1. A file processing apparatus recording an index file in a recording mediuml which manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising: an index file generation unit generating the index tile based on attribute information of the content tiles and folders including the content files; and a recording unit recording .the index file generated in the index file generation unit in the recording medium, and wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy; and wherein the index generation unit provides the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the content files and the folders respectively in the index file, second index information indicating second management information areas corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the upper hierarchy in a list format at first management information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, and first index information indicating the first management information areas at the second management information areas.

2. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit provides a second index information list in the first management information areas according to each folder or each content file.

3. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index tile generation unit, when a prescribed folder is deleted from the hierarchy structure, updates the index file so as to correspond to the deleted prescribed folder, detects management information areas in the upper hierarchy and the lower hierarchy based on index information indicating the management information area corresponding to the folder in the upper hierarchy which is set at the first management information area corresponding to the prescribed folder, and the second index information list in the update of the index file, and updates the second index information list set in the management information area in the upper hierarchy and the first index information set in the management information areas in the lower hierarchy so as to correspond to the deletion of the folder.

4. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the update corresponding to the deletion of the folder is the update in which the management information areas in the lower hierarchy are allowed to be management information areas just under the management information area in the upper hierarchy.

5. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the update corresponding to the deletion of the folder is the update relating to deletion of management information areas in the lower hierarchy.

6. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit sets sorting order information of the second index information in the second index information list provided in the first management information area, and sequentially provides the second index information based on the sorting order information.

7. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit, when a prescribed content file is added in the hierarchical structure, or a prescribed content file is deleted from the hierarchical structure, updates the index file so as to correspond to the head or deleted prescribed content file, updates index information recorded in the second index information list so as to correspond to addition or deletion of the prescribed content file in the update of the index file and sorting the index information provided in the second index information list according to sorting order information indicating the sorting order in the update of the index information.

8. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein sorting order information of index information is provided in the second index information list, wherein an information presenting unit is further included, which plays the management information areas according to the sorting order of the index information set in the second index information list to be provided to the user, and wherein the index tile generation unit updates the sorting order information and changes the sorting order of the second index information so as to correspond to the change of presenting order in the information presenting unit.

9. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index tile generation unit allocates time information of .the content files at the management information areas corresponding to the content files, and allocates time information representing a folder from time information set at the management information areas of the content files belonging to the folder or the management information areas of the folders, as time information of the management information area of the folder.

10. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index file generation unit updates the index file so as to correspond to change of the content file or the folder in the hierarchical structure, and updates time information of the management information areas in the upper hierarchy relating to change so as to correspond to the change of the content file or the folder in the update of the index file.

11. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index file generation unit allocates time information of the content files at the management information areas of the content files based on the world standard time.

12. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index tile generation unit allocates time information representing a folder and information of a type of the sorting order relating to the time information as time information of the management information area of the folder.

13. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index file generation unit allocates time information representing a folder and information of identifying whether the time information representing the folder is according to the folder or according to the content file as time information of the management information area of the folder.

14. A file processing method recording an index file in a recording medium, which manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising: an index file generation step generating the index file based on attribute information of . the content files and folders including the content files; and a recording step recording the index file generated in the index file generation step in the recording medium, and wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy; and wherein the index generation step provides the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the content tiles and the folders respectively in the index file, second index information indicating second management information areas corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the upper hierarchy in a list format at first management information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, and first index information indicating the first management information areas at the second management information areas.

15. A file processing apparatus playing an index file from a recording medium, which manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising; an index file playing unit playing the index file from the recording medium, and wherein the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the content files and folders including the content files respectively are provided in the index file, wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy, wherein second index information indicating second management information areas corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the upper hierarchy is provided in a list format at first management information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, as well as first index information indicating the first management information areas is provided at the second management information areas, and wherein the index file playing unit plays the second management information areas based on the second index information set at the first management information areas and the first management information areas based on the first index information set at the second management information areas.

16. A file processing method playing an index file from a recording medium, which manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising: an index file playing step playing the index file from the recording medium, and wherein the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the content files and folders including the content files respectively are provided in the index file, wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy, wherein second index information indicating second management information areas corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the upper hierarchy, as well as first index information indicating the first management information areas is provided at the second management information areas, and wherein the index file playing step plays the second management information areas based on the second index information set at the first management information areas and the first management information areas based on the first index information set at the second management information areas.

The present invention relates to a file processing apparatus recording and playing an index file and methods thereof.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a file processing apparatus, a file processing method, a program and a recording
4
medium recoding an index file which manages contents files in a recording media, or playing the index file from the recording medium. More particularly, the invention relates to the file processing apparatus and the like capable of easily and rapidly . executing processing such as relating to change of a hierarchical structure managed by the index file, by providing index information indicating entries (management information areas) in a lower hierarchy at corresponding entries in an upper hierarchy in a list form.
Background Art
Conventionally, as a method of finding a desired file easily from a lot of files recorded in a large capacity recording medium, a method of using an index file is proposed in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3 and so on.
The index file manages respective concent files, formed
or generated from a cluster of attribute information of
respective contents files. As attribute information of
content files, for example, there are thumbnail image data,
text data of titles, imaging date and time, codec information,
face detection information (detected face size, detected face
position and detected face score in which detected face is
digitalized) and the like. However, attribute information is
not limited to the above. The attribute information of
respective content files includes management information of
respective content files.
The index file includes, for example, a text file (or
metadata file) FTX, a thumbnail image file FTH and a property
file FP as shown in Fig. 35. The attribute information of each
content file is arranged separately in the text file FTX, the
thumbnail image file FTH, and the property file FP.
According to the type of the content file, there is a
case that there is no attribute information to be arranged in
the text file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH, and no entry
can be provided. In Fig. 35, a case that there is attribute
information to be arranged in the text file FTX, the thumbnail
image file FTH and the property file FP respectively as
attribute information of respective content files.
In this case, the text file FTX manages text information
(metadata in the case of metadata file) . The thumbnail image
file FTH manages image data of thumbnail. The property file
FP manages attribute information (basic attribute
information) other than attribute information concerning the
text file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH, and also manages
connection information between slots of other files.
In the property file FP, a header showing an attribute
and the like is arranged at the head. Whereas in the text file
FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH, a header is not arranged
at the head thereof. However, there is a case that a header
showing an attribute and the like is arranged at the head also
in the text file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH.
Following the header, entries including attribute information
of respective content files (a property entry #1, a property
entry #2, ..., a thumbnail entry #1, a thumbnail entry
a text entry #1, a text entry #2, ...,) are continuously arranged.
In each entry of the text file FTX, data indicating
character strings of a disk title and a title concerning each
content file and the like is allocated. In each entry of the
thumbnail image file FTH, thumbnail image data indicating a
disk title and the contents of each content file is allocated.
Each entry in the text file FTX and in the thumbnail image
file FTH includes fixed-length slots respectively. The number
of slots included in each entry is one or plural slots according
to the amount of data of attribute information allocated to
each entry. The types of attribute information are different
according to the type of content data, therefore, there is a
case that no entry is provided as described above.
In each entry of the property file FP, data indicating
a disk title and an attribute of each content file is allocated.
The property file FP includes fixed-length slots in the same
way as the text file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH. In
the property file FP, even when the types of content files are
variously different, the entry is always provided
corresponding to each content file.
In each entry of the property file FP, management
information which specifies corresponding entries in the text
file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH is set as the
management information indicating the relation with respect
to the other entries (relation information shown by arrows in
Fig. 35) . In the entry of the property file FP including plural
slots, management information which specifies next slot is set
in respective slots. Also in each entry of the property file
FP, information specifying a corresponding content file is set.
The index file is configured as described above.
Accordingly, for example, titles of respective content files
recorded in a recording medium 2 can be displayed in a list
by playing data strings recorded in the text file FTX. Also,
for example, thumbnail images of respective content files
recorded in the recording medium 2 can be displayed in a list
by playing data strings recorded in the thumbnail image file
FTX.
It should be noted that the index file IF can define not
only such existing content files but also existing folders or
virtual folders by the files FTX, FTH, and FP. In each entry
of the property file FP, management information indicating an
entry of a folder in an upper hierarchy to which a corresponding
content file or folder belongs is set. The index file is
generated so as to improve user usability by managing content
files by the hierarchical structure by the existing folder or
the virtual folder.
Fig. 36 shows an example of correspondence between the
property file and, content files and virtual folders. In the
example, a virtual file in which an imaging date is "x-day of
y-month" and a virtual file in which an imaging date is "z-day
of y-month" exist on the same hierarchy, and a content file
"MPEG2PS-1" exists in a lower hierarchy of the virtual file
of "x-day of y-month", and content files "MPEG2PS-2" and
"MPEG2PS-3" exist in the lower hierarchy of the virtual file
of "z-day of y-month".
In the property file, as shown in Fig. 36, a file entry
#1, a folder entry #4, a file entry #6, a folder entry #8 and
a folder entry #9 are formed corresponding to the above
hierarchical structure. A number of each entry is a number
of a head slot in slots forming the entry. In the example in
the drawing, a number of each entry is the minimum number of
the slots which forms the entry for convenience.
The file entries #1, #6, and #9 respectively manage
content files "MPEG2PS-1", "MPEG2PS-2" and "MPEG2PS-3", and
folder entries #4 and #8 respectively manage virtual folders
of "x-day of y-month" and "z-day of y-month".
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2004-227630
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2004-227633
[Patent Document 3] JP-A-2005-115815
Disclosure of the Invention
As described above, when content files are set to be
managed by the hierarchical structure by existing folders or
virtual folders, there is a case that a folder concerning to
an upper hierarchy is deleted. Specifically, when taken and
acquired content files are managed by the hierarchical
structure by virtual folders such as an image taking date, or
an image taking place, there is a case that the user deletes
the virtual folder.
In this case, it is necessary to delete a corresponding
entry also on the index file according to the deletion of the
folder. It is also necessary to delete an entry together, which
is in the lower hierarchy of the entry to be deleted, or to
rearrange the entry in the lower hierarchy of the entry to be
deleted to just under an entry in an upper hierarchy of the
entry to be deleted according to the deletion of the folder.
As in the conventional index file, in the case that the
hierarchical structure of existing folders and virtual folders
is defined by management information indicating entries in the
upper hierarchy from entries in the lower hierarchy, it is
necessary to detect an entry which requires to be processed
by searching all entries and to update management information
set in the detected entry.
In this case, when only approximately several hundred
content files are recorded in a recording medium, it is possible
to detect necessary entries and update management information
sufficiently rapidly in actual use. However, when several
thousand content files are recorded in a recording medium and
management target by the index file becomes enormous, it
becomes difficult to ignore time required for searching and
updating entries. In this case, there is a problem that user
usability decreases.
When content files to be managed by the index file are
a few in number, it becomes difficult to ignore time required
for the search and update of such entries, therefore, there
is a problem that user usability decreases.
The increase of time required for processing occurs not
only in the case of deleting the folder as described above but
also in the case of variously changing the hierarchical
structure, which deteriorates user usability.
An object of the invention is to execute processing and
the like relating to change of the hierarchical structure
managed by the index file easily and rapidly.
The concept of the invention is in a file processing
apparatus recording an index file in a recording medium, which
manages one or more content files recorded in the recording
medium, which is characterized by including
an index file generation unit generating the index file
based on attribute information of the content files and folders
including the content files; and
a recording unit recording the index file generated in
the index file generation unit in the recording medium, and
the content files and the folders form a hierarchy
structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy,
the index generation unit provides
the prescribed number of management information areas
corresponding to the content files and the folders respectively
in the index file,
second index information indicating second management
information areas corresponding to the folders or the content
files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the
upper hierarchy in a list format at first management
information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper
hierarchy, and
first index information indicating the first management
information areas at the second management information areas.
The concept of the invention is in a file processing
apparatus which plays an index file from a recording medium,
which manages one or more content files recorded in the
recording medium, which is characterized by including
an index file playing unit playing the index file from
the recording medium, and
the prescribed number of management information areas
corresponding to the content files and folders including the
content files respectively are provided in the index file,
the content files and the folders form a hierarchy
structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy,
second index information indicating second management
information areas corresponding to the folders or the content
files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the
upper hierarchy is provided in a list format at first management
information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper
hierarchy, as well as first index information indicating the
first management information areas is provided at the second
management information areas, and
the index file playing unit plays
the second management information areas based on the
second index information set at the first management
information areas and
the first management information areas based on the first
index information set at the second management information
areas.
In the invention, the index file is recorded in the
recording medium with content files. The index file is
generated in the index file generation unit based on attribute
information of content files and folders including the content
files. In this case, the hierarchical structure is formed by
content files and the folders in which folders are in the upper
hierarchy. The index file thus generated is recorded in the
recording medium by the recording unit as well as played from
the recording medium by the playing unit.
In the index file generated in the index file generation
unit, the prescribed number of entries (management information
areas) corresponding to contents files and folders
respectively are provided. In first entries corresponding to
folders in the upper hierarchy, second index information
indicating second entries corresponding to folders or content
files positioned in the lower hierarchy of the folders in the
upper hierarchy is provided in a list form. In addition, first
index information indicating the first entries is provided in
the second entries.
According to second index information provided in first
entries and first index information provided in second entries,
it is possible to follow the hierarchical structure, namely,
from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy or, inversely,
from the lower hierarchy to the upper hierarchy. As a result,
a desired entry can be detected without searching all entries,
thereby performing processing relating to the change and the
like of the hierarchical structure managed by the index file
easily and rapidly. The second index information is provided
in the first entry in a list. Therefore, various processing
can be simplified by devisal such as the sorting order of the
list.
Additionally, in the index file playing unit, second
entries are played based on the second index information set
in the first entries and first entries are played based on the
first index information set in the second entries . As a result,
the processing of playing the index file can be performed easily
and rapidly.
According to the invention, index information indicating
entries (management information areas) in the lower hierarchy
are provided in corresponding entries in the upper hierarchy
in the list format, thereby performing processing and the like
relating to change of the hierarchical structure managed by
the index file easily and rapidly.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an
optical disk apparatus.
Fig. 2 is block diagram showing a configuration example
of an index file.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
respective slots of a property file.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
(actual) data portion of respective slots of the property file.
Fig. 5 is a table showing a configuration of a property
data.
Fig. 6 is a table showing a configuration of basic data
relating to a folder entry in the property entry file.
Fig. 7 is a table showing management information of a
child entry.
Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a
hierarchical structure of folders.
Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a
hierarchical structure of folders.
Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
a system control micom relating to deletion of a folder.
Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
a system control micom relating to deletion of a folder.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom when index information indicating the
child entry is not provided in a parent entry.
Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom when content files belonging to the
folder are displayed in a list.
Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom when content files belonging to the
folder are displayed in a list.
Fig. 15 is a flowchart (comparative example) showing
processing procedures of the system control micom when content
files belonging to the folder are displayed in a list.
Fig. 16 is a flowchart (comparative example) showing
processing procedures of the system control micom when content
files belonging to the folder are displayed in a list.
Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a
hierarchical structure including folders and files.
Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing a display example of
content files according to the hierarchical structure in Fig.
17 .
Fig. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of a
hierarchical structure including folders and files.
Fig. 20 is a block diagram showing a display example of
content files according to the hierarchical structure in Fig.
19.
Fig. 21 is a chart showing a configuration of an extension
data unit according to representative time information.
Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom relating to processing of
representative time information when deleting a content file.
Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom relating to processing of
representative time information when deleting a content file.
Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom relating to processing of
representative time information when deleting a content file.
Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom relating to processing of
representative time information when deleting a content file.
Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom in sort processing.
Fig. 27 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom in sort processing.
Fig. 28 is a flow chart showing processing procedures
of the system control micom in sort processing.
Fig. 29 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom in comparison processing in the sort
processing.
Fig. 30 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom in acquiring processing of
representative time information in the sort processing.
Fig. 31 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom which acquires representative time
information when an extension data unit relating to
representative time information is not set.
Fig. 32 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of
the system control micom which acquires representative time
information when an extension data unit relating to
representative time information is not set.
Fig. 33 is a table showing a configuration of standard
management information.
Fig. 34 is a table showing a configuration of individual
management information.
Fig. 35 is a block diagram for explaining a text file,
a thumbnail image file and a property file forming an index
file.
Fig. 36 is a block diagram showing an example of
correspondence between the property file and, virtual folders
and content files.
Description of the Reference Numerals and Signs
1: optical disk apparatus, 2: optical disk, 11: video
encoder, 12: audio encoder, 13: video decoder, 14: audio
decoder, 15: file generator, 16: file decoder, 17, 20: memory,
18: memory controller, 19: system control micom, 21: error
correction encoder/decoder, 22: drive control micom, 23: data
modulator/demodulator, 24: magnetic modulation driver, 26:
operation unit
Best Mode for Carrying the Invention
(1) Optical disk apparatus
Fig. 1 shows a configuration of an optical disk apparatus
1 according to an embodiment.
The optical disk apparatus 1 acquires a video signal and
an audio signal of a subject by an imaging means and an audio
acquisition means which are not shown, and records the imaging
result by the video signal and audio signal in an optical disk
2 as a content file. The optical disk apparatus 1 also plays
the content file recorded in the optical disk 2 to be outputted
using a display means by a liquid crystal display panel and
an audio output means by a speaker, or to be outputted to
external equipment. And further, the optical disk apparatus
1 encodes the video signal and the audio signal by a format
of MEPG (Moving Picture Experts Group), then, records in the
optical disk 2 in a designated file format.
The optical disk apparatus 1 includes an optical disk
2, a video encoder 11, an audio encoder 12., a video decoder
13, an audio decoder 14, a file generator 15, a file decoder
16, a memory 17, a memory controller 18, a system control
microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a "system control
micom") 19, a memory 20, an error correction encoder/decoder
21, a drive control microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to
as a "drive control micom") 22, a data modulator/demodulator
23, a magnetic modulation driver 24, an operation unit 26, a
servo circuit 30, a spindle motor 31, a magnetic-field head
32, an optical pickup 33 . The optical disk 2 forms a recording
medium.
The video encoder 11 generates video data by performing
analog/digital conversion on the video signal as the imaging
result and encodes the video data according to the MPEG format
to output an elementary stream by video data. The audio encoder
12 generates audio data by performing analog/digital conversion
on the audio signal as the imaging result and encodes the audio
data according to the MPEG format to output an elementary stream
by audio data.
The file generator 15 multiplexes the elementary streams
outputted from the video encoder 11 and the audio encoder 12
at the time of recording and generates a content file in a
designated file format by control of the system control micom
19.
The memory controller 18 switches operation at the time
of recording and playing by the control of the system control
micom 19. The memory controller 18, at the time of recording,
sequentially records data strings of the content file outputted
from the file generator 15 and various data outputted from the
system control micom 19 in the memory 17 and stores them
temporarily, then, outputs the stored data according to
sequential processing of the error correction encoder/decoder
21. The memory controller 18, at the time of playing,
sequentially records output data of the error correction
encoder/decoder 21 in the memory 17 and stores it temporarily,
outputs data strings of content file to the file decoder 16
and outputs various data to the system control micom 19.
The error correction encoder/decoder 21 switches
operation at the time of recording and playing by control of
the system control micom 19. The error correction
encoder/decoder 21, at the time of recording, records output
data of the memory controller 18 temporarily in the memory 20
and adds an error correction code. The error correction
encoder/decoder 21, at the time of recording, reads out the
data stored in the memory 20 as the above in a prescribed order
and outputs the interleaved data to the data
modulator/demodulator 23 .
The error correction encoder/decoder 21, at the time of
playing, records data outputted from data
modulator/demodulator 23 temporarily in the memory 20 to
perform interleave processing as well as to perform error
correction processing by the error correction coded added at
the time of recording. The error correction encoder/decoder
21, at the time of playing, also outputs the data stored in
the memory 20 as the above in the same order as recorded and
output it to the memory controller 18.
The data modulator/demodulator 23 switches operation at
the time of recording and playing by control of the system
control micom 19. The data modulator/demodulator 23, at the
time of recording, converts output data of the error correction
encoder/decoder 21 into serial data strings, then, modulates
them to be outputted to the magnetic modulation driver 24 or
the optical pickup 33. The data modulator/demodulator 23, at
the time of playing, obtains playback data corresponding to
the serial data strings generated at the time of recording by
playing a clock from a playback signal outputted from the
optical pickup 33 and demodulating the playback signal using
binary identification, taking the clock as a reference, and
outputs the playback data to the error correction
encoder/decoder 21.
When the optical disk 2 is an optical magneto-optical
disk, the magnetic modulation driver 24 drives the
magnetic-field head 32 according to an output signal of the
data modulator/demodulator 23 by control of the system control
micom 19 at the time of recording. The magnetic-field head
32 is held so as to face the optical pickup 33, sandwiching
the optical disk 2 in between, applying modulated magnetic
field according to the output data of the data
modulator/demodulator 23 at a position of a laser beam
irradiation by the optical pickup 33. Therefore, when the
optical disk 2 is the magneto-optical disk, the optical disk
apparatus 1 records a content file and the like by a magneto
thermal recording method.
The optical disk 2 is an optical disk which is rewritable
such as a magneto-optical disk (MO: Magneto Optical disk) and
a phase-change disk. The spindle motor 31 rotationally drives
the optical disk 2 by control of the servo circuit 30 in a
condition such as a CLV (Constant linear Velocity), a CAV
(Constant Angle Velocity) or a zone CLV (Zone Constant linear
Velocity), depending on the type of the optical disk 2.
The servo circuit 30 controls operation of the spindle
motor 31 based on various signals outputted from the optical
pickup 33 . The servo circuit 30 also performs tracking control
and focus control of the optical pickup 33, performs seek
control of the optical pickup 33 and the magneto-optical head
32, and further, executes processing such as a focus search
based on various signals outputted from the optical pickup 33 .
The drive control micom 22 controls these operations of
seeking and the like in the servo circuit 30 according to
instructions from the system control micom 19.
The optical pickup 33 irradiates a laser beam onto the
optical disk 2 and receives the returning light by a light
receiving element, and generates and outputs various signals
for control by calculating the result of receiving light by
the light receiving element, then, outputs a playback signal
whose signal level varies according to pit strings and mark
strings formed on the optical disk 2.
The optical pickup 33 switches operation by control of
the system control micom 19, and when the optical disk 2 is
a magneto-optical disk, allows the amount of light of the laser
beam irradiated on the optical disk 2 to rise intermittently
at the time of recording. In this case, the optical disk
apparatus 1 records a content file and the like in the optical
disk 2 by a so-called pulse train method. When the optical
disk 2 is a phase-change disk, the optical pickup 33 also allows
the amount of light of the laser beam irradiated on the optical
disk 2 to rise from the amount of light at the time of playback
to the amount of light at the time of writing according to output
data of the data modulator/demodulator 23. In this case, the
optical disk apparatus 1 records a content file and the like
in the optical disk 2 by applying a thermal recording method.
The file decoder 16 inputs data of the content file
outputted from the memory controller 18 and separates the data
into elementary streams of video data and audio data to be
outputted. The video decoder 13 extends the elementary stream
of video data outputted from the file decoder 16 and outputs
it to a not-shown display means or external equipment. The
audio decoder 14 extends the elementary stream of audio data
outputted from the file decoder 16 and outputs it to a not-shown
audio output means or external equipment.
The operation unit 26 includes various operation
elements, a touch panel disposed at the liquid crystal display
panel and the like of the optical disk apparatus 1, and which
notify various operations by the user to the system control
micom 19.
The system control micom 19 is a microcomputer
controlling the whole operation of the optical disk apparatus
1, which controls the whole operation by execution of a
designated processing program recorded in a not-shown memory.
In the embodiment, the processing program concerning the system
control micom 19 is provided by previously installed in the
optical disk apparatus 1. However, it is also preferable that
the processing, program is provided, instead of the previous
installation, by being downloaded through networks such as
Internet, or by being recorded in various recording media such
as the optical disk, the magnetic disk or a memory card.
According to the execution of the processing program,
the system control micom 19 allows the optical pickup 33 to
seek to the most inner circumference of the optical disk 2 and
plays management information of a file management system
relating to the optical disk 2 when, for example, the mounting
of the optical disk 2 is detected. The system control micom
19 acquires the played management information from the memory
controller 18 and stores it in an internal memory.
The system control micom 19 detects addresses of
respective files recorded in the optical disk 2 and available
space by storing management information in the internal memory
as described above. The system control micom 19 also plays
the index file recorded in the optical disk 2 according to the
search result of the management information, providing various
content files recorded in the optical disk 2 to the user to
receive operations by the user. The index file played from
the optical disk 2 is stored in the internal memory of the system
control micom 1 or the memory 17 . In the embodiment, the index
file is stored in the internal memory.
When recording of an imaging result is instructed by the
user, the system control micom 19 detects the available space
according to management information stored in the internal
memory, allowing the optical pickup 33 to seek to the available
space and records a content file as the imaging result in the
optical disk 2.
The system control micom 19 also updates management
information stored in the internal memory so as to correspond
to the record of the content file, and for example, at the time
of ejecting the optical disk 2, the management information
recorded in the optical disk 2 is updated according to the
updated management information. In the update of the
management information, the system control micom 19 executes
the update by outputting the updated management information
stored in the internal memory to the error correction
encoder/decoder 21 through the memory controller 18.
Furthermore, when an edit of the content file is
instructed by the user operation and recording of another
content file as the edited result is instructed, the system
control micom 19 records another content file in the optical
disk 2.
The system control micom 19, when recording the content
file in the optical disk 2 as described above, outputs various
information necessary for generating the content file to the
file generator 15 . The system control micom 19 also acquires
information necessary for generating the index file through
the video encoder 11, the audio encoder 12 and the file
generator 15. Then, the system control micom 19 updates the
index file stored in the internal memory so as to correspond
to the record of the content file in the optical disk 2 according
to the acquired information and the information outputted to
the file generator 15, and updates the index file recorded in
the optical disk 2 by the updated index file data.
In this case, the system control micom 19 updates the
index file so as to correspond to the record of the content
file stored in the internal memory by additionally registering
an entry in the index file, which corresponds to the content
file recorded in the optical disk 2.
Operation of the optical disk apparatus 1 shown in Fig.
1 will be briefly explained.
When the optical disk 2 is mounted after the main unit
of equipment is turned on, or when the power is turned on in
a state that the optical disk 2 is mounted, the optical pickup
33 is controlled so as to seek to the most inner circumference
of the optical disk 2, and management information of the file
management system is played from the optical disk 2. The
management information is stored in the internal memory in the
system control micom 19 through the memory controller 18. In
the system control micom 19, addresses of respective files
recorded in the optical disk 2 and available space and the like
are detected according to the management information stored
in the internal memory. After the management information is
thus acquired, the index file is played from the optical disk
2 based on the search result of the management information.
The index file is stored in the internal memory of the system
control micom 19.
Operation when a content file in which images are taken
by an imaging means is recorded in the optical disk 2 will be
explained.
Video data and audio data which have been acquired by
the imaging means and the audio acquisition means are encoded
at the video encoder 11 and the audio encoder 12 respectively,
then, supplied to the file generator 15. In the file generator
15, elementary streams of video and audio obtained at the video
encoder 11 and the audio encoder 12 are multiplexed and a
content file of a designated file format is generated.
The content file is recorded in designated available
space of the optical disk 2 through a recording system including
the memory controller 18, the error correction encoder/decoder
21, data modulator/demodulator 23 , a magnetic modulation driver
24, and the optical pick up 33.
In parallel to the recording processing of the content
file, thumbnail image data is generated from video data.
According to the thumbnail image data, a file name of the
content file and the like which are attribute information of
the content file to be recorded, data of the index file stored
in the internal memory is updated by the system control micom
19.
As described above, after the content file is recorded
in the optical disk 2, the index file recorded in the optical
disk 2 is updated based on data of the index file held in the
internal memory of the system control micom 19, which has been
updated so as to correspond to the record of the content file.
After the management information stored in the internal
memory of the system control micom 19 is updated and the index
file is updated so as to correspond to the record of the content
file, or for example, when the optical disk 2 is ejected, the
management information recorded in the optical disk 2 is
updated based on the updated management information.
Next, operation at the time of playback, in which a
designated content file is played with reference to the list
display of content files recorded in the optical disk 2 will
be explained.
When the list display of content files is instructed by
the user, thumbnail image data corresponding to respective
content files are sequentially acquired from data of the index
file stored in the internal memory of the system control micom
19, and thumbnail image data relating to the list display is
supplied to a not-shown display means from the system control
micom 19 through the file decoder 16 and the video decoder 13,
as a result, thumbnail images relating to respective content
files recorded in the optical disk 2 are displayed in a list
on the display means.
Accordingly, in a state that thumbnail images are
displayed in a list on the display means, a designated thumbnail
image is selected and playback thereof is instructed by user
operation, the content file corresponding to the selected
designated thumbnail image is played from the optical disk 2
by control of the system control micom 19 based on data of the
index file and management information of the management system
stored in the internal memory. In this case, the content file
played from the optical disk 2 is obtained through the optical
pickup 33, the data modulator/demodulator 23, the error
correction encoder/decoder 21, an the memory controller 18.
Then, after the played content file is separated into
elementary streams of video data and audio data at the file
decoder 16, the respective elementary streams are decoded by
the video decoder 13 and the audio decoder 14 to be outputted.
Next, operation at the time of editing will be explained,
in which delete, movement and the like of the designated content
file, or setting, movement, delete and the like of a folder
are performed.
As described above, for example, when setting, movement,
delete and the like of the file or the folder is instructed
by the user operation in a state that thumbnail images (content
files, virtual files are displayed in the hierarchical
structure) are displayed in a list on the display means,
processing of setting, movement, delete and the like of the file
or the folder is performed by control of the system control
micom 19 based on data of the index file and management
information of the management system stored in the internal
memory.
In parallel to the processing of setting, movement,
delete and the like of the file or the folder, data of the index
file stored in, the internal memory is updated by the system
control micom 19. Then, after the processing of the above
setting, movement, delete and the like of the folder is finished
by control of the system control micom 19, the index file
recorded in the optical disk 2 is updated based on data of the
updated index file in the internal memory. In addition, update
of management information recorded in the optical disk 2 is
performed by control of the system control micom 19.
(2) Index file
The details of the index file will be explained. The
index file includes a text file FTX, a thumbnail image file
FTH, and a property file FP in the same way as described above
with reference to Fig. 35. In the embodiment, the index file
including the property file FP, the thumbnail image file FTH
and the text file (or metadata file) FTX is especially called
as AV-Index file.
Attribute information of content files and folders
relating to the content files are disposed separately in the
text file FTX, the thumbnail image file FTH, and the property
file FP. Each file has a structure in which entries according
to attribute information of content files or folders are
sequentially arranged, respectively. Each entry is formed by
connecting one or plural fixed-length slots. Each entry has
a management information area, respectively. The content
files and the folders form a hierarchical structure in which
the folders are in the upper hierarchy.
In each entry (parity entry) of the property file FP,
data indicating a disk title, attributes of a content file and
a folder is allocated. In each entry of the property file FP,
management information which specifies corresponding entries
in the text file FTX and the thumbnail image file FTH is set.
In the entry of the property file FP which includes plural slots,
management information specifying a next slot of the slot is
set in each slot. Also in each entry of the property file FP,
information which specifies a corresponding content file or
a folder is set. Further, in each entry of the property file
FP, information which defines a hierarchical structure of
content files, existing folders and virtual folders is set.
The respective files have a structure in which
fixed-length slots which are managed by a slot number
indicating the number of slots from a file head are connected.
The slot number forms index information indicating the order
of arrangement of the fixed-length slots included in the file.
In the index file, a prescribed number of entries (management
information areas) in which one or plural fixed-length slots
are connected are respectively provided. Each entry is
identified by the slot number of head of the fixed-length slot
in the connected one or plural fixed-length slots.
In each entry in the property file FP, the number of slots
which are allocated to corresponding entries of other files
is provided at the minimum. For example, when an entry
including two slots concerning to one content file is provided
in the thumbnail image file FTH and the text file FTX, at least
two slots are allocated in the corresponding entry in the
property file FP.
Fig. 2 shows a configuration example of the index file.
The index file includes a text file FTX, a thumbnail image file
FTH and a property file FP. The files FTX, FTH and FP in Fig.
2 are examples in which each entry includes four fixed-length
slots respectively.
A header of the thumbnail image file FTH is omitted, which
is formed by fixed-length slots #1, #2, #3, ... connected from
the file head. A header of the text file FTX is also omitted
in the same way, which is formed by fixed-length slots #1, #2,
#3 , ... connected from the file head. On the other hand, a header
is provided at the file head of the property file FP, which
is formed by fixed-length slots #1, #2, #3, ...connected from
the header. In the header of the property file FP, information
of the thumbnail image file and information of the text file
are also recorded with information of the property file.
The structure in which the thumbnail image file FTH and
the text file FTX have headers respectively in the same way
as the property file FP is also preferable. In that case,
information of thumbnail image file is arranged at the header
of the thumbnail image file FTH, and information of the text
file is arranged at the header of the text file FTX.
In the text file FTX, the thumbnail image file FTH and
the property file FP, entries are sequentially set respectively
such as slots #1, #2, #3, ...from the file head. As described
above, each entry in the text file FTX, the thumbnail image
file FTH and the property file FP is identified by the slot
number of the slot which is the head of slots included in the
entry. In order to associate an entry in the property file
FP with entries in the thumbnail image file FTH and the text
file FTX (as shown by arrows in Fig. 2), a slot number for
identifying a corresponding entry in the thumbnail image file
FTH and the text file FTX is registered in each entry in the
property file FP. For example, in the example of Fig. 2, in
an entry #5 of the property file FP, a slot number indicating
the entries #5 in the thumbnail image file FTH and the text
file FTX is registered.
Fig. 3 shows a configuration of each slot of the property
file FP. In each slot of the property file FP, a header
(property slot header) is provided at the head thereof. In
the header, an index (thumbnail_picture_slot_index)
indicating a corresponding slot in the thumbnail image file,
an index (Meta_data_slot_index) indicating a corresponding
slot in the text file are provided as management information
indicating slots of other files concerning the same content
file.
When plural slots are allocated to one content file, an
index indicating a next slot (Next_extends_slot_index) is
provided at a next header (Valid Property Slot Header) in the
plural slots other than a tail slot. The index forms management
information which defines the relation to other slots in the
property file concerning the same content file.
For example, when attribute information concerning one
content file is allocated to three slots in the thumbnail image
file, indexes (thumbnail_picture_slot_index) indicating
respective corresponding slots in the thumbnail image file are
provided in three slots provided in the property file. In the
three slots in the property file, indexes
(Next_extends_slot_index) indicating a next slot are set at
two slots of the header side, which show the relation of these
three slots.
Fig. 4 shows a configuration of an (actual) data portion
(Property Data Payload) of each slot in the property file. In
each slot, space following the above two headers is allocated
as the (actual) data portion (Property Data Payload) of the
property entry, and when one content file is allocated to plural
slots, property data (Property Data) including attribute
information concerning the content file is sequentially
allocated in the actual data portions of plural slots.
In the property data (Property Data), the whole size
(Property Data Area Size) of the (actual) data portions
(Property Data Payload) in plural slots, the size of property
data (Property Data Size) allocated to the actual data portion
(Property Data Payload) in plural slots, and basic data (Basic
Property Data) relating to the property entry formed by the
plural slots are provided, and further, a extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) is sequentially added according
to extension of the function of the property entry.
The whole size (Property Data Area Size) and the size
of property data (Property Data Size) are recorded in the
(actual) data portion of the head slot in the property entry.
The system control micom 19 is capable of specifying available
space of the property entry based on the size. That is to say,
the size forms information which can specify available space
in the property entry.
Fig. 5 shows a chart in which the property data shown
in Fig. 4 is altered.
The extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit)
includes, for example, a function which defines reference
relation between files and the like on the index file. In the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) , extension
data is provided at each function. For example, when one
content file is referred by another content file and is
registered in a certain favorite folder at the same time, two
extension data, that is, extension data corresponding to the
reference by another folder and extension data indicating the
favorite folder are provided in the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit).
Each entry on the index file is managed by the slot number
from the file head. Hereinafter, to make understanding easier,
index information (slot index) which specifies each entry by
the slot number is appropriately written as an "entry index" ,
and referred to as the entry number.
Fig. 6 shows a configuration of basic data (Basic
property Data) relating to a folder entry in the property entry
file. In the basic data (Basic Property Data) , after the size
is allocated at the head, a flag (entry_status_flags) which
specifies a target of the entry is provided. According to
setting of the flag (entry_status_flags), it is clearly
specified that a registration target of the entry is a folder.
In the basic data (Basic Property Data) , a flag
(folder_entry_status_flags) indicating the type of the folder
is also provided, following the flag which specifies the above
entry target. According to the flag (folder_
entry_status_flags), it is specified that the folder relating
to the entry is actual or virtual.
In the basic data (Basic Property Data), index
information (parent_entry_index) indicating an entry of an
upper hierarchy of the hierarchical structure is allocated,
following the above flag indicating the type of the folder.
Hereinafter, an entry corresponding to an upper hierarchy which
is nearest to a folder or a content file which corresponds to
one entry is referred to as a parent entry, and an entry
corresponding to a lower hierarchy which is inverse relation
is referred to as a child entry. The parent entry forms a first
management information area and the child entry forms a second
management information area. In the index information
(parent_entry_index), index information (entry index) of the
parent entry is allocated.
In the basic data (Basic Property Data), following the
above index information (parent_entry_index), index
information (previous_entry_index) which specifies an entry
of the previous direction in a line of search order, and index
information (next_entry_index) which specifies an entry of the
later direction in a line of search order is allocated.
Furthermore, in the basic data (Basic Property Data),
following the above index information (next_entry_index) , the
order of recording (recording_order) is allocated, and further,
the number (property_extension_data_unit_count) of the
extension data units (Property_Extension_Data_Unit) is
allocated. Also in the basic data (Basic Property Data),
generation date and time of the entry (entry_generation_time)
and update date and time of the entry (entryjnodif ication_time)
are allocated, following the above number of the extension data
unit.
In the basic data (Basic Property Data), following the
update date and time of the above entry a flag
(original_folder_status_flags) indicating the type of the
existing folder is allocated, then, generation time
(directory_generation_time) and update date and time
(directoryjnodification_time) relating to a directory are
allocated, and further, an identifier of the directory
(Directory_Identifier) is provided.
Fig. 7 shows management information of child entry.
Hereinafter, the management information of the child entry is
referred to as a child entry list. The child entry list is
registered in the entry by a data block of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . The example shown in Fig.
7 indicates the entry of the folder.
In the child entry list, the size is allocated at the
head, next, a type of the data block (data_type) is allocated.
In the example "of Fig. 7, the type (data_type) indicates that
it is the child entry list (Child Entry List).
In the child entry list, a type of the entry
(type_of_entry) is allocated following the above type of the
data block (data_type) , and the type indicates that index
information of the child entry described in the data block
relates to a file, relates to a folder or relates to neither
of them. In the index file, the child entry list is formed
according to each type of the child entry relating to the folder
or the content file.
In the child entry list, a later-described type of
sorting (type_of_sort) is allocated following the above type
of the entry (type_of_entry), next, index information
(entry_index) of the number of the child entries relating to
the entry is allocated.
As described above, index information (entry_index)
indicating the child entry is provided in a list format at the
entry (parent entry) in the upper hierarchy indicated by the
index information (parent_entry_index) . Therefore, the
system control micom 19 is capable of easily detect a relating
entry in the lower hierarchy based on the index information
(entry_index) when, for example, deleting the entry relating
to the folder in the upper hierarchy.
For example, when display switching to the side of lower
hierarchy or the side of the upper hierarchy is instructed by
the user under a state in which content files recorded in a
recording medium by the index file are displayed in the
hierarchical structure and the like, the system control micom
19 detects entries corresponding to the display switching
according to index information of the parent entry and a list
of the child entry set in the entries which are displayed, and
switches display to the side of lower hierarchy or the side
of the upper hierarchy based on the detected result. The system
control micom 19 also updates the index file so as to respond
to deletion of the folder and the like.
Here, for example, a hierarchical structure shown in Fig.
8 is considered. Specifically, in the hierarchical structure,
when a folder #2 exists in a lower hierarchy of a folder #1,
and further, folders #3 to #5 exist in a lower hierarchy of
the folder #2, in the index file, index information
(entry_index) which specifies an entry of the folder #2 in the
lower hierarchy is allocated at an entry relating to the folder
#1 which is the top hierarchy in the child entry list (Child
Entry List). In addition, index information
(parent_entry_index) for indicating the entry relating to the
folder #1 in the upper hierarchy is set at the entry of the
folder #2 in the lower hierarchy.
Additionally, in the hierarchy structure, index
information (entry_index) respectively indicating entries of
the folders #3 to #5 in the lower hierarchy is allocated at
the entry of the folder #2 by the child entry list, and index
information (parent_entry_index) indicating the entry
relating to the folder #2 in the upper hierarchy is respectively
set at the folders #3 to #5 in the lower hierarchy.
In the hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 8, for
example, when the entry relating to the folder #2 is deleted
on the index file in response to the deletion of the folder
#2, entries in the upper hierarchy and the lower hierarchy can
be specified according to index information
(parent_entry_index) , (entry_index) set at the entry relating
to the folder #2, as a result, a series of processing relating
to deletion in the system control micom 19 can be simplified.
Fig. 9 shows a hierarchical structure which has been
changed by the deletion of the folder #2. In this case, the
system control micom 19 deletes the entry of the folder #2 by
setting the flag set at a slot in which the entry of the folder
#2 is registered to be invalid. The system control micom 19
also updates the index information (parent_entry_index)
relating to the entries of the folders #3 to #5 which has
indicated the entry of the folder #2 so as to indicate the entry
#1 which is the upper hierarchy of the folder #2, and further
updates the index information (entry_index) relating to the
entry of the folder #1 which has indicated the entry of the
folder #2 so as to indicate entries of the folders #3 to #5
to execute a series of processing relating to the deletion.
It is also preferable that the system control micom 19
performs processing of deleting the entry of the lower
hierarchy with the entry to be deleted, instead of the
processing of rearranging the entry in the lower hierarchy of
the entry to be deleted to just under the entry in the upper
hierarchy of the entry to be deleted.
Flowcharts in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 show processing
procedures by the system control micom 19 concerning the
deletion of the folder.
The system control micom 19 updates a directory structure
of the optical disk 2 based on the instruction to delete a folder
by the user and deletes the folder instructed by the user on
the file management system of the recording medium 2. When
a folder is deleted on the file management system, or when
deletion of a virtual folder is instructed by the user, the
system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2.
In the step SP2, the system control micom 19 sets an entry number
(index information) which specifies an entry of the folder to
be deleted as a target.
In the next step SP3, the system control micom 19 loads
a record of the target entry from the index file and acquires
index information (parent_entry_index) of a parent entry
recorded in the entry. In the next step SP4, the system control
micom 19 acquires a data block formed by a corresponding
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) from the
record of the entry of the folder to be deleted.
In the next step SP5, the system control micom 19 detects
a list in which the entry type (type_of_entry) is set as the
folder from child entry lists by the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) and detects the number of index
information (entry_index) of the child entry from the list of
the folder.
In the next step SP6, the system control micom 19 performs
initialization by setting a value of a variable "i" to a value
"1", .which corresponds to the detected number. After that,
in step SP7, the system control micom 19 judges whether the
value of the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number
of index information (entry_index) or not. When it is judged
that the value of the variable "i" is equal to or less than
the number of index information (entry_index), the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP7 to step SP8 . In step
SP8, the system control micom 19 acquires index information
(entry_index) of the order specified by the variable "i" from
the index information (entry_index) of the child entry recorded
in the extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . In
the next step SP9, the system control micom 19 acquires
information of the child entry which is specified by the index
information (entry_index) acquired in the step SP8.
In the next step SP10, the system control micom 19 updates
the index information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry
which is recorded in the acquired child entry to the index
information (parent_entry_index) detected in the step SP3.
Then, the system control micom 19 increments the variable "i"
by a value "1" in the next step SP11, then, returns to step
SP7.
The system control micom 19 repeats the processing
procedures of steps SP7-SP8-SP9-SP10-SP11-SP7 for respective
index information (entry_index) of the child entries relating
to the folder registered in the list, and sequentially updates
index information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry
registered at the child entries of the entry to be deleted
concerning the entry of the folder.
When all updates of child entries are completed, the
variable "i" becomes larger than the number of index
information (entry_index) in step SP7, therefore, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP7 to step SP13 (Fig. 11) .
According to the above processing of respective steps,
with respect to respective child folders positioned in the
lower hierarchy of the folder as a deletion target, the system
control micom 19 updates the record of the corresponding
entries so that the parent folder positioned in the upper
hierarchy of the child folders is rearranged from the folder
to be deleted to the folder positioned in the upper hierarchy
of the folder to be deleted.
In step SP13, the system control micom 19 detects anew
a list in which the type of the entry (type_of_entry) is set
as the file and detects the number of index information
(entry_index) of the child entries from the list of the file.
In the next step SP14, the system control micom 19
performs initialization by setting a value of a variable "i"
to a value "1" , which corresponds to the detected number. After
that, in the step SP15, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the value of the variable "i" is equal to or less than
the number of index information (entry_index) detected in step
SP13 or not. When it is judged that the value of the variable
"i" is equal to or less than the number of index information
(entry_index), the system control micom 19 proceeds from step
SP 15 to step SP16.
In the step SP16, the system control micom 19 acquires
index information (entry_index) of the order which is specified
by the variable "i" from index information (entry_index) of
child entries recorded in the extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit) . In step SP17, the system control micom
19 acquires information of the child entry specified by the
index information (entry_index) acquired in the step SP16.
In the next step SP18, the system control micom 19 updates
index information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry
recorded in the acquired child entry to the index information
(parent_entry_index) detected in step SP3. Then, the system
control micom 19 increments the variable "i" by a value "1"
in the next step SP19 and returns to step S15.
The system control micom 19 repeats processing
procedures of steps SP15-SP16-SP17-SP18-SP19-SP15 for each
index information (entry_index) of the child entries relating
to the folder registered in the list, and sequentially updates
index information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry
registered at the child entries of the entry to be deleted
concerning the entry of the content file.
When all updates of child entries are completed, the
variable "i" becomes larger than the number of index
information (entry_index) in step SP15, and the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP15 to step SP20.
According to the above processing of respective steps,
with respect to respective child files positioned in the lower
hierarchy of the folder as a deletion target, the system control
micom 19 updates the record of the corresponding entry so that
the parent folder positioned in the upper hierarchy of the child
folders is rearranged from the folder to be deleted to the
folder positioned in the upper hierarchy of the folder to be
deleted.
In step S20, the system control micom 19 acquires
information of the entry set as the target in step SP2, and
in the next step S21, setting of slots relating to the entry
set as the target to be invalid. After that, the system control
micom 19 proceeds to step SP22 and returns to a first processing
procedure.
The system control micom 19 updates index information
(entry_index) indicating the entries in the lower hierarchy
with respect to the parent entry at the same time as the above
processing relating to the child entry.
In the embodiment, as described above, index information
indicating child entries is provided in the parent entry,
further, the index information is provided in the list format,
thereby simplifying processing relating to update and
deletion.
127
As described above, flowcharts of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11
show processing procedures of the system control micom 19 when
index information indicating child entries is provided at the
parent entry.
A flowchart of Fig. 12 shows processing procedures of
the system control micom 19 when index information indicating
child entries is not provided at the parent entry. The
flowchart of Fig. 12 is shown as a comparison example with
respect to the above flowcharts of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.
When a folder is deleted on the file management system,
or when deletion of a virtual folder is instructed by the user,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP31 to step
45
SP32. Then, in the step SP32, the system control micom 19 sets
the entry number (index information) which specifies an entry
of a folder relating to deletion as a target.
In the next step SP33, the system control micom 19 detects
the number of all entries in the index file. In addition, in
the next step SP34, the system control micom 19 acquires index
information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry recorded
at the entry to be deleted.
Furthermore, the system control micom 19 performs
initialization by setting a value of a variable "i" to a value
"1" , which relates to search of the entry in the next step SP35.
In the next step SP36, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the value of the variable "i" is smaller than the number
of all entries recorded in the index file or not. When it is
judged that the value of the variable "i" is equal to or less
than the number of all entries, the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP 36 to step SP37.
In the step SP37, the system control micom 19 acquires
information of an entry of the order by the variable "i" from
the index file . Then, in the next step SP38 , the system control
micom 19 judges whether index information (parent_entry_index)
of the parent entry in the entry acquired in the step SP37
indicates the entry to be deleted or not.
When index information (parent_entry_index) of the
parent entry in the acquired entry indicates the entry to be
deleted, the system control micom 19 proceeds from step S38
to step SP39. The system control micom 19 updates index
information (parent_entry_index) of the parent entry in the
entry acquired' in the step S3 7 to index information of the
parent entry of the entry to be deleted in step S3 9, and proceeds
to step SP40 after that.
In the above step S3 8, when index information
(parent_entry_index) of the parent entry in the acquired entry
does not indicate the entry to be deleted, the system control
micom 19 immediately proceeds from step S38 to step S40. The
system control micom 19 increments the variable "i" further
by a value "1" in the step S40, then, returns to step S36.
According to processing of respective steps, the system
control micom 19 sequentially detects respective entries
registered in the index file, confirms whether the parent entry
is the entry to be deleted based on index information
(parent_entry_index) of the parent entry, and when the parent
entry is the entry to be deleted, updates index information
(parent_entry_index).
When processing of all entries is completed, the variable
"i" becomes larger than the number of all entries in step SP36,
and the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP36 to step
SP41.
The system control micom 19 acquires entry information
in step SP41, which has been set as the target in step SP32,
setting of slots relating to the entry set as the target to
be invalid in step SP42. After that, the system control micom
19 proceeds to step SP43 and returns to the first processing
procedure.
As described above, if index information indicating
child entries is not registered in the parent entry in the list,
the system control micom 19 have to repeat processing of steps
SP36-SP-37-SP38-SP-39-SP40-SP-36 or steps
SP36-SP37-SP38-SP40-SP36 with respect to all entries
registered in the index file, which requires time.
The update processing of index information which defines
the hierarchical structure becomes necessary not only when
deleting the folder but also when deleting a file or when moving
a folder or a file. Also in update processing of index
information when the file is deleted or when the folder or the
file is moved, as in the above update processing of index
information when deleting the folder, if index information
indicating child entries is not registered in the parent entry
in the list, the system control micom 19 have to update
corresponding index information by searching all entries
registered in the index file, which requires time.
In the embodiment, index information of child entries
is registered in the parent entry in the list, therefore, the
system control micom 19 is capable of performing processing
relating to deletion or movement of the folder or the content
file at high speed and also capable of executing processing
relating to change of the hierarchical structure managed by
the index file easily and rapidly.
The system control micom 19 updates the index file in
response to each processing not only when deleting the folder
but also when deleting the content file, or when recording or
moving the folder and the content file and on other occasions.
In the update of the index file, the system control micom 19
detects entries in which update is necessary based on index
information of the child entry list and index information of
the parent entry, and updates the entry records in response
to each processing.
(3) Management information of sorting
When recording, deletion and movement of content files
are repeated on the optical disk 2, the index file is updated
in response to the recording, deletion and movement. In this
case, it becomes hard to see in what order entries relating
to the content files are registered in the index file.
In the case that several thousand of content files are
recorded in the optical disk 2, the number of content files
which belongs to one folder becomes huge. In this case, user
usability can be improved by, for example, sorting and
displaying content files belonging to one folder according to
the order of recording date and time and so on.
However, when the number of content files belonging to
one folder is huge, it is difficult to ignore time required
for such sorting, which decreases user usability and puts
stress to the user.
Accordingly, in the embodiment, in a data block of an
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) relating
to a child entry list (refer to Fig. 7), the order of index
information (entry_index) of the child entry to be recorded
next is defined by the type of sorting (type of sort) , and index
information (entry_index) of the child entries is sequentially
recorded according to the definition.
As the type of sorting (type_of_sort) , "not sorted",
"ascending order of generation date and time", "descending
order of generation date and time" , "ascending order of update
date and time" , "descending order of update date and time" and
the like can be defined. When the type of sorting
(type_of_sort) is defined as "not sorted", sequential index
information (entry index) of the child entries is held in a
state which is changed by recording, deletion, movement and
the like without being sorted.
When the type of sorting (type_of_sort) is defines as
"ascending order of generation date and time", the system
control micom 19 sequentially allocates following index
information (entry_index) of child entries according to the
generation order of corresponding content files or folders
(corresponding to generation date and time
(entry_generation_time) of entries of basic data). When the
type of sorting (type_of_sort) is defined as "descending order
of generation date and time", the system control micom 19
allocates following index information (entry_index) of child
entries according to the inverse order of the "ascending order
of generation date and time".
When the type of sorting (type_of_sort) is defined as
"ascending order of update date and time", the system control
micom 19 sequentially allocates following index information
(entry_index) of child entries according to the update order
of corresponding content files or folders (corresponding to
update date and time (entry_modification_time) of entries of
basic data) . And further, the type of sorting (type_of_sort)
is defined as "descending order of update date and time", the
system control micom 19 allocates index information
(entry_index) of child entries according to the inverse order
of the "ascending order of update date and time".
The system control micom 19 provides a content files
belonging to the folder designated by the user and the index
file by utilizing the type of sorting (type_of_sort)
efficiently.
The system control micom 19 registers an entry in the
index file so as to correspond to recording of the content file,
and adds index information (entry_index) indicating the
registered entry in a child entry list relating to a parent
51
entry of the registered entry. At this time, the system control
micom 19 adds index information (entry_index) according to the
type of sorting (type_of_sort) which has been previously set
by the user.
Flowcharts of Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show processing
procedures of the system control micom 19 when content files
belonging to a folder are displayed in a list by user
instruction. The system control micom 19 proceeds from step
SP51 to SP52 by a user instruction for list display. In step
SP52, the system control micom 19 sets an entry number (index
information) which specifies an entry of a folder whose list
display is instructed as a target. In next step SP53, the
system control micom 19 loads record of the target entry from
the index file and acquires information recorded in the entry.
In next step SP54, the system control micom 19 selects
an extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) in which
the type of a data block (extends_data_type) is set in a child
entry list as well as the type of the entry (type_of_entry)
is set as a content file from the acquired information. In
next step SP55, the system control micom 19 detects the number
of index information (entry index) registered in the child
entry list of the selected extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit).
Next, the system control micom 19 judges whether the type
of sorting (type_of_sort) set in the selected extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) corresponds to the order
in which list display is instructed by the user in step SP56.
When the type of sorting (type_of_sort) corresponds to the order
in which list display is instructed by the user, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP56 to step SP57.
In the SP57, the system control micom 19 initialize a
variable "i" to a value "1", which corresponds to the number
of index information (entry index) detected in step SP55.
After that, the system control micom 19 judges whether the value
of the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number of index
information (entry_index) detected in step SP55. When the
value of the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number
of index information (entry_index), the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP58 to step SP59.
In step SP59, the system control micom 19 acquires
information of the corresponding entry according to index
information (entry_index) which is recorded in the i-th order
in the child entry list. When the user instructs list display
by thumbnail images, the system control micom 19 detects a
corresponding entry in the property file FP according to index
information (entry_index) and searches a corresponding entry
in the thumbnail image file FTH based on index information
(thumbnail_picture_slot_index) of the thumbnail image file FTH
which is recorded in the entry to acquire the thumbnail image
data.
When the user instructs list display according to titles,
the system control micom 19 detects a corresponding entry in
the property file FP by the index information (entry_index)
and searches a corresponding entry in the text file FTX based
on index information (Meta_data_slot_index) of the text file
FTX recorded in the entry to acquire text data.
In step SP59, the system control micom 19 displays the
acquired entry information (thumbnail images, titles and the
like) when acquiring entry information as descried above.
Then, the system control micom 19 increments the variable "i"
by a value "1" in the next step SP60, then, returns to step
SP58.
When the child entry list is recorded in the order in
which the user instructs the list display, the system control
micom 19 sequentially acquires entry information of
corresponding entries according to the order of record of the
list. In this case, when entry information with respect to
all index information (entry_index) recorded in the list is
acquired, the variable "i" becomes larger than the number of
index information (entry_index) in step SP58, and the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP58 to step SP61 to end
the processing procedures.
According to the processing of above respective steps,
when the type of sorting (type_of_sort) corresponds to the order
in which the user instructs the list display, the system control
micom 19 provides entry information according to the acquired
order and displays content files in a list, which belongs to
the folder which is instructed by the user.
In step SP56, when the type of sorting (type_pf_sort)
does not correspond to the order in which the user instructs
the list display, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP56 to step SP63 . As a case in which the type of sorting
does not correspond to the order in which the user instructs
the list display, for example, a case can be cited, in which
the user instructs the list display according to the order from
a new record, whereas the type of sorting (type-of-sort)
recorded in entry relating to the folder selected by the user
is "ascending order of generation date and time".
In step SP63, the system control micom 19 initializes
a value "i" to a value "1", which corresponds to the number
of index information (entry_index) detected in step SP55.
After that, in step S64, the system control micom 19 judges
whether a value of the variable "i" is smaller than the number
of index information (entry_index) detected in step SP55 or
not. When the value of variable "i" is smaller than the number
of index information (entry_index), the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP64 to step SP65.
In step SP65, the system control micom 19 acquires index
information (entry_index) recorded in the i-th order in the
child entry list. The system control micom 19 increments the
variable "i" by a value "1" in the next step SP66, then, returns
to step SP64 . The system control micom 19 sequentially detects
index information (entry_index) recorded in the child entry
list. In this case, when all index information (entry_index)
recorded in the child entry list is detected, the value of the
variable "i" becomes larger than the number of index
information (entry_index) in step 64, and the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP64 to step SP67.
In step SP67, the system control micom 19 generates a
list of index information (entry_index) according to the sort
result by sorting the index information (entry_index) recorded
in the child entry list based on the order in which the user
instructs the list display. The system control micom 19
detects entry information of child entries according to the
index information (entry_index) acquired in step SP65 and
performs sorting based on the generation date and time
(entry_generation_time) of the entries and the update date and
time of the entries (entry_modif ication_time) allocated to the
entry information.
Next, the system control micom 19 initializes the
variable "i" to a value "1" in step SP68, then, judges whether
the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number of the
index information (entry_index) detected in step SP55 or not.
When the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number of
index information (entry_index) , the process of the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP69 to step SP70.
In step SP30, the system control micom 19 rewrites the
i-th index information (entry_index) in the child entry list
recorded in the index file to the i-th index information
(entry_index) recorded in the list of index information
(entry_index) according to the sort result, and increments the
variable "i" by a value "1" in the next step SP71.
The system control micom 19 sequentially updates index
information (entry_index) relating to the child entry list
recorded in the index file into index information sorted by
the processing of step SP67 and updates the order of index
information (entry_index) included in the child entry list
which is recorded in the parent entry into the order of display
instructed by the user.
When the update processing is completed, the value of
the variable "i" becomes larger than the number of index
information (entry_index) in step SP69, the process of the
system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP69 to step SP73 .
The system control micom 19 updates the record of the type of
sorting (type_of_sort) into an identifier indicating the order
in which list display is instructed in step SP73, and after
that, the process proceeds to the above described step SP57.
According to the processing in respective steps, when
the child entry list is not recorded in the order in which the
user instructed the list display, the system control micom 19
sorts the record of the list into the order in which the user
instructed the list display to update the record, after that,
displays content files in the list which belongs to the folder
instructed by the user in the order according to the updated
record.
In the embodiment, when the order in which the user
instructs the list display corresponds to the order of the child
entry list, the system control micom 19 is capable of displaying
attribute information (thumbnail images, titles and the like)
of the content files in the list in the order instructed by
the user without performing any sorting processing, thereby
remarkably shortening time required for the list display as
compared with related arts, which improves user usability.
As a method of shortening processing time required for
list display, a caching method can be applied. However, when
applying the caching method, it is necessary to secure a memory
for performing caching. According to the embodiment, the list
display can be performed in a short time without securing such
memory, thereby simplifying the configuration and improving
usability of equipment whose resources are limited.
In the embodiment, when sorting is necessary, the child
entry list is rewritten according to the sort result. Though
the rewriting processing requires time, in the list display
after the rewriting processing, sorting processing can be
omitted by efficiently using the rewritten list, as a result,
list display can be performed in a short time, which improves
user usability.
Flowcharts of Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 show processing
procedures of the system control micom 19 which can be
considered in the case that the type of sorting (type_of_sort)
and index information (entry_index) sorted according to the
type of sorting are not recorded in the child entry list. The
flowcharts of Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 are shown as a comparative
example with respect to the flowcharts of Fig. 13 and Fig. 14.
The system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP81 to
step SP82 according to an instruction of list display by the
user. In step SP82, the system control micom 19 sets an entry
number (index information) which specifies the entry of the
folder whose list display is instructed as a target. In the
next step SP83, the system control micom 19 loads the record
of the target entry from the index file and acquires information
recorded in the entry.
In the next step SP84, the system control micom 19
initializes a variable "i" to a value "1" . Then, in step SP85,
the system control micom 19 detects the number of index
information (entry_index) from the child entry list recorded
in the entry information acquired in step SP83 . In the next
step SP86, the system control micom 19 judges whether the value
of the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number of index
information (entry_index) or not.
When the value of the variable "i" is equal to or less
than the number of index information (entry_index) , the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP86 to step SP87. The
system control micom 19 detects index information
(entry_index) recorded in the i-th order in the child entry
list in the step SP87. The system control micom 19 increments
the variable "i" by a value "1" in the next step SP88, after
that, returns to step SP86. The system control micom 19
sequentially detects index information (entry_index) recorded
in the child entry list.
When all index information (entry_index) recorded in the
child entry list has been detected, the value of the variable
"i" becomes larger than the number of index information
(entry_index) in step SP86, and the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP86 to step SP89.
In the step SP89, the system control micom 19 sorts the
acquired index information (entry_index) in the step SP89, then,
initializes the variable "i" to a value "1" in the next step
SP90. In the next step SP91, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the variable "i" is equal to or less than the number
of index information (entry_index) detected in step SP85 or
not.
The value of the variable "i" is equal to or less than
the number of index information (entry_index), the system
control micom 19 proceed from step SP91 to step SP92 . In the
step SP92, the system control micom 19 detects the i-th index
information (entry_index) from the sort result of step SP89
and acquires entry information to be displayed based on the
index information (entry_index) . The system control micom 19
increments the variable "i" in the next step SP93, after that,
returns to step SP91.
When the value of the variable "i" is larger than the
number of index information (entry_index) in the step SP91,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP91 to step
SP94 to end the processing procedures.
As described above, when the type of sorting
(type_of_sort) and index information (entry_index) sorted
according to the type of sorting are not recorded in the child
entry list, it is necessary that the system control micom 19
sorts index information (entry_index) required for the list
display every time the list display is instructed by the user,
which makes time required for the list display longer.
In the embodiment, it is not necessary that the system
control micom 19 sorts entry information required for the list
display every time the list display is instructed by the user,
thereby improves user usability.
The flowchart of Fig. 16 shows registration processing
of the child entry list when registering an entry by recording
a content file. The system control micom 19, after registering
the entry of the content file in the index file, begins to
61
register the child entry list, proceeding from step SP101 to
step SP102.
In step SP102, the system control micom 19 detects the
entry number (index information (entry_index) ) concerning the
folder as a target, to which the newly recorded content file
belongs. In the next step SP103, the system control micom 19
loads the record of the target entry in the index file and
acquires information recorded in the target entry.
In the next step SP104, the system control micom 19
selects an extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit)
in which the type of data block (extends_data_type) is set as
the child entry list and the type of entry (type_of_entry) is
set as the content file based on the acquired information. The
system control micom 19 also detects the type of sorting
(type_of_sort) from the child entry list by the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit).
In the next step SP105, the system control micom 19
detects the number of index information (entry_index) recorded
in the child entry list. In step SP106, the system control
micom 19 initializes the variable "i" by setting the number
to the variable "i", then, proceeds to step SP107.
In step SP107, the system control micom 19 judges whether
the variable "i" is equal to or more than "1" . When the variable
"i" is equal to or more than "1", the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP107 to step SP108. In the step SP108,
the system control micom 19 acquires information of a
corresponding property entry based on index information
(entry_index) recorded in the i-th order in the child entry
list.
In the next step SP109, the system control micom 19
determines an entry generation date and time
(entry_generation_time) or an entry update date and time
(entry_modification_time) in information of the acquired
property entry according to the sorting order detected in step
SP104 and judges whether the sorting order of the acquired
property entry is previous to the newly added entry or not.
When the sorting order the acquired property entry is later
than the newly added entry, the process of the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP109 to step SP110.
In the step SP109, the system control micom 19
re-registers index information (entry_index) in the (i+l)th
order, which has been registered in the i-th order in the child
entry list, and moves the i-th index information (entry_index)
to the end side of the sorting order. Also the system control
micom 19 decrements the variable "i" by a value "1" in step
SP111, then, returns to step SP107.
According to the above processing of respective steps,
the system control micom 19 moves the index information
(entry_index) which is recorded in the child entry list to the
end side one by one from the end side, until the order of index
63
information (entry_index) to be newly registered comes.
When the order of index information to be newly
registered comes, the sorting order of the acquired property
entry is previous to the newly added entry in the sorting order
in step SP109, therefore, the system control micom 19 proceeds
from step SP109 to step SP112. In the step SP107, when the
variable "i" becomes "0 (zero)", the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP107 to step SP112. The case in which the
variable "i" becomes "0" is a case in which the sorting order
of the newly added entry is in the most previous order.
The system control micom 19 registers index information
(entry_index) to be newly registered in the (i+l)th order in
the child entry list in the step SP112, then, proceeds to step
SP113 to end the process procedures.
The system control micom 19 also updates the child entry
list recorded in the corresponding parent entry in the same
manner when the content file is deleted, or when the content
is moved to the another folder.
In the embodiment, after the type of sorting
(type_of_sort) has been set once, the system control micom 19
updates index information (entry index) recorded in the child
entry list so that the record of the child entry list is in
the set sorting order so that the record of the child entry
list is in the set sorting order, in accordance with the record,
deletion or alternation of the content file.
64
In the processing of the above Fig. 13 to Fig. 16, the
case that content files are sorted and displayed in the list
has been described. The system control micom 19 performs
processing with respect to folders in the same manner by the
instruction of user, and displays folders in the list, which
belong to the folder instructed by the user in the order
instructed by the user. Also in the case of addition, deletion
or movement of the folder, the system control micom 19 sorts
index information of child entries and updates the child entry
list in the same manner as described above.
When the change of sorting order is instructed by the
user in a state in which list display according to a certain
order is performed, the system control micom 19 updates the
type of sorting (type_pf_sort) recorded in the child entry so
as to correspond to the change of sorting order, and sorts the
order of index information recorded in the child entry list
so as to correspond to the updated type of sorting
(type_of_sort).
(4) Representative time information
As shown in Fig. 17, a case is considered, where content
files are respectively held in three folders A to C and the
three folders A to C belong to a folder D. In this case, it
is considered that content files in a lower hierarchy of the
folder D are sorted out by the folders A to C and displayed
in a prescribed sorting order. These three folders A to C are
folders, for example, which put content files acquired by
taking images into categories. A case that a folder name
"landscape" is allocated to the folder A, a folder name "family"
is allocated to the folder B and a folder name "event" is
allocated to the folder C can be considered. In Fig. 17, 1/1,
1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 shown in respective content files indicate
recorded dates of content files, respectively.
In the hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 17, a case
is considered, where the content files are displayed in a list
in the recorded order of content files by being sorted out by
the folders A to C. In this case, as shown in Fig. 18, the
folder A of the content file 1 is displayed at the head so that
the content file 1 whose recorded date is the oldest in the
content files 1 to 6 is displayed at the head, and content files
1 to 3 belonging to the folder A are displayed in order from
oldest receded date. Next, the folder B of the content file
4 is displayed next so that the remaining content file 4 whose
recorded date is the oldest in the content files 4 to 5 is
displayed at the head of the sequential folder, and content
files 4 and 5 belonging to the folder B are displayed in order
from oldest recorded date . The remaining folder C is displayed
at the end, content files belonging to the folder C are
displayed in order from oldest record.
In this case, the user can confirm content files in order
from oldest to newest in a state in which they are put into
categories. The user also confirms content files in a desired
order in the state in which they are put into categories by
folders by switching the display order to the order from oldest
updated date, the order from newest recorded date or the like.
However, in- the hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 17,
there is a case that a content file is deleted or moved. In
such case, it becomes necessary that sorting order of folders
in the list display of content files (refer to Fig. 18) is
switched according to the deletion or movement of the content
file.
For example, a hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 19
is considered. The hierarchical structure shown in Fig- 19
shows a case that the content file 1 is deleted in the
hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 17. In this case, in the
remaining content, files 2 to 6, the content file 4 is the oldest
file. When the hierarchical structure of Fig. 17 changes into
the hierarchical structure of Fig. 19 by the deletion of the
content file I, it becomes necessary to change the display order
of folders A to C so that the folder B to which the content
file 4 belongs is at the head to allow the state of Fig. 18
to be a state of Fig. 20. The user can confirm content files
in a desired order in the state in which they are put into
categories by folders by changing the display order of folders,
even when deletion, change and the like of the content files
occurs. However, in this case, it is necessary to perform
sorting with respect to all content files belonging to the lower
hierarchy of the folder D at every display. Accordingly, when
the number of content files is huge, it is difficult to ignore
time required for processing of the system control micom, which
leads to deterioration of user usability. In addition, it
becomes difficult to perform processing in apparatuses whose
resources are limited.
In the embodiment, an extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit) by representative time information is
provided in a folder entry. Time information which
representing the folder in time information of content files
belonging to the folder is recorded as representative time
information in the extension data unit by the representative
time information.
Fig. 21 shows a configuration of the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) by the representative time
information. In the extension data unit (Property Extension
Data Unit), the size of a block size (size) is allocated at
the head, next, the type of the data block (data_type (=0riginal
Folder Time) is allocated.
Next, in the extension data unit (Property Extension Data
Unit), the type of a target entry (type_of_entry) of
representative time information defined in the data block is
allocated. The type such as a content file or a folder is
recorded in the type of the target entry (type_of_entry).
Next, in the extension data unit (Property Extension Data
Unit) , sorting order (type_of_sort) concerning representative
time information defined in the data block is allocated. The
types of sorting order such as "ascending order of generation
date and time" or "descending order of generation date and time"
are recorded in the sorting order (type_of_sort) . Next,
representative time information (time) is allocated in the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit).
In the extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit)
by representative time information, when content files
belonging to a lower hierarchy of the folder are arranged in
a sorting order defined as the sorting order (type_of_sort),
time information of a content file to be the head is recorded
in the field of representative time information (time) as
representative time information. In the case that the sorting
order (type_pf_sort) is ascending order when there is not any
folder and any content file in the lower hierarchy of the folder,
the maximum value of available values is applied as
representative time information. In addition, in the case
that the sorting order (type_of_sort) is descending order when
there is not any folder and any content file in the lower
hierarchy of the folder, the minimum value of available values
is applied as representative time information.
In this case, the maximum value of available values is,
for example, a current date and time. The maximum value of
69
available values can be also a future date and and time in which
a content file is not recorded in the optical disk 2, instead
of the current date and time. The minimum value of available
values is, for example, a date and time which is older than
a recorded date and time of a content file which has been
recorded first in the optical disk 2.
In the type of the target entry (type_of_entry) , an
identifier is set, which indicates whether the content file
relating to the representative time information exists just
under the folder or it exists at further lower hierarchy.
The system control micom 19, when sorting and displaying
content files according to a desired order in the state in which
content files are put into categories by folders, as described
with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 20, simplifies processing
relating to the display by efficiently utilizing
representative time information recorded in the extension data
unit (Property extension Data Unit) by the representative time
information to shorten time required for the display.
Specifically, the system control micom 19 detects
sequential folders in the lower hierarchy from a folder entry
instructed by the user based on index information (entry_index)
recorded in the child entry list, and sets the display order
of the folders in the lower hierarchy according to
representative time information set at the folders in the lower
hierarchy. When a folder exist in a further lower hierarchy
of any folder in the lower hierarchy, the system control micom
19 sets the display order in the further lower hierarchy
according to representative time information set at the folder
in further lower hierarchy.
The system control micom 19 sets the display order in
the folders based on representative time information as
described above and displays content files belonging to
respective folders in the order instructed by the user.
Accordingly, the system control micom 19 updates the
index file so as to correspond to respective processing of
recording, deletion or movement of the content file. In this
case, the system control micom 19 updates the order of index
information (entry_index) recorded in the child entry list
relating to the folder and the extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit) by representative time information so as
to correspond to respective processing of recording, deletion
or movement of the content file.
Flowcharts of Fig. 22 to Fig. 25 show processing
procedures of the system control micom 19 relating to
processing of representative time information when a content
file is deleted.
In the embodiment, the order of index information
(entry_index) recorded in the child entry list relating to the
folder and the extension data unit (Property Extension Data
Unit) by representative time information in the index file are
updated so as to correspond to the recording, deletion or
movement of the content file, thereby allowing the sorting
order (type_of_sort) recorded in the child entry list relating
to the folder to correspond to the sorting order (type_of_sort)
recorded in the extension data unit (Property Extension Data
Unit) by representative time information.
When the deletion of a content file is instructed, the
system control micom 19 deletes the content file on the file
management system of the optical disk 2, then, starts
processing procedures relating to processing of
representative time information and proceeds from step SP121
to step SP122. In the step SP122, the system control micom
19 sets an entry number (index information (entry_index)) of
an entry relating to the deleted content file as a target, and
detects index information (parent_entry_index) of a parent
entry recorded in the entry in the next step SP123.
In the next step SP124, the system control micom 19
acquires entry information from the parent entry, and detects
the sorting order (type_of_sort) from the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) by representative time
information registered in the parent entry in the next step
SP125.
Next, the system control micom 19 proceeds to step SP126,
detects index information (parent entry index) of the parent
entry from entry information of the parent entry detected in
step SP124, and judges whether there is another parent entry
or not.
In the case that the parent entry detected in step SP124
is the entry in the folder of the top hierarchy, there is no
parent entry in step SP126, therefore, the system control mi com
19 proceeds from step SP126 to step SP127. In the step SP127,
the system control micom 19 sets a switch (folder_sort) to OFF,
which relates to the setting of whether sorting processing
relating to the folder is performed or not, after that, proceeds
to step SP128. The sorting processing relating to the folder
is processing of sorting the order of index information
(entry_index) recorded in the child entry list relating to the
folder.
When there is a parent entry in step SP126, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP126 to step SP129. The
system control micom 19 detects index information
(entry_index) of the head from the child entry list relating
to the content file recorded in the parent entry in step SP124
in step SP129 . The system control micom 19 also judges whether
the head index information (entry_index) relates to the target
set in step SP122 or not in the next step SP130.
When the head index information (entry_index) does not
relates to the target set in step SP122, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP130 to step SP127, sets the switch
(folder_sort) of sorting processing relating the folder to OFF,
after that, proceed to step SP128. On the other hand, when
the head index information (entry_index) relates to the target
set in step SP122, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP130 to step SP131. The system control micom 19 sets
the switch (folder_sort) of sorting processing relating the
folder to ON, after that, proceeds to step SP128.
The system control micom 19 deletes index information
(entry_index) relating to the target from the child entry list
recorded in the parent entry detected in step SP124 in step
SP128 and proceeds to step SP133 (Fig. 23).
The system control micom 19 judges whether it is
necessary to sort^the order of index information (entry_index)
recorded in the child entry list relating to the folder
according to a series of processing from step SP126 to step
SP128. That is, the system control micom 19 judges that it
is necessary to sort the order of index information
(entry_index) when the head index information (entry_index)
relates to the target and sets the switch (folder_sort) of
sorting processing relating to the folder to ON.
In step SP 133 , the system control micom 19 judges whether
a child entry relating to the content file remains or not in
the parent entry detected in step SP124 . When any child entry
relating to the content file does not remain, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP133 to SP134. In step SP134,
the system control micom 19 judges whether a child entry
74
relating to the folder exist with respect to the parent entry
detected in step SP124 or not. When any child entry relating
to the folder does not exist, the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP134 to step SP135 (Fig. 25).
In step SP135, the system control micom 19 judges whether
the sorting order (type_of_sort) in the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) relating to representative time
information of the parent entry is an ascending order or not.
When the sorting order (type_of_sort) is the ascending order,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP135 to step
SP136. In step SP136, the system control micom 19 sets
representative time information (time) of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) to the maximum value of
available values, then, proceeds to step SP137.
When the sorting order (type of sort) is not the ascending
order in step SP135, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP135 to step SP138 . In the step SP138, the system control
micom 19 sets representative time information (time) of the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) to the
minimum value of available values, then, proceeds to step
SP137.
When a child entry relating to the folder exists in the
above step SP134, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP134 to step SP140 (Fig. 24).
In addition, when a child entry relating to the content
file remains in the parent entry in the above step SP133, the
system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP133 to step SP142 .
In step SP142, the system control micom 19 detects the head
index information (entry index) from the child entry list
relating to the content file recorded in the parent entry and
sets the content file according to the index information (entry
index) as the head content file.
In step SP143, the system control micom 19 acquires entry
information of the head content file. Then, in the next step
SP144, the system control micom 19 detects time information
corresponding to the sorting order (type_of_sort) of the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) from time
information set in the entry information to set the information
as a first time information (time_el), after that, proceeds
to step SP145. Time information is a generation date and time
(entry_generation_time) or an update date and time
(entryjnodification_time) of the entry.
The system control micom 19 judges whether a child entry
relating to the folder is recorded in the parent entry detected
in step SP124 or not in the step SP145. When any child entry
relating to the folder is not recorded, the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP145 to step SP146 (Fig. 24). In the
step SP146, the system control micom 19 sets the first time
information (time_el) set in the step SP144 in the
representative time information (time) of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . The system control micom
19 sets the type of the target entry (type of entry) of the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) as the file
in the next step SP147, after that, proceeds to step SP137.
When a child entry relating to the folder is recorded
in the above step SP145, the system control micom 19 proceeds
from step SP145 to step SP140 (Fig. 24).
In the step SP140, the system control micom 19 detects
the head index information (entry_index) of the child entry
list relating to the folder, which is set in the parent entry.
Then, in the next step SP149, the system control micom 19
detects representative time information recorded in the entry
according to the head index information (entry_index), sets
the information as a second time information (time_e2), then,
proceeds to step SP150.
In the step SP150, the system control micom 19 judges
whether a child entry relating to the content file remains or
not in the parent entry detected in step SP124 . When any child
entry relating to the content file does not remain, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP150 to step SP151. In
the step SP151, the system control micom 19 sets the second
time information (time_e2) set in step SP140 in the
representative time information (time) of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . In the next step SP152,
the system control micom 19 sets the type of the target entry
of the extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) as
the folder, after that, proceeds to step SP137 (Fig. 25).
When a child entry relating to the content file remains
in the above step SP150, the system control micom 19 proceeds
from step SP150 to step SP154 (Fig. 25). In the step SP154,
the system control micom 19 judges whether the sorting order
(type_of_sort) of the extension data unit (Property Extension
Data Unit) relating to respective time information of the
parent entry is ascending order or not. When the sorting order
(type_of_sort) is the ascending order, the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP154 to step SP155.
In the step SP155, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the first time information (time_el) is older than the
second time information (time_e2) . When the first time
information (time_el) is older than the second time information
(time_e2) , the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP155
to step SP156. In the step SP156, the system control micom
19 sets the first time information (time_el) in the
representative time information (time) of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . In the next step SP157,
the system control micom 19 sets the type of the target entry
(type_of_entry) of the extension data unit (Property Extension
Data Unit) as the file, after that, proceeds to step SP137.
In the above step SP155, when the first time information
(time el) is not older than the second time information
(time_e2) , the system control micom IS proceed from step SP155
to step SP159. In the step SP159, the system control micom
19 sets the second time information (time_e2) in the
representative time information (time) of the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) . In the next step SP160,
the system control micom 19 sets the type of the target entry
(type_of_entry) of the extension data unit (Property Extension
Data Unit) as the folder, after that, proceeds to step SP137.
When the sorting order (type of sort) is not the ascending
order in the above step SP154, the system control micom 19
proceeds from step SP154 to step SP161. In the step SP161,
the system control micom 19 judges whether the first time
information (time_el) is newer than the second time information
(time_e2) or not. When the first time information (time_el) is
newer than the second time information (time_e2) , the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP161 to step SP 159. When
the first time information (time_el) is not newer than the
second time information (time_e2) , the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP161 to step SP156.
When the entry is deleted by the deletion of the content
file according to the processing of the above respective steps,
the system control micom 19 detects time information of the
content file belonging just under the parent entry of the
content file to be deleted and representative time information
of the folder, and selects these time information based on the
sorting order (type_of_sort) to update the representative time
information of the parent entry.
The system control micom 19, when the representative time
information is updated, judges whether the switch
(folder_sort) relating to sort processing is set to OFF or not
in step SP137. When the switch (folder_sort) is set to OFF,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP137 to step
SP162 to end the processing procedures.
On the other hand, when the switch (folder_sort) is set
to ON, the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP137
to step SP163. In the step SP163, the system control micom
19 sets the parent entry as the entry to be sorted and in the
next step SP164, performs sorting processing relating to the
folder, after that, proceeds to step SP162 to end the processing
procedures. The system control micom 19 deletes the target
entry at the same time as these processing.
In the case that an entry is registered according to the
record of a content file, or in the case that an entry is updated
according to movement of a content file between folders, the
system control micom 19 performs the same processing procedures
as the above processing procedures described with reference
to Fig. 22 to Fig. 25, that is, representative time information
of the corresponding folder is updated, and the type of a target
entry (type_of_entry) is updated so as to correspond to the
update of the representative time information.
When the extension data unit (Property Extension Data
Unit) relating to representative time information is not set
to the parent entry, the system control micom 19 performs
processing relating to the deletion by directly proceeding from
step SP128 to step SP137 in the above processing procedures
of Fig. 22 to Fig. 25. The extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit) relating to respective time information
is registered together when the folder entry is registered
according to the previous setting by the user.
Flowcharts of Fig. 26 to Fig. 28 show the sort processing
of step SP164 in Fig. 25. The system control micom 19 performs
processing procedures of the sort processing also when the
index file is updated according to the record of the content
file, movement of the folder and the like, in addition to
processing relating to deletion of the content file.
When the processing procedures are started, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP171 to step SP172. In
the step SP172, the system control micom 19 acquires entry
information of a folder to be sorted. In the next step SP173,
the system control micom 19 judges whether a parent folder exist
with respect to the folder to be sorted. When any parent folder
does not exist with respect to the folder to be sorted, the
system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP173 to step Spl74
to end the processing procedures.
When a parent folder exists with respect to the folder
81
to be sorted, the system control micom 19 proceeds from step
SP173 to step SP175. In the step SP175, the system control
micom 19 detects an entry number (index information
(entry_index)) of the parent entry and acquires entry
information of the parent entry in the next step SP176.
In the next step SP177, the system control micom 19
detects the number of index information (entry_index) from the
child entry list relating to the folder registered at the parent
entry. In the next step SP178, the system control micom 19
initializes a variable "i" to a value "1", and detects the i-th
index information (entry_index) from the child entry list
relating to the folder registered in the parent entry in step
SP179, then, proceeds to step SP180.
In the step SP180, the system control micom 19 judges
whether index information (entry_index) detected in step SP179
is index information (entry_index) relating to the folder to
be sorted or not. When the detected index information
(entry_index) is not index information (entry_index) relating
to the folder to be sorted, the system control micom 19 proceeds
from step SP180 to step SP181 and increments the variable "i"
by a value "1", after that, returns to step SP179. The system
control micom 19 sequentially increments the variable "i" and
repeats processing procedures from step SP179 to step 181.
When index information (entry index) detected in the
above step SP181 is index information (entry index) relating
82
to the folder to be sorted, the system control micom 19 proceeds
from step SP180 to step SP182 and substitutes a value of the
valuable "i" for a variable "n" . The system control micom 19
detects that the index information (entry_index) to be sorted
is recorded in what number in the child entry list set in the
parent entry by the processing from step SP179 to step 181.
Next, the system control micom 19 proceeds to step SP183
(Fig. 27) . In the step SP183, the system control micom 19 sets
a switch (update_sw) indicating update processing to an
off-state, after that, proceeds to step SP184. In the step
SP184, the system control micom 19 judges whether a value of
the variable "n" set in step SP182 is 2 or more, namely, the
folder to be sorted is not the head folder in the child entry
list in the parent entry.
When the value of the variable "n" is 2 or more, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP184 to step SP185 and
detects index information (entry_index) recorded in the
(n-l)th order in the child entry list set in the parent entry
detected in step SP175. In the next step SP186, the system
control micom 19 sequentially compares entry information of
the entry to be sorted with entry information (entry_index)
detected in step SP185 according to the sorting order
(type_pf_sort).
In the comparison processing, the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP190-1 to step SP190-2 shown in Fig.
29.
In the step SP190-2, the system control micom 19 detects
the sorting order (type of sort) recorded in the child entry
list, and acquires representative time information recorded
in one entry information to be compared in the next step SP190-3 .
In the next step SP190-4, the system control micom 19 acquires
representative time information recorded in the other entry
information to be compared. Then, the system control micom
19 compares representative time information acquired in step
SP190-3 with representative time information acquired in step
SP190-4 to acquire the compared result, and returns to the start
of the processing procedures by step SP190-6.
Next, in step SP187, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the sorting order of the entry to be sorted is previous
to the entry according to index information (entry_index)
detected in step SP185 or not based on the compared result
acquired in step SP186. The sorting order of the entry to be
sorted is not previous to the entry according to the detected
entry according to index information (entry_index) , it is not
necessary to performing sorting, therefore, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP187 to step SP188.
In the step SP188, the system control micom 19 judges
whether a switch for update (update_sw) is set to OFF or not.
When the update switch (update_sw) is set to ON, the system
control micom 19 proceeds from step SP188 to step SP189 to end
the processing procedures.
In the above step SP187, the sorting order of the entry
to be sorted is previous to the detected entry according to
the index information (entry index), the system control micom
19 proceeds from step SP187 to step SP190. In the step SP190,
the system control micom 19 replaces the n-th index information
(entry_index) with the (n-1) th index information (entry_index) ,
and sets the switch of update (update_sw) to the on state in
the next step SP191. In step SP192, the system control micom
19 decrements the variable "n" by a value "1" , after that,
proceeds to step SP188.
In the step SP188, when the update switch is set to OFF,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP188 to step
SP194 (Fig. 28). Also when the value of the variable "n" is
not 2 or more in the above step SP184, the system control micom
19 proceeds to step SP194.
In the step SP194, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the value of variable "n" is equal to or less than a
value obtained by subtracting a value "1" from the number of
index information (entry_index) detected in step SP177 or not,
namely, judges whether further another folder to be compared
exists in the child entry list or not. When the value of the
variable "n" is equal to or less than the value obtained by
subtracting a value "1" from the number of index information,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP194 to step
SP195.
The system control micom 19 acquires (n+l)th index
information (entry_index) from the child entry list in the step
SP195, and compares the sorting order between an entry of the
folder according to the (n+1) th index information and the entry
to be sorted in the same manner as described in Fig. 29. Then,
in the next step SP197, the system control micom 19 judges
whether the sorting order of the entry to be sorted is later
than the sorting order of the entry according to index
information (entry_index) detected in the step SP195 or not.
When the sorting order of the entry to be sorted is later
than the sorting order of the entry according to the detected
index information, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP197 to step SP198 . In the step SP198 , the system control
micom 19 replaces the n-th index information (entry_index) with
the (n+l)th index information (entry_index) registered in the
child entry list, increments the variable "n" by a value "1"
in the next step SP199 and proceeds to step SP200.
In the step SP194, when the value of the variable "n"
is not equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting
the value "1" from the number of index information, further,
in the step SP197, when the sorting order of the entry to be
sorted is not later than the sorting order of the entry
according to the detected index information (entry index) , the
system control micom 19 proceeds to step SP200.
In the step SP200, the system control micom 19 changes
setting of the parent entry until then to be the entry to be
sorted, after that, repeats anew the sorting processing
relating to the above Fig. 26 to Fig. 28 in the next step SP201,
and ends the processing procedures in the next step SP202.
With respect to the folder in which representative time
information is changed according to the deletion of the content
file and so on, the system control micom 19 detects the entry
relating to the folder, which has been previous or later in
the sorting order from the child entry list recorded in the
entry relating to the folder in the upper hierarchy, updates
the child entry list recorded in the entry relating to the
folder in the upper hierarchy by the comparison with
representative time information recorded in the entry, then,
updates the sorting order of the child entry list relating to
the folder so as to correspond to deletion of the content file
and the like.
A flowchart of Fig. 30 shows the processing of acquiring
representative time information relating to the processing
procedures of step SP190-3 and step SP190-4 in Fig. 29. In
this case, the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP231
to step SP232 and acquires entry information of a target entry.
In the next step SP233, the system control micom 19 detects
representative time information (time) from the extension data
unit (Property Extension Data Unit) relating to representative
time information of the entry information, after that, proceeds
to step SP234 to return to the start of the processing
procedures.
Flowcharts of Fig. 31 and Fig. 32 show processing
procedures of the system control micom 19 which acquires
representative time information when the extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) relating to representative time
information is not set.
The system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP241 to
step SP242 and acquires entry information of a target entry.
In the next step SP243, the system control micom 19 judges
whether a child entry relating to a folder exists with respect
to the target entry or not based on the acquired entry
information. When any child entry does not exist with respect
to the target entry relating to the folder, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP243 to step SP244 (Fig. 32).
In the step SP244, the system control micom 19 judges
whether there is a child entry relating to the content file
in the target file or not. When there is not any child entry
relating to the content file with respect to the target entry,
the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP244 to step
SP245 and judges whether the sorting order (sort_type) is an
ascending order or not. When the sorting order is the ascending
order, the system control micom 19 proceeds from step SP245
to step SP246. In the step SP246, the system control micom
19 detects representative time information from the maximum
value of available values, after that, proceeds to step SP248
to end the processing procedures.
In step SP245, when the sorting order (sort_type) is not
the ascending order, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP245 to step SP249 . In the step SP249 , the system control
micom 19 detects representative time information from the
minimum value of available values, after that, proceeds to step
SP248 to end the processing procedures.
In the step SP243 , when a child entry relating to a folder
exists with respect to the target entry, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP243 to step SP250. In the step
SP250, the system control micom 19 detects the i-th index
information (entry_index) from a child entry list relating to
the folder.
In the next step SP251, the system control micom 19
detects representative time information from the folder entry
according to the i-th index information (entry_index) and sets
the representative time information as a first time information
(el) . In the next step SP252, the system control micom 19
judges whether a child entry relating to the content file exists
with respect to the target entry or not. When there is not
any child entry relating to the content file with respect to
the target entry, the system control micom 19 proceeds from
step SP252 to step SP253-1. In the step SP253-1, the system
control micom 19 detects representative time information
according to the first time information (el) set in the step
SP251, after that, proceeds to step SP254-1 to end the
processing procedures.
In the step SP252, when there is the child entry relating
to the content file in the target entry, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP252 to step SP253 . In the step
SP253 , the system control micom SP253 detects index information
(entry_index) of the head entry from a child entry list relating
to the content file, and acquires entry information of the entry
according to the index information (entry_index) in the next
step SP254. In the next step SP255, the system control micom
19 sets date and time information set in the entry information
(generation date and time (entry_generation_time) of the entry
and update date and time (entry_modification_time) of the
entry) as a second time information (e2). Then, in the next
step SP256, the system control micom 19 compares the first time
information (el) with the second time information (e2)
according to the sorting order, detects representative time
information by detecting time information whose sorting order
is previous, after that., proceeds to step SP254-1 to end the
processing procedures.
In the above step SP244, when a child entry relating to
the content file exist in the target entry, the system control
micom 19 proceeds from step SP244 to step SP258. In the step
SP258, the system control micom 19 detects index information
(entry_index) of the head entry from the child entry list
relating to the content file and acquires entry information
of the entry according to the index information (entry_index)
in the next step SP259.
In the next step SP260, the system control micom 19 sets
date and time information set in the entry as the second time
information (e2), detects representative time information
according to the second time information (e2) in the next step
SP261, after that, proceeds to step SP248 to end the processing
procedures.
In the above series of processing of detecting the
representative time information, when the system control micom
19 detects representative time information of the folder entry
in step SP251, in the case that an extension data unit (Property
Extension Data Unit) relating to representative time
information is not set, the processing of the Fig. 31 and Fig.
32 is performed also for acquiring the representative time
information. In short, the system control micom 19 detects
time information by searching entries relating to all content
files existing in the lower hierarchy of the folder whose
representative time is acquired.
In the embodiment, according to the setting of the
extension data unit (Property Extension Data Unit) relating
to representative time information, the system control micom
19 is capable of detecting representative time of the desired
folder without searching entries relating to the all content
files existing in the lower hierarchy. As a result, the system
control micom 19 is capable of executing update processing of
the child entry list relating to the folder easily and rapidly
so as to correspond to deletion, recording or change of the
content file.
The system control micom 19 performs update of the child
entry list relating to the folder also according to deletion,
recording or change of the folder. Even in this case, the
update processing can be performed easily and rapidly.
(5) Management information relating to a time zone
Content files A and B are sequentially recorded at areas
having different time zones, a case occurs, where the order
of time information of corresponding entries in the index file
will be opposite order to the order at the time of recording
depending on the area. In this case, it can be considered that
it is difficult for the user to detect a desired content file
according to the index file . It is desirable to perform display
according to the recording order also in this case.
In the embodiment, management information relating to
the time zone is recorded in the property file FP included in
the index file. In this case, management information relating
to the time zone includes standard management information and
individual management information, and the standard
management information is recorded in the header of the
property file FP.
Fig. 33 shows a configuration of the standard management
information. In the standard management information, the size
(size) is allocated at the head, and the type of a data block
(data_type (^Default Time Zone Offset)) is sequentially
allocated. In the standard management information, time
information (time_zone_offset) relating to the time zone is
sequentially allocated. In the time information
(time_zone_offset) relating to the time zone, an offset value
from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) which is one of world
standard time of time information recorded in a property entry
is recorded.
The individual management information is registered in
a corresponding property entry by an extension data unit
(Property Extension Data Unit) . Fig. 34 shows a configuration
of the individual management information. In the individual
management information, the size (size) is allocated at the
head, and the type of a data block (data_type (=Time Zone
Offset)) is sequentially allocated. In the individual
management information, time information (time_zone_offset)
relating to the time zone is sequentially allocated. In the
time information (time_zone_of f set) relating to the time zone,
an offset value from UTC of time information recorded in a
corresponding property entry is recorded. The individual
management information is provided when the offset value from
UTC of time information recorded in the property entry is
different from the offset value set in the standard management
information.
The system control micom 19 performs registration
processing of index information (entry_index) in the child
entry list, setting processing of representative time
information and the like based on the management information
relating to the time zone, and provides the content file to
the user according to the recording order and the like even
when the time zone is different.
Additionally, when the offset time of time information
of each entry is different from the offset time of the standard
management information, it is preferable that a value of the
difference is registered in each entry as offset time by the
individual management information, instead of the above
setting of individual management information relating the time
zone. It is also preferable that time information of each entry
is registered by UTC and an offset value between the time
information and time on the scene at the time of taking images
is registered in each entry separately. The system control
micom 19 performs the above respective processing by correcting
update date and time and the like recorded in each entry
according to the standard management information and the
individual management information.
According to the above embodiment, index information
indicating entries in the lower hierarchy is provided at the
corresponding entry in the upper hierarchy in a list format,
thereby performing processing relating to change of the
hierarchical structure and the like managed by the index file
easily and rapidly.
Also according to the above embodiment, entries of the
index file are played by utilizing the list of index information
indicating entries in the lower hierarchy, thereby simplifying
processing relating to switching of display and the like.
Also according to the above embodiment, index
information indicating entries in the lower hierarchy is
provided at each folder or each content file. Various
processing relating to the content file or the folder can be
performed by selecting the list when necessary, thereby
performing these processing easily and rapidly.
Also according to the above embodiment, the index file
is updated so as to correspond to deletion of the folder, and
in the update, entries required for the update are detected
according to a child entry list and index information of a
parent entry to update the record, thereby performing
processing of the index file relating to the deletion easily
and rapidly.
Also according to the above embodiment, information of
the sorting order indicating the sorting order of index
information is set in the child entry list, and index
information of child entries are sequentially provided
according to the sorting order based on the information of the
sorting order. The processing when providing the contents of
entries according to a desired order to the user can be
performed easily and rapidly by efficiently utilizing the
sorting order.
Also according to the above embodiment, the index file
is updated so as to correspond to the recording or deletion
of the content file recorded in a recording medium, when index
information of child entries are sorted and updated according
to information of the sorting order indicating the sorting
order of index information, as a result, the processing when
providing the contents of entries according to a desired order
to the user can be performed easily and rapidly.
Also according to the above embodiment, information of
the sorting order is updated by change of the order to be
provided by the user as well as the sorting order of index
information is changed, thereby providing the contents of
entries to the user easily and rapidly.
Also according to the above embodiment, time information
representing the folder is allocated in time information of
the entry of the folder, thereby simplifying maintenance
processing for securing display according to the sorting order
and the like even at the time of addition or deletion of a file.
That is, when the index file is updated so as to correspond
to the change of the content file or the folder recorded in
an optical disk, time information of the entries in the upper
hierarchy are updated so as to correspond to the change of the
content file or the folder, thereby securing the display and
the like according to the sorting order even at the time of
addition, deletion and so on of a file.
Also according to the above embodiment, the time
information is allocated based on the world standard time,
thereby displaying content files in a list in correct order,
which have been recorded in different time zones.
Also according to the above embodiment, in addition to
representative time information which represents the folder,
information of the type of the sorting order relating to the
representative time information is recorded, and further,
information of identifying whether the representative time
information relates to a folder or a content file is recorded.
The representative time information is efficiently utilizing
for various processing, thereby shortening time required for
the processing.
In the above embodiment, a case that the index file is
generated by a property file FP, a thumbnail file FTH, and a
text file FTX has been described, however, the invention is
not limited to this and can be broadly applied to a case, for
example, where the index file is generated by a file according
to audio data in addition to these files.
In the above embodiment, a case that the index file is
generated by three separate files of the property file FP, the
thumbnail file FTH, and the text file FTX has been described,
however, the invention is not limited to this, and can be
broadly applied to a case, for example, where the index file
is generated by unifying these files.
In the above embodiment, a case that the optical disk
is used as the recording medium has been described, however,
the invention is not limited to this and can be broadly applied
to cases where various recording media such as a hard disk or
a memory card are used.
Industrial Applicability
The invention is capable of performing processing
relating to change or the like of the hierarchical structure
managed by the index file easily and rapidly and can be applied
to, for example, a camcorder, a digital still camera and the
like.

We claim:
1. A file processing apparatus recording an index file in a recording mediuml which
manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising:
an index file generation unit generating the index tile based on attribute information of
the content tiles and folders including the content files; and
a recording unit recording .the index file generated in the index file generation unit in the
recording medium, and
wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders
are in an upper hierarchy; and
wherein the index generation unit provides the prescribed number of management
information areas corresponding to the content files and the folders respectively in the
index file,
second index information indicating second management information areas
corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the
folders in the upper hierarchy in a list format at first management information areas
corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, and
first index information indicating the first management information areas at the second
management information areas.
2. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit provides a second index information list in the first management information areas according to each folder or each content file.
3. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index tile generation unit,
when a prescribed folder is deleted from the hierarchy structure, updates the index file so as to correspond to the deleted prescribed folder,
detects management information areas in the upper hierarchy and the lower hierarchy based on index information indicating the management information area corresponding to the folder in the upper hierarchy which is set at the first management information area

corresponding to the prescribed folder, and the second index information list in the update of the index file, and
updates the second index information list set in the management information area in the upper hierarchy and the first index information set in the management information areas in the lower hierarchy so as to correspond to the deletion of the folder.
4. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the update corresponding to the deletion of the folder is the update in which the management information areas in the lower hierarchy are allowed to be management information areas just under the management information area in the upper hierarchy.
5. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the update corresponding to the deletion of the folder is the update relating to deletion of management information areas in the lower hierarchy.
6. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit sets sorting order information of the second index information in the second index information list provided in the first management information area, and sequentially provides the second index information based on the sorting order information.
7. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index file generation unit,
when a prescribed content file is added in the hierarchical structure, or a prescribed
content file is deleted from the hierarchical structure, updates the index file so as to
correspond to the head or deleted prescribed content file,
updates index information recorded in the second index information list so as to
correspond to addition or deletion of the prescribed content file in the update of the index
file and
sorting the index information provided in the second index information list according to
sorting order information indicating the sorting order in the update of the index
information.

8. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein sorting order information of
index information is provided in the second index information list,
wherein an information presenting unit is further included, which plays the management information areas according to the sorting order of the index information set in the second index information list to be provided to the user, and
wherein the index tile generation unit updates the sorting order information and changes the sorting order of the second index information so as to correspond to the change of presenting order in the information presenting unit.
9. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index tile generation unit
allocates time information of .the content files at the management information areas
corresponding to the content files, and
allocates time information representing a folder from time information set at the management information areas of the content files belonging to the folder or the management information areas of the folders, as time information of the management information area of the folder.
10. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the index file generation unit
updates the index file so as to correspond to change of the content file or the folder in the hierarchical structure, and
updates time information of the management information areas in the upper hierarchy relating to change so as to correspond to the change of the content file or the folder in the update of the index file.
11. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the index file generation unit allocates time information of the content files at the management information areas of the content files based on the world standard time.

12. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the index tile generation unit allocates time information representing a folder and information of a type of the sorting order relating to the time information as time information of the management information area of the folder.
13. The file processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the index file generation unit allocates time information representing a folder and information of identifying whether the time information representing the folder is according to the folder or according to the content file as time information of the management information area of the folder.
14. A file processing method recording an index file in a recording medium, which manages
one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising:
an index file generation step generating the index file based on attribute information of . the content files and folders including the content files; and a recording step recording the index file generated in the index file generation step in the recording medium, and
wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders are in an upper hierarchy; and wherein the index generation step provides
the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the content tiles and the folders respectively in the index file,
second index information indicating second management information areas corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the folders in the upper hierarchy in a list format at first management information areas corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, and
first index information indicating the first management information areas at the second management information areas.

15. A file processing apparatus playing an index file from a recording medium, which
manages one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising;
an index file playing unit playing the index file from the recording medium, and
wherein the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the
content files and folders including the content files respectively are provided in the index
file,
wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders
are in an upper hierarchy,
wherein second index information indicating second management information areas
corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the
folders in the upper hierarchy is provided in a list format at first management information
areas corresponding to the folders in the upper hierarchy, as well as first index
information indicating the first management information areas is provided at the second
management information areas, and
wherein the index file playing unit plays the second management information areas based
on the second index information set at the first management information areas and
the first management information areas based on the first index information set at the
second management information areas.
16. A file processing method playing an index file from a recording medium, which manages
one or more content files recorded in the recording medium, comprising:
an index file playing step playing the index file from the recording medium, and
wherein the prescribed number of management information areas corresponding to the
content files and folders including the content files respectively are provided in the index
file,
wherein the content files and the folders form a hierarchy structure in which the folders
are in an upper hierarchy,
wherein second index information indicating second management information areas
corresponding to the folders or the content files positioned in a lower hierarchy of the
folders in the upper hierarchy, as well as first index information indicating the first

management information areas is provided at the second management information areas,
and
wherein the index file playing step plays
the second management information areas based on the second index information set at
the first management information areas and
the first management information areas based on the first index information set at the
second management information areas.