Recording/reproduction apparatus capable of exchanging information with storage apparatus mounted on recording medium assembly

• US 6,556,768 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ueda, Takao, Sugiyama, Nobukazu, Nakajima, Yasuhisa, Hamamoto, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/993,993
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/46, 386/83, 386/125-126, 360/61-64, 360/69, 360/72.1, 360/72.2, 360/132, 348/705-706, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/6.1, 455/201, 455/41, 455/46
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/17 of container
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/655 Memory in cassette [MIC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/657 Memory in disc [MID]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• 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 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums

Abstract

A recording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., VTR) includes capability to exchange information with a storage apparatus such as a memory card mounted on a recording medium assembly (e.g., cassette). When the cassette is inserted into a compartment in the compartment in a VTR, a switch in the VTR is pushed by the case of the cassette, detecting the insertion of the cassette into the compartment. At that time, a signal indicating the insertion of the cassette into the compartment is supplied to a microcomputer from the switch. Notified by the signal, the microcomputer issues a command to a reader/writer, requesting the reader/writer to read out information pertaining to data recorded on the cassette from the memory card mounted on the cassette for recording the data through an antenna. With the cassette located outside the compartment, on the other hand, the microcomputer issues a command to a reader/writer, requesting the reader/writer to read out the information from the memory card through another antenna.

Claims

1. A recording/reproduction apparatus comprising:

recording/reproducing means for recording or reproducing data into and from a recording medium of a recording-medium assembly, said recording medium assembly having a storage apparatus mounted thereon for storing predetermined information;

a first information transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving said information to and from said storage apparatus under a first condition;

a second information transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving said information to and from said storage apparatus under a second condition different from said first condition;

switching means for switching between said first and second information transmitting/receiving means based on the presence of said first or second condition;

reading means for reading out said information stored in said storage apparatus through the first or second information transmitting/receiving means selected by said switching means;

information supplying means for supplying update information for updating said information stored in said storage apparatus through one of said first or second information transmitting/receiving means selected by said switching means; and

medium accommodating means for accommodating said recording-medium assembly wherein said switching means switches between said first and second information transmitting/receiving means in accordance with whether or not said recording-medium assembly exists in said medium accommodating means.

2. A recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first information transmitting/receiving means is used for exchanging said information between said storage apparatus and said reading means under said first condition of said recording-medium assembly existing inside said medium accommodating means while said second information transmitting/receiving means is used for exchanging said information between said storage apparatus and said reading means under said second condition of said recording-medium assembly existing outside said medium accommodating means.