Abstract:
A combo system includes a play unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit in a second recording medium. A detector in the combo system detects whether a predetermined still image signal exists within the signal played by the play unit. A controller in the combo system controls the play unit and the recording unit to perform a playing operation and a recording operation, respectively, when the detector detects the still image signal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2001-27275, filed May 18, 2001, in the Korean Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a combination system and an automatic copy method thereof, and more particularly, to a combination system and an automatic copy method thereof, in which a play unit to play a signal recorded on a recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit in another recording medium are provided.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    A combination system or combo system is defined as two or more different units incorporated into a combined system. As an example of the combo system, there is provided a DVDP/VCR combo system developed to compositely perform a function of a DVDP and a function of a VCR.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional DVDP/VCR combo system  10  and peripheral devices connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system. The DVDP/VCR combo system  10  includes a VCR  11  and a DVDP  12 . The VCR  11  performs a general VCR function that plays video and audio signals recorded on a magnetic tape and records externally received signals on the magnetic tape. The DVDP  12  performs a general DVDP function that plays video and audio signals recorded on a DVD. In addition to essential functions of the VCR  11  and the DVDP  12 , the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  has an advantage in that the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  can perform a composite function that records video and audio signals played by the DVDP  12  on the magnetic tape through the VCR  11 .  
           [0007]    A TV  23  is connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  as a peripheral device that outputs video and audio signals played by the DVDP  12  or the VCR  11 . Also, an audio amplifier  21  is connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  as a peripheral device that outputs audio signals played by the DVDP  12 . Furthermore, an external device  25  such as a camcorder can be connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system  10 . The DVDP/VCR combo system  10  serves to record/play video and audio signals from the external device  25 .  
           [0008]    The VCR  11  and the DVDP  12  in the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  are provided as one system in appearance. A user can switch a mode between the VCR  11  and the DVDP  12  through either a separate input unit such as a remote controller  15  or a panel (not shown) provided on a front surface of the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  and can manipulate individual functions of the respective devices  11  and  12  using the separate input unit. As described above, the DVDP/VCR combo system  10  has an advantage in that the system can perform various functions without the peripheral devices.  
           [0009]    However, the aforementioned combo system  10  has several problems. Specifically, in a case where video and audio signals played by the DVDP  12  are recorded on the magnetic tape through the VCR  11 , a problem arises in that the same video signals may continuously be recorded. The reason for this problem is because the DVDP  12  has a still menu image, unlike the VCR  11  that automatically performs a play mode if the magnetic tape is inserted, and cannot perform a play mode in a data track unless an external selection signal for a predetermined chapter is entered from the menu image. In other words, in a state where the user is absent after selecting a copy mode, the user may have intended to copy data recorded on the DVD onto the magnetic tape using the combo system. In this case, a problem arises in that the menu image of the DVD may only be recorded on the magnetic tape if there is no external selection signal.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, if the magnetic tape is played on which the menu image is recorded, the user cannot view a desired video image. In this case, the user may believe that there is something wrong with the recording function of the combo system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination system and an automatic copy method thereof, in which a still video signal, such as menu image data existing in DVD data, can be prevented from being continuously recorded.  
           [0012]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a combo system having a play unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit in a second recording medium, including: a detector to detect whether a predetermined still image signal exists within the signal played by the play unit; and a controller to control the play unit and the recording unit to perform a playing operation and a recording operation, respectively, when the still image signal is detected by the detector.  
           [0013]    According to the present invention, if the data recorded on the DVD including a still image signal, such as a menu image signal to provide a predetermined selection menu to a user using an OSD function, is copied in the magnetic tape, an unnecessary copying operation can be avoided and a reliability in an operation of the combo system can be improved.  
           [0014]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing an automatic copy method of a combo system provided with a play unit and a recording unit, including: playing a signal recorded on a first recording medium using the play unit; recording the signal played in a second recording medium using the recording medium; detecting whether a predetermined still image signal exists within the signal played by the play unit; and performing a playing operation of the play unit and a recording operation of the recording unit when the still image signal is detected.  
           [0015]    According to the present invention, in addition to the combo system, a protocol between a player such as a DVDP and a recorder such as a VCR is set using a cable to perform communication, so that an automatic copy method between the player and the recorder is provided.  
           [0016]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing an automatic copy method between a play unit and a recording unit, including: playing a signal recorded on a first recording medium using the play unit; recording the signal played in a second recording medium using the recording medium; detecting whether a predetermined still image signal exists within the signal played by the play unit; and performing a playing operation of the play unit and a recording operation of the recording unit when the still image signal is detected.  
           [0017]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a combo system, including: a play unit playing video and/or audio signals recorded on a first recording medium; a recording unit recording the video and/or audio signals on a second recording medium; a controller detecting a still image signal from the video and/or audio signals played by the play unit; and an OSD block adding an OSD function to the video signals and generating video images, wherein the video images generated by the OSD block are added to the video signals from the recording unit.  
           [0018]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing an automatic copy method in which a user copies data recorded on a first recording medium on a second recording medium, the method including: selecting a copy command signal from a data processing menu; playing data recorded on the first recording medium in response to the copy command signal; recording the data on the second recording medium; detecting a start point of a menu data among the data recorded on the first recording medium; detecting a menu selection signal to select data from the menu data; playing the selected data from the menu data; recording the selected data on the second recording medium; and detecting a play completion signal.  
           [0019]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a combo system having a play unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit in a second recording medium, including: a detector detecting a still image signal from video and/or audio signals; and a controller preventing the still video signal from being continuously recorded.  
           [0020]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a combo system having a play unit and a recording unit, including: a detector detecting a still image or a menu image and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and a controller controlling the play unit to perform a play operation to reproduce data different from the detected still image or menu image in response to the detection signal.  
           [0021]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing an apparatus in a DVD play unit having a recording medium, including: a detector detecting a still image or a menu image and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and a controller controlling the DVD play unit to perform a play operation in response to the detection signal.  
           [0022]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing an apparatus in a DVD play unit having a recording medium, including: a detector detecting a still image or a menu image recorded on the recording medium to generate a detection signal; and a controller controlling the DVD play unit to perform a play operation to reproduce data different from the detected still image or menu image from the recording medium in response to the detection signal.  
           [0023]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a method of a combo system having a play unit and a recording unit, including: detecting a still image or a menu image and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and controlling the play unit to perform a play operation to reproduce data different from the detected still image or menu image in response to the detection signal.  
           [0024]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a method of a DVD play unit having a recording medium, including: detecting a still image or a menu image and generating a detection signal indicative thereof; and controlling the DVD play unit to perform a play operation in response to the detection signal.  
           [0025]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may be accomplished by providing a method of a DVD play unit having a recording medium, including: detecting a still image or a menu image recorded on the recording medium to generate a detection signal; and controlling the DVD play unit to perform a play operation to reproduce data different from the detected still image or menu image from the recording medium in response to the detection signal.  
           [0026]    These together with other objects and advantages, which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a related DVDP/VCR combination system;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a DVDP/VCR combination system, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an automatic copy method performed by the system shown in FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    A combination system and an automatic copy method thereof in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a combo system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, particularly a DVDP/VCR combo system  100  that can perform DVDP and VCR functions. The DVDP/VCR combo system  100  includes a VCR  110  to perform a general VCR function, a DVDP  120  to perform a general DVDP function, a selector  130  to select signals output from the VCR  110  and the DVDP  120 , and an input block  140  to transmit signals input from an external device, such as a camcorder to the selector  130 . An output block  150  transmits the signals output from the VCR  110  and the DVDP  120  to peripheral devices such as a TV and an amplifier. An on screen display (OSD) block  160  in the DVDP/VCR combo system  100  adds an OSD function to video signals output from the VCR  110  and the DVDP  120 .  
         [0033]    The VCR  110  includes a VCR deck  111  for recording a signal on a magnetic tape or playing the signal recorded on the magnetic tape. Video and audio blocks  112  and  113  in the VCR  110  transmit and receive video and audio signals to be recorded or played to and from the VCR deck  111 , and a VCR controller  114  controls an entire operation of the VCR deck  111 , the video block  112 , and the audio block  113 . The VCR  110  further includes a display block  116  to externally display the status of the VCR  110  such as operational, control, and setting modes, a panel  117  to input various commands from a user, and a remote controller sensor  118  to input a command from the user through a remote controller  180 .  
         [0034]    The DVDP  120  includes a DVD deck  121 , a DVD servo  122 , a DVD controller  123 , and a DVD encoder  124 . The DVD deck  121  reads data recorded on a DVD to perform a play mode of the DVD. The DVD servo  122  receives the data read by the DVD deck  121  through the DVD controller  123 , and outputs DVD video data and DVD audio data. The DVD controller  123  controls the operation of the DVD deck  121 , the DVD servo  122 , and the DVD encoder  124 . The DVDP  120  further includes a menu data detector  128  for detecting a menu image signal. The menu data detector  128  detects a start point of the menu image signal from the data read from the DVD deck  121 , and outputs the detected start point to the DVD controller  123 . Then, the DVD controller  123  controls the DVD deck  121  to perform a play mode, and signals the VCR controller  114  of the detection of the menu image signal. The VCR controller  114  controls the VCR deck  111  to perform a recording mode.  
         [0035]    The DVD controller  123  and the VCR controller  114 , as will be described later in detail, are linked to each other at a time of the start point of the detected menu image signal, so that signals for controlling the DVDP  120  and the VCR  110  are generated. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the VCR controller  114  and the DVD controller  123  may be separately provided and the VCR controller  114  may be used as a main controller of the combo system  100 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the DVD controller  123  may be the main controller of the DVDP/VCR combo system  100  or a menu controller having both the functions of the VCR controller  114  and the DVD controller  123  may be used.  
         [0036]    An output of the DVD encoder  124 , outputs of the video and audio blocks  112  and  113 , and the signals from the input block  140  are input as input signals to a selector  130 . The VCR controller  114  and the DVD controller  123  control the selector  130  to select input signals. An output signal from the selector  130  is input to the OSD block  160  and the output block  150 . The OSD block  160  adds the OSD function to the signal input from the selector  130  and generates video images. Accordingly, the video images generated by the OSD block  160  are added to video images output to a TV screen, such as a menu for controlling the operation of the DVDP  120  and the VCR  110  and various error messages.  
         [0037]    The output block  150  receives the output signals from the DVD encoder  124 , the selector  130 , and the OSD block  160  and outputs DVD video signals, DVD audio signals, VCR video signals, and VCR audio signals. The peripheral devices such as the TV or audio devices are connected to the output block  150  and, thus, video and audio images are output from the peripheral devices.  
         [0038]    The input block  140  is connected to the selector  130 , and transmits an externally input signal to the selector  130 . A signal output terminal of the external device, such as a camcorder is connected to the input block  140 . Accordingly, the signal recorded on the external device can be transmitted to the combo system  100  through the input block  140 , and also can be recorded on the magnetic tape using the VCR  110  or can be played through the TV or a monitor.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an automatic copy method performed by the DVDP/VCR combo system  100  according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an automatic copy method in which the user copies the data recorded on the DVD to the magnetic tape. The DVD data may be DVD audio data and/or DVD video data.  
         [0040]    If a power source is applied to the combo system  100 , the OSD block  160  outputs a data processing menu and displays the same on the TV screen. If the user selects a copy mode from the data processing menu displayed on the TV screen by manipulating the remote controller  180 , a copy mode setting signal is transmitted to the VCR controller  114  through the remote controller sensor  118 . At operation S 32 , the VCR controller  123  detects whether a copy command has been input.  
         [0041]    Once the copy command is input, the VCR controller  114  outputs the copy mode setting signal to the DVD controller  123 . At operation S 34 , the DVD controller  123  operates the DVD deck  121  in accordance with the copy mode setting signal to play the data recorded on the DVD and at the same time operates the menu data detector  128 . Also, the VCR controller  114  drives the VCR deck  111  so as to record the signal played by the DVDP  120  on the magnetic tape.  
         [0042]    In the above play mode, at operation S 35 , the menu data detector  128  detects the start point of the menu data among the data recorded on the DVD. Once the start point of the menu data is detected, at operation S 37 , the DVD controller  123  detects whether the menu selection signal has been input. If the menu selection signal is not detected, at operation S 39 , the DVD controller  123  checks whether a predetermined time has passed. For instance, the predetermined time is within the range of 5 seconds.  
         [0043]    If the menu selection signal is not input after the predetermined time has passed, the DVD controller  123  operates the DVD deck  121  to sequence the data recorded on the DVD, and to output a recording operation signal to the VCR controller  114 . Then, at operation S 41 , the VCR controller  114  operates the VCR deck  111  so as to record the data played by the DVD deck  121  on the magnetic tape. The DVD controller  123  drives the DVD deck  121  until all the data recorded on the DVD is played. At operation S 43 , the VCR controller  114  drives the VCR deck  111  until a play completion signal is input to the DVD controller  123 , so that the recording operation is performed.  
         [0044]    Furthermore, if the menu selection signal is input, then, at operation S 45 , data corresponding to the selected menu, among the data recorded on the DVD is played, and the played data is recorded on the magnetic tape. Because the play operation and the recording operation are equal to those of the operation S 41 , a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, the menu selection signal may be selected to successively copy one or more menus. Therefore, at operation S 47 , the play operation and the recording operation continue until it is determined that the recording operation is completed.  
         [0045]    As described above, after detecting the menu image start point, the play command is automatically output to the DVD deck  121  based on the a recording structure of the DVD data. That is, the DVD data has a menu image signal in a front section of the data. The menu image signal is displayed as a still image or dynamic image on the TV monitor until the external selection signal is applied. Accordingly, in a conventional combo system in which an automatic play command is not input, if the user is absent after inputting a copy command, a problem arose in that the menu image signal recorded on the DVD is only copied on the magnetic tape. However, in the present invention, even if the user is absent after inputting a copy command, a play command is automatically output from the DVD controller  123  to the DVD deck  121 , thereby preventing the menu image data from being repeatedly copied on the magnetic tape. Also, because the user can copy desired data, reliability of the device can be improved.  
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 2 in which the play operation is controlled by the DVD controller  123  while the recording operation is controlled by the VCR controller  114 , the play and recording operation may be controlled through one controller. Furthermore, as another embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the combo system, a protocol established between a player, such as the DVDP, and a recorder, such as the VCR, is set using a cable to perform communication, so that an automatic copy method between the player and the recorder is provided. That is, in a state where the protocol is set to mutually exchange the data and the control signals between the DVDP, to play the data recorded on the DVD, and the VCR, to record data on the magnetic tape, or to play the data recorded on the magnetic tape, a method for copying signals recorded on the DVD to the magnetic tape will be described below.  
         [0047]    Generally, the DVDP includes the components of the DVDP  120  shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the DVD controller  123  in the DVDP controls the entire operation of the DVDP and exchanging control signals and data with the VCR, the DVD deck  121  plays the data recorded on the DVD under the control of the DVD controller  123 , and the menu data detector  128  detects the menu image data included in the played signal.  
         [0048]    Also, a general VCR includes the components of the VCR  110  shown in FIG. 2,. Specifically, the VCR controller  114  in the VCR controls the entire operation of the VCR and exchanges control signals and data with the DVDP, and the VCR deck  111  plays the data recorded on the magnetic tape or records predetermined data on the magnetic tape under the control of the VCR controller  114 . The VCR further includes the display block  116  to externally display the status of the VCR such as operational, control, and setting modes, the panel  117  to input various commands from the user, and the remote controller sensor  118  to input the commands from the user through a remote controller  180 .  
         [0049]    Therefore, if it is intended to copy the data recorded on the DVD on the magnetic tape using the individual DVDP and the individual VCR, the DVDP plays the data recorded on the DVD and detects the menu image data from the played data. Then, the DVDP performs the playing operation and the VCR performs the recording operation. Thus, the data recorded on the DVD can be copied on the magnetic tape in the same manner as by implementing the automatic copy method of the combo system shown in FIG. 3. As described above, the combination system and the automatic copy method thereof, according to the present invention have the following advantage: if the data recorded on the DVD having the menu image data is copied onto the magnetic tape, an unnecessary copying operation, such as successive copying of the same image can be avoided and reliability in the operation of the combo system can be improved.  
         [0050]    While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.