Abstract:
A video recording apparatus and a reservation recording method of the same perform reservation recording on a plurality of programs by using an unbiased/just recording method. The video recording apparatus to record broadcast programs on a recording medium includes a detecting unit to detect a remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium; and a control unit to calculate a total recording time of reserved broadcast programs to be recorded, comparing the total recording time with the detected remaining time, and controlling a recording speed of a predetermined recording mode to perform the recording when the total recording time is greater than the remaining time. Accordingly, the plurality of reserved programs may be recorded by the unbiased/just recording method even when the plurality of programs are reserved to be recorded in the video recording apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2004-42183, filed on Jun. 9, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a video recording apparatus and a reservation recording method, and in particular, to a video recording apparatus for recording reserved programs using an unbiased/just recording method, and a reservation recording method for the same.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     The video recording apparatus receives video signals from video signal sources, processes the video signals, stores them in a storage device, reproduces the video signals recorded in the storage device to allow users to watch them, and outputs them to an external display, typically, a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)-Recorder, and/or a VCR-DVD may be employed for the video recording apparatus.  
         [0006]     Examples of the video signal source may include other media capable of transporting signals, such as a ground wave television broadcast and a satellite broadcast, a lead-in cable, a computer line, and a modem line.  
         [0007]     The just (unbiased) recording method performs recording by varying its recording speed in consideration of a recording time for a reserved program to be recorded and a time with respect to a recordable capacity of a recording medium in a reservation-recording mode of the video recording apparatus.  
         [0008]     Thus, when the recording time for the reserved program to be recorded is greater than the remaining time of the recording medium in the video recording apparatus, all of the reserved program cannot be recorded at a standard speed. Accordingly, the video recording apparatus should adjust the recording speed in consideration of the remaining time of the recording medium to record the entire reserved program. When the just recording is set to ON, the video recording apparatus automatically converts the recording mode to adjust the recording speed based on the remaining time of the recoding medium.  
         [0009]     Such a conventional method, however, works only on a one program basis.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, when the just recording is carried out so as to record a plurality of reserved programs, the video recording apparatus cannot determine whether the first one program should be recorded, or one program should be recorded and the recording medium should be exchanged with another one, or all programs should be recorded on one recording medium, which may lead the video recording apparatus not to record all of the reserved programs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is therefore one aspect of the present invention to provide a video recording apparatus and a reservation recording method for the same, which records a plurality of reserved programs by allowing users to select that the video recording apparatus performs the unbiased/just recording on only one program, and the recording medium is switched to another recording medium to record the remaining programs, or that the video recording apparatus performs the unbiased/just recording on all of the reserved programs and records all programs on one recording medium when the plurality of reserved programs are set to be recorded.  
         [0012]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a video recording apparatus records broadcast programs on a recording medium, wherein the recording apparatus comprises a remaining time detecting unit to detect a remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium; and a control unit to calculate a total recording time of reserved broadcast programs to be recorded, to compare the total recording time with the detected remaining time, and to control a recording speed of a predetermined recording mode to perform the recording when the total recording time is bigger than the remaining time.  
         [0013]     Generally, the control units automatically change the recording mode of the video recording apparatus to a mode having a recording speed capable of recording one program within the remaining time when the one program among the reserved broadcast programs to be recorded within the remaining time is selected when the total recording time is bigger than the remaining time.  
         [0014]     Furthermore, typically the control units automatically change the recording mode of the video recording apparatus to a mode having a recording speed capable of recording all of the reserved broadcast programs when the total recording time is greater than the remaining time.  
         [0015]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a reservation recording method for a video recording apparatus comprises calculating a total recording time of reserved broadcast programs to be recorded and a remaining time of a recording medium; comparing the total recording time with the remaining time; changing to a predetermined recording speed of a recording mode when the total recording time is greater than the remaining time; and performing the recording at the changed recording speed.  
         [0016]     In addition, generally the changing the recording speed includes selecting one program among the broadcast programs to be recorded within the remaining time; and automatically changing the recording mode of the video recording apparatus to a mode having a recording speed capable of recording the one program within the remaining time.  
         [0017]     Furthermore, typically the changing the recording speed includes calculating a shortage time by subtracting the remaining time of the recording medium from the total recording time of the broadcast programs, and calculating the recording speed capable of recording all of the broadcast programs within the remaining time of the recording medium based on the shortage time and the total recording time.  
         [0018]     Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a display system applied to a video recording apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the video recording apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating operations of a reservation recording method for a video recording apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
         [0024]     The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are only provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention may be carried out without such defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since to do so would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a display system applied to a video recording apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a video recording apparatus  10  is connected to a transport cable and a television  30  as a display. The video recording apparatus  10  processes received signals and transports display information to the television  30 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the video recording apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the video recording apparatus  10  comprises a tuner  100 , a signal processing unit  110 , a deck unit  120 , a timer  130 , a control unit  140 , a storage unit  150 , a key input unit  160 , a display unit  170 , and a remaining time detection unit  180 .  
         [0027]     The tuner  100  adjusts receiving channels to allow external broadcast signals of the corresponding channels that the control unit  140  requests to be received. The signal processing unit  110  converts the received broadcast signals into signals to be recorded on a recording medium of the deck unit  120 . The deck unit  120  controls operations of the deck mechanism to write, reproduce, or record the converted signals on the recording medium under control signals of the control unit  140 . The timer  130  checks the current time to display it on the display unit  170 .  
         [0028]     The storage unit  150  stores various programs and data associated with performing functions of the control unit  140 . In addition, a program that processes a menu list screen, including a program list in which reservation recordings are set, reservation information, and functions to record stored programs which are data supplied through the key input unit  160 , is stored in the storage unit  150 .  
         [0029]     The key input unit  160  includes various keys, and selection and operation control signals of various functions of the video recording apparatus  10  are input through the key input unit  160  by a user. Specifically, the user inputs reservation information including broadcast channel numbers for reserved programs to be recorded, a recording start time and date, and a recording end time and date through the key input unit  160 . The user selects a desired menu in the menu list screen displayed on the display using the key input unit  160 , which outputs the selected menu to the control unit  140 .  
         [0030]     In this case, the key input unit  160  may include not only an external input device to transport wireless signals such as infrared signals, but also other input devices such as a wired keyboard.  
         [0031]     The display unit  170  displays a current time, a state of the video recording apparatus  10 , a reservation information, a remaining time of the recording medium, states of reproduction and recording in progress, and the like.  
         [0032]     The remaining time detection unit  180  detects the remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium on which reservation recording is performed.  
         [0033]     The control unit  140  controls operations of the above-mentioned devices to control general operations of the video recording apparatus  10  under the control program stored in the storage unit  150 .  
         [0034]     More particularly, the control unit  140  has the reserved information displayed on the display unit  170  and has it stored in the storage unit  150 . When the setting is completed, the controls  140  calculates the total recording time of the reserved programs to be recorded, and detects the remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium. The control unit  140  compares the detected total recording time with the remaining time. When the total recording time is greater than the remaining time, the control unit  140  has the menu list displayed to have the unbiased/just recording selected.  
         [0035]     When the selection signal of the menu list is input by the user through the key input unit  160 , the control unit  140  processes the menu list screen to be displayed on the display and calculates the recording speed suitable for the shortage time based on the unbiased/just recording method selected by the key input unit  160 .  
         [0036]     The control unit  140  retrieves the recording mode corresponding to the calculated recording speed and converts it into a mode corresponding to a standard mode. The control unit  140  then drives the timer  130  to compare the current time with the recording start time. When it reaches the recording time, the control unit  140  reads in the broadcast channel numbers of reserved programs to be recorded from the storage unit  150  and controls the tuner  100  to receive them. The control unit  140  controls the deck unit  120  to allow the received broadcast signals to be recorded in the converted recording mode.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a reservation recording method for a video recording apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user sets the reservation information (S 200 ). Examples of the set reservation information include broadcast station channel numbers of programs to be recorded, a recording start time and date, a recording end time and date, and the like.  
         [0038]     The control unit  140  allows the set reservation information to be stored in a data memory of the storage unit  150  (S 210 ). After the information is stored, the deck unit  120  senses whether the recording medium is mounted to perform a recording operation under control of the control unit  140  (S 220 ).  
         [0039]     When it is determined that the recording medium is mounted in S 220 , the control unit  140  calculates the total recording time of reserved programs to be recorded (S 230 ). A recording time is obtained by subtracting a recording start time and date from a recording end time and date per one program, and each of the recording times for all programs to be recorded is summed together to obtain the total recording time of all programs to be recorded.  
         [0040]     The remaining time detection unit  180  detects the remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium mounted on the deck unit  120  (S 240 ). The control unit  140  has the detected remaining time displayed on the display unit  170  or the display to allow the user to see it.  
         [0041]     The control unit  140  compares the total recording time with the remaining time (S 250 ). Upon comparison, when the remaining time of the recording medium is greater than the total recording time of reserved programs to be recorded, the control unit  140  may instruct all of the reserved programs to be recorded, so that the control unit  140  automatically has all the programs recorded in a standard mode when the recording start time is reached (S 260 ).  
         [0042]     The User sees the remaining time capable of being used to record on the recording medium displayed on the display, and selects the unbiased/just recording method in response to the remaining time when the total recording time of the set programs is greater than the remaining time of the recording medium (S 270 ).  
         [0043]     The User selects the unbiased/just recording method with respect to only one program when the remaining time of the recording medium is significantly smaller than the total recording time of all reserved programs. Alternatively, the user selects the unbiased/just recording method with respect to all reserved programs when the user tries to record all of the reserved programs on one recording medium, even if the remaining time of the recording medium is smaller than the total recording time of all reserved programs.  
         [0044]     When the unbiased/just recording method is selected with respect to only one program, the control unit  140  calculates the shortage time by subtracting the remaining time of the recording medium from the recording time of the program. The control unit  140  calculates the recording speed based on the calculated shortage time and the amount of recording for the program, and selects the recording mode suitable for the calculated recording speed (S 280 ).  
         [0045]     The control unit  140  allows the standard mode to be converted automatically to a selected recording mode, and has the recording medium recorded in the converted recording mode (S 300 ) when the recording start time is reached (S 290 ).  
         [0046]     When the recording is completed with respect to the one program (S 310 ), the recording medium is exchanged with another recording medium (S 320 ), and the remaining reserved programs are recorded from the operation S 220  again.  
         [0047]     In the operation S 270 , when the unbiased/just recording method is selected with respect to all reserved programs, the control unit  140  calculates the shortage time by subtracting the remaining time from the total recording time. The control unit  140  calculates the recording speed based on the calculated shortage time and the amount of recording for the entire reserved program, and selects the recording mode suitable for the calculated recording speed (S 330 ).  
         [0048]     The control unit  140  allows the standard mode to be converted automatically to a selected recording mode, and has the recording medium recorded in the converted recording mode (S 350 ) when each of the recording start times for the reserved programs is reached (S 340 ).  
         [0049]     Under control of the control unit  140 , recording is paused when the recording for one program is completed until the recording start time of the next program, and the recording is resumed in the selected recording mode when the recording start time is reached. After the recording is repeatedly performed, recording comes to an end when all programs are recorded (S 360 ).  
         [0050]     As mentioned above, in accordance with the present invention, the video recording apparatus may allow a plurality of reserved programs to be recorded using the unbiased/just recording method even when all of the reserved programs are set to be recorded.  
         [0051]     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.