Abstract:
A data bank apparatus and method for use in a video recording and reproducing system are disclosed. The apparatus includes scanning devices for scanning two recording media install to and drive a video recording medium and an additional data recording medium, and two servos for driving the two recording media. Accordingly, user-assigned information can be recorded on a proper position of the data recording medium by the data scanning devices and the data servos, or can be retrieved from the data recording medium to be displayed on a display unit.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/791,226, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,313 filed Nov. 13, 1991 and makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C §119 from an application entitled Data Bank Apparatus And Method Of A Video Recording And Reproducing System earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Nov. 20, 1990, and there duly assigned Serial No. 90-18773 by that Office. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a data bank apparatus and method for storing and reading out information needed by a user, in a video recording and reproducing system for recording video information on a recording medium and reproducing the recorded video information. 
     2. Background Art 
     General video recording and reproducing systems, include video cassette recorders and camcorders. These video recording and reproducing systems have a basic function of recording video information on a recording medium and reproducing the recorded video information, plus additional functions which increase convenience, for instance, a parental locking function, an automatic rewinding function, a programmable recording function, etc. 
     With the advance of civilization, a modern person writes and manages information in note books including birthdays of family members, phone numbers of relatives and acquaintances, schedules, housekeeping duties, and check lists for the management of raising children, etc. by recording notes in a notebook. A problem exist, however, in that the notes can be easily lost, since the notes are separately provided according to the frequency in use of the books. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data bank apparatus and the performing method thereof which can be added to a video recording and reproducing apparatus for storage and retrieval of information by a user. 
     To achieve the object of the present invention, a data bank apparatus is used in a video recording and reproducing system having a system controller for controlling and processing the system, a head drum including a first scanning device for recording information on a recording medium and reading out and reproducing the information, a first servo for driving the head drum and the recording medium under the control of the system controller, a video processor for processing the video signal to be recorded in the first scanning device to supply the processed video information, or for processing the video information read out by the first scanning device to generate a reproduced video signal, and a key input for transferring user-assigned instructions and information to the system controller, the data bank apparatus comprising: a second scanning device added onto the head drum for recording or reading out the information on or from a second recording medium; second servo means for driving the second scanning means added onto the head drum; a data processor for processing the digital data received from the system controller to be recorded on the second recording medium to supply it to the second scanning device, or processing the information read out by the second scanning device to supply the reproduced digital data to the system controller; a signal converting device for converting the display data processed in the system controller into a video signal form; and a mixer for mixing the display video signal generated in the video processor with the information signal generated in the signal converting device. To achieve the object of the present invention, a method performed in a data bank apparatus comprises the steps of: setting a data base mode when a data base is required and receiving user-assigned information until a record or reproduction request exists; recording the received information by finding out an information recording position when a record request exists in the information receiving step; and reproducing the information by finding out the data information on the received information when a reproduction request exists in the information receiving step. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a data bank apparatus according to the present invention for use in a video recording and reproducing system; and 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts of the method according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, first and second video heads  21  and  22  are mounted on a circumference 180° apart from each other, and first and second data heads  23  and  24  are provided beside first and second video heads  21  and  22  which are also 180′ apart from each other. 
     First and second capstans  30  and  31  are installed to the side of the circumference surface of head drum  20  and to be at symmetric positions with respect to head drum  20 , thereby constituting respective pairing with first and second pinch rollers  32  and  33 . First and second slanted posts  40  and  41  are movably installed near the circumference surface of head drum  20 , so that they may move in order for first record medium TM 1  to make contact around or be slightly separated from a circumference surface less than half the head drum&#39;s circumference surface. Third and fourth slanted posts  42  and  43  are likewise installed in symmetric opposition to the circumference surface of head drum  20  around which first recording medium TM 1  makes contact, so that they may move in order for second record medium TM 2  to make contact around or be slightly separated from the circumference surface. 
     First and second control heads  25  and  26  are respectively installed to make contact with first and second record media TM 1  and TM 2  which are disposed apart from the head drum  20  and also are respectively connected to the first and second servo control circuits  80  and  81 . The first and second servo control circuits  80  and  81  are each connected to a system controller  10 . Two selection contacts of a first control switch SW 1  are connected to first and second video heads  21  and  22 , respectively, while a reference contact of is SW 1  connected to a video processor  50  and its control terminal is connected to first servo control circuit  80 . Correspondingly, two selection contacts of a second control switch SW 2  are also connected to first and second data heads  23  and  24 , but a reference contact of SW 2  is connected to a data processor  51  and a control terminal of SW 2  is connected to second servo control circuit  81 . The video processor  50  is connected between the reference contact of first control switch SW 1  and a mixer  70 . The data processor  51  is connected between the reference contact of second control switch SW 2  and system controller  10 . The on screen display circuit  60  receives an input from system controller  10  and an output is connected to mixer  70  which provides an output to a display unit (not shown). A remote receiver  90  provides its output for system controller  10 . 
     In the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, remote receiver  90  receives an infrared (IR) signal sent from a remote transmitter, and supplies key data for a function and information assigned by a user to system controller  10 . 
     During recording, video processor  50  processes the video signal received through an external signal source ES to be recorded on a recording medium, and supplies the processed video signal to first and second video heads&#39;  21  and  22  through first control switch SW 1 . During reproducing, video processor  50  processes the video information received from first and second video heads  21  and  22  through first control switch SWI and supplies the reproduced video signal to mixer  70 . 
     Also during recording, data processor  51  converts the data received from system controller  10  into an analog signal to be recorded on the recording medium, and supplies the converted analog signal to first and second data heads  23  and  24  through second control switch SW 2 , and during reproducing, data processor  51  demodulates the analog signal received from first and second data heads  23  and  24  through second control switch SW 2 , and supplies the reproduced digital data to system controller  10 . Here, the modulating/demodulating methods may be amplitude-shift keying, frequency-shift keying, phase-shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation and demodulation, etc. 
     The on screen display circuit  60  converts the character data supplied from system controller  10  into a video signal and supplies the converted video signal to mixer  70 . Mixer  70  mixes the video signal supplied from the on screen display circuit  60  with the video signal received from the video processor  50  and supplies the mixed signal to a display unit or an external video recording and reproducing system. 
     The first control switch SW 1  selectively connects the video heads  21  and  22  for scanning first recording medium TM 1 , to video processor  50  by connecting a reference contact to one of two selection contacts according to a logic state of a first switching pulse supplied from first servo circuit  80 . Similarly, second control switch SW 2  selectively connects the data heads  23  and  24  for scanning second recording medium TM 2 , to data processor  51  by connecting a reference contact to one of two selection contacts according to a logic state of a second switching pulse supplied from second servo circuit  81 . 
     Under the control of system controller  10 , the first servo circuit  80  moves first and second slanted posts  40  and  41  up and down to contact or separate the first record medium TM 1  with the circumference surface of head drum  20 , while properly controlling rotating speeds of head drum  20  and first capstan  30  so that first and second video heads  21  and  22 , disposed on the circumference surface of head drum  20 , will alternatively scan slanted tracks of the first recording medium TM 1  during recording and reproducing. During recording, first servo circuit  80  records control information for a running speed of the first record medium TM 1  onto a control track through first control head  25 . During reproducing, first servo circuit  80  receives the control information read out from first recording medium TM 1  and properly controls the speeds of first capstan  30  and head drum  20 . 
     Also under control of system controller  10 , second servo circuit  81  moves third and fourth slanted posts  42  and  43  up and down to contact or separate the second recording medium TM 2  with the circumference surface of head drum  20 , while properly controlling the rotating speeds of head drum  20  and second capstan  31  so that first and second data heads  23  and  24  attached on the circumference surface of head drum  20 , will alternatively scan slanted tracks of the second recording medium TM 2  during reproducing and recording. Second servo circuit  81  controls the rotating speeds of second capstan  31  and head drum  20  when a drum driving signal which indicates driving of first recording medium TM 1 , has been received from first servo circuit  80 . Also, during recording, second servo circuit  81  records the control information for the running speed of second recording medium TM 2  onto a control track through second control head  26 . During reproducing, second servo circuit  81  receives the control information read out from the control track of second recording medium TM 2 , and properly maintains a relationship between the rotating speeds of second capstan  31  and head drum  20 . 
     The system controller  10  receives the user&#39;s commands via remote receiver  90  and, according to instructions, controls first and second servo circuits  80  and  81  and the peripheral circuitry. Also, system controller  10  receives the user&#39;s input information through remote receiver  90  to record it on second recording medium TM 2  through data processor  51  and first and second data heads  23  and  24 , or sends the information reproduced by first and second data heads  23  and  24  and data processor  51  through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  to be displayed on an external display unit. 
     In FIG. 1, first and second video heads  21  and  22  and first control switch SW 1  correspond to a first scanning device, while first and second data heads  23  and  24  and second control switch SW 2  correspond to a second scanning device. Further, first and second slanted posts  40  and  41 , first control head  25 , pinch roller  32 , first capstan  30 , and first servo circuit  80  correspond to a first servo device, while third and fourth slanted posts  42  and  43 , second control head  26 , second capstan  31 , pinch roller  33 , and second servo circuit  81  correspond to a second servo device. FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts of a method of the present invention performed by system controller  10  of the circuit shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In FIGS. 2A and 2B, steps  201  through  206  correspond to an information receiving process, steps  207  through  216  correspond to an information recording process, and steps  217  through  227  correspond to an information reproducing process. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B will be described in connection with the circuit shown in FIG.  1 . While running a main program, system controller  10  periodically reads the output of an internal key data input buffer and checks whether or not the key data corresponding to the instruction or information for controlling the user&#39;s assigned functions is received from remote receiver  90  in step  201 . When key data is present in step  201 , system controller  10  checks whether a data bank operation mode flag assigned in an internal register is set, and determines whether a data bank is operating in step  202 . 
     When the data bank operation mode flag is not set in step  202 , system controller  10  checks the logic value of the received key data to determine whether it requires the data bank to be operating in step  203 . 
     When the received key data is a logic value for a key requiring data bank operation in step  203 , then system controller  10  sets the data bank operation mode flag assigned in a register to set the mode to data bank operation mode, and reads out the input information message from an internal program memory and display the message on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  in step  204 . 
     If the data bank operation mode flag was set in step  202 , system controller  10  checks a logic value of the received key data to determine whether it is for a function key in step  205 . 
     When a logic value of the received key data does not correspond to a function key in step  205 , system controller  10  determines an information key has been received, stores the data for the received information key in an internal working memory, and displays the data corresponding to the information key on a display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  in step  206 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data is for a function key in step  205 , system controller  10  checks whether the logic value of the received key data corresponds to a record key in step  207 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data is for a record key in step  207 , system controller  10  checks whether the data bank reproduction mode flag assigned in the internal register is set to determine whether the data bank is currently being reproduced in step  208 . 
     If the system is not in the data bank reproduction mode in step  208 , system controller  10  reads out the recording display message from the internal program memory, and displays it on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70 . Also, system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to load second recording medium TM 2  so that a first portion among intervals recorded with a file index on second recording medium TM 2  is scanned by data heads  23  and  24 , then, the system controller  10  rewinds the tape. While system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to again reproduce second recording medium TM 2 , the system controller  81  receives the file index reproduced through data heads  23  and  24 , second control switch SW 2 , and data processor  51  in the step  209 . When the file index of second record medium TM 2  is reproduced, second servo circuit  81  senses a rotating speed of head drum  20  to control a rotating speed of second capstan  31  according to the sensed rotating speed of head drum  20 . Second servo circuit  81  controls a switching speed of second control switch SW 2  in order to connect the data head  23  and  24  which is in contact with second record medium TM 2 , to data processor  51 . Further, second servo circuit  81  moves third and fourth slanted posts  42  and  43  upward to connect or load second recording medium TM 2  to a circumference surface of head drum  20 . 
     After carrying out step  209 , system controller  10  checks whether a file name has been assigned in the file index for the information to be recorded and stored in the internal working memory exists in the file index in step  210 . 
     When the assigned file name does exist in the file index in step  210 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81 , making it run second recording medium TM 2  at a high speed until a record position value read out from second recording medium TM 2  by second control head  26  and received through second servo circuit  81 , equals that of the first portion of the file recorded with the file name in the file index in step  21   1 . After reaching the starting position of the portion where the corresponding file is recorded, system controller  10  performs a high speed search until reception of the data reproduced from data heads  23  and  24  through second control switch SW 2  and data processor  51  is interrupted, and controls the second servo circuit  81  to stop the second record medium TM 2  when the reproduced data is complete in step  211 . 
     When the file name for recording the information stored in the working memory does not exist in the file index in step  210 , system controller  10  sets the starting position for recording the information stored in the working memory as recording position information which is larger by a predetermined value than the recording position information corresponding to an end portion recorded with a last file, and supplies the recording position information set for a new file together with the new file name stored in the working memory, to data heads  23  and  24  through data processor  51  and second control switch SW 2 . Also at the same time, system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to drive head drum  20 , second capstan  31  and second control switch SW 2 , so that second recording medium TM 2  is scanned in a normal reproduction mode by data heads  23  and  24  in step  212 . 
     After performing step  212 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to run second recording medium TM 2  at a high speed until the recording position information for the set recording position value for recording new information is received from second control head  26  through second servo circuit  81 , and then to stop the second recording medium TM 2  in step  213 . After performing step  211  or  213 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to drive second capstan  31 , head drum  20  and second control switch SW 2 , so that second recording medium TM 2  is scanned in a normal record mode by data heads  23  and  24 , and sequentially supplies the information to be recorded and being stored in the working memory to data heads  23  and  24  through data processor  51  and second control switch SW 2  and records the information on second recording medium TM 2  in step  214 . 
     If the system is in the data bank reproduction mode in step  208 , system controller  10  supplies the information stored in the working memory to data heads  23  and  24  through data processor  51  and second control switch SW 2  and records the corrected information onto the reproducing position of second recording medium TM 2  which is currently being reproduced in step  215 . 
     After performing step  214  or  215 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to stop head drum  20 , second capstan  31 , and second control switch SW 2 , thereby stopping second recording medium TM 2 , and moving third and fourth slanted posts  42  and  43  downward. Then, system controller  10  reads out the internally-stored record completion display message and displays it on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  in step  216 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data is different from that of the record key in step  207 , system controller  10  sets the reproduction mode flag assigned in its register to set the mode to a data bank reproduction mode, reads out the searching display message stored in the internal program memory to display it on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70 . Further, system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to make the second recording medium TM 2  contact the circumference surface of head drum  20 , so that the scanning is sequentially performed by data heads  23  and  24  from the first portion among the portions where the file index in second recording medium TM 2  is recorded, and then drives head drum  20 , second capstan  31  and second control switch SW 2 , so that second recording medium TM 2  is reproduced. At this time, system controller  10  receives the file index reproduced from data heads  23  and  24  through second control switch SW 2  and data processor  51  in step  218 . 
     After performing step  218 , system controller  10  checks whether the user-assigned file name stored in the internal working memory exists in the reproduced file index in step  219 . 
     When the user-assigned file name exists in the reproduced file index in step  219 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to run second recording medium TM 2  at a high speed until the recording position value read out from second recording medium TM 2  by second control head  31  and received through second servo circuit  81 , equals the recording position value of the record starting position of the file to be reproduced and being recorded together with the file name in the file index, and controls second servo circuit  81  to stop second recording medium TM 2  for supplying reproduced record starting position value equal to the record starting position value of the file to be reproduced in step  220 . 
     After performing step  220 , system controller  10  controls second servo circuit  81  to drive head drum  20 , second capstan  31  and second control switch SW 2  so that second recording medium TM 2  runs in a normal mode until the data corresponding to one picture screen is reproduced. System controller  10  stores the reproduced information received through second control switch SW 2  and data processor  51  from data heads  23  and  24  in its internal working memory and, for every frame, displays the stored reproduced information on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  in step  221 . 
     If the logic value of the received key data is different from that of the reproduction key in step  217 , system controller  10  checks whether the value equals that of the shift key for reproducing a next frame, in step  222 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data equals that of the shift key in step  222 , system controller  10  checks whether the data bank reproduction mode flag assigned in a register is set in step  223 . 
     When the data bank reproduction mode flag is set in step  223 , system controller  10  reproduces the information corresponding to the next one picture screen and stores it in the internal working memory, and for every frame, supplies the information stored therein to the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  to be displayed in step  224 . 
     When the user-assigned file name does not exist in the file index in step  219  or the DB reproduction mode flag is not set in step  223 , system controller  10  reads out the error display message stored in the internal program memory and displays it on the external display unit through on screen display circuit  60  and mixer  70  in step  225 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data does not equal that of the shift key in step  222 , system controller  10  checks whether the logic value corresponds to the data bank operation stop key in step  226 . 
     When the logic value of the received key data equals that of the DB operation stop key in step  226 , system controller  10  resets the data bank operation mode flag assigned in the internal register to release the data bank operation mode, and initializes the data bank operation mode flag and other information for data bank operation in step  227 . 
     As described above, the data bank apparatus according to the present invention has advantages in that the second recording medium for data bank is provided with a recording medium driving means, so that the first and second recording media are driven by the recording medium driving means, and when the data bank is required, the information recorded on the second recording medium is reproduced and displayed together with video information according to a predetermined program, thereby enabling the second recording medium to have a data bank function.