Recording system of variable length picture information

Claim 1

A recording system for variable length picture information in a picture information file device which stores picture information and a retrieval title including a retrieval code for retrieving the picture information, a track number and a block number, a recording area for recording the length of the picture information, and a delete mark representing that the picture information is deleted, and which outputs picture information corresponding to an input retrieval code, including: (a) a control information input device (3) comprising a keyboard having an abandon key (35) for specifying abandonment of the picture information, a record key (37) for specifying recording of the picture information, and a delete key (41) for specifying deletion of the picture information; (b) a 2-dimension scanning device (11) which-.two-dimensionally scans the picture information for photoelectric conversion and outputs the photoelectrically converted picture information; (c) a magnetic tape device (17) for recording the photoelectrically converted picture information in an area represented by the track number and the block number on a magnetic tape; (d) a display device (13) for displaying picture information recorded or to be recorded by said magnetic tape device (17); and (e) a control device (1) which has a programmable microprocessor connected to said control information input device (3), said 2-dimension scanning device (11), said magnetic tape device (17) and said display device (13), and which includes a central processing unit (31) for receiving input signals for controlling the recording, abandonment and deletion of the picture information, a read-only memory device (30) for storing permanent programs, and a random access memory (29) for storing data input by said control information input device (3), said read-only memory device (30) storing the permanent programs having functions of said central processing unit (31) so that said control device (1) may perform specific functions according to the permanent programs, characterized in that said control device (1) is so designed as to control said control information input device (3), said 2-dimension scanning device (11), and said magnetic tape device (17) so that, when registering new picture information, the retrieval title with the delete mark is retrieved, the length of the new picture information to be recorded is compared with the length of the picture information recorded in the retrieval title, and, if the new picture information is shorter than the recorded picture information, the new picture information to be recorded is stored in a picture information recording area of the magnetic tape represented by the track number and the block number of the retrieval title.