Recording device, recording method and storage medium

Abstract

The recording device (10) includes: an acquisition unit (11) for acquiring predetermined information; a recording unit (12) for recording the predetermined information acquired by the acquisition unit (11) as a file; a reproduction unit (13) for reproducing a specified file from a plurality of files recorded in the recording unit (12); and a file management unit (14) for extracting a file recorded during a period substantially continuous in time series with a file being reproduced from the plurality of files, and setting the extracted file to be prohibited from being overwritten. Thus, a recording device capable of preventing a file associated with a file being reproduced from being overwritten is provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device, a recording method and a program. Background Art

[0002] A technique for prohibiting overwriting of predetermined data in a recording device is known. Patent document 1 discloses a recording device that, when an event signal indicating the occurrence of an event for a vehicle is acquired, writes image data from the time when the event signal is acquired to the time when a predetermined condition is detected to be satisfied into a memory in a manner that is not overwritten.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-169191. Summary of the invention

[0006] In a recording device, there is a need to continue recording while reproducing recorded files. In a recording device that records by overwriting old files when the storage unit runs out of capacity, it is necessary to prevent files related to the file being reproduced (including the file being reproduced) from being overwritten.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can prevent files related to a file being played back from being overwritten.

[0008] A recording device involved in one embodiment of the present invention includes: an acquisition unit, which acquires predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information at least includes an image obtained by photographing the periphery of a vehicle; a recording unit, which records the predetermined information acquired by the acquisition unit as a file; a reproduction unit, which reproduces a specified file from a plurality of files recorded in the recording unit; and a file management unit, which extracts files recorded during the following period from the plurality of files, and sets the extracted files to prohibit overwriting, wherein the period is a period that is substantially continuous in time series with the file being reproduced.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention involves a recording method comprising the following steps: obtaining predetermined information, the predetermined information at least including an image obtained by taking a picture of the surroundings of a vehicle; dividing the obtained predetermined information into multiple files for recording; reproducing a specified file from the multiple files recorded; and extracting from the multiple files files recorded during the following period, and setting the extracted files to prohibit overwriting, wherein the period is a period that is substantially continuous in time series with the file being reproduced.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention involves a program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: obtaining predetermined information, the predetermined information at least including an image obtained by taking a picture of the surroundings of a vehicle; dividing the obtained predetermined information into multiple files for recording; reproducing a specified file from the multiple files recorded; and extracting from the multiple files files recorded during the following period, and setting the extracted files to prohibit overwriting, wherein the period is a period that is substantially continuous in time series with the file being reproduced.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a file being reproduced and a file associated with the file being reproduced from being overwritten. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the recording device involved in Embodiment 1.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing in the file management unit of the recording device according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the recording device involved in Embodiment 1.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a block diagram showing the structure of a recording device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of the embodiments of the invention, but the invention of the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, not all the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means for solving the problem.

[0017] [Implementation Method 1]

[0018] First, the configuration of a recording device according to Embodiment 1 will be described. Here, the recording device is, for example, a drive recorder.

[0019] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the recording device 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the recording device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11 , a recording unit 12 , a reproduction unit 13 , and a file management unit 14 .

[0020] The acquisition unit 11 acquires predetermined information. The acquisition unit 11 may include an image acquisition unit 11a such as a camera that acquires an image (captured image) captured around the vehicle, or may be an image input unit that inputs an image from a separate camera or the like. In this case, the predetermined information also includes the image captured by the image acquisition unit 11a. The acquisition unit 11 may also acquire sound information from a sound pickup unit such as a microphone. The recording unit 12 records the predetermined information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 as a file. The reproduction unit 13 reproduces a specified file from a plurality of files recorded in the recording unit 12. The file management unit 14 extracts files recorded during the following period from a plurality of files, and sets the extracted files to be prohibited from being overwritten, wherein the period is a period that is continuous in time series with the file being reproduced.

[0021] Figure 2 Schematic diagram for explaining the processing in the file management unit 14. Figure 2 As shown, it is assumed that the recording unit 12 is a storage medium with a storage capacity of W. In the driving recorder, the images acquired by the acquisition unit 11 are recorded as image files divided into, for example, every 1 minute, every 3 minutes, etc. In the recording unit 12, it is assumed that files f1 to f9 have been recorded and file f10 is currently being recorded. In addition, it is assumed that file f6 is currently being reproduced.

[0022] The recording device 10 starts recording the predetermined information at the time when the power is turned on or the manual recording switch is turned on, and ends recording at the time when the power is turned off or the manual recording switch is turned off. In the period T1 during which the series of recordings are performed, the file at the start of recording is file f4, and the file at the end of recording is file f8. That is, the files recorded during the period that is continuous in time series with the file f6 being reproduced are files f4 to f8. In addition, in the period T0, files f1 to f3 are files recorded during the period that is continuous in time series, and in the period T2, files f9 to f10 are files recorded during the period that is continuous in time series. At this time, files f3 and f4, files f8 and f9 are records that are not continuous in time series. As an example, the period T0 is the evening of the previous day, and files f1 to f3 are image files captured at this time. The period T1 is the morning of the current day, and files f4 to f8 are image files captured at this time. The period T2 is the evening of the current day, and files f9 to f10 are image files captured at this time.

[0023] Therefore, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1) extracts files f4 to f8, and sets these extracted files to prohibit overwriting. Thus, the file f6 being reproduced and the files f4, f5, f7, and f8 associated with the file f6 being reproduced can be prevented from being overwritten. In this way, files that are continuous in time series with the file currently being reproduced can be prevented from being overwritten and deleted, and the subsequent images of the image being reproduced can be protected. On the other hand, files f1 to f3 and files f9 and f10 are set to be overwritten. Thus, after the recording of file f10 is completed, files f1, f2, f3, f9, and f10 are overwritten in sequence. In this way, the storage capacity in the recording unit 12 can be effectively utilized.

[0024] Since the driving recorder is mounted on a vehicle, it needs to be as light as possible and generally cannot have an excessively large storage capacity. Therefore, when the recording device 10 is a driving recorder, it is very advantageous to effectively utilize the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 as described above.

[0025] The acquisition unit 11 may also include a road type information acquisition unit, which acquires information indicating the type of the road currently being traveled. The recording unit 12 may also record the road type information in a file as one of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and the file management unit 14 may set the file in the extracted file whose recorded road type information is consistent with the road type information recorded in the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and set the file in the extracted file whose road type information is different from the road type information recorded in the file being reproduced as being able to be overwritten. The so-called road type is, for example, the type of road in the road law, such as an expressway, a general national highway, a prefectural road, a town road, or a general road. The road type can be determined, for example, based on information acquired from a car navigation system by the acquisition unit 11, information acquired from a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), information related to the operation of the vehicle acquired from the vehicle via a CAN (Controller Area Network), information obtained by analyzing an image, and the like.

[0026] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, if the files f5 and f7 have the same road type information as the file f6 being reproduced, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1) Files f5 to f7 among files f4 to f8 extracted are set as prohibited to be overwritten. For example, it is considered that a series of scenes that hinder driving continue on expressways, trunk roads, etc., and often do not continue after exiting the expressway or turning from the trunk road to a narrow street. Therefore, by setting files in the same road category state as prohibited to be overwritten, the scene can be reproduced without omission. For example, when exiting the expressway during recording file f7, when there are multiple road category information recorded in the file, it is preferable to set it as prohibited to be overwritten when one of the multiple road category information is consistent with the road category information recorded in the file being reproduced.

[0027] On the other hand, the files f4 and f8 among the extracted files f4 to f8 have different road type information, and therefore are set to be overwritten. In this way, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be used more effectively.

[0028] The acquisition unit 11 may also include a congestion status acquisition unit, which acquires information indicating the congestion status of the road currently being traveled. The recording unit 12 may also record the congestion status in a file as one of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and the file management unit 14 sets the files in the above-extracted files whose road congestion levels are consistent with the road congestion levels recorded in the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the files with different road congestion levels as being able to be overwritten. The congestion status acquisition unit may also distinguish the levels of congestion according to the congestion status, and use them as information on the congestion level. The congestion status of the road can be determined, for example, based on information acquired from the vehicle navigation by the acquisition unit 11, information acquired from the GNSS, information related to the operation of the vehicle acquired from the CAN, information obtained by analyzing the image, and the like.

[0029] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, if the files whose road congestion levels match the file f6 being reproduced are files f5 and f7, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1 ) Files f5 to f7 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are set to be prohibited from being overwritten. For example, when the congestion level changes during the recording of file f7, if there are multiple congestion levels recorded in the file, it is preferably set to be prohibited from being overwritten when one of the multiple congestion levels is consistent with the congestion level recorded in the file being reproduced. On the other hand, since the congestion conditions of the roads of files f4 and f8 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are different, they are set to be allowed to be overwritten. In this way, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be used more effectively.

[0030] The acquisition unit 11 may also include a place name information acquisition unit, which acquires information indicating a place name of a location where the vehicle is currently traveling. The recording unit 12 may also record the place name information in a file as one of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and the file management unit 14 sets the file in which the place name information of the place where the vehicle is traveling in the extracted file is consistent with the place name information of the place where the vehicle is traveling in the file being reproduced to be prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the file in which the place name information is different to be allowed to be overwritten. The place name of the place where the vehicle is traveling can be determined based on, for example, information acquired from the vehicle navigation by the acquisition unit 11, information acquired from the GNSS, information related to the operation of the vehicle acquired from the CAN, information obtained by analyzing an image, and the like.

[0031] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, if the files whose place name information matches the file f6 being reproduced are files f5 and f7, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1 ) Files f5 to f7 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are set to be prohibited from being overwritten. For example, when the place name information of file f7 changes beyond the county boundary or the city boundary during recording, or when there are multiple place name information recorded in the file, it is preferable to set the overwriting to be prohibited when one of the multiple place name information is consistent with the place name information recorded in the file being reproduced. On the other hand, since the place names of files f4 and f8 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are different, they are set to be able to be overwritten. In this way, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be used more effectively.

[0032] The acquisition unit 11 may also include a restriction information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the restriction status of the road currently being traveled. The recording unit 12 may also record the restriction information in a file as one of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and the file management unit 14 sets the file whose restriction information of the road on which the vehicle is traveling in the above-extracted file is consistent with the restriction information of the road on which the vehicle is traveling in the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the file whose restriction information is different as being able to be overwritten. The restriction information of the road on which the vehicle is traveling is, for example, information shown on a road sign posted on the road on which the vehicle is traveling. The restriction information of the road on which the vehicle is traveling can be determined based on, for example, information acquired from the vehicle navigation by the acquisition unit 11, information acquired from the GNSS, information related to the operation of the vehicle acquired from the CAN, information obtained by analyzing an image, and the like.

[0033] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, if the files f5 and f7 have the same restriction information as the file f6 being reproduced, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1) Files f5 to f7 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are set to be prohibited from being overwritten. For example, when the restriction information of file f7 is changed during recording, or when there are multiple restriction information recorded in the file, it is preferable to set the overwriting to be prohibited when one of the multiple restriction information is consistent with the restriction information recorded in the file being reproduced. On the other hand, since the restriction information of files f4 and f8 among the extracted files f4 to f8 is different, they are set to be allowed to be overwritten. In this way, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be used more effectively.

[0034] The acquisition unit 11 may also include an acquisition unit for other vehicle information, which recognizes the acquired image and acquires information related to other vehicles traveling around the own vehicle. The recording unit 12 may also record the other vehicle information in a file as one of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11, and the file management unit 14 sets the files in the extracted files whose information on other vehicles is consistent with the information on other vehicles recorded in the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the files whose information on other vehicles is different as being allowed to be overwritten. In this case, the file being reproduced contains the information on other vehicles extracted from the image captured by the image acquisition unit 11a. General image recognition technology can be used in the method of extracting other vehicles from the image.

[0035] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, if the files f5 and f7 have the same information as the file f6 being reproduced, the file management unit 14 (see Figure 1 ) Files f5 to f7 among the extracted files f4 to f8 are set to be prohibited from being overwritten. On the other hand, files f4 and f8 among the extracted files f4 to f8 have different information on other vehicles, so they are set to be overwritten. In this way, the storage capacity in the recording unit 12 can be used more effectively.

[0036] Next, the processing flow of the recording device 10 will be described. Figure 1 .

[0037] Figure 3 1 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the recording device 10. Figure 3 As shown, first, predetermined information is obtained (step S1). Then, the obtained predetermined information is divided into a plurality of files and recorded (step S2). Then, a specified file among the recorded plurality of files is reproduced (step S3). Then, a file recorded in a period continuous with the file being reproduced is extracted from the plurality of files, and the extracted file is set to prohibit overwriting (step S4).

[0038] As described above, according to the recording device 10 of this embodiment, files related to the file being reproduced can be prevented from being overwritten. In addition, by setting the files set to be prohibited from being overwritten to the minimum necessary, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be effectively used.

[0039] [Implementation Method 2]

[0040] Figure 4 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the recording device 110 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 4 As shown, the recording device 110 includes an acquisition unit 111 , a recording unit 12 , a reproduction unit 13 , and a file management unit 114 .

[0041] The recording device 10 according to the first embodiment is a method in which the image acquisition unit 11a of the acquisition unit 11 captures the front (traveling direction) of the vehicle. In contrast, in the recording device 110 according to the second embodiment, the image acquisition unit 111a of the acquisition unit 111 is composed of a plurality of cameras that capture the periphery of the vehicle in different directions. That is, the image acquisition unit 111a includes a front camera 111aA that captures the front of the vehicle, a rear camera 111aB that captures the rear, a right side camera 111aC that captures the right side, and a left side camera 111aD that captures the left side.

[0042] The file management unit 114 extracts files recorded in a time series continuous with the file being reproduced from the plurality of files. The file management unit 114 sets the files among the extracted files that are captured by the same camera as the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the files among the extracted files that are captured by a different camera from the file being reproduced as allowed to be overwritten.

[0043] The extracted files include files captured by the front camera 111aA, the rear camera 111aB, the right camera 111aC, and the left camera 111aD. For example, if the file captured by the front camera 111aA is reproduced, the files captured by the front camera 111aA, among the files recorded in a time series continuous with the file being reproduced, are set to be prohibited from being overwritten. Even if the files are recorded in a time series continuous with the file being reproduced, the files captured by the rear camera 111aB, the right camera 111aC, and the left camera 111aD are set to be overwritten.

[0044] As described above, the recording device 110 according to this embodiment can prevent files recorded in a time series continuous with the file being reproduced and captured by the same camera from being overwritten. In addition, the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be used more efficiently.

[0045] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the main purpose. The multiple examples described above can also be implemented in appropriate combination. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the recording device is described as a driving recorder, but it is not limited to this. The recording device can be, for example, a surveillance camera, a life log camera (Lifelogcamera), a wearable camera, etc. When the capacity of the storage unit is exhausted, it deletes the old file and overwrites the record. The recording device can be, for example, a device for recording sound, or an EDR (Event Data Recorder) that records the driving information of the vehicle or the control information of the vehicle.

[0046] For example, the case where the file management unit 14 extracts files recorded in a time-series continuous period has been described, but in the case where the period can be regarded as substantially continuous in the time series, the files recorded in the time series substantially continuous period can also be extracted. Specifically, when stopping at a stopover for a few minutes during driving, the recording is sometimes interrupted by stopping the engine of the vehicle. In this case, the files before the stopover and the files after the stopover can also be regarded as files recorded in the time series substantially continuous period. In other words, even in the case of discontinuity in the time series, if the interruption period is shorter than the pre-set period, it can be regarded as a time series substantially continuous period.

[0047] The file management unit 14 may also have a function of limiting the number or size of the extracted files when the capacity of the files extracted as files recorded in the time series continuous period is larger than the storage capacity W of the recording unit 12 by a predetermined ratio. In this way, the capacity for recording new files can be ensured in the recording unit 12, and the storage capacity of the recording unit 12 can be effectively used.

[0048] The processing of each part of the recording device to which the present invention relates can be realized by causing a computer or the like to execute a program. More specifically, a program for causing the processing in each part of the danger avoidance device stored in the program memory to be executed is loaded into the main storage device, and the program is executed under the control of the CPU. Here, the program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable mediums and provided to the computer. Non-transitory computer readable mediums include various types of tangible storage mediums. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), optical magnetic recording media (e.g., optical magnetic disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / Ws, semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, RAMs (Random Access Memory)). In addition, the program can be provided to the computer via various types of transitory computer readable mediums (transitory computer readable mediums). Examples of temporary computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Temporary computer-readable media can provide the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber or a wireless communication path. In addition, the processing in each part of the navigation device is not limited to being implemented by software based on the program, but can also be implemented by any combination of hardware, firmware, and software.

[0049] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Japanese patent application No. 2019-230078, filed on December 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0050] Industrial availability

[0051] It can be used in various devices using a recording device.

[0052] Explanation of symbols

[0053] 10. 110 recording device

[0054] 11. 111 Acquisition Department

[0055] 11a 111a Image acquisition unit

[0056] 12 Recording Department

[0057] 13 Recapitulation

[0058] 14.114 Document Management Department

[0059] 111aA Front camera

[0060] 111aB rear camera

[0061] 111aC right side camera

[0062] 111aD Left side camera

Claims

1. A recording device, comprising: An acquisition unit, which acquires predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information at least includes an image obtained by photographing the periphery of the vehicle; a recording unit, recording the predetermined information acquired by the acquiring unit as a file; a reproducing unit that reproduces a specified file from among the plurality of files recorded in the recording unit; as well as The file management unit extracts files recorded during a period that is continuous in time series with the file being reproduced from the plurality of files, and sets the extracted files to be prohibited from being overwritten, The predetermined information acquired by the acquisition unit includes road information related to the road currently being traveled. The file management unit sets the file having the same road information as the road information recorded in the file being reproduced among the extracted files to be prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the file having the road information different from the road information recorded in the file being reproduced to be allowed to be overwritten.

2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein The file in the reproduction contains other vehicle information extracted from the image, The file management unit sets the file among the extracted files that has the same other vehicle information as the other vehicle information recorded in the file being reproduced as prohibited from being overwritten, and sets the file that has the other vehicle information that is different from the other vehicle information recorded in the file being reproduced as being able to be overwritten.

3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein: The acquisition unit includes a plurality of cameras, each camera photographing the periphery of the vehicle in different directions. The file management unit sets, among the extracted files, files that are captured by the same camera as the file being reproduced as being prohibited from being overwritten, and sets files that are captured by a different camera from the file being reproduced as being allowed to be overwritten.

4. A recording method comprising the following steps: Acquiring predetermined information, the predetermined information at least including an image obtained by photographing the periphery of the vehicle; dividing the acquired predetermined information into a plurality of files for recording; reproducing a specified file among the plurality of recorded files; as well as extracting, from the plurality of files, files recorded during a period that is continuous in time series with the file being reproduced, and setting the extracted files to be prohibited from being overwritten, The predetermined information obtained includes road information related to the road currently being traveled, and the file in the extracted file that has the same road information as the road information recorded in the file being reproduced is set to be prohibited from being overwritten, and the file that has the road information different from the road information recorded in the file being reproduced is set to be able to be overwritten.

5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the following steps: Acquiring predetermined information, the predetermined information at least including an image obtained by photographing the periphery of the vehicle; dividing the acquired predetermined information into a plurality of files for recording; reproducing a specified file among the plurality of recorded files; as well as extracting, from the plurality of files, files recorded during a period that is continuous in time series with the file being reproduced, and setting the extracted files to be prohibited from being overwritten, The predetermined information obtained includes road information related to the road currently being traveled, and the file in the extracted file that has the same road information as the road information recorded in the file being reproduced is set to be prohibited from being overwritten, and the file that has the road information different from the road information recorded in the file being reproduced is set to be able to be overwritten.

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