Recording and reproducing apparatus and terminal apparatus

• US 6,408,332 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Jinbo, Seiichi, Imai, Tsutomu, Matsumoto, Kissei, Min-Jae, Han, Kaeriyama, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/244,651
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/313, 709/328, 709/329, 709/203, 709/205, 709/213
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

A recording and reproducing apparatus has a communicating unit, a reading unit, a storing unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The communicating unit transmits and receives data to/from an information center in which a plurality of additional information has been stored. The reading unit reads out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to the plurality of data have been recorded. The data read out from the recording medium by the reading unit is stored in the storing unit. The control unit reads out the additional information corresponding to the recording medium from which the data is read out by the reading unit from the information center by the communicating unit and writes the read-out additional information into the storing unit as additional data of the recording medium which is read out by the reading unit. The output unit outputs the data stored in the storing unit and the additional data.

Claims

1. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

an information supplying unit in which a plurality of additional information have been stored; and

a recording and reproducing unit for transmitting and receiving information to/from said information supplying unit,

wherein said recording and reproducing unit includes communicating means, reading means, storing means, control means, and output means,

said communicating means transmits and receives the information to/from said information supplying unit,

said reading means reads out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to said plurality of data have been recorded,

the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means is stored into said storing means,

said control means controls said communicating means to read out from said information supplying unit the additional information corresponding to said recording medium from which the data is read out by said reading means and writes said read-out additional information into said storing means as additional data of the recording medium which is read out by said reading means, and

said output means outputs the data stored in said storing means and outputs said additional data stored in said storing means,

wherein said storing means of said recording and reproducing unit comprises first storage means and further comprising a terminal apparatus unit having second storing means, and

wherein the data read out from said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is stored into said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit,

wherein said control means inhibits the data which was read out from said first storing means from being stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit and the data stored in said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is further read out again from said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag for the data which was read out from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit in the data stored in said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit, and

wherein said inhibition flag given to the data stored in said first storing means is deleted by said control means when the data read out from said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit is again supplied to said first storing means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index data read out from said recording medium by said reading means is transmitted to said information supplying unit through said communicating means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein on the basis of said transmitted index data, said information supplying unit retrieves the additional information corresponding to said transmitted index data from said plurality of additional information and transmits the retrieved additional information to said recording and reproducing unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said recording and reproducing unit transmits said index data read out from said recording medium by said reading means to said information supplying unit through said communicating means and transmits user identification data of said recording and reproducing unit, and

said information supplying unit controls a retrieving operation of said information supplying unit of said additional information based on said index data transmitted on the basis of said user identification data transmitted together with said index data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes a display unit providing a display based on said additional data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said storing means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said output means includes converting means for converting an output signal from said reproducing means into a sound audible to a user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said additional information includes title data of the data recorded on said recording medium.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means is recorded from said recording medium to said storing means at a high speed, said control means transmits data indicative of an execution of said high-speed recording to said information supplying unit through said communicating means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said information supplying unit executes an accounting process on the basis of the data indicative of the execution of said high-speed recording transmitted through said communicating means.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording and reproducing unit records at a high speed the data read out by said reading means from said recording medium to said storing means on the basis of data indicative of an end of said accounting process.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the data read out from said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit is again supplied to said first storing means, said control means provides control, whereby the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further read out from said first storing means.

13. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

an information supplying unit in which a plurality of additional information have been stored; and

a recording and reproducing unit for transmitting and receiving information to/from said information supplying unit,

wherein said recording and reproducing unit includes communicating means, reading means, storing means, control means, and output means,

said communicating means transmits and receives the information to/from said information supplying unit,

said reading means reads out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to said plurality of data have been recorded,

the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means is stored into said storing means,

said control means controls said communicating means to read out from said information supplying unit the additional information corresponding to said recording medium from which the data is read out by said reading means and writes said read-out additional information into said storing means as additional data of the recording medium which is read out by said reading means, and

said output means outputs the data stored in said storing means and outputs said additional data stored in said storing means,

wherein said storing means of said recording and reproducing unit comprises first storage means and further comprising a terminal apparatus unit having second storing means, and

wherein the data read out from said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is stored into said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit,

wherein said control means inhibits the data which was read out from said first storing means from being stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit and the data stored in said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is further read out again from said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag for the data which was read out from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit in the data stored in said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit,

wherein when the data read out from said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit is again supplied to said first storing means, said control means provides control, whereby the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further read out from said first storing means, and

wherein the data read out from said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit and supplied to said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is deleted from said second storing means at a time when supply of the data to said first storing means is completed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means performs a comparison by comparing a storage capacity of said second storing means with an amount of the data which is read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of the data read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data supplied to said second storing means, said control means reads out the data from said first storing means and supplies the read-out data to said terminal apparatus unit.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is smaller than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means, said control means deletes the data stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said terminal apparatus unit deletes data stored in said second storing means in accordance with an order from previous data in the data stored in said second storing means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said terminal apparatus unit further includes an operating unit operated by a user of the apparatus, and said terminal apparatus unit deletes data stored in said second storing means on the basis of an input from said operating unit.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means as a result of the deletion of the data stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit, said control means reads out the data from said first storing means and supplies said read-out data to said terminal apparatus unit.

17. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

an information supplying unit in which a plurality of additional information have been stored; and

a recording and reproducing unit for transmitting and receiving information to/from said information supplying unit,

wherein said recording and reproducing unit includes communicating means, reading means, storing means, control means, and output means,

said communicating means transmits and receives the information to/from said information supplying unit,

said reading means reads out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to said plurality of data have been recorded,

the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means is stored into said storing means,

said control means controls said communicating means to read out from said information supplying unit the additional information corresponding to said recording medium from which the data is read out by said reading means and writes said read-out additional information into said storing means as additional data of the recording medium which is read out by said reading means, and

said output means outputs the data stored in said storing means and outputs said additional data stored in said storing means,

wherein said storing means of said recording and reproducing unit comprises first storage means, and further comprising

a terminal apparatus unit having second storing means,

wherein the data read out from said first storing means of said recording and reproducing unit is stored into said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit,

wherein said control means performs a comparison by comparing a storage capacity of said second storing means with an amount of the data which is read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means,

wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is smaller than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means, said control means deletes the data stored in said second storing means of said terminal apparatus unit, and

wherein said terminal apparatus unit deletes data having a number of times of reproduction less than a predetermined number from said second storing means.

21. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

first storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means;

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said first storing means;

second storing means for storing the data reproduced from said first storing means; and

control means for inhibiting the data reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means from being further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means, and

wherein when the data read out from said second storing means is again supplied to said first storing means, said control means performs control so that the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said inhibition flag set to the data stored in said first storing means is deleted by said control means when the data read out from said second storing means is again supplied to said first storing means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said control means performs a comparison by comparing a storage capacity of said second storing means with an amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means, said control means controls said reproducing means to reproduce the data from said first storing means and supplies the reproduced data to said second storing means.

25. The apparatus according to claims 23, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data read out from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is less than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means, said control means deletes the data stored in said second storing means.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, where said apparatus unit deletes data in which a number of times of reproduction is less than a predetermined number from said second storing means.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said apparatus unit deletes the data stored in said second storing means in accordance with an order from previous data in the data stored in said second storing means.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said apparatus further includes an operating unit which is operated by the user for deleting the data stored in said second storing means on the basis of an input from said operating unit.

29. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data supplied to said second storing means as a result of the deletion of the data stored in said second storing means, said control means controls said reproducing means to reproduce the data from said first storing means and supplies said reproduced data to said second storing means.

22. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

first storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means;

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said first storing means;

second storing means for storing the data reproduced from said first storing means; and

control means for inhibiting the data reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means from being further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means,

wherein when the data read out from said second storing means is again supplied to said first storing means, said control means performs control so that the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein the data read out from said second storing means and supplied to said first storing means is deleted from said second storing means at a time when a supplying operation of the data to said first storing means is completed.

30. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a first recording and reproducing unit including

reading means for reading data recorded on a recording medium,

first storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means,

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said first storing means, and

control means for controlling operations of said reading means, said first storing means, and said reproducing means; and

a second recording and reproducing unit including second storing means for storing the data reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means inhibits the data which was reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means from being further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag to the data which was reproduced from said first storing means of said first recording and reproducing unit and stored in said second storing means,

wherein when data reproduced from said second storing means is supplied to said first storing means, said control means performs a control so that the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further reproduced from said first storing means, and

wherein said inhibition flag given to the data stored in said first storing means is deleted by said control means when the data reproduced from said second storing means is again supplied to said first storing means.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said control means performs a comparison by comparing a storage capacity of said second storing means with an amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means, said control means controls the reproduction of the data from said first storing means and supplies the reproduced data to said second storing means.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is smaller than said amount of data supplied to said second storing means, said control means deletes the data stored in said second storing means.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said apparatus deletes data stored in said second storing means in accordance with an order from data previously stored in said second storing means.

37. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said apparatus further includes an operating unit operated by a user of the apparatus and for deleting the data stored in said second storing means on the basis of an input from said operating unit.

38. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein when said storage capacity of said second storing means is larger than said amount of data which is supplied to said second storing means as a result of the deletion of the data stored in said second storing means, said control means controls the reproduction of the data from said first storing means and supplies the reproduced data to said second storing means.

31. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a first recording and reproducing unit including

reading means for reading data recorded on a recording medium,

first storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means,

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said first storing means, and

control means for controlling operations of said reading means, said first storing means, and said reproducing means; and

a second recording and reproducing unit including second storing means for storing the data reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means inhibits the data which was reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means from being further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag to the data which was reproduced from said first storing means of said first recording and reproducing unit and stored in said second storing means,

wherein when data reproduced from said second storing means is supplied to said first storing means, said control means performs a control so that the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied from said second storing means can be further reproduced from said first storing means, and

wherein the data reproduced from said second storing means and supplied to said first storing means is deleted from said second storing means when a supplying operation of the data to said first storing means is completed.

35. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a first recording and reproducing unit including

reading means for reading data recorded on a recording medium,

first storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means,

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said first storing means, and

control means for controlling operations of said reading means, said first storing means, and said reproducing means; and

a second recording and reproducing unit including second storing means for storing the data reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means inhibits the data which was reproduced from said first storing means and stored in said second storing means from being further reproduced from said first storing means,

wherein said control means performs a comparison by comparing a storage capacity of said second storing means with an amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means

wherein as a result of said comparison between said storage capacity of said second storing means and said amount of data reproduced from said first storing means and supplied to said second storing means, when said storage capacity of said second storing means is smaller than said amount of data supplied to said second storing means, said control means deletes the data stored in said second storing means, and

wherein said apparatus deletes data having a number of times of reproduction less than a predetermined number from said second storing means.

39. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

storing means for storing the data read out from said recording medium by said reading means;

reproducing means for reproducing the data stored in said storing means;

communicating means for transmitting the data reproduced from said storing means; and

control means for inhibiting an operation to reproduce the data which was reproduced from said storing means and transmitted by said communicating means,

wherein said storing means comprises first storing means and wherein said control means sets an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from said first storing means and transmitted by said communicating means and stored in second storing means in the data stored in said first storing means,

wherein when the data transmitted by said communicating means is again supplied to said apparatus, said control means performs a control operation so that the data in said first storing means corresponding to the data supplied to said apparatus through said communicating means can be further read out from said first storing means, and

wherein when the data transmitted through said communicating means is again supplied to said first storing means, said inhibition flag given to the data stored in said first storing means is deleted by said control means.

40. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of additional information in an information supplying unit;

transmitting and receiving information to/from the information supplying unit using a recording and reproducing unit that includes a storage device;

reading out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to the plurality of data have been recorded;

storing the data read out from the recording medium in the step of reading out in the storage device;

controlling the information supplying unit to read out the additional information corresponding to the recording medium from which the data is read out in said step of reading out and writing the read-out additional information into the storage device as additional data of the recording medium; and

outputting the data stored in the storage device and outputting the additional data stored in the storage device,

wherein the storage device has a first storage element and a terminal apparatus has a second storage element for storing the data read out from the first storage element and further comprising the steps of;

inhibiting the data that was read out of the first storage element and stored in the second storage element of the terminal apparatus from being further read out again from the first storage element by setting an inhibition flag,

reading out the data from the second storage element and again supplying said data to the first storage element supplying control whereby the data in the first storage element corresponding to the data supplied from the second storage element can be further read out from the first storage element, and

deleting the inhibition flag given to the data stored in the first storage element when the data read out from the second storage element is supplied to the first storage element.

41. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of additional information in an information supplying unit;

transmitting and receiving information to/from the information supplying unit using a recording and reproducing unit that includes a storage device;

reading out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to the plurality of data have been recorded;

storing the data read our from the recording medium in the step of reading out in the storage device;

controlling the information supplying unit to read out the additional information corresponding to the recording medium from which the data is read out in said step of reading out and writing the read-out additional information into the storage device as additional data of the recording medium; and

outputting the data stored in the storage device and outputting the additional data stored in the storage device,

wherein the storage device has a first storage element and a terminal apparatus has a second storage element for storing the data read out from the first storage element and further comprising the steps of;

inhibiting the data that was read out of the first storage element and stored in the second storage element of the terminal apparatus from being further read out again from the first storage element by setting an inhibition flag, and

reading out the data from the second storage element and again supplying said data to the first storage element supplying control whereby the data in the first storage element corresponding to the data supplied from the second storage element can be further read out from the first storage element

wherein the data read out from the second storage element of the terminal apparatus and supplied to the first storage element is deleted from the second storage element at a time when supply of the data to the first storage element is completed.

42. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of additional information in an information supplying unit;

transmitting and receiving information to/from the information supplying unit using a recording and reproducing unit that includes a storage device;

reading out recorded data from a recording medium on which a plurality of data and index data relating to the plurality of data have been recorded;

storing the data read out from the recording medium in the step of reading out in the storage device;

controlling the information supplying unit to read out the additional information corresponding to the recording medium from which the data is read out in said step of reading out and writing the read-out additional information into the storage device as additional data of the recording medium; and

outputting the data stored in the storage device and outputting the additional data stored in the storage device,

wherein the storage device of the recording and reproducing apparatus has a first storage element and a terminal apparatus has a second storage element for storing the data read out from the first storage element, and further comprising the steps of;

comparing a storage capacity of the second storage element with an amount of the data read out from the first storage element and supplied to the second storage element;

deleting the data stored in said second storage element of the terminal apparatus when a result of said step of comparing is that the storage capacity of the second storage element is smaller than the amount of the data supplied to the second storage element; and

deleting data from the second storage element at the terminal apparatus having a number of times of reproduction less than a predetermined number.

43. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

storing in a first storage element the data read out in said step of reading out;

reproducing the data stored in the first storage element;

storing in a second storage element the data reproduced in said step of reproducing;

inhibiting the data reproduced from the first storage element and stored in the second storage element from being further reproduced from the first storage element,

wherein said step of inhibiting includes setting an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from the first storage element and stored in the second storage element;

reading out the data from the second storage element and supplying the read-out data to the second storage element, so the read-out data supplied from the second storage element can be further reproduced from the first storage element; and

deleting the inhibition flag set to the data stored in the first storage means when the data read out from the second storage element is again supplied to the first storage element.

44. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

storing in a first storage element the data read out in said step of reading out;

reproducing the data stored in the first storage element;

storing in a second storage element the data reproduced in said step of reproducing;

inhibiting the data reproduced from the first storage element and stored in the second storage element from being further reproduced from the first storage element,

wherein said step of inhibiting includes setting an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from the first storage element and stored in the second storage element;

reading out the data from the second storage element and supplying the read-out data to the second storage element, so the read-out data supplied from the second storage element can be further reproduced from the first storage element; and

deleting the data read out from the second storage means and supplied to the first storage means when an operation of supplying the data to the first storage means is completed.

45. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

storing in a first storage element the data read out in said step of reading out;

reproducing the data stored in the first storage element;

storing in a second storage element the data reproduced in said step of reproducing;

inhibiting the data reproduced from the first storage element and stored in the second storage element from being further reproduced from the first storage element;

comparing a storage capacity of the second storage element with an amount of data reproduced from the first storage element and supplied to the second storage element;

supplying the data reproduced from the first storage means to the second storage means when a result of said step of comparing is that the storage capacity of the second storage element is larger than the amount of data reproduced from the first storage element; and

deleting the data stored in the second storage element when a result of said step of comparing is that the storage capacity of the second storage element is smaller than the amount of data reproduced from the first storage element.

46. A recording and reproducing method for use with a first recording and reproducing unit and a second recording and reproducing unit, wherein the first recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of:

reading data recorded on a recording medium;

storing the data read from the recording medium in said step of reading in a first storage unit;

reproducing the data stored in said step of storing; and

controlling performing of said steps of reading, storing, and reproducing, wherein

the second recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of;

storing the data reproduced from the first storage unit, and wherein the step of controlling includes

inhibiting the data reproduced from the first storage unit and stored in the second storage unit from being further reproduced from the first storage unit, and including setting an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from the first storage unit and stored in the second storage unit, and

when supplying data reproduced from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, performing a control so that data in the first storage unit corresponding to the data supplied from the second storage unit can be further reproduced from the first storage unit, and

deleting the inhibition flag set to the data stored in the first storage unit when the data reproduced from the second storage unit is again supplied to the first storage unit.

47. A recording and reproducing method for use with a first recording and reproducing unit and a second recording and reproducing unit, wherein the first recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of:

reading data recorded on a recording medium;

storing the data read from the recording medium in said step of reading in a first storage unit;

reproducing the data stored in said step of storing; and

controlling performing of said steps of reading, storing, and reproducing, wherein

the second recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of;

storing the data reproduced from the first storage unit, and wherein the step of controlling includes

inhibiting the data reproduced from the first storage unit and stored in the second storage unit from being further reproduced from the first storage unit, and including setting an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from the first storage unit and stored in the second storage unit, and

when supplying data reproduced from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, performing a control so that data in the first storage unit corresponding to the data supplied from the second storage unit can be further reproduced from the first storage unit, and

deleting the data reproduced from the second storage unit and supplied to the first storage unit when an operation of supplying the data to the first storage unit is completed.

48. A recording and reproducing method for use with a first recording and reproducing unit and a second recording and reproducing unit, wherein the first recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of;

reading data recorded on a recording medium;

storing the data read from the recording medium in said step of reading in a first storage unit;

reproducing the data stored in said step of storing; and

controlling performing of said steps of reading, storing, and reproducing, wherein

the second recording and reproducing unit performs the steps of;

storing the data reproduced from the first storage unit, and wherein the step of controlling includes

comparing a storage capacity of the second storage unit with an amount of data reproduced from the first storage unit and supplied to the second storage unit, wherein as a result of the step of comparing, when the storage capacity of the second storage unit is smaller than the amount of data supplied to the second storage unit,

deleting the data stored in the second storage unit, and

deleting data having a number of times of reproduction less than a predetermined number from the second storage unit.

49. A recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading out data recorded on a recording medium;

storing the data read out in the step of reading out in a first storage unit;

reproducing the data stored in the first storage unit;

transmitting the data reproduced from the first storage unit; and

inhibiting the steps of reproducing the data stored in the first storage unit and transmitting the reproduced data for storing in a second storage unit, wherein the step of inhibiting includes

setting an inhibition flag to the data reproduced from the first storage unit and transmitted to the second storage unit for storage therein, wherein when the data stored in the second storage unit is transmitted back to the first storage unit,

performing a control operation so that data in the first storage unit corresponding to the data supplied from the second storage unit can be further reproduced from the first storage unit, and

deleting the inhibition flag set to the data stored in the first storage unit when the data reproduced from the second storage unit is again supplied to the first storage unit.