JP2004005778A - Information processor, data recording method, program of data recording method, and recording medium recorded with program of data recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably suppress the decrease of an access speed due to fragmentation and the increase of power consumption as compared with a conventional practice, e.g. by applying them to an external storage device of a computer, in an information processor, a data recording method, a program of the data recording method, and a recording medium in which the program of the data recording method is recorded. <P>SOLUTION: A recording operation is performed by sorting data prepared for the recording to a main recording area with the disk-like recording medium 3 and a sub-recording area with a nonvolatile memory 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a data recording method, a program for recording data, and a recording medium on which a program for recording data is recorded, and can be applied to, for example, a hard disk device that records video data. The present invention distributes data to be recorded in a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a non-volatile memory and records the data, thereby reducing access speed and increasing power consumption due to fragmentation. It is possible to significantly reduce the power consumption as compared with the related art.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hard disk drive used as a peripheral of a personal computer is randomly accessible, and has recently been reduced in size and recording density. Accordingly, various proposals have been made to apply a hard disk drive to recording of audio data and video data (hereinafter, referred to as AV data) and use it for a home server, a vehicle-mounted device, and the like.
[0003]
In such a hard disk drive, data recorded on the hard disk can be managed in cluster units of a plurality of sectors by using a file allocation table (FAT) which is management data recorded on the hard disk. This management is performed by a personal computer or the like as a host device. Hereinafter, a file management system using such a file allocation table is called a FAT file system.
[0004]
That is, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a hard disk drive. The hard disk drive 1 is connected to a host device 2 and records various data output from the host device 2 on a hard disk 3. Here, the host device 2 is, for example, a computer.
[0005]
Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the format of the MS-DOS compatible file system is applied to the hard disk 3. That is, the hard disk 3 divides the information recording surface into an inner peripheral area and an outer peripheral area, and the outer peripheral area is allocated to a system entry area. Further, the inner peripheral area is allocated to the data area. The data area is subdivided into clusters, and user data is recorded in each cluster in units of a data amount of a predetermined number of frames.
[0006]
Further, the information recording surface of the hard disk 3 is concentrically divided into a plurality of zones, and the tracks of each zone are further divided into a plurality of sectors by dividing the respective tracks in the circumferential direction by a predetermined length. In the hard disk 3 thus sectorized, the physical address is set by the surface number of the information recording surface, the track number continuously allocated from the outer peripheral side of the information recording surface, and the sector number for specifying the sector in each track. The user data is file-managed by logical addresses sequentially set from the outer peripheral side of the information recording surface in correspondence with the physical addresses.
[0007]
Here, the logical address is represented by a cluster number in units of a cluster of a set of a plurality of logical sectors. That is, the logical sector is an area corresponding to a data recording unit set with the first area (in this case, the outermost circumference) on the information recording surface as 0 sector. For example, one physical sector is replaced with one logical sector. Correspondingly, the logical sector number can be represented by the relational expression of logical sector number = sector number per track × (surface number + number of surfaces × track number) + sector number−1. Here, the surface number, the track number, and the sector number are based on physical addresses.
[0008]
Here, the logical sector is configured so that 512 bytes of data can be recorded in one logical sector in terms of user data, and one cluster is composed of a plurality of logical sectors. Note that one cluster is generally composed of power-of-two sectors, and is specified by a cluster number which is a serial number starting from 2 in a file area in a data area for recording user data. .
[0009]
In the data area, a cluster number is assigned to each cluster set in this way, and the cluster can be accessed in cluster units based on the cluster number. Here, the cluster number is indicated in a 4-digit hexadecimal format. Thus, the minimum unit of one file is one cluster.
[0010]
On the other hand, the system entry area is further divided into a boot area, a FAT (Fail Allocation Table) area, and a directory area, and data defining a disc structure is recorded in the boot area. On the other hand, in the FAT area and the directory area, management data such as address information necessary for accessing the user data recorded in the data area is recorded.
[0011]
That is, file management data for specifying a file recorded in the data area is recorded in the directory area. On the other hand, in the FAT area, in association with the file management data, a management table that records the address of the management unit that records the subsequent data is recorded for each cluster that is the management unit of the data area. Specifically, in the FAT area, a cluster number of each cluster that is continuous with the first cluster of each file is recorded. Thus, the hard disk 3 detects the leading cluster number of the desired file name from the directory area, and then successively detects the cluster number following the leading cluster number from the FAT area, so that the continuous clusters of one file are formed. The address can be detected.
[0012]
Thus, in FIG. 8, in the case where file 1 is recorded in clusters of cluster numbers 1234h to 1240h in the data area, a code indicating the cluster number 1234h of the first cluster of file 1 is recorded in the directory area. Further, a cluster number subsequent to the cluster number 1234h is sequentially recorded in a corresponding area of the FAT area. In FIG. 8, EOF (End Of File) is identification information indicating the last cluster of one file.
[0013]
More specifically, in the directory area, file management data for specifying each file recorded in the data area is recorded by the configuration shown in FIG. 9 for each file recorded in the data area. That is, in the file management data, the file name is assigned to the first 8 bytes, and the extension of each file is assigned to the next 3 bytes. Data indicating the attribute of the file is assigned to the next 1 byte, and the next 10 bytes are assigned to the data for reservation. The next two bytes are assigned to the data of the recording start time, the next two bytes are assigned to the data of the recording date, and the next two bytes are assigned the cluster number which is the head cluster number. Note that data of the file length is allocated to the last four bytes.
[0014]
On the other hand, in the FAT area (FIG. 8), identification data indicating the association of each cluster which is a management unit of the data area is recorded. That is, the FAT area is assigned a cluster address corresponding to the cluster number of the data area, and the cluster number of the cluster following each cluster address is recorded. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, among codes not allocated to these cluster numbers, predetermined codes are allocated to identification information indicating a free area, a defective cluster, and EOF, respectively.
[0015]
Thus, the hard disk 3 can access the FAT area to detect a free area in the data area. Further, the replacement process can be executed based on the defective sector, and further, at the time of recording, the defective sector can be registered by a retry process by write and verify. These allow the hard disk 3 to manage the information recording surface in predetermined block units.
[0016]
The servo circuit 4 drives the motor (M) 6 under the control of the hard disk control circuit 5, thereby rotating the hard disk 3 at a predetermined rotation speed. Similarly, the servo circuit 4 drives the motor (M) 8 to seek the magnetic head, and further performs tracking control. In driving such a hard disk 3, a CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) method is generally used to give priority to an access speed. And increasing the recording capacity by changing the recording frequency and thereby efficiently recording data to increase the recording capacity. In this zone bit recording, the data transfer speed is greatly different between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side.
[0017]
Under the control of the hard disk control circuit 5, the read / write data channel unit 9 encodes the output data of the hard disk control circuit 5 at the time of recording by a method suitable for the characteristics of the recording / reproducing system to generate bit sequence data, The magnetic head is driven by this data. At the time of reading, the read / write data channel section 9 performs signal processing on a reproduction signal obtained from the magnetic head to generate reproduction data, and outputs the reproduction data to the hard disk control circuit 5.
[0018]
The hard disk control circuit 5 is a control circuit that manages data on the hard disk 3 according to an instruction from the interface control circuit 7, and controls the operation of the servo circuit 4 in accordance with user data input via the buffer memory 10, By outputting the user data to the read / write data channel unit 9, the data sequentially input to the cluster designated via the interface control circuit 7 is recorded. At the time of reading, the operation of the servo circuit 4 is similarly controlled to output the output data of the read / write data channel section 9 to the buffer memory 10, thereby reproducing the cluster specified by the interface control circuit 7.
[0019]
The interface control circuit (IF control) 7 is formed of, for example, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) controller, an IDE (Intelligent Drive Electronics) controller, and the like, and controls an input / output circuit of data and control commands to be transmitted / received to / from the host device 2. Constitute. That is, the interface control circuit 7 analyzes a command input from the host device 2 and parameters set in the command, and controls operations of the hard disk control circuit 5 and the like. At the time of writing, the data input from the host device 2 is output to the hard disk control circuit 5 via the buffer memory 10, and at the time of reading, the data is output from the hard disk control circuit 5 via the buffer memory 10. The output data is output to the host device 2.
[0020]
In response to this, the host device 2 sends various commands and the like to the hard disk drive 1 in response to a user's instruction by the processing of the central processing unit (CPU) 12 having a work area secured in the system memory 11.
[0021]
In this process, when the power is turned on, the central processing unit 12 issues a command to the hard disk drive 1 so as to reproduce the management data recorded in the system entry area of the hard disk 3 by executing a predetermined processing procedure. As a result, the system entry area data (FAT area and directory area data) output from the hard disk drive 1 is recorded in the system memory 11. Thereby, the central processing unit 12 acquires the management data recorded on the hard disk 3, sets parameters based on the management data, and outputs various commands to the hard disk drive 1.
[0022]
That is, when data recording is instructed by the user, the central processing unit 12 detects a free area by sequentially tracing the data of the FAT area recorded in the system memory 11, and sets a parameter to record the data in a cluster based on the free area. Is set and a write command is issued. The hard disk drive 1 records sequentially input data on the hard disk 3 in response to the write command. The central processing unit 12 and the hard disk drive 1 sequentially trace the recording of the management data in units of a predetermined data length, and repeatedly issue such a command and record the data, thereby recording a desired file. It has been done. As a result, the time-series data is sequentially recorded from the outer track to the inner track of the hard disk 3 in cluster units.
[0023]
When the recording of the file is completed in this way, the recording of the system memory 11 is updated so as to correspond to the recording of the file, and the hard disk drive 1 is controlled at a predetermined timing so as to correspond to the recording of the system memory 11. Is instructed to update the system entry area, so that the file recorded in this way can be reproduced again.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the user instructs reproduction of the file recorded on the hard disk 3, the central processing unit 12 searches the directory area data recorded in the system memory 11 by the file name instructed to reproduce, and The corresponding file management data is detected, and thereby the head cluster address of this file is detected. Further, the data of the FAT area recorded in the system memory 11 is sequentially traced by the head cluster address, and the cluster address where the file is recorded is sequentially detected from the head cluster address thus detected. The central processing unit 12 detects continuous cluster addresses recorded in the system memory 11 in this way up to EOF.
[0025]
The central processing unit 12 sets each cluster address and data length as parameters and detects a read command to the hard disk drive 1 in parallel with the detection of such a cluster address or when detecting a continuous cluster address in this way. In response to the read command, the hard disk drive 1 reproduces the data recorded on the hard disk 3 and outputs the data to the host device 2. The central processing unit 12 and the hard disk drive 1 repeatedly issue the read command and output the reproduction data, thereby reproducing a desired file.
[0026]
This FAT file system can be applied not only to various types of computer data and various types of application programs, but also to video data and audio data (hereinafter referred to as AV data). It can be recorded and reproduced on the hard disk 3.
[0027]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in such a hard disk drive, when recording and deletion of a file are repeated, high-speed access becomes difficult due to so-called fragmentation caused by one file being fragmented and recorded on the hard disk 3, and power consumption is also reduced. There is a problem that increases.
[0028]
That is, if one file is fragmented and recorded in this way, a large number of seeks are required to reproduce one file because of the fragmentation.
[0029]
Here, in seeking, the time required for the magnetic head to move to the target track in the radial direction of the hard disk (movement time in the track direction) and the time required for the magnetic head to reach the target position in the circumferential direction of the hard disk 3 ( (Rotational waiting time) and is usually expressed in milliseconds.
[0030]
As a result, when one file is fragmented and recorded, a large amount of time is required for seeking because of the fragmentation, and it takes time to reproduce a desired file. When the number of seeks increases in this way, it is necessary to frequently move the magnetic head in the radial direction of the hard disk 3, and the power consumption increases accordingly.
[0031]
When used as a storage device of a computer, the hard disk 3 records various component files, shortcuts, folders, texts to moving image files, thereby storing files having a capacity of several hundreds to several hundreds of megabytes. Many will be recorded. However, by recording a large number of small-capacity files of one cluster unit or less, fragmentation is remarkable.
[0032]
On the other hand, in the recording of AV data, by recording a relatively large-capacity file, it is considered that such a degree of fragmentation is small. However, in the case of a file based on AV data, file management information, thumbnails, etc. Because of the possibility of recording a small-capacity file, fragmentation cannot be avoided as in the case of recording computer data.
[0033]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an information processing apparatus and a control method of an information processing apparatus capable of significantly reducing a decrease in access speed and an increase in power consumption due to fragmentation as compared with the related art It is an object of the present invention to propose a control program for an information processing device and a recording medium storing the control program for the information processing device.
[0034]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, the invention according to claim 1 is applied to an information processing apparatus, and a main recording unit for recording input data in a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium, and a sub-recording unit of a non-volatile memory. A sub-recording unit for recording input data in an area, and a control unit for distributing data to be recorded to a main and sub-recording system and outputting the data are provided.
[0035]
Further, according to the invention of claim 8, information processing for outputting a write command to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a nonvolatile memory to record desired data. When the present invention is applied to an apparatus, an address for designating a main or sub recording area is set according to data to be recorded, and a write command is output.
[0036]
Further, in the invention according to claim 14, the method according to the present invention is applied to a data recording method, wherein the data to be recorded is distributed to a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a non-volatile memory. A main recording step of recording the data allocated to the main recording area on the disk-shaped recording medium, and a sub recording step of recording the data allocated to the sub recording area in the nonvolatile memory.
[0037]
Further, the present invention is applied to a data recording method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area of a non-volatile memory to record desired data. Then, according to the data to be recorded, a selection step of selecting a main or sub recording area, and according to a selection result of the selection step, a write command is issued by an address specifying the main or sub recording area. A command output step of outputting the data and a data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command are provided.
[0038]
Further, in the invention according to claim 27, by applying to a program of a data recording method, data to be recorded is divided into a main recording area by a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area by a nonvolatile memory. Steps, a main recording step of recording data allocated to the main recording area on the disk-shaped recording medium, and a sub recording step of recording data allocated to the sub recording area in the nonvolatile memory .
[0039]
According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a nonvolatile memory to record desired data. And a selection step of selecting a main or sub-recording area according to data to be recorded, and writing of data by an address specifying a main or sub-recording area according to a selection result of the selection step. A command output step of outputting a command and a data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command are provided.
[0040]
Further, according to the invention of claim 29, there is provided a program for a data recording method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area by a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area by a nonvolatile memory to record desired data. Applying to the recording medium on which is recorded, the program of the data recording method, according to the data to be recorded, the step of selecting the main or sub-recording area, and according to the selection result by the step of selecting, It has a command output step of outputting a write command according to an address designating the main or sub recording area, and a data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command.
[0041]
According to the configuration of claim 1, a main recording unit that records input data in a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium, a sub recording unit that records input data in a sub recording area of a nonvolatile memory, By providing control means for distributing data to be recorded to the main and sub recording systems and outputting the data, for example, the present invention is applied to an information processing device such as a hard disk drive or an optical disk device connectable to various information devices, and For small-capacity files in which fragmentation is likely to occur due to repeated recording and deletion on the recording medium, non-volatile memory that does not cause a reduction in access speed and increase in power consumption even if fragmentation occurs due to repeated recording and deletion. Can be recorded in the secondary recording area, and as a whole, fragmentation Decrease in access speed by the increase of power consumption can be reduced to remarkably as compared with the conventional.
[0042]
According to the configuration of claim 8, information for recording a desired data by outputting a write command to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a non-volatile memory. By applying to the processing device and setting the address specifying the main or sub recording area according to the data to be recorded and outputting the write command, the recording to the disk-shaped recording medium, For a small-capacity file in which fragmentation is likely to occur, even if the recording and deletion are repeated and the fragmentation occurs, the file may be recorded in a secondary recording area of a non-volatile memory which does not cause a reduction in access speed and an increase in power consumption. Yes, and when viewed as a whole, fragmentation reduces access speed and increases power consumption It can be dramatically reduced as compared with the conventional.
[0043]
Thus, according to the fourteenth and twenty-first aspects, it is possible to provide a data recording method in which a reduction in access speed and an increase in power consumption due to fragmentation can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art. . Further, according to the configurations of claims 27 and 28, it is possible to provide a data recording method capable of remarkably reducing a decrease in access speed and an increase in power consumption due to fragmentation as compared with the related art. Further, according to the structure of claim 29, there is provided a recording medium which records a program of a data recording method capable of remarkably reducing a decrease in access speed and an increase in power consumption due to fragmentation as compared with the related art. Can be.
[0044]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
[0045]
(1) First embodiment
(1-1) Configuration of First Embodiment
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hard disk drive which is an information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hard disk drive 21 is detachably held in a host device 22 such as a computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), an imaging device, an electronic still camera, or the like, which is a similar information processing device. Is recorded, and the recorded data is reproduced and output. In the hard disk drive 21, the same components as those of the hard disk drive 1 described above with reference to FIG. 7 are denoted by the corresponding reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
[0046]
In the hard disk drive 21, a main recording area is formed by the hard disk 3, a sub-recording area is formed by the nonvolatile memory 23, and output data from the host device 22 is selectively recorded in these main and sub-recording areas. I do. Further, in the hard disk drive 21, continuous cluster addresses are set in these main and sub recording areas, so that one file management system can manage them collectively. The MS-DOS compatible FAT file system is applied to this file management system block. The non-volatile memory 23 is formed by a memory such as a FLASH memory, a FeRAM, and an MRAM.
[0047]
FIG. 3 is a chart showing these main and sub recording areas. That is, in the hard disk drive 21, the outer peripheral side of the hard disk 3 is allocated to a system entry area, and a boot data area, a FAT area, and a directory area are provided in the system entry area. Further, the inner peripheral side is allocated to a data area, is sequentially divided into clusters, and a cluster address based on a physical address is sequentially allocated.
[0048]
Similarly to the hard disk 3, the non-volatile memory 23 is configured such that recording areas are sequentially partitioned to set clusters, and the cluster size is set to be the same as the cluster size of the hard disk 3. In the non-volatile memory 23, a cluster address is set for each cluster so as to be continuous from the last cluster address of the hard disk 3.
[0049]
In the hard disk drive 21, the interface control circuit 27 is formed by, for example, a SCSI controller, an IDE controller, and the like, and constitutes an input / output circuit for data transmitted and received with the host device 22, control commands, and the like. That is, the interface control circuit 27 analyzes the command input from the host device 22 and the parameters set in the command, and controls the operation of the hard disk control circuit 5 and the like. In these processes, at the time of writing, the interface control circuit 27 distributes the data to be written, which is input from the host device 22, to the nonvolatile memory 23 and the hard disk 3 according to the address set in the command. At the time of reproduction, data related to reading obtained from the nonvolatile memory 23 and data related to reading obtained from the hard disk 3 are output to the host device 22.
[0050]
That is, as shown in FIG. 1 in detail the configuration of the interface control circuit 27 together with the peripheral configuration, the interface control circuit 27 inputs and outputs commands and data to and from the host device 22 through the host interface 27A, Is analyzed to control each part. In the interface control circuit 27, when the input command is a write command or a read command, the address set in the command is input to the address conversion circuit 27B, and the physical address of the hard disk 3 described above with reference to FIG. It is converted into a memory address of the memory 23.
[0051]
Here, the address conversion circuit 27B converts this address into a physical address of the hard disk 3 and a memory address of the nonvolatile memory 23 by referring to the address conversion table based on the addresses set in the write and read commands.
[0052]
In the interface control circuit 27, if the address related to the address conversion by the address conversion circuit 27B is a cluster address based on a logical address corresponding to the physical address of the hard disk 3, and in the case of writing, the subsequently input data is The output of the built-in selector 27C is switched so as to output to the recording / reproducing systems 4 to 9 of the hard disk 3 via the buffer memory 10, and writing to the recording / reproducing systems 4 to 9 by the physical address converted by the address conversion circuit 27B is performed. Instruct. On the other hand, in the case of a command related to reading, similarly, reproduction of the hard disk 3 is instructed, and the reproduction data obtained as a result is input via the buffer memory 10 and output from the host interface 27A to the host device 22.
[0053]
On the other hand, when the address related to the command is the cluster address related to the nonvolatile memory 23, in the case of writing, the built-in memory is configured to output the subsequently input data to the nonvolatile memory 23 via the buffer memory 10. The output of the selector 27C is switched, and this data is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 23 by the memory address converted by the address conversion circuit 27B. On the other hand, in the case of a command related to reading, similarly, the corresponding data is read from the nonvolatile memory 23 and the read data is output to the host device 22.
[0054]
When a file is recorded on the hard disk 3 and the nonvolatile memory 23 by this series of processing, the contents of the system entry area are updated at a predetermined timing so as to correspond to the recording.
[0055]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the hard disk drive 21 for this series of writing processing. That is, in the hard disk drive 21, the process proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2, in which a write command from the host device 22 is input, and in the subsequent step SP3, the address conversion table of the address conversion circuit 27B is used according to the address set in the write command. See
[0056]
Subsequently, in step SP4, the hard disk drive 21 determines whether or not the address set in the command is the address of the hard disk 3 based on the reference result of the address conversion table. If an affirmative result is obtained, the process proceeds to step SP5. The address set in the command is converted into the physical address of the hard disk 3 by referring to the address conversion table. In the following step SP6, the data relating to the writing that is subsequently input by this physical address is recorded on the hard disk 3, and the process proceeds to step SP7 to end this processing procedure.
[0057]
On the other hand, if the address set in the command points to the nonvolatile memory 23, the hard disk drive 21 proceeds from step SP4 to step SP8, and stores the address set in the command by referring to the address conversion table. To a memory address. In a further succeeding step SP9, the data relating to the writing which is subsequently input by this memory address is recorded in the non-volatile memory 23, and the process proceeds to step SP7 to end this processing procedure.
[0058]
On the other hand, FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to the reading process. In the hard disk drive 21, the process proceeds from step SP11 to step SP12, in which a read command from the host device 22 is input. In the subsequent step SP13, the address conversion table of the address conversion circuit 27B is stored in accordance with the address set in the read command. refer.
[0059]
Subsequently, in step SP14, the hard disk drive 21 determines whether or not the address set in the command is the address of the hard disk 3 based on the reference result of the address conversion table. If a positive result is obtained here, the process proceeds to step SP15. The address set in the command is converted into the physical address of the hard disk 3 by referring to the address conversion table. In the subsequent step SP16, the data recorded on the hard disk 3 is reproduced by the physical address. In the subsequent step SP17, the reproduced data is temporarily recorded in the buffer memory 10 and the host device 22 is interrupted. In the hard disk drive 21, when the transfer of data is instructed from the host device 22 by this interrupt, in the following step SP18, the data temporarily recorded in the buffer memory 10 is transferred to the host device 22, and the process proceeds to step SP19. The processing procedure ends.
[0060]
On the other hand, if the address set in the command indicates the non-volatile memory 23, the hard disk drive 21 proceeds from step SP14 to step SP20 and reads the address set in the command by referring to the address conversion table. The data is converted into a memory address of 23, and in the following step SP21, data recorded in the non-volatile memory 23 is read out using this memory address, and the routine goes to step SP17.
[0061]
In the host device 22 corresponding to the configuration of the hard disk drive 21, the processing by the central processing unit (CPU) 32 having a work area secured in the system memory 31 causes the non-volatile memory 23 The address is set in the write command and the read command so as to indicate the recording area of the hard disk 3 and the main recording area.
[0062]
Here, the central processing unit 32 issues a write and read command to the hard disk drive 21 by executing a program recorded in advance in a random access memory (not shown), and further writes data relating to write and read with the hard disk drive 21. Input and output between It should be noted that such a program is provided by download via a network such as the Internet, and further by various recording media. Note that as such a recording medium, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magnetic tape can be applied.
[0063]
By executing this program, the central processing unit 32 distributes the data of this file to a sub-recording area if the file to be written is a small-capacity file smaller than the predetermined capacity. In the case of a large-capacity file, a write command is issued so that the data of this file is allocated to the main recording area. Here, such small-capacity files include various component files, shortcuts, folders, and texts constituting the application software.
[0064]
That is, when the power is turned on, the central processing unit 32 issues a command to the hard disk drive 21 so as to reproduce the management data recorded in the system entry area of the hard disk 3 by executing a predetermined processing procedure. The system entry area data (FAT area, directory area data) output from the drive 21 is recorded in the system memory 31.
[0065]
Further, when data recording is instructed by the user, the central processing unit 32 determines the file size related to the recording based on a predetermined criterion value. The data is searched to detect empty clusters sequentially from the clusters allocated to the nonvolatile memory 23, parameters are set based on the addresses of the detected empty clusters, and a write command is issued. On the other hand, if the file to be written has a file size equal to or larger than this determination reference value, the management data recorded in the system memory 31 is searched, and free clusters are sequentially detected from the clusters allocated to the hard disk 3. A parameter is set according to the address of a free cluster and a write command is issued.
[0066]
When the writing of these files is completed, the management data recorded in the system memory 31 is updated so as to correspond to the writing of the files, and the recording of the hard disk 3 is updated at a predetermined timing so as to correspond to the updating. Instruct.
[0067]
On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, a cluster command is set and a read command is issued by searching for management data recorded in the system memory 31 as in the conventional case.
[0068]
With these configurations, in this embodiment, the hard disk control circuit 5, the servo circuit 4, the motors 6, 8 and the read / write data channel section constitute a main recording system for recording input data on the hard disk. I have. Correspondingly, the peripheral circuit of the nonvolatile memory 23 constitutes a sub-recording system for recording input data in the nonvolatile memory 23, and the address conversion circuit 27B and the selector 27C transfer data from the host device 22. A control means for distributing the data to the main and sub recording systems is constituted.
[0069]
(1-2) Operation of First Embodiment
In the above configuration, when the power is turned on in the hard disk drive 21, the data in the system entry area is reproduced according to the instruction of the host device 22, and among the data in the system entry area, the data in the directory area and the FAT area are reproduced. Is transferred from the hard disk drive 21 to the host device 22 and recorded in the system memory 31 of the host device 22.
[0070]
The host device 22 holds the management data in the system memory 31 in this way, and when the user instructs to record the file, the capacity of the file is determined, and the file to be written is determined from the determination result. In the case of a small-capacity file, empty clusters are sequentially detected from the clusters in the non-volatile memory 23 of the hard disk drive 21, a write command is sequentially issued based on the detected cluster address of the empty cluster, and the data of the file to be written is stored on the hard disk drive. Output to the drive 21. On the other hand, when the file related to the writing is a large-capacity file, the management data recorded in the system memory 31 is searched, and the free clusters are sequentially detected from the clusters of the hard disk 3. A write command is issued sequentially according to the cluster address, and data of a file to be written is output to the hard disk drive 21.
[0071]
In the hard disk drive 21, the address conversion table of the address conversion circuit 27B is searched by the cluster address set in the write command in this way, and this address is stored in the hard disk drive 3 or the nonvolatile memory 23. This address is detected. Here, in the case of the address related to the hard disk 3, the address related to the write command is converted into the physical address of the hard disk 3, and the data input from the host device 22 is recorded on the hard disk 3 by the cluster address. In the case of an address related to the non-volatile memory 23, in the hard disk drive 21, the address is converted to a memory address of the non-volatile memory 23 by an address conversion circuit 27B, and the output data of the host device 22 is converted to the non-volatile memory by the memory address. 23.
[0072]
As a result, in this embodiment, for a small-capacity file in which recording and deletion are repeated and fragmentation is likely to occur, even if recording and deletion are repeated and fragmentation occurs, the access speed decreases and the power consumption increases. Is recorded in a sub-recording area of the non-volatile memory 23 which does not cause the above, so that when viewed as a whole, a decrease in access speed and an increase in power consumption due to fragmentation can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art. It has been made.
[0073]
Thus, when the recording of the file is completed in the host device 22 in this manner, the recording of the system memory 31 is updated to correspond to this, and the hard disk drive 21 responds to the update of the system memory 31. Then, the system entry area of the hard disk 3 is updated.
[0074]
On the other hand, when the user instructs to play the file, the host device 22 detects the head cluster address of the corresponding file by searching the recording of the system memory 31, and further detects the head cluster address until EOF is detected. Cluster addresses successively detected from the addresses are detected. Further, parameters are set based on the cluster addresses sequentially detected in this manner, and a read command is output from the host device 22 to the hard disk drive 21.
[0075]
In the hard disk drive 21, the address conversion table of the address conversion circuit 27B is searched by the address related to the read command transmitted in this manner, and as a result, the address related to the hard disk 3 or the address related to the nonvolatile memory 23 is determined. Is detected. Here, in the case of the address related to the hard disk 3, the address related to the write command is converted into a cluster address based on the physical address of the hard disk 3, and the data recorded on the hard disk 3 is reproduced and output to the host device 22 according to the cluster address. You. On the other hand, in the case of the address related to the nonvolatile memory 23, in the hard disk drive 21, the address is converted into the memory address of the nonvolatile memory 23 by the address conversion circuit 27 </ b> B, and is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 23 by the memory address. The read data is read and output to the host device 22.
[0076]
As a result, in the case of reading, the host device 22 can reproduce a desired file by issuing a command by the same file management as in the related art.
[0077]
When the user instructs to delete the file, the host device 22 detects the head cluster address of the corresponding file by searching the record in the system memory 31 and further searches the head cluster address until the EOF is detected. Successive consecutive cluster addresses are detected. Further, the record of the corresponding directory area recorded in the system memory 31 is rewritten to a code indicating an empty cluster by the cluster addresses sequentially detected in this manner, and the system entry area of the hard disk 3 is correspondingly rewritten. Is updated.
[0078]
Thus, in the hard disk drive 21, when the user instructs to write again, the data of the file to be written is sequentially recorded in the cluster in which the file is deleted in this way, and the size of the file is deleted. If the file is larger than the file, in addition to the area where the file is deleted, the file related to this writing is fragmented by being recorded in the cluster instead of being set as a free area. By such repetition, the fragmentation of the file related to writing progresses sequentially.
[0079]
However, in this embodiment, since a large-capacity file is selectively written on the hard disk 3, in the fragmentation that occurs on the hard disk 3 as described above, a relatively large data amount is used as a unit. Fragmented. As a result, in the hard disk drive 21, fragmentation in the hard disk 3 can be reduced as compared with a case where a small-capacity file and a large-capacity file are mixed and recorded on the hard disk 3. , And an increase in power consumption can be remarkably reduced as compared with the related art.
[0080]
(1-3) Effects of the first embodiment
According to the above configuration, the data to be recorded is separately recorded in the main recording area of the hard disk, which is a disk-shaped recording medium, and in the sub recording area of the non-volatile memory, thereby reducing the access speed due to fragmentation. Thus, an increase in power consumption can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.
[0081]
That is, by providing recording means corresponding to these main and sub recording areas and means for distributing data input from the host device to these main and sub recording systems on the hard disk drive side, the access speed is reduced by fragmentation. Thus, an increase in power consumption can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.
[0082]
In the host device, an address is set so as to indicate these main and sub recording areas and a command is issued, so that the access speed is reduced and the power consumption is increased by the fragmentation as compared with the related art. Can be reduced.
[0083]
Also, by managing these main and sub-recording areas using continuous addresses, the host device can reproduce a desired file by issuing a read command by the same file management as in the related art during reproduction.
[0084]
Also, by determining the files to be allocated to such main and sub recording areas based on the file size, for example, when the host device is a computer, these files can be subjected to simple determination processing by a simple determination process. Can be recorded separately.
[0085]
(2) Second embodiment
FIG. 6 is a table showing a setting of a recording area in the hard disk drive and the nonvolatile memory according to the second embodiment in comparison with FIG. In this embodiment, data in the system entry area is recorded in the non-volatile memory, the remaining non-volatile memory area is set as a sub recording area, and cluster addresses are sequentially assigned. Further, following the cluster address of the nonvolatile memory, the cluster address of the hard disk is set. This embodiment is configured in the same manner as the hard disk drive and the host device of the first embodiment, except that each unit is configured to correspond to such setting of the recording area.
[0086]
As shown in FIG. 6, even if the system entry area is allocated to the non-volatile memory and the cluster addresses are sequentially allocated to the hard disk from the non-volatile memory, the access speed by the fragmentation can be reduced as in the first embodiment. The reduction and the increase in power consumption can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.
[0087]
(3) Third embodiment
In this embodiment, the minimum recording unit in the sub recording area is set smaller than the minimum recording unit in the main recording area. The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first or second embodiment except that the setting of the recording unit and the configuration related to the setting of the recording unit are different.
[0088]
That is, in this embodiment, one cluster of the main recording area is formed by 16 [K bytes], whereas one cluster of the sub recording area is formed by 1 [K bytes]. I have. In response to this, in the host device, when detecting the free clusters by recording them in the system memory, the free clusters are sequentially detected in consideration of the difference between these capacities. When a write command is issued, a data length parameter is set so as to correspond to the difference between the recording units. Also, at the time of reading, similarly, cluster addresses are sequentially detected in consideration of the difference in capacity, and a data length parameter is set, and a read command is issued.
[0089]
Correspondingly, the hard disk drive also records data on the hard disk and the nonvolatile memory in units of these clusters, and reproduces the data.
[0090]
As a result, in this embodiment, the recording unit of the nonvolatile memory is reduced, and accordingly, in recording of the nonvolatile memory in which the cluster is simply used, wasting of the memory space is prevented.
[0091]
(4) Fourth embodiment
In this embodiment, a camera-integrated video recorder and an electronic still camera are applied to a host device, and data of a moving image file and a still image file by the host device are distributed to main and sub recording areas, respectively, and recorded. In this embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the first or second embodiment except that the criterion for the distribution is different.
[0092]
As in this embodiment, the data may be separately recorded in the main and sub recording areas according to the type of the file, that is, specifically, the data of the moving image file and the still image file are respectively recorded in the main and sub recording areas. Even if the still image file is recorded separately in the area, the same effect as in the first or second embodiment can be obtained in the still image file because the file size is smaller than the moving image file.
[0093]
(5) Fifth embodiment
In this embodiment, data of a file with a high read frequency and data of a file with a low read frequency are separately recorded in the main and sub recording areas. In this embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the first or second embodiment except that the criterion for the distribution is different.
[0094]
That is, in a file with a high read frequency, the frequency of update and deletion is high accordingly, so the frequency of fragmentation is high and the file size is generally small. As a result, in this embodiment, the same effect as in the first or second embodiment can be obtained even if a file with a high read frequency is assigned to the sub recording area. In addition, by allocating the frequently read file to the secondary recording area, the file can be read at a higher speed than in the case where the file is recorded on the hard disk, and the usability can be improved accordingly.
[0095]
(6) Sixth embodiment
In this embodiment, data to be recorded is sorted according to a user's instruction. In this embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the first or second embodiment except that the criterion for the distribution is different.
[0096]
That is, in this embodiment, when recording a file, the host device prompts the user to select a recording area specifying the main and sub recording areas, and writes the file into the main and sub recording areas according to the selection. .
[0097]
Alternatively, instead of selecting such a recording area in which the main and sub recording areas are specified, a message of “save” or “save” is displayed, and the main and sub recording areas are displayed in accordance with the selection of this message. Write a file.
[0098]
That is, when the menu of "save" and "save" is displayed in this way and the user selects the menu of "save", it is considered that the user intends to save this file for a long time. Can be Thus, the frequency of update and deletion is considered to be lower than when the menu of "store" is selected. In this case, this file is recorded on the hard disk.
[0099]
Conversely, when the menu of "Save" and "Remember" is displayed and the user selects the menu of "Remember", this file is considered to be stored for a relatively short period of time. Therefore, it is considered that the frequency of deletion and update is relatively high. Thereby, in this case, this file is recorded in the nonvolatile memory.
[0100]
If the file recorded in the non-volatile memory is not reproduced or updated for a certain period of time or longer by selecting the “store” menu in this manner, the user is inquired whether to save the file, and here, the user is asked to save. If selected, transfer to hard disk.
[0101]
Thus, for example, when a music file is recorded, a new music file having a high reproduction frequency is recorded in a non-volatile memory, and an old music file that is rarely heard is transferred to a disk area.
[0102]
Even in this case, the same effect as in the fifth embodiment can be obtained.
[0103]
(7) Other embodiments
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the hard disk drive and the host device are configured separately is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to a case where the hard disk drive and the host device are configured integrally.
[0104]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the cluster address is set so that the recording area of the non-volatile memory follows the recording area of the hard disk drive, and conversely, the recording area continues. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various settings can be made for the address setting method.
[0105]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the file management system using the FAT file system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to various file management systems.
[0106]
In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a hard disk drive has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and desired data is recorded on a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk device and a magneto-optical disk device. It can be widely applied to information processing devices that perform
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the data to be recorded is distributed and recorded in the main recording area of the disk-shaped recording medium and the sub-recording area of the non-volatile memory, thereby reducing the access speed due to fragmentation. Thus, an increase in power consumption can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hard disk drive according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of the hard disk drive of FIG. 1 together with a host device.
FIG. 3 is a table for explaining recording areas in the hard disk drive of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure at the time of writing in the hard disk drive of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of reading in the hard disk drive of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a chart for explaining recording areas in the hard disk drive according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional hard disk drive.
FIG. 8 is a table showing a recording format in the hard disk of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a table showing data recorded in a directory area of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a table showing codes recorded in a FAT area of FIG. 7;
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 21, hard disk drive, 2, 22, host device, 3, hard disk, 7, 27, interface control circuit, 12, 32, central processing unit, 11, 31, system memory

Claims (29)

Main recording means for recording input data in a main recording area of a disc-shaped recording medium;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a sub-recording unit that records input data in a sub-recording area of a nonvolatile memory; and a control unit that sorts and outputs data to be recorded to the main and sub recording systems. . The main and sub recording areas are:
Managed by consecutive addresses,
The control means includes:
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data to be provided for recording is sorted based on an address set in a command corresponding to the data to be provided for recording. The secondary recording area,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a minimum recording unit is set smaller than the main recording area. The control means includes:
Allocating the data of the small file to the sub recording area,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data of a large-capacity file is allocated to the main recording area. The control means includes:
Allocating the data of the still image file to the secondary recording area,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data of the moving image file is allocated to the main recording area. The control means includes:
Sorting the data of the frequently read file to the secondary recording area,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data of a file that is read infrequently is sorted to the main recording area. The control means includes:
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data to be provided for recording is sorted according to a user's instruction. An information processing apparatus for recording a desired data by outputting a write command to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area by a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area by a nonvolatile memory,
An address for designating the main or sub recording area is set according to the data to be recorded, and the write command is output.
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the case of writing to the secondary recording area,
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the write command and the data to be recorded are output in a recording unit having a smaller data amount than in the case of a write command to the main recording area. apparatus. Set an address to specify the secondary recording area in the data of the small-capacity file,
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an address specifying the main recording area is set in data of a large-capacity file. Set an address to specify the secondary recording area in the data of the still image file,
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an address specifying the main recording area is set in the data of the moving image file. Set an address to specify the secondary recording area in the data of the file that is frequently read,
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an address for designating the main recording area is set in data of a file which is not frequently read. The control means includes:
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an address for designating the main or sub recording area is set according to a user's instruction. Distributing data to be recorded to a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a non-volatile memory;
A main recording step of recording the data allocated to the main recording area on the disc-shaped recording medium,
Recording the data allocated to the sub-recording area in the non-volatile memory. The main and sub recording areas are:
Managed by consecutive addresses,
The sorting step includes:
15. The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein the data to be recorded is sorted based on an address set in a write command. The secondary recording area,
15. The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein a minimum recording unit is set smaller than the main recording area. The sorting step includes:
Allocating the data of the small file to the sub recording area,
The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein data of a large-capacity file is allocated to the main recording area. The sorting step includes:
Allocating the data of the still image file to the secondary recording area,
15. The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein data of the moving image file is allocated to the main recording area. The sorting step includes:
Sorting the data of the frequently read file to the secondary recording area,
15. The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein data of a file that is read infrequently is allocated to the main recording area. The sorting step includes:
15. The data recording method according to claim 14, wherein the data to be recorded is sorted according to a user's instruction. A data recording method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area by a disc-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area by a nonvolatile memory to record desired data,
A step of selecting the main or sub recording area according to the data to be recorded;
A command output step of outputting a write command by an address designating the main or sub recording area according to a selection result by the selection step;
A data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command. The secondary recording area,
The minimum recording unit is set smaller than the main recording area,
The command output step includes:
On the basis of the minimum recording unit in the main and sub recording areas, output the write command by setting a data length parameter in the write command,
The data output step includes:
22. The data recording method according to claim 21, wherein the data to be recorded is output by a data amount according to the data length. The step of selecting
For small file data, select the secondary recording area,
22. The data recording method according to claim 21, wherein the main recording area is selected for large-capacity file data. The step of selecting
For the data of the still image file, select the sub recording area,
22. The data recording method according to claim 21, wherein the main recording area is selected for moving image file data. The step of selecting
For the data of the file that is frequently read, select the sub-recording area,
22. The data recording method according to claim 21, wherein the main recording area is selected for data of a file that is not frequently read. The step of selecting
22. The data recording method according to claim 21, wherein the main or sub recording area is selected according to a user's instruction. Distributing data to be recorded to a main recording area of a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area of a non-volatile memory;
A main recording step of recording the data allocated to the main recording area on the disc-shaped recording medium,
A sub-recording step of recording the data allocated to the sub-recording area in the nonvolatile memory. A program for a data recording method for controlling a recording / reproducing device having a main recording area by a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub recording area by a nonvolatile memory to record desired data,
A step of selecting the main or sub recording area according to the data to be recorded;
A command output step of outputting a write command by an address designating the main or sub recording area according to a selection result by the selection step;
A data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command. In a recording medium recording a program of a data recording method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus having a main recording area by a disk-shaped recording medium and a sub-recording area by a nonvolatile memory to record desired data,
The program of the data recording method,
A step of selecting the main or sub recording area according to the data to be recorded;
A command output step of outputting a write command by an address designating the main or sub recording area according to a selection result by the selection step;
And a data output step of outputting data corresponding to the write command.

Images