Patent Abstract:
A hard disk recording apparatus including: a receiving unit for receiving programs; a reservation data receiving unit for accepting input of reservation recording data including reservation recording starting time; a reservation data storing unit for storing the reservation recording data; a recording unit for recording the programs on a hard disk based on the reservation recording data, and having a self-diagnosis function for detecting the presence or absence of abnormalities of the hard disk; and a control unit for executing the self-diagnosis if the main body is in the standby state and there is a spare time a spare time more than a time required for the self-diagnosis by a next reservation recording starting time, and not executing the self-diagnosis if the main body is not in the standby state or there is not a spare time more than a time required for the self-diagnosis.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to failure prevention of a hard disk recording apparatus for storing and reproducing content data. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, an information processing apparatus, such as a personal computer, is provided with a hard disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as a HDD), which is a magnetic storage device serving as a data storage device. The HDD is precision equipment for recording information on a compact disk in a high-density state while rotating the compact disk at a high speed, and also often fails by vibration or impulsion. If the HDD fails, all recorded information cannot be read. Also, when data recorded in the HDD is not backed up, all information is lost, thereby causing a problem. 
   Therefore, generally, a HDD has been proposed, in which it executes the self-diagnosis on the basis of SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) information which is condition managing information of the HDD such as the number of damaged sectors, sector numbers of the damaged sector, sector numbers of alternative sectors, a read error ratio, an ON/OFF frequency of a power supply or the like, and has the SMART function for detecting expectable interferences. 
   When there are abnormalities in SMART information, the HDD having the SMART function outputs SMART errors. Since the SMART errors are outputted when there is a possibility that interferences occur in the HDD, the HDD normally operates at this time. For this reason, when the SMART error is generated, it is possible to prevent the data from being lost by backing up necessary data and replacing the HDD. Therefore, it is possible to protect the data. 
   In addition, generally, in order to monitor a magnetic storage device of a slave station installed at a remote location, there is provided a condition managing system of a magnetic storage device in which a master station can monitor detailed operating conditions of the magnetic storage device in a slave station by collecting self-analysis information (SMART information) of the slave station and take prevention measures before abnormalities occur in the magnetic storage device (For example, see JP-A-2003-233511). 
   A hard disk recorder (HDD video recorder), and a hard disk recorder complex machine having a record-typed DVD drive or a video tape recorder have come into wide use as household appliances having a HDD. 
   These appliances only display error messages when abnormalities are generated on the HDDs during use, and they don&#39;t have effective self-diagnosis functions. For this reason, users cannot understand conditions of the appliances until the messages are displayed. Since the appliances are not operated due to the sudden failure of the HDDs, it is not possible to notify the user of the possibilities that interferences occur in advance, and they have disadvantages. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hard disk recording apparatus capable of managing conditions of a HDD and detecting the failure in advance. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hard disk recording apparatus including: a receiving unit for receiving programs on the air; a reservation data receiving unit for accepting input of reservation recording data including a reservation recording starting time; a reservation data storing unit for storing the reservation recording data received by the reservation data receiving unit; a recording unit for recording the programs received by the receiving unit on a hard disk on the basis of the reservation recording data stored by the reservation data storing unit, and having a self-diagnosis function for detecting the presence or absence of abnormalities of the hard disk; and a control unit for executing the self-diagnosis in the recording unit if the main body is in the standby state and there is a spare time more than a time required for the self-diagnosis by a next reservation recording starting time, when the current time timed by a timer built in the main body becomes the self-diagnosis starting time, and not executing the self-diagnosis in the recording unit if the main body is not in the standby state or there is not a spare time more than a time required for the self-diagnosis by the next reservation recording starting time. 
   In this construction, when the current time timed by a timer built in the main body becomes the self-diagnosis starting time, a hard disk recording apparatus executes the self-diagnosis in the recording unit if the main body is in the standby state and there is a spare time more than a time taken for the self-diagnosis by the next reservation recording starting time, and doesn&#39;t execute the self-diagnosis in the recording unit if the main body is not in the standby state or there is not a spare time more than a time taken for the self-diagnosis by the next reservation recording starting time. Therefore, when there is not a spare time more than the time taken for the self-diagnosis of the hard disk, the reservation recording is performed without executing the self-diagnosis, so that it is possible to execute the recording without causing problems. In addition, when there is a spare time required for the self-diagnosis of the hard disk, the self-diagnosis is surely executed, so that it is possible to understand whether the abnormalities occur on the had disk. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention, the hard disk recording apparatus further includes a standby state setting unit for setting and canceling the standby state of the main body. Also, when canceling the standby state of the main body during the self-diagnosis of the recording unit, the control unit stops the self-diagnosis. 
   In this construction, if the standby state of the main body is cancelled during the self-diagnosis of the recording unit, the self-diagnosis of the hard disk is stopped, so that users can immediately use the hard disk recording apparatus in the case of use. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention, the hard disk recording apparatus further includes a standby time storing unit for storing data of a period of time for which the main body is in the standby state by an amount of data corresponding to a predetermined period, and the control unit sets the self-diagnosis starting time on the basis of the data stored by the standby time storing unit. 
   In this construction, the hard disk recording apparatus sets the self-diagnosis starting time on the basis of the data corresponding to a predetermined period in a period of time for which the main body is in the standby state, stored by the standby time storing unit. Therefore, users can set executing the self-diagnosis of the hard disk in the period of time in which users doesn&#39;t use the hard disk recording apparatus, and use the hard disk recording apparatus without paying attention to executing the self-diagnosis of the hard disk. 
   According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the control unit stops the self-diagnosis if the standby state of the main body is cancelled during the self-diagnosis of the recording unit, and resets the self-diagnosis starting time on the basis of the data stored by the standby time storing unit. 
   In this construction, if the standby state is cancelled during the self-diagnosis of the recording unit, the control unit resets the self-diagnosis starting time on the basis of the data stored by the standby time storing unit. Therefore, users can use the hard disk recording apparatus without paying attention to executing the self-diagnosis of the hard disk. 
   According to the hard disk recording apparatus of the present invention, since the user understands a condition of the HDD by executing the self-diagnosis of the HDD on a regular interval, it is possible to notify the user of the possibilities that interferences occur in advance and take prevention measures before the failure of the HDD. Furthermore, since the hard disk recording apparatus according to the present invention can select the time when users doesn&#39;t use the apparatus to set executing the self-diagnosis, the hard disk recording apparatus can automatically execute the self-diagnosis without setting the self-diagnosis of the hard disk recording apparatus by users. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of an optical disk recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a process at the time of self-diagnosis of the optical disk recording apparatus. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of an optical disk recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A hard disk recorder  1 , which is a hard disk recording apparatus having a built-in DVD drive, includes a DVD record reproducing unit  11 , a HDD (hard disk drive)  12 , a tuner  14  connected to an antenna  13 , a data processing unit  15 , an input terminal  16 , output terminals  17  and  18 , a control unit  19 , a storage unit  20 , a display unit  21 , and an operating unit  22 . The DVD record reproducing unit  11  includes an optical pickup element having a laser element, an actuator, a servo circuit, and the like, which are not shown. The DVD record reproducing unit  11  records data on a writable DVD  10  called DVD-R or DVD-RW, and reads the data recorded on the regenerating or writable DVD  10 . The HDD  12  stores a television program received by the tuner  14 , and video data and audio data which is the content outputted from other video output devices through the input terminal  16 . 
   The tuner  14  receives broadcasting of a channel selected by the operating unit  22  through the antenna  13 , and outputs video and audio data of the currently broadcasted program to the data processing unit  15 . 
   The data processing unit  15  outputs content data including the video and audio data transmitted from the tuner  14  or the input terminal  16  to the HDD  12 . In addition, the data processing unit  15  outputs content data outputted from the DVD record reproducing unit  11  and content data read from the HDD  12  to the DVD record reproducing unit  11  or the output terminals  17  and  18 . The input terminal  16  is a terminal which is connected to another video output device and which inputs the video data and audio data of the content outputted from another video output device to the data processing unit  15 .  FIG. 1  shows an example in which a video deck  3  is connected to the input terminal  16 . 
   The output terminal  17  is a terminal for outputting the image data and the audio data outputted from the data processing unit  15  to a monitor  2  having one end connected to the output terminal  17 . 
   The output terminal  18  is a terminal for outputting the image data and the audio data outputted from the data processing unit  15  to the video recording device having one end connected to the output terminal  18 .  FIG. 1  shows an example in which a hard disk recorder  4  is connected to the input terminal  16 . 
   The control unit  19  controls each unit of the hard disk recorder  1 . Further, the control unit  19  has a timer  23  for timing current date and time, a day of the week, and time. 
   The storage unit  20  stores a program or the like to be executed in the firmware and the hard disk recorder  1 . The display unit  21  displays messages to be transmitted to a user using letters or images. The operating unit  22  accepts the operations such as, setting of the program to be stored on the HDD  12 , setting at the time of recording the data to the DVD-R  10  from the HDD  12 , setting of the channel to be received at the tuner  14  or the like, and outputs the signals according to the operation to the control unit  19 . 
   Next, a normal function of the hard disk recorder  1  will be described. The hard disk recorder  1  can store the data, which includes a television program received at the tuner  14  and a content outputted from the video reproducing device connected to the input terminal  16 , on the HDD  12 . In addition, the hard disk recorder  1  can record the data of the content, such as a television program stored on the HDD  12 , on the writable DVD  10 . Furthermore, the hard disk recorder  1  can display the content such as a television program stored on the HDD  12 , the content recorded on the writable DVD  10 , and the content such as the television program received at the tuner  14 , on the monitor  17  connected to the output terminal  17 . In addition, the hard disk recorder  1  can execute the reservation recording of the program on the basis of EPG received at the tuner  14 . 
   Next, a self-diagnosis function of the HDD  12  of the hard disk recorder  1  will be described. The hard disk recorder  1  has a function for executing the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  on a regular interval. 
   Here, the HDD  12  may be a HDD having the self-diagnosis function, and may be, for example, an HDD having an SMART function. In addition, in this case, the HDD  12  may be set such that it executes an “SMART execute Offline immediate” command as a self-diagnosis command. When executing the self-diagnosis according to “the SMART execute Offline immediate” command, the HDD  12  checks up the entire region of the disk. For this reason, the checking time required for performing the self-diagnosis is different depending on the capacity of the disk. For example, it takes about fifty minutes to check up the entire region of an HDD having the capacity of 80 gigabytes. 
   The hard disk recorder  1  may be set such that it automatically determinates when is a time the user desires or when is the time the frequency of user&#39;s use is the least and executes the self-diagnosis on a regular interval. When the hard disk recorder  1  is set to execute the self-diagnosis on a regular interval at the time when the user desires, the user may operate the operating unit  22  to input the desired time and a self-diagnosis executing cycle. In this way, the hard disk recorder  1  executes the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  on a regular interval. In the hard disk recorder  1 , it is possible to set any period as the self-diagnosis executing cycle. However, for example, when the usage frequency of the hard disk recorder  1  is high, that is, the hard disk recorder  1  is used every day, it may be set to execute the self-diagnosis every one or two weeks. In addition, when the usage frequency of the hard disk recorder  1  is low, that is, the hard disk recorder  1  is used once or twice a week, it may be set to execute the self-diagnosis every one or two months. In this way, it is possible to notify the user of whether there is a possibility in which a failure occurs at the HDD  12  in accordance with the frequency of use of the hard disk recorder  1 . 
   Further, the hard disk recorder  1  has a function for counting data for the user&#39;s usage, and records the time when the user executes the reservation recording, and the period of time for which the HDD  12  or the DVD record reproducing unit  11  is used. When the user doesn&#39;t set the self-diagnosis starting time, the hard disk recorder  1  has an automatic setting function to execute the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  on a regular interval during the period of time for which the frequency of user&#39;s usage is the least on the basis of counted data for the user&#39;s usage. 
   When the user doesn&#39;t set the self-diagnosis starting time, first the hard disk recorder  1  counts the data for the user&#39;s usage for one week from the beginning of the usage, and sets executing the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  every week at the time for which the frequency of user&#39;s usage is the least on the basis of counted data for the user&#39;s usage. In addition, the hard disk recorder  1  additionally counts the data for the user&#39;s use, and sets the self-diagnosis executing cycle and time on the basis of the data for the user&#39;s usage for one month from the beginning of the use. For example, when the usage frequency of the hard disk recorder  1  is high, for example, the hard disk recorder  1  is used every day, it is set to execute the self-diagnosis every week Also, the hard disk recorder  1  is set to execute the self-diagnosis at the period of time for which the user doesn&#39;t use the hard disk recorder  1 , such as the period of time for which the user executes the reservation recording of the program, the period of time for which the program recorded on the HDD  12  is reproduced, and the period of time for which the program is recorded or reproduced on the DVD. 
   Moreover, the hard disk recorder  1  continuously counts the data for the user&#39;s usage and conducts a review of the self-diagnosis executing cycle and time on a regular interval (for example, every month). Accordingly, the hard disk recorder  1  is set to execute the self-diagnosis at a day of week and the period of time for the frequency of use is the least. 
   The hard disk recorder  1  is set to become automatically a standby state when the self-diagnosis is finished. When the abnormality is not detected by the self-diagnosis (a normal case), the hard disk recorder  1  stores the result of the self-diagnosis together with information related to the checking date and time on the storage unit  20 , and enters into the standby state. Meanwhile, when the abnormality is detected by the self-diagnosis, the hard disk recorder  1  enters into the standby state in a state in which the result of the self-diagnosis is stored on the storage unit  20  together with the information related to the checking date and time, similar to a normal case. When a power switch of the operating unit  22  is operated, the control unit  19  displays the result of the self-diagnosis on the display unit  21  and allows the result of the self-diagnosis to be displayed on the monitor  2  by outputting the signal to the output terminal  17  from the data processing unit  15 . In this step, since the HDD  12  is normally operated even if there is a possibility in which a failure occurs on the HDD  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the backup of the HDD  12  is executed by connecting an input terminal of the hard disk recorder  4  to the output terminal  18 . As a result, it can be prevented in advance that having access to the data recorded on the HDD  12  is not possible due to the failure of the HDD  12 . 
   Even though the hard disk recorder  1  executes the self-diagnosis at the time when the user desires or the period of time for which the frequency of use is the least as described above, the time when the user reserves the recording of the program and the time when the self-diagnosis is executed can overlap each other. Further, the period of time for which the hard disk recorder  1  executes the self-diagnosis and the period of time for which the user uses the hard disk recorder  1  can overlap each other. In this case, the control unit  19  of the hard disk recorder  1  stops executing the self-diagnosis and changes the self-diagnosis executing time to another time just before the self-diagnosis is executed or during the self-diagnosis. 
   In a case in which the self-diagnosis executing time period is changed, when the user sets the reservation time or operates the power switch of the operating unit  22 , the control unit  19  displays display for urging setting the self-diagnosis executing time on the display unit  21  and the monitor  2  by the outputting the signal to the output terminal  17  from the display unit  21  and the data processing unit  15 . If the new self-diagnosis executing time is set by operating the operating unit  22 , the control unit  19  executes the self-diagnosis in the new self-diagnosis executing time period. 
   Furthermore, in a case in which the recording is reserved or the power switch is operated for the self-diagnosis executing time period, if being set previously such that the self-diagnosis executing time period is automatically set again, the control unit  19  sets the self-diagnosis executing time again on the basis of the counted data for the user&#39;s usage. That is, if the reservation recording is executed, the control unit  19  confirms the self-diagnosis executing time period. In this case, when the reservation recording time and the self-diagnosis executing time period overlap each other, the control unit  19  selects a day of the week and the time period the closest to the self-diagnosis executing time period for which the frequency of user&#39;s use is the least on the basis of the counted data for the user&#39;s usage, and then the control unit  19  sets executing the self-diagnosis in the selected time period. In this way, it is possible to early detect the abnormality of the HDD  12  even if the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  is suspended. 
   Since the hard disk recorder  1  has the above-mentioned functions, it is possible to execute the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  in the time desired by the user. In addition, when the user doesn&#39;t set the self-diagnosis executing time, the hard disk recorder  1  executes the time setting to execute the self-diagnosis in the period of time for which the frequency of user&#39;s use is the least by counting the data for the user&#39;s usage. Therefore, even if the user forgets executing the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12 , it is possible to execute the self-diagnosis. 
   Further, when the reservation recording time overlaps the self-diagnosis executing time period and a power is applied in the self-diagnosis executing time period, the hard disk recorder  1  changes the self-diagnosis executing time period. Therefore, the user can freely use the hard disk recorder  1  without paying attention to the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12 . 
   Next, a process at the time of the self-diagnosis of the hard disk recorder  1  will be described with reference to a flow chart.  FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating the process at the time of the self-diagnosis of the optical disk recording apparatus. 
   In the hard disk recorder  1 , the self-diagnosis starting time is set by a user in advance or is automatically set on the basis of the data for the user&#39;s usage. Furthermore, the self-diagnosis executing time of the HDD  12  is set as fifty minutes. 
   When becoming the self-diagnosis starting time (s 1 ), first, the control unit  19  of the hard disk recorder  1  confirms the state of the main body. In other words, the control unit  19  confirms&#39;whether it is the standby state or not (s 2 ), and whether there is a spare time more than fifty minutes by the reservation recording starting time (s 3 ). In addition, when the control unit  19  is not in the standby state and when there is not a spare time more than fifty minutes by the reservation recording starting time, the control unit  19  stops the self-diagnosis (s 11 ) and automatically resets the self-diagnosis starting time on the basis of the data for the user&#39;s usage (s 12 ). Then, the self-diagnosis is finished. 
   Meanwhile, when the main body is in the standby state and when there is a spare time more than fifty minutes by the reservation recording starting time, the control unit  19  allows the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  to be started (s 4 ). 
   When it is detected that the power switch of the operation unit  22  is operated during the self-diagnosis (s 5 ), the control unit  19  executes processes subsequent to a step s 11 . In addition, when the power switch of the operation unit  22  is not operated during the self-diagnosis, the control unit  19  performs the process continuously by the check (self-diagnosis) for the entire region of the HDD  12  is finished (s 4  to s 6 ). 
   If the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  is finished, in a case in which the abnormality is not detected during the self-diagnosis (normal case), the control unit  19  stores the result of the self-diagnosis together with the information related to the checking date and time on the storage unit  20  and enters into the standby state (s 8 ), and then the process is finished. Meanwhile, when the abnormality is detected during the self-diagnosis in the step s 19 , the control unit  19  stores the result of the self-diagnosis together with the information related to the checking date and time on the storage unit  20 , similar to the normal case. Further, when the power switch of the operation unit  22  is activated by the operation, the control unit  19  allows the result of the self-diagnosis to be displayed on the display unit  21  and sets displaying the result of the self-diagnosis on the monitor  2  by outputting the signal to the output terminal  17  from the data processing unit  15 . Then, the control unit  19  enters into the standby state (s 9 ) and the process is finished. 
   As described above, the hard disk recorder  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention can execute the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12  at the time desired by the user. Furthermore, when the user doesn&#39;t set the self-diagnosis starting time, the hard disk recorder  1  sets the time so as to execute the self-diagnosis at the time when which the frequency of user&#39;s use is the least by counting the data for the user&#39;s usage. Therefore, even if the user forgets executing the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12 , it is possible to execute the self-diagnosis. Additionally, when the reservation recording time overlaps the self-diagnosis executing time period and a power is applied in the self-diagnosis executing time period, the hard disk recorder  1  changes the self-diagnosis executing time period. Therefore, the user can freely use the hard disk recorder  1  without paying attention to the self-diagnosis of the HDD  12 . 
   [ FIG. 1 ] 
     1 : HARD DISK RECORDER 
     2 : MONITOR 
     3 : VIDEO DECK 
     4 : HARD DISK RECORDER 
     11 : DVD RECORD REPRODUCING UNIT 
     12 : HDD 
     14 : TUNER 
     15 : DATA PROCESSING UNIT 
     19 : CONTROL UNIT 
     20 : STORAGE UNIT 
     21 : DISPLAY UNIT 
     22 : OPERATING UNIT 
     23 : TIMER 
   [ FIG. 2 ] 
   S 1 : SELF-DIAGNOSIS STARTING TIME 
   S 2 : STANDBY STATE? 
   S 3 : IS THERE SPARE TIME MORE THAN FIFTY MINUTES BY RESERVATION RECORDING STARTING TIME 
   S 4 : EXECUTE SELF-DIAGNOSIS OF HDD 
   S 5 : IS POWER SWITCH OPERATED? 
   S 6 : IS SELF-DIAGNOSIS FINISHED? 
   S 7 : IS THERE ABNORMALITY ON HDD 
   S 8 : RECORD RESULT OF SELF-DIAGNOSIS ON STORAGE UNIT 
   S 9 : SET NOTIFYING WHETHER THERE IS ABNORMALITY OR NOT AT THE TIME OF NEXT POWER SWITCH OPERATION 
   S 11 : STOP SELF-DIAGNOSIS 
   S 12 : RESET SELF-DIAGNOSIS TIME

Technology Classification (CPC): 7