INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PERMANENT DATA STORAGE

Abstract: An information processing device (10) according to the invention has a first memory (12) that stores input real time information data in the form of an endless loop, at least until an event occurs, the data being kept in the first memory (12) in an endless loop. This ensures that the data having occurred before the event in the time window of the endless loop are still complete are not overwritten when the event occurs. In telephones or radio devices information is maintained, even when the connection suddenly breaks down, without operating a release switch. In broadcasting and television transmissions a desire to repeat a certain audio or video sequence or having a record of the whole transmission from the beginning can still be fulfilled, even when the certain audio or video sequence is already finished, in the case of a video sequence even in a quick-motion mode.

Description: Information Processing Apparatus with Device and Method for Permanent Data Storage Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to an information processing apparatus with a device for permanent data storage. Data in the sense of the present invention are real time data that are acquired acoustically or optically depending on the kind of information, and in particular information like conversation that is exchanged between subscriber units via communication devices, broadcasting and radio transmissions, images including TV sequences, and video conference data. Information processing apparatusses are e.g. telephones including mobile and cellular telephones, radio devices, broadcasting devices, television apparatusses, video recorders and camcorders. Background of the Invention A cellular telephone of the Motorola series 900 (e.g. cd 920/930) comprises of a memory implemented in an information processing apparatus for recording real time data. With such apparatus a conversation can be recorded over maximum three minutes, starting from operating a release switch. Moreover, this device is able to store voice notes independently from a conversation. However, this device is not able to record and/or reproduce the conversation that took place before the operation of the release switch. Only such data are recorded that have been stored after operating the release switch. Devices having a memory that stores data in an endless loop in a time window of at least one second are generally known in the art, however on different fields. A device for permanent data storage is diclosed in e.g. GB 2 276 006 A. This device is for monitoring an aircraft or for easy investigation of an airplane accident. All or preselected technical and/or non technical data of an airplane are stored, for example the conversation in the pilot's cockpit of the airplane. In this device a time window of e.g. 30 minutes is given in which data are stored, and the data that are stored when exceeding the time window overwrite the oldest data. Thus, only the data of the last 30 minutes are recorded. Some of the data can be stored permanently. In case of a certain event, e.g. operating the ejection seat, the storing is stopped, thus keeping and recording only the last 30 minutes of the flight. A device for permanent optical storage of the surrounding of a vehicle in the form of an endless loop, in particular related to car accidents, is disclosed e.g. in DE 197 20 348 Al . Especially during broadcast and TV transmissions, there is a frequent desire of the audience to repeat a certain audio or video sequence, preferably in a quick-motion mode. Also in this case, the desire of having a record of the whole transmission from the beginning frequently occurs only during the transmission, i.e. after the beginning. The present invention seeks to provide an information processing apparatus with device and method for permanent data storage which mitigate or avoid these and other disadvantages and limitations of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus that is able to provide information after an event, even if the information occured before the event. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention; and FIG. 2 illustrates an operational diagram of the information processing apparatus according to FIG. 1. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The object of the present invention is solved by providing an information processing apparatus having at least one memory, hereinafter referred to as a first memory, the first memory temporarily storing real time information data in the form of an endless loop, at least until an event occurs in a time window of at least one second, the data in the endless loop being kept after the event. The expression "endless loop" is to be understood according to the invention in the sense that the loop corresponds to a predetermined time interval, e.g. 5 minutes, and that the memory stores the data continuously and temporarily, wherein the data that occur after such 5 minutes overwrite the data that occured originally at the beginning. Thus, only data are stored that occured in such time window. The loop may correspond to a time of e.g. one second up to several minutes. However, any different time is possible. According to the invention it has been found out that a device for permanent data storage in the form of an endless loop is also advantageous with regard to an information processing apparatus. According to prior art, e.g. in the Motorola device series 900, a telephone with responder or a video recorder, information including a conversation is only stored when the storing is initiated due to the operation of a release switch. In this case, however, the event that has caused the wish to perform a storing is in the past, and, consequently, is not recorded. The information processing apparatusses are essentially grouped in relation to three different application fields. Firstly, the field of active communication including a radio device, a telephone or an image telephone. In these cases the user decides spontaneously during the communication to store information from the past, and, eventually, future information. Secondly, the field of passive communication including broadcasting, television including satellite communication, and "video on demand". The user desires to listen to/see a transmission on TV/radio/car radio that has already started at a past starting point. Probably, the user desires to store/record a transmission that he receives on TV/radio afterwards. Thirdly, the field of observation including audio and video monitoring. Commonly, objects are permanently recorded by a device and observation data are stored on a medium as information. Due to the possibility to store data afterwards, there is no more need to record the whole monitoring time. The data that have been permanently recorded are analyzed by an image processing device and the recording of past data is only performed due to a signal of the image processing device. Parallel to such data selection a further data reduction is possible with regard to video images, by skipping of images or by compressing the images. Thus, the available storage capacity is better used by data having a higher information content. Frequently, in particular in realation to mobile telephones or radio devices, a sudden break down of the connection occurs, before it has been possible to note previously mentioned data, like telephone numbers or names, or to operate a release switch for acquiring information in order to repeat the same. Also in the case of an emergency the release switch is operated after recognizing the emergency; consequently, the past conversation in a time window is automatically stored in the information processing apparatus. With regard to broadcast and television transmissions it is possible that only during a transmission the desire is born to repeat a certain audio or video sequence or to have a record of the transmission from the beginning; such desire can still be fulfilled when a certain audio or video sequence is already past, in the case of a video sequence even in a quick-motion mode. The present invention has multiple applications and the widths of the time windows depend on the particular application. The technical development leads more and more to low cost memories and, in particular in image processing devices, increasingly larger memories might be implemented. As memories preferably DRAMs and in image processing devices also hard disks are applied. The first memory stores data in the form of an endless loop, at least until an event occured in a time window of at least one second. The data in the endless loop are kept after the event. Thus, an overwriting with new data is avoided. Therefore it is ensured that information which occured before the event in the time window is still completely present when the event occurs. The first memory may be activated e.g. by switching on the device or by establishing a connection. The event may be the break down of the connection, the operation of a release switch, a signal from an image processing device, or the absence of another event, in particular the absence of a confirmation which has to occur in regular time intervals. In the following the invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an information processing apparatus 10 having a processor 18 for controlling and a memory 12 coupled thereto, a switch 14 for switching on the information processing apparatus 10, a release switch 16, and a second switch 20. The information processing apparatus 10 communicates data via the transmission path 22 to the periphery. The information processing apparatus 10 comprises of further operation and controlling elements for establishing and monitoring of a communication connection that are not shown by virtue of simplification. FIG. 2 is an operational diagramm 30 showing the operation of the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 in this example is a mobile telephone in a switched-on state during a presently establishing connection. With the step of establishing a connection 32 also the storing of real time data in a first memory 12 in the form of an endless loop begins, in a time window of e.g. sixty seconds (step 34). Now the conversation between the subscriber units takes place and information is exchanged. The participant of the conversation with the information processing apparatus 10 now suddenly desires to note information, e.g. a telephone number or a name, that has been mentioned during the last sixty seconds, while he wants to avoid that a repetition of the information by the other participant of the conversation is necessary. The participant of the conversation with the information processing apparatus 10 now operates the release switch 16. thereby generating the event until which the data are stored in the endless loop. After the event the data in the endless loop are kept in the first memory 12 (step 38). After the event further new real time data are stored in the second memory 20 (step 40). After the conversation the connection is finished according to step 42. The data kept in the first memory 12 are present for requesting (playing back) since the event occured, according to the present example until establishing a new connection or eventually until switching off the information processing device 10. According to a preferred embodiment input data are compressed by the memories. In particular with regard to image data the present memory may then be used more efficiently, especially in video monitoring. In a preferred embodiment the information processing device comprises at least a second memory in addition to the first memory. One of the memories keeps the data in the endless loop after the event and the other memory stores new input data. This may be performed by copying the data in the endless loop after the event from the first memory to the second memory, keeping the data in the second memory, and storing new input data in the first memory. The input data that occur after the event may again be stored in an endless loop, or stored and kept, as long as there is storage capacity, depending on the application. The expressions first and second memory are to be understood to also include two regions of a single physical memory having different addresses. Thus, e.g. in the case of a DRAM a first memory can be realized by an address pointer that circulates in a first region, and the address pointer jumps into a second region when the event occurs. According to a further preferred embodiment the information processing apparatus is a communication apparatus, in particular a telephone or a radio. The data to be stored may be a conversation as well as the accoustic surrounding of the apparatus. It might be advatageous, that e.g. a taxi radio according to the invention is provided with a first memory for permanent storage, so that in the case of an emergency also conversations from inside the vehicle can be kept. According to another embodiment the information processing apparatus is a broadcasting device or an image processing device, in particular a television apparatus, a video recorder or a camcorder. It is advantageous, if both memories or at least one memory can store the data also after a power failure. Thus, it is possible that the data from before a power failure or from before a power break can be permanently kept. An event that starts the keeping (releasing event) can be the break down of the connection, a power break, or switching off the apparatus. A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a first memory comprises of the steps: - storing of real time data in the first memory in the form of an endless loop, at least until an envent occurs in a time window of at least one second; - keeping the data in the endless loop after the event. It is advantageous that the storing of the data in the first memory begins when the information processing apparatus is sw itched on or when a connection is established. Preferably, the event is the break down of the connection or the operation of a release switch, or the absence of another event, in particular the absence of a confirmation that has to occur in regular time intervals. It is advatageous to compress the input data before storing. A further embodiment of the method with an information processing apparatus having a second memory comprises of the steps: - keeping the data in the endless loop after the event in one of the memories; and - storing new input data in the other memory. A further special embodiment of the method comprises of the steps: - copying the data in the endless loop after the event from the first memory to the second memory; - keeping the copied data in the second memory; - storing new input data in the first memory. The present invention includes the use of a memory in a communication apparatus for storing data in the form of an endless loop and the use of a memory in a broadcast device or in an image processing device, in particular a television apparatus, a video recorder or a camcorder, for storing data in the form of an endless loop. While the invention has been described in terms of particular structures, devices and methods, those of skill in the art will understand based on the description herein that it is not limited merely to such examples and that the full scope of the invention is properly determined by the claims that follow. Reference Numeral List information processing apparatus 10 first memory 12 schwitch 14 release switch 16 processor 18 second memory 20 transmission path 22 operational diagramm 30 establishing a connection 32 storing of data in the first memory 34 operating a release switch 36 keeping the data in the first memory 38 storing new data in the second memory 40 end of connection 42

Claims: Claims 1. An information processing apparatus ( 10) having a first memory (12), characterized in that, the first memory (12) temporarily stores real time information data in the form of an endless loop, at least until an event occurs in a time window of at least one second; and the data in the endless loop are kept after the event. 2. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the storing of the data in the first memory (12) begins by switching on the information processing apparatus (10). 3. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the storing of the data in the first memory (12) begins by establishing a connection. 4. An information processing apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the event being a break down of a connection. 5. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the event being an operation of a release switch (16). 6. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the event being a signal from an image processing device. 7. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the event being the absence of another event. 8. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, the other event being a confirmation which has to occur in regular time intervals. 9. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, input data are compressed before storing. 10. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) comprises a second memory (20), and one of the memories (12, 20) keeps the data of the endless loop after the event and the other memory (12, 20) stores new input data. 11. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that, the data of the endless loop are copied from the first memory (12) to the second memory (20) after the event, the data being kept in the second memory (20), and the first memory (12) stores new input data. 12. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is a communication apparatus. 13. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is a broadcasting device. 14. An information processing apparatus (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is an image processing device. 15. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that, the image processing device is a television apparatus. 16. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that, the image processing device is a video recorder. 17. An information processing apparatus (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that, the image processing device is a camcorder. 18. A method for operating an information processing apparatus (10) having a first memory (12), characterized by the steps: - storing (34) real time information data in a first memory (12) in the form of an endless loop, at least until an event occurs in a time window of at least one second; and - keeping (40) the data of the endless loop after the event. 19. A method according to claim 18, characterized by the step: beginning of storing (34) the data in the first memory (12) by switching on the information processing apparatus (10). 20. A method according to claim 18, characterized by the step: beginning of storing (34) the data in the first memory (12) by establishing a connection. 21. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, the event being a break down of a connection. 22. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, the event being an operation of a release switch (16). 23. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, the event being a signal from an image processing device. 24. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, the event being the absence of another event. 25. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that, the other event being a confirmation which has to occur in regular time intervals. 26. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 25, characterized by the step: compressing of input data before storing. 27. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 26, wherein the information processing apparatus (10) comprises a second memory (20), the method being characterized by the steps: - keeping (38) the data of the endless loop in one of the memories (12, 20) after the event; and - storing (40) new input data in the other memory (12, 20). 28. A method according to claim 27, characterized by the steps: - copying the data of the endless loop from the first memory (12) to the second memory (20) after the event; - keeping the copied data in the second memory (20); and - storing new input data in the first memory (12). 29. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 28, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is a communication apparatus. 30. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 28, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is a broadcasting device. 31. A method according to any of the claims 18 to 28, characterized in that, the information processing apparatus (10) is an image processing device. 32. A method according to claim 31 , characterized in that, the image processing device is a television apparatus. 33. A method according to claim 31 , characterized in that, the image processing device is a video recorder. 34. A method according to claim 31 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, the image processing device is a camcorder. 35. Use of a memory in a communication apparatus for storing data in the form of an endless loop. 36. The use according to claim 35, wherein the communication apparatus is a broadcasting device. 37. The use according to claim 35, wherein the communication apparatus is an image processing device. 38. The use according to claim 37, wherein the image processing device is a television apparatus. 39. The use according to claim 37, wherein the image processing device is a video recorder. 40. The use according to claim 37, wherein the image processing device is a camcorder.

Inventors: KACHEL RUDOLF, KACHEL, RUDOLF
Applicants: MOTOROLA GMBH, MOTOROLA INC, MOTOROLA INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G11C7
IPC codes: G11C7, H04H60, H04M1, H04M3, H04N5