Method for processing information parts of recorded data

• US 7,761,925 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Winter, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Revak; Christopher A
• Application Number:
  US10/489,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,864 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/30 on the same track as the main recording

Abstract

The method, device and medium according to the invention provide (restricted) forward compatibility to higher device/medium versions. It is provided a defined behavior of an older device, if it has to handle information of a higher version number than supported by itself. A device according to the invention is able to provide restricted (e.g. playback) functionality of its records to older devices. So, a newer device is assured, that older devices will not damage the additionally stored information: This is important, because only a newer device is able to understand these additional information, and to process it correctly.

Claims

1. Method for processing information parts of recorded data recorded on a recording medium wherein each information part is provided with an information part version number, said information part version number indicating the version of a standard to which the information part complies, each information part may have a different version number, and processing being performed in compliance with a version of said standard being indicated by a processing version number, for processing different processing types being available, the method comprising the steps of

reading, from the recording medium, the information part version number of an information part,

comparing the read information part version number with the processing version number,

if the read information part version number is lower than or equal to the processing version number, permitting every processing type to be performed, else if the read information part version number is higher than the processing version number, permitting only the following processing types to be performed:

reading the information part but not appending or editing the information part thereby preventing destruction of an information part that complies with a version of the standard having the information part version number, but does not comply with a version of the standard having the processing version number, or

editing the information part and providing the information part with a new information part version number, wherein the information part version number is decreased in case that during processing an information part has been removed, which makes compliance to a version of the standard having the information part version number necessary,

processing the information part using said allowed processing types, and

recording the processed information part on the recording medium.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein

performing processing for at least one information part according to a version of the standard having a lower version number than the processing version number if the read information part version number is lower than the processing version number.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein

permitting a processing type to be performed in case the information part version number and the processing version number being different but this difference not exceeding a predefined value.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein, after processing,

providing a processed information part with a new information part version number, said information part version number indicating the lowest version of the standard to which the processed information part complies,

transmitting said processed information part.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein

providing different kinds of information part version numbers to a single information part for different kinds of processing types.

6. Reading and/or recording device for performing the method of claim 1.