Abstract:
There is provided an information processing apparatus which has the versatility of allowing connection to an external device and can easily transfer digital information from one recording medium to another recording medium. When an external MO drive is connected to an external device such as a personal computer, the drive can transmit/receive digital information to/from the device. When a copy button is operated while the personal computer is not connected to the drive, the drive can read out image files from a memory card inserted in a PC card slot portion and write the files in an MO disk inserted in an MO disk slot portion. This therefore facilitates backup of files.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus which allows insertion/ejection of a plurality of recording media and can transfer digital information from one recording medium to another recording medium.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The images photographed by a digital camera such as a digital still camera are recorded as digital information such as image files on a recording medium (memory card or the like) inserted in the camera. The recorded digital information is transferred to a personal computer or the like to be used. In many digital camera, therefore, in order to facilitate data handling at the time of transfer, the same file system as that in the personal computer is formed on a recording medium, and each photographed image is generally recorded as one image file (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-164234).  
           [0005]    Many memory cards and the like have the size of a postage stamp because of importance to portability and generally have small storage capacities. As photographing operation is continued by using a digital camera, the remaining storage capacity of the memory card decreases, resulting in inability of the camera to perform photographing operation. If the image files stored in the memory card are recorded (copied) on another recording medium, the image files in the memory card can be erased. This makes it possible to perform new photographing operation using the same memory card.  
           [0006]    According to a general form of transferring records to another recording medium in this manner, for example, image files are read out from a digital camera onto a personal computer through a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The images files are then written in another recording medium having a larger capacity. This operation is called backup.  
           [0007]    In order to back up files in a memory card, the user himself/herself must copy the image files by operating a personal computer. Therefore, it takes much time and labor to back up files. In contrast to this, a dedicated apparatus for reading out image files from the card and writing the files on another recording medium may be manufactured. Such dedicated apparatus can save operation but has poor versatility. The information processing apparatus is low in value as a product.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems in the prior art, and has as its object to provide an information processing apparatus which has the versatility of allowing connection to an external device and can easily transfer digital information (records) from one recording medium to another recording medium.  
           [0009]    In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising a first insertion/ejection portion in/from which a first recording medium can be inserted/ejected and which can at least read out digital information from the inserted first recording medium, a second insertion/ejection portion in/from which a second recording medium can be inserted/ejected and which can read out and write digital information from and in the inserted second recording medium, a control unit, and an operating member which starts operation of reading out digital information from the first recording medium and writing the information in the second recording medium, wherein the first and second insertion/ejection portions are connected to be capable of transmitting/receiving digital information, and the control unit searches for digital information recorded on the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion in accordance with operation of the operating member, buffers date data of a file, of the found files, which is set at a predetermined rank, creates a new directory in the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion, writes the buffered date data as a creation date of the directory, and writes all the digital information recorded on the first recording medium into the newly created directory.  
           [0010]    When this apparatus is connected to an external device such as a personal computer, the apparatus allows transmission/reception of digital information to/from the device. When the operating member is operated while no external device is connected to the apparatus, the apparatus can read out digital information from the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion and write the information on the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion. This makes it easy to back up files. In addition, since buffered date data is used as the creation date of the directory, a search for backed-up data can be easily performed on the basis of the creation date.  
           [0011]    According to the second aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus described in the first aspect further comprises a connecting portion which can be connected to an external device, the first insertion/ejection portion, the second insertion/ejection portion, and the connecting portion are connected such that digital information can be transmitted/received from one of the portions to another portion, and the control unit permits transmission/reception of digital information, through the connecting portion, between the external device and the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion and/or the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion when detecting that the external device is connected through the connecting portion, and inhibits transmission/reception of digital information through the connecting portion when not detecting that the external device is connected through the connecting portion.  
           [0012]    With this arrangement, when, for example, an external device such as a personal computer is connected to the information processing apparatus, the apparatus can be used as an eternal storage device. This increases the value of the product.  
           [0013]    According to the third aspect, in the information processing apparatus described in the second aspect, when detecting that the external device is connected through the connecting portion, the control unit reads out digital information from the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion and inhibiting a direct write in the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion even if the operating portion is operated.  
           [0014]    This can avoid contention between transfer control by the eternal device and transfer control by the control unit, and hence unnecessary troubles.  
           [0015]    According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus comprising a first insertion/ejection portion in/from which a first recording medium can be inserted/ejected and which can at least read out digital information from the inserted first recording medium, a second insertion/ejection portion in/from which a second recording medium can be inserted/ejected and which can read out and write digital information from and in the inserted second recording medium, a connecting portion which can be connected to an external device, a control unit, and an operating member which starts operation of reading out digital information from the first recording medium and writing the information in the second recording medium, wherein the first insertion/ejection portion, the second insertion/ejection portion, and the connecting portion are connected such that digital information can be transmitted/received from one of the portions to another portion, in accordance with operation of the operating member, while detecting that the external device is connected through the connecting portion, the control unit permits the external device to read out digital information from the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion and transfer the information to the external device and to write, in the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion, digital information transferred from the external device through the connecting portion, and the external device searches for digital information recorded on the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion, buffers date data of a file, of the found files, which is set at a predetermined rank, creates a new directory in the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion, writes the buffered date data as a creation date of the directory, and writes all the digital information recorded on the first recording medium into the newly created directory.  
           [0016]    With this arrangement, when the operating member is operated while the apparatus is connected to the external device such as a personal computer, the apparatus can read out digital information from the first recording medium inserted in the first insertion/ejection portion and write the information in the second recording medium inserted in the second insertion/ejection portion. This can avoid contention between transfer control by the external device and transfer control by the control unit. In addition, files can be easily backed up. In addition, since the buffered date data are used as the creation date of the directory, a search for backed-up data can be efficiently performed on the basis of the creation date.  
           [0017]    According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a name of the new directory described in the first or forth aspect is created on the basis of the buffered date data.  
           [0018]    The name of a directory for the storage of image information in the second recording medium is determined by using date data such as the creation date and/or creation time of a recorded file. This makes it unnecessary to provide a real-time clock or the like for independently determining a directory mane. Therefore, a simple, low-cost arrangement can be provided.  
           [0019]    According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the file at the predetermined rank which is described in the first or fourth aspect is a file found first by a search.  
           [0020]    The file at the predetermined rank is preferably the file found first because the search time can be shortened. However, this file may be a file found second, third, or last. In addition, a search for a plurality of files may be made, and the creation dates or the like of them may be stored.  
           [0021]    According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the search described in the sixth aspect is performed for only a file with a specific extension (JPEG or the like).  
           [0022]    Although a search is preferably made for only files with a specific extension (JPEG or the like) because the contents of files are narrowed down, a search may be made for all files. Alternatively, files may be determined by attribute data such as inhibition of the use of hidden files or the like.  
           [0023]    According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the control unit in the information processing apparatus described in the first to seventh aspects creates, in the second recording medium, a directory having a name including a creation date and/or a creation time of the recorded file, and then transfers digital information recorded on the first recording medium to the directory.  
           [0024]    This arrangement is preferable because it suppresses the overlap of directory names.  
           [0025]    According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the control unit in the information processing apparatus described in the first to eighth aspects creates a name attached to a created directory in the second recording medium so as to indicate a directory creation order.  
           [0026]    This avoids the overlap of directory names and facilitates subsequent searches.  
           [0027]    According to the 10th aspect of the present invention, during writing of digital information in the second recording medium, even when detecting that the operating member is operated, the control unit in the information processing apparatus described in the first to ninth aspects inhibits control based on the operation.  
           [0028]    This can prevent an operation error due to an interruption during writing of digital information.  
           [0029]    According to the 11th aspect of the present invention, during writing of digital information in the second recording medium, even when detecting that the external device is connected through the connecting portion, the control unit in the information processing apparatus described in the second and third aspects and the fifth to 10th aspects inhibits transmission/reception of digital information to/from the external device until digital information is completely written in the second recording medium.  
           [0030]    This can prevent an operation error due to an interruption during writing of digital information.  
           [0031]    In the present invention, the first recording medium is preferably an optical information recording medium such as a memory card, CD-R, or DVD-R or a magnetooptic information recording medium such as an MO. The second recording medium is preferably an optical information recording medium such as a CD-R or DVD-R, a magnetooptic information recording medium such as an MO, a hard disk, or the like, and more preferably a medium having a larger capacity than the first recording medium. The control unit is preferably capable of creating a file system by, for example, formatting the second recording medium. The information processing apparatus preferably includes a display unit and/or a sound generating unit which indicates the transmission/reception state of image information. Digital information includes an image file, and also includes various kinds of data such as document data and CG data. A port such as a USB may be attached to the first insertion/ejection portion to allow connection of a digital still camera and other kinds of storage devices in place of the first recording medium.  
           [0032]    The date data of a found file (a file recorded on the first recording medium, e.g., a memory card) includes a creation date, correction date, creation time, and correction time. Of these data, as the creation date/time of a new directory, the creation date/time of an original file is used. However, the correction date/time of an original file may be used. A text is created on the basis of the creation date of an original file is used as the name of a new directory. This operation, however, may be done on the basis of the correction date. In addition, an update date and/or update time may be used in place of a creation date and/or creation time. In addition, a file on which a directory name is based may differ from a file on which the creation of a directory is based.  
           [0033]    As is obvious from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which has the versatility of allowing connection to an external device and can easily transfer digital information from one recording medium to another recording medium.  
           [0034]    The above and many other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become manifest to those skilled in the art upon making reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principle of the invention are shown by way of illustrative examples. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an external MO drive according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the internal arrangement of an external MO drive in FIG. 1;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing control operation in the external MO drive in FIG. 1;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the file system created in a memory card in the external MO drive in FIG. 1;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the file system created in an MO disk; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the internal arrangement of an external MO drive according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]    Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0042]    In an external MO drive according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the front surface of a housing  10  has a memory card slot portion  11  serving as the first insertion/ejection portion, an MO disk slot portion  12  serving as the second insertion/ejection portion, and an LED  14  serving as a display unit. A USB connector  15   a  serving as a connecting portion is provided on the rear surface of the housing  10 . A copy button  13  and power switch  18  serving as operating members are arranged on the upper surface of the housing  10 . An eject button  11   a  for ejecting an inserted memory card (e.g., a PC card)  11   b  with an adaptor is provided on a side of the memory card slot portion  11 , and an eject button  12   a  for ejecting an inserted MO disk  12   b  is provided below the MO disk slot portion  12 . A control unit  16  can detect the operation of the copy button  13  by receiving an ON signal from it.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the internal arrangement of the external MO drive in FIG. 1. This drive includes the memory card  11   b  (including a connector  11   c  of the memory card  11   b  and a card control IC  11   d ) capable of reading out and writing digital information, the MO disk  12   b  capable of reading out and writing digital information, a USB controller  15  having the USB connector  15   a , the control unit  16 , and the like.  
         [0044]    The control unit  16  is connected to the memory card  11   b  and MO disk  12   b  through a bus B so as to be communicable with each of them. The control unit  16  has a function of detecting whether the drive is connected to external equipment such as a personal computer through the USB controller  15  and a cable, and controlling transmission/reception of digital information between the memory card  11   b  and the MO disk  12   b.    
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the control unit  16 . Referring to FIG. 3, in step S 101 , the control unit  16  checks whether the memory card  11   b  with the adaptor is inserted in the memory card slot portion  11  and the MO disk  12   b  is inserted in the MO disk slot portion  12 . Upon determining that both of them are inserted, the control unit  16  further checks in step S 102  whether the drive is connected to an external personal computer through the USB controller  15 .  
         [0046]    Upon detecting that the drive is connected to an external personal computer, the control unit  16  permits in step S 110  to read out or write digital information from or in the memory card  11   b  in the memory card slot portion  11  or to or from the MO disk  12   b  in the MO disk slot portion  12  through the USB controller  15  under the control of the external personal computer. That is, the external MO drive operates as an external storage device as an original function. In this case, the operation of the copy button  13  is ignored to inhibit direct file transfer from the memory card  11   b  to the MO disk  12   b.    
         [0047]    If the control unit  16  determines that the drive is not connected to any external personal computer, in step S 103  the control unit  16  waits until the copy button  13  is pressed. When the user presses (operates) the copy button  13 , the control unit  16  searches for an image file (e.g., a file with the extension “JPEG”) recorded on the memory card  11   b , and stores (buffers) the creation date/time of the first image file in a built-in memory in step S 104 . Subsequently, the control unit  16  determines a directory name in step S 105 .  
         [0048]    In this case, a directory name may be determined as follows. If, for example, the stored creation date is 2002 (year) 11 (month) 18 (day), the date is directly used as the name “021118”. If a plurality of directories may be created on the same day, a date and serial numbers may be combined to name the directory created first as “021118.001” and the directory created next as “021118.002. In addition to the above methods, various methods are conceivable, e.g., a method of forming a combination of a date and time like “021118 — 1325 (13 (hr) 25 (min)) and a method of forming a combination of letters and a date like “IM02118”.  
         [0049]    Assume that the file system shown in FIG. 4 is created in the memory card  11   b  in advance. The control unit  16  searches the root directory of the file system in FIG. 4 to store the creation date (or update date) of the first image file “2002/11/18” and the creation time (or update time) “9:40” in the built-in memory. The control unit  16  then searches the file system (see FIG. 5) created in the MO disk  12   b  to check whether there is any directory having the same name as “021118”. If there is no such directory, “021118.001” is determined as a new directory name. If there is such a directory, the portion other than the creation date, i.e., the serial number “.00*”, is changed to determine a directory name that can be discriminated.  
         [0050]    If a directory is found in the root directory, the control unit  16  further moves to the lower directory to search for files. If no file or directory is found, the control unit  16  returns to the root directory to store the creation date and the like of the first directory. Upon finding a file having no creation date set, the control unit  16  may search for another file, ignoring such a file, or use a date like “00/00/00”.  
         [0051]    In addition, in step S 106  in FIG. 3, the control unit  16  creates a new directory named “021118.001” in the file system of the MO disk  12   b . In this case, the creation date and/or the creation time of the new directory “021118.001” created in the MO disk  12   b  should be identical to that of the files. In step S 107 , the control unit  16  starts to transfer all the files “DSC00001.JPG”, “DSC00002.JPG”, . . . in the memory card  11   b  into the directory “021118.001”. Note that the LED  14  blinks during file transfer to give a warning to the user so as not to withdraw the memory card  11   b  or MO disk  12   b  because of the file transfer (step S 108 ). Even if the copy button  13  is operated during this period, the control unit  16  ignores the operation or issues, to the MO drive, a command to inactivate the eject buttons  11   a  and  12   a  so as to inhibit ejection of the memory card  11   b  or MO disk  12   b  during the file transfer, thereby preventing an operation error. In addition, while digital information is written in the MO disk  12   b , even if the control unit  16  detects connection to an external personal computer through the USB controller  15 , the control unit  16  inhibits transmission/reception of digital information to/from the personal computer until the end of writing of digital information in the MO disk  12   b . This can prevent any operation errors based on instructions from the personal computer. Upon determining the completion of the transfer in step S 109 , the control unit  16  terminates its operation.  
         [0052]    According to the flow chart of FIG. 3, step S 102  is performed after step S 101 . However, these operations may be performed in reverse order.  
         [0053]    According to this embodiment, since the name and creation date of a directory are determined by using the creation date and the like of a file, the control unit  16  is only required to have a memory, but need not have any real-time clock, liquid crystal display device, or the like. In addition, since directory name contention is automatically avoided, an MO drive can be manufactured with a simple arrangement at a low cost. Since this drive can be manufactured with a small number of parts, the failure rate can be suppressed low. In addition, files can be backed up by only operating the copy button  13 . This makes the drive become more user-friendly. Furthermore, since a directory name is determined by using the creation date and the like of the first file, the directory name can be used as an important clue to search for a file afterward.  
         [0054]    As another embodiment, there is provided an arrangement designed to detect insertion of a memory card with an adaptor and an MO disk and transfer digital information from one to the other instead of operating a copy button  13  which operates an operating member.  
         [0055]    Assume that an external MO drive according to still another embodiment is connected to an external personal computer through a USB controller  15 . In this case, a trigger signal is transmitted to the external personal computer in accordance with the operation of a copy button  13 . The personal computer then searches for image files (e.g., files with the extension “JPEG”) in a memory card such as a PC card, and stores the creation date/time of the first image file in a built-in memory. The personal computer determines a directory name in the above manner and creates the directory in the file system of the MO disk to transfer the image files into the directory. In this case, a control unit  16  has a function of permitting control from the external personal computer in accordance with the operation of the copy button  13 .  
         [0056]    According to still another embodiment, a directory name may be determined as follows without using the creation date of a file. For example, when the file system of an MO disk is searched, and directory names including at least numbers found, a directory name is so determined as to include a number obtained by adding 1 to the maximum number (or subtracting 1 from the minimum number). In this case, each number may have an arbitrary letter attached. This makes it possible to create directories with different names such that the number continuously increases (or decreases) to indicate the creation order like “B0001”, “B0002”, “B0003”, . . . . Therefore, directory name contention can be avoided. In addition, since the directories are arranged in, for example, the backup order, a file search is facilitated. The creation date of a directory is identical to that of the found files. This makes it possible to quickly search for a photographed image by using the creation date of the directory.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an external MO drive according to still another embodiment. The arrangement of this drive differs from that shown in FIG. 2 in that a USB host controller  19  and USB connector  17  are used in place of the card control IC  11   d  and connector  11   c . According to this embodiment, once this drive is connected to an external storage device through the USB connector  17 , digital information can be read/written from an MO disk  12   b  to the external storage device or in the reverse direction in the same manner as in the above embodiment by only operating a copy button  13 .  
         [0058]    Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any of the embodiments described above, and can be changed and modified as needed. For example, a memory card may be directly inserted into the external MO drive without any adaptor. Furthermore, in place of or in addition to the LED  14 , a sound generating unit which generates a sound to indicate that a file is being transferred may be provided.