Recording and/or reproducing apparatus, portable recording and reproducing apparatus, data transfer system, data transfer method, and data recording and reproducing method

• US 20030193693A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morohashi, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,874,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/3.24
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once 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 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/007 reproducing continuously a part of the information, i.e. repeating
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• 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 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 : Archiving or backup

Abstract

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data to and/or from a recording medium having a data area in which data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing these data. The apparatus according to the invention has a selecting means, a reading means, and a transfer means. The selecting means selects, in accordance with a user operation, group management data to be stored in the recording medium. The group management data are stored in the management data area and manage, as a data group, plural data stored in the data area. The reading means reads the selected group management data and the data group managed thereby. The transfer means transfers the read group management data and the read data group managed thereby to an external device.

Claims

1. A recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing data to/from a recording medium having a data area in which data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing said data are stored, comprising:

selecting means for selecting group management data to be stored in said recording medium in accordance with a user operation, said group management data, stored in said management data area, managing, as a data group, a plurality of the data to be stored in said data area;

reading means for reading the selected group management data and said data group managed by said group management data; and

transfer means for transferring said group management data and said data group read by said reading means to an external apparatus.

2. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said group management data includes data group transfer count information indicative of the number of times said data group has been transferred to said external apparatus, said recording/reproducing apparatus further comprising:

control means for controlling said transfer means so as to transfer said data group to said external apparatus on the basis of said data group transfer count information and increment the same.

3. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said transfer means transfers each piece of data managed by the said group management data to said external apparatus, said group management data includes data transfer count information indicative of the number of times said each piece of data managed by said group management data has been transferred to said external apparatus, and said control means controls said transfer means so as to transfer said each piece of data to said external apparatus on the basis of said data transfer count information and increment the same.

4. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said data group to said external apparatus on the basis of said data group transfer count information.

5. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said data group to said external apparatus if a value of said data group transfer count information is greater than a predetermined value.

6. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said each piece of data to said external apparatus on the basis of said data transfer count information.

7. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said each piece of data if a value of said data transfer count information is greater than a predetermined value.

8. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said data group to said external apparatus on the basis of said data transfer count information corresponding to said each piece of data included in said group management data.

9. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said group management data to said external apparatus if a value of at least one of the pieces of said data transfer count information each corresponding to said each piece of data included in said group control data is greater than a predetermined value.

10. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said control means control said transfer means so as to transfer, to said external apparatus, the data included in said group management data, said data being lower in said data transfer count information than a predetermined value.

11. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said group management data include edit information indicative of whether the data group managed by said group management data has been edited, said recording/reproducing apparatus further comprising:

control means for controlling said transfer means so as to transfer said data group to said external apparatus on the basis of said edit information.

12. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said storage medium stores a plurality of data groups;

said management data area stores a list management stores a list management data for managing said plurality of data groups, a plurality of group management data managed by said list management data, and a plurality of audio management data managed by said group management data;

said data area stores audio data managed by said audio management data; and

said control means controls the transfer of said plurality of data groups on the basis of edit information associated with one of said plurality of group management data and said plurality of audio management data.

13. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said data group to said external apparatus if said data group is found edited on the basis of said edit information.

14. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said group management data transferred by said transfer means to said external apparatus include a session number indicative of an identifier of said recording/reproducing apparatus; and

in response to a user request for a transfer of said data group from said external apparatus to said recording/reproducing apparatus, said control means compares a session number of said group management data corresponding to said data group with said session number of said recording/reproducing apparatus, deletes said group management data and said data group from said external apparatus in accordance with a result of the comparison, and decrements said data group transfer count information stored in said recording/reproducing apparatus.

15. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said management data transferred by said transfer means to said external apparatus include list management data for managing said plurality of data groups, a plurality of group management data which are managed by said list management data and include a plurality of audio identifiers, and a plurality of audio management data which are managed by said group management data and include a single audio identifier; and

in response to a user request for a transfer of each piece of audio data managed by said transferred management data from said external apparatus to said recording/reproducing apparatus, said control means compares the audio identifier corresponding to said each piece of audio data with the audio identifier stored in said recording/reproducing apparatus, deletes said audio management data and said audio data from said external apparatus in accordance with a result of the comparison, and decrements said data transfer count information corresponding to said audio data stored in said recording/reproducing apparatus.

16. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said management data transferred by said transfer means to said external apparatus includes list management data having list identifiers pointing at said plurality of data groups one to one, a plurality of group control data which are managed by said list management data and include a plurality of audio identifiers, and a plurality of audio management data which are managed by said group management data and include a single audio identifier; and

in response to a user request for a transfer of said data group managed by said management data from said external apparatus to said recording/reproducing apparatus, said control means compares the list identifier corresponding to said data group with the list identifier stored in said recording/reproducing apparatus, deletes said list management data and the management data and audio data corresponding to said list management data from said external apparatus in accordance with a result of the comparison, and decrements said group data transfer count information corresponding to said list management data stored in said recording/reproducing apparatus.

17. A portable recording and reproducing apparatus for receiving data and management data for managing the received data, recording the received data and the received management data to a recording medium, and reproducing the recorded data from said recording medium, comprising:

recording means for recording a received data group in a data area of a recording medium and group management data for managing said received data group in a management data area of said recording medium;

selecting means for selecting, in accordance with a user operation, said group management data to be recorded in said recording medium;

reproducing means for reproducing a plurality of data managed by the selected group management data; and

control means for controlling said reproducing means so as to reproduce, in units of said received data group, said plurality of data managed by said selected group management data.

18. A portable recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said selecting means can specify, in accordance with a user operation, a sequence of reproducing a plurality of said group management data recorded on said recording medium; and

said control means controls said reproducing means so as to sequentially reproduce a plurality of data groups in accordance with the specified sequence.

19. A portable recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said selecting means can specify at random in accordance with a user operation a sequence of reproducing a plurality of said group management data recorded on said recording medium; and

said control means controls said reproducing means so as to reproduce at random a plurality of said data group corresponding to a plurality of said group management data in accordance with the specified random sequence.

20. A portable recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said selecting means can specify, in accordance with a user operation, a sequence of reproducing single pieces of data managed by said group management data to be recorded on said recording medium; and

said control means controls said reproducing means so as to sequentially reproduce said single pieces of data in accordance with the specified reproducing sequence.

21. A portable recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said selecting means can specify at random in accordance with a user operation a sequence of reproducing single pieces of data managed by said group management data stored in said recording medium; and

said control means controls said reproducing means so as to reproduce said single pieces of data in a random sequence.

22. A data transfer system comprising:

a recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing data to/from a first recording medium having a data area in which data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing said data are stored, said recording/reproducing apparatus including

first selecting means for selecting, in accordance with a user operation, group management data to be stored in said first recording medium, said group management, stored in said management data area, managing a plurality of said data as a data group,

reading means for reading the selected group management data and said data group managed by said selected group management data, and

transfer means for transferring the read group management data and said data group managed by said group management data to an external device; and

said data transfer system also comprising;

a portable recording and reproducing apparatus for receiving data and management data for managing said data received from said recording/reproducing apparatus and recording the received data and the received management data onto a second recording medium, including

recording means for recording a data group received from said recording/reproducing apparatus into a data area of the second recording medium and said group management data into a management data area thereof,

second selecting means for selecting, in accordance with a user operation, said group management data recorded on said second recording medium,

reproducing means for reproducing a plurality of said data managed by said group management data, and

control means for controlling said reproducing means so as to reproduce the plural data, in units of said data group, managed by the selected group management data.

23. A recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing data to/from a recording medium having a data area in which music data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing a plurality of the music data are stored, comprising:

selecting means for selecting, in accordance with a user operation, album management data to be stored in said recording medium, said album management data, stored in said management data area, managing a plurality of said music data as album data;

reading means for reading the selected album management data and said album data managed thereby; and

transfer means for transferring the read album management data and the read album data managed thereby to an external device.

24. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said management data area of said recording medium stores list management data for managing a plurality of said album managing data,

album management data for managing a plurality of music management data, and

said music management data for managing the plurality of music data; and

said data area of said recording medium stores said plurality of music data managed by said plurality of music management data.

25. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:

said album management data includes album data transfer count information indicative of the number of times said album data managed by said album management data have been transferred to said external device, said album data are said plurality of music data managed by said plurality of music management data and said music management data; and

said recording/reproducing apparatus further comprises a control means for controlling, in accordance with said album data transfer count information, said transfer means so as to transfer said album data to said external device and increment said album data transfer count information.

26. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein:

said transfer means transfers each of said plurality of music data managed by said read album management data to said external device,

said album management data include data transfer count information indicative of the number of times each of said plurality of music data managed by said album management data has been transferred to said external device, and

said control means controls, in accordance with said data transfer count information, said transfer means so as to transfer said music data to said external device and increment said data transfer count information.

27. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein:

said control means controls, in accordance with said album data transfer count information, said transfer means so as not to transfer said album data to said external device.

28. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said album data to said external device if a value of said album data transfer count information is greater than a predetermined value.

29. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said control means controls, in accordance with said data transfer count information, the transfer means so as not to transfer said music data to said external device.

30. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said music data to said external device if a value of said data transfer count information is greater than a predetermined value.

31. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said album data to said external device in accordance with said data transfer count information corresponding to said plurality of music management data managed by said album management data.

32. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein:

said control means controls said transfer means so as not to transfer said album management data to said external device if a value of at least one of said data transfer count information corresponding to said plurality of music management data managed by said album management data is greater than a predetermined value.

33. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein:

said controls means controls said transfer means so as to transfer, to said external device, said music data corresponding to said plurality of music management data managed by said album management data, said music data being lower in said data transfer count information than a predetermined value.

34. A data transfer method for transferring data from a recording medium having a data area in which data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing said data are stored, comprising the steps of:

selecting group management data to be stored in said recording medium in accordance with a user operation, said group management data, stored in said management data area, managing, as a data group, a plurality of pieces of data to be stored in said data area;

reading the selected group management data and said data group managed by said group management data; and

transferring the read group management data and the read data group to an external apparatus.

35. A data recording and reproducing method for receiving data and management data for managing said data to record said data and said management data to a recording medium and reproduce said data and said management data therefrom, comprising the steps of:

recording a received data group in a data area of a recording medium and group management data for managing said received data group in a management data area of said recording medium;

selecting, in accordance with a user operation, said group management data to be recorded in said recording medium;

reproducing a plurality of data managed by the selected group management data; and

controlling the reproducing step so as to reproduce said plurality of data managed by said selected group management data in units of said received data group.

36. A method for recording data and management data for managing said data transferred from a first recording medium having a data area in which said data are stored and a management data area in which said management data are stored and reproducing said data and said management data from said first recording medium, comprising the steps of:

selecting, in accordance with a user operation, group management data to be stored in said first recording medium, said group management, stored in said management data area, managing a plurality of said data as a data group;

reading the selected group management data and said data group managed by said selected group management data, and

transferring the read group management data and said data group managed by said group management data to an external device;

recording said data group to a data area of a second recording medium and said group management data into a management data area thereof,

selecting, in accordance with a user operation, said group management data recorded on said second recording medium;

reproducing a plurality of said data managed by said group management data; and

controlling said reproducing step so as to reproduce, in units of said data group, the plural data managed by the selected group management data.

37. A data transfer method for transferring data from a recording medium having a data area in which said data are stored and a management data area in which management data for managing said data, comprising the steps of:

selecting, in accordance with a user operation, album management data to be stored in said recording medium, said album management data, stored in said management data area, managing a plurality of said music data as album data;

reading the selected album management data and said album data managed thereby; and

transferring the read album management data and the read album data managed thereby to an external device.