Recording Apparatus Header Update via Cluster Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing recording methods for semiconductor memory cards, such as those used in digital video cameras, require a read-modify-write operation even when updating data smaller than the block size, leading to inefficient data processing and lowered recording rates due to unnecessary data reading and rewriting.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus and method that record a file's header section on a newly secured cluster when updating, while correcting management information to maintain the original logical connection order, thereby avoiding the read-modify-write operation and optimizing data processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the header section is updated by reading and rewriting the entire block, then the data integrity is maintained, but the recording speed is lowered due to unnecessary data reading and writing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the block into a header section and a data section, allowing independent processing of each section. When updating the header section, only the header portion is read and written back, rather than processing the entire block. This segmentation enables selective data access and reduces unnecessary I/O operations, thereby improving recording speed while maintaining data integrity through targeted updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by updating only the necessary header section rather than the entire block. The system reads only the header portion, modifies it, and writes back only the changed header data, leaving the data section untouched. This partial update approach eliminates excessive data processing and significantly improves recording efficiency while preserving data integrity through precise targeted modifications.
2Ease of operation
If the header section is updated in-place, then the operation is simple, but the recording rate is lowered due to the read-modify-write operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the block into distinct header and data sections, enabling the header to be updated independently without affecting the data section. This segmentation allows the system to perform simple header updates by reading only the header portion, modifying it, and writing back the changes, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while improving recording rate by eliminating unnecessary data section processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the header section from the block for separate processing. By isolating the header portion, the system can perform updates on the header independently without needing to read or write the entire block. This extraction approach simplifies the update operation while significantly improving recording rate by reducing the amount of data that must be processed during each update cycle.
3Reliability
If the entire block is rewritten when updating header data, then data consistency is ensured, but memory bandwidth is wasted on unnecessary data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the block into header and data sections, allowing the system to read and write only the header portion during updates. This segmentation ensures data consistency by maintaining proper relationships between header and data sections while dramatically reducing memory bandwidth consumption by eliminating unnecessary data section transmissions. The header can be updated independently without moving or rewriting the data section, thus preserving consistency while optimizing bandwidth utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the header section from the block for independent processing, allowing updates to be performed on only the necessary header data. This extraction ensures data consistency by maintaining the logical connection between the updated header and the existing data section, while simultaneously reducing memory bandwidth waste by eliminating the need to transmit unnecessary data section content during header update operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording and reproducing apparatus (100) can record information on a recording memory (111) having a recording region where a smallest unit for erasing recorded information is a block, on a unit of a cluster that is a unit smaller than the block. The recording and reproducing apparatus (100) includes: an input unit (130) that receives a request for starting or ending recording a file; and a system control unit (101) that records a header section of the file and a data section following the header section, from the beginning of the block in the recording region, when the request for starting recording is received; and updates the header section and records the updated header section on another cluster different from the cluster on which the header section before update is recorded when the request for ending recording is received. The system control unit (101) further corrects management information indicating a connection order of information recorded on each of the clusters included by the recording medium so that the updated header section is followed by the data section, when the updated header section is recorded on the other cluster.