polito Bruno
Sony Corporation
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