JP2002044605A - Digital recording system for av network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital recording system for an AV network, capable of digitally recording many pieces of component information, regarding its own contents of digital broadcasting, even if a user is not conscious of it. SOLUTION: The digital recording system for the AV network is constituted to choose the contents of a signal output to a digital recorder which is connected to the network represented by an IEEE1394 serial bus, so as not to exceed its recording rate selection (ST16).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital recording system in an AV network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art IEEE 139 is one of the technologies for connecting and connecting home and personal AV systems to a network.
There are four serial buses. When an AV / C command is used in an AV network using IEEE1394, devices on the AV network can specify and control each other.

[0003] As a known example of such an apparatus having the IEEE1394 interface, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-2000.
There is a device control device and a device controlled device disclosed in JP-A-1747782.

[0004] For example, a digital VCR (digital VTR) is available as a recording device that can record a digital signal of a satellite broadcast (MPEG2 transport stream) as it is, or perform conventional A / D conversion of an analog video to digital recording. Hereinafter, an example of such a digital VCR will be abbreviated as DVHS.

[0005] When a DVHS device stores a BS digital broadcast, for example, a digital TV on an AV network is used.
From the digital TV (selection reception), from this digital TV
After specifying a specific DVHS device on the EEE1394 serial bus and selecting its recording mode (the upper limit of the recordable transmission band changes), recording (recording) is started.

If the recording rate of the DVHS device is insufficient for the recorded content (HS, S,
If you can select only TD, etc., give up the digital recording and convert it to analog recording of video and audio only, or discard the components desired by the user (units of more subdivided contents sent as a program) It is necessary to adjust the recording so that it falls within the recording band (the recording rate of the device used) and record the data.

[0007]

When a program to be recorded includes a plurality of contents, it is unclear to the general public what to choose as a minimum for his or her own recording, and this applies to the recording band. Selecting such content is complicated and complicated. That is, when trying to record a program that does not fit into the maximum recording rate on the DVHS device side, it is extremely difficult to select the content.

When a DVHS device acts as a controller to record a program (MPEG2 transport stream) from a digital TV, the DVHS device requires a transmission band of a desired program and the current transmission band. It is difficult to judge whether or not it fits in the recording mode. In particular, if the program information to be recorded contains at least one copy-protected content, the DV
Unless the HS device has a function capable of individually separating contents therein, recording of the entire program becomes impossible.

[0009] Even in the above case, the recording operation is possible if a program which is not copy-prohibited is known in advance. However, practically, it is sufficient only by a method in which the digital TV becomes a controller and a recording instruction is issued to the DVHS side. No response.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital recording system in an AV network capable of digitally recording a large amount of component information relating to digital broadcast unique contents without the user being conscious of the contents. To provide.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a digital recording system in an AV network according to the present invention provides a digital recording device (16) connected to an AV network represented by an IEEE 1394 serial bus. In the signal output, the content of the signal output is selected (ST16) so as not to exceed the recording rate of the digital recording device (16).

The selection (ST16) is performed so that the recording rate required by the content of the signal output does not exceed the recording rate of the digital recording device (16) (ST1601 to ST1616).

[0013] The output conditions (designation of components that fall within the recording rate) to the digital recording device (16) can be automatically performed without receiving an instruction from another device (12) connected to the AV network. (ST1)
607).

In other words, the AV according to the present invention
The digital recording system in the network gives priority to the content according to the operation status of the other device (12) connected to the AV network, and matches the recording content so as not to exceed the maximum recording rate of the digital recording device (16). The feature is that a recording signal selection method is adopted.

In the digital recording system in the AV network according to the present invention, when the digital recording device (16) requests the other device (12), such as a digital TV, to output a channel selection signal, the digital recording device (16) can output the selected signal. Instead of outputting all the contents, a recordable content is selected and output.

A source device (a digital TV 12 for providing digital information for recording to the digital recording device 16) usable in the digital recording system in the AV network according to the present invention includes the digital recording device (1).
6), the digital recording device (1)
It can be configured to perform selection of the signal output content (ST16 or the processing of FIG. 4) so as not to exceed the recording rate of 6).

Further, a digital recording device (16) usable in the digital recording system in the AV network according to the present invention has a signal output from a source device (12) for providing the digital recording device 16 with digital information for recording. The content of this signal output is selected (ST) so as not to exceed the recording rate of the digital recording device (16).
16 or the processing of FIG. 3).

According to the digital recording system of the present invention (or a source device or a recording device that can be used in this system), digital recording can be performed without the user being conscious of many pieces of component information relating to digital broadcast unique contents. . In addition, digital recording is not possible due to the condition of some components (eg, only some components are copy-protected), and the user is not forced to select uncommon components. Also, it is possible to perform the minimum digital recording.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital recording system in an AV network according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

AV / C with television broadcast receiving function
The digital TV 12 (GUID: 1) corresponding to the command is
It includes a tuner subunit 12A, a monitor subunit (not shown), and an IEEE1394 I / F 12B. The antenna 10 is connected to the tuner subunit 12A. The antenna 10 includes a BS (satellite broadcast) antenna, a UHF antenna, a VHF antenna, and the like according to the type of radio wave to be received. As another example including the tuner subunit 12A, although not shown,
There is a set-top box (STB).

IEEE1394I / of digital TV12
One or more AV / C command compatible devices (16 to 2) are connected to the F12B via the IEEE 1394 serial bus 14.
0) is the network connection (daisy chain connection and / or
Or star connection).

An AV / C command compatible device A16 (GUI
D: 2) is a tape recorder / player subunit (hereinafter abbreviated as a tape subunit) 16A and IEEE.
E1394I / F16B is provided. The AV / C command compatible device B18 and device C20 are also not shown,
Built-in EE1394 I / F.

The AV / C command compatible device A includes a digital tape recorder (DVHS, DV, etc.) and a digital disk recorder (DVD-RAM, DVD-R).
W, DVD streamer, HDD recorder, etc.). In the case of a digital tape recorder, a tape subunit 16A is used as a recording / reproducing subunit, whereas in the case of a digital disc recorder, a disk subunit (not shown) is used as a recording / reproducing subunit.

In the system configuration shown in FIG.
The V12 can operate as a source device that supplies digital information for recording to a digital recording device (digital VCR) 16.

When the IEEE 1394 interface is used, it is possible to confirm what kind of device is connected between the devices connected to the network.

For example, each device (16 to 20)
The contents of the digital TV 12 can be known from the following information via the EE1394 bus 14.

* The ID of the digital TV is XXX ... XX
X, vendor name is T company, model name is "model name ABC"; * It has a tuner subunit and a monitor subunit.

Similarly, the digital TV 12 can know, for example, that the device A16 has the following contents.

* Digital VCR (VTR) ID is YY
Y ... YYY, vendor name is M company, model name is "model name XYZ"; * has a tuner subunit and a tape subunit.

The digital TV 12 that has obtained the above information,
Data can be exchanged with the digital VCR 16 by isochronous transfer (or asynchronous transfer) using a predetermined channel number based on IEEE1394.

In the IEEE 1394, the following items are determined after the reset until a state where normal packet transfer is performed.

(1) Identification of a node connected to the IEEE 1394 bus (determining parent-child relationship between nodes); (2) Root node (in FIG. 1, digital TV 12 is a root node); (3) Self-identification (FIG. 1) (4) Isochronous resource manager; (5) cycle master; (6) bus manager.

When a node (for example, digital TV or digital VCR) connected to the IEEE 1394 bus is determined, normal packet transfer (isochronous transfer or asynchronous transfer) is started.

Here, the isochronous transfer refers to a transfer method in which data is transmitted and received at regular intervals (125 μs). In the format of the packet transferred by isochronous transfer, the ID of the transfer destination is not added, but the channel number is added. On the other hand, asynchronous transfer is a transfer method for transmitting and receiving data at an arbitrary time.

Although not shown, the IEEE provided in each device is
The E1394 communication controller includes hardware and software (firmware) necessary for IEEE1394 processing (determination of the above items, etc.).

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an IEEE 13 standard represented by various AV / C commands is transmitted between the devices (12 to 20).
The communication using the asynchronous transfer at 94 is performed.

There are various AV / C commands that can be used in the embodiment of the present invention. For example, "POWER" for managing a power supply state and a tape (recording medium)
"LOAD MEDIUM" for loading / unloading of data and "TAPER R" for setting digital recording format
“ECORDING FORMAT”, “RECORD” for recording, “PLAY” for playback, “SUBUNIT IN” for checking subunit information
FO ”,“ UNIT IN ”to check unit information
FO "and the like.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a group of components transmitted as a program service with respect to the content recorded by the digital recording system of FIG. The components transmitted by digital broadcasting are roughly divided into a component of the main program MP and a component of the additional data AD.

Examples of components of the main program MP include a main video, a sub video, a main audio, a sub video, a sub audio 2, a sub audio 3, a subtitle, a supermarket, and the like. In addition, additional data AD
Examples of the components are an entry component, data 2, data 3, data 4 (video), and data 5
(Voice).

The basic component indicates the one having the smallest component tag value in the received signal. The following is an example of each component and the corresponding component tag value: If the tag value is 0x00, the basic component is 0x00.

In BS digital broadcasting and the like, maximum transmission rate information (maximum_bit_rate) is defined as a default range. To perform transmission other than the default value,
Maximum transmission rate information is transmitted (Componen in PMT
t_Descriptor descriptor).

The required transmission rate is determined based on the information, and the transmission rate is compared with the recording mode on the DVHS side (the maximum recording rate possible in that mode).

Depending on the type of component, the default value of the corresponding transmission rate can be defined as follows: Component type Corresponding transmission rate Video (1080 interlace) ... a Mbps Video (720 progressive) ... b Mbps video (480 progressive)… c Mbps video (480 interlace)… d Mbps voice (standard stereo)… ≦ e kbps voice (high sound quality stereo)… ≦ f kbps voice (5.1CH stereo)… ≦ g kbps data ( Additional data; sum)… h Mbps data (caption)… i kbps data (super character)… j kbps Here, the additional data is XML (eXtended Markup Langua).
ge) etc.

In the above example of the transmission rate corresponding to the component, the transmission rate of 1080 interlaced video and 720 progressive video (a Mbps ≧ b Mbp)
s) belongs to the largest transmission rate, the 480 progressive video transmission rate (cMbps) belongs to the next highest transmission rate, and the 480 interlace video transmission rate (d Mbps) belongs to the smallest transmission rate among the video components. .

In the above example of the component-compatible transmission rate, the additional data (sum) has the same transmission rate (h Mbps) as that of the 480 interlaced video, and the transmission rate (i.
kbps, j kbps) have a value smaller than the transmission rate of the additional data (sum). Audio transmission rate (e
(kbps <f kbps <g kbps) has the same transmission rate as the transmission rate of caption data and character super data.

Further, the default value of the transmission rate for each program service can be defined as follows according to the type of service: Type of service Corresponding transmission rate Digital TV service (1080i) ... k Mbps Digital TV service (720p) ... m Mbps Digital TV service (480p) ... n Mbps Digital TV service (480i) ... p Mbps Digital TV service (multi-view) ... q Mbps Digital voice service ... r Mbps Data service ... s Mbps In the example of the transmission rate, the digital TV service (1080i) (720p) (720p)
Transmission rate (k Mbps, m Mbps, q Mb
ps) belongs to the largest transmission rate, and the transmission rate (n M) of the digital TV service (480p) (480i)
(bps, p Mbps) belong to the next highest transmission rate.

In the above example of the transmission rate corresponding to the service, the transmission rates of the data service and the digital voice service (s Mbps ≧ r Mbps) have values smaller than the transmission rates of the respective digital TV services.

In the above-described example, for example, from the digital TV 12 shown in FIG.
bps) and high-quality stereo sound (≦ f kbps)
And three components of data service (s Mbps) are output, and the output is digitally recorded. In this case, the required transmission rate is "c + f
+ S ”Mbps, and the digital VCR 16 of FIG. 1 needs to support a maximum recording rate of“ c + f + s ”Mbps or more.

Now, in the system configuration of FIG.
For a specific device A (digital VCR) 16 connected to the EE1394 serial bus 14, a digital TV 12
Consider a case in which a recording operation is performed from the beginning.

In this case, for all components of the specified program, [Process 1] First, components that cannot be received, such as components of a pay broadcast that the user has not purchased, are extracted; [Process 2] Copy protection is further performed Remove components that cannot be recorded (recorded), such as hanging components.

In this state, when the transmission rate required to transmit the sum of receivable / recordable components is higher than the maximum recording rate of the partner device A (recording device VCR) 16, the digital TV 12 sets Process 3] Components are selected in accordance with the conditions under which the digital TV 12 is operating (conditions 1 and 2 below) so that the required transmission rate of the component sum falls within the maximum recording rate of the partner device A (VCR) 16 To

The above condition 1 is applied to the case of scheduled recording (future recording). In condition 1, a basic component (video and audio as a reference in a program) is selected; other components (sub-video and audio, etc.) are added as long as the recording rate has a margin. If the recording rate is insufficient, this component is not added. Also,
As long as the recording rate is not exceeded, additional data is added in ascending order of component tag value.

The above condition 2 is applied to the case where the currently viewed program is recorded (current recording). In condition 2,
The video and audio currently being viewed are selected. If the selected information does not contain basic components,
Basic components are added as long as the recording rate is not exceeded. Here, if the recording rate is insufficient, it is not added. Further, additional data is added in ascending order of component tag value within a range not exceeding the recording rate.

Here, other devices (device B, device C in FIG. 1)
Etc.) to an oPCR (output Plug Control Register) (when an oPCR register setting is made from another device), the other party (device B, device C, etc. in FIG. 1) communicates with a specific device (for example, a tuner). If the set-top box STB) incorporates the above [Processing 1],
By performing the process of [Process 2], an MPEG2 transport stream signal can be output. In some cases, the determination of [Processing 3] can be added from the recording mode of the partner device (digital VCR).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the digital recording system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the program which the user wants to record is shown in FIG.
(Step ST10).

Next, a recording device (here, digital VCR 16) on the AV network is specified (step S).
T12). This device specification can be performed by setting in advance or by the user selecting the device on the spot.

When the recording device (VCR 16) is specified,
The digital TV 12 uses an AV / C command and uses the IEEE
The recording mode of the device is obtained via the E1394 serial bus 14 (step ST14). This recording mode uses the AV / C command “TAPE RECORDIN”.
G FORMAT ".

When data including the recording mode of the recording device (VCR 16) is set in advance, A
Instead of using the V / C command, the pre-acquired data can be used.

Next, based on the acquired information on the recording mode (such as the maximum recording rate) and the information on the recorded program received by the digital TV 12 (such as the required rate of each component), the recording is actually performed on the recording device (VCR 16). The content to be recorded is (automatically) selected (step ST16). Details of the automatic selection of the content will be described later with reference to FIGS.

When the selection of the content to be recorded is completed, the digital TV 12 transmits the program content to be recorded to the recording device (VCR1) via the IEEE 1394 serial bus 14.
A process for isochronous transmission to 6) is started (step ST18).

Simultaneously with (or immediately after) the start of the isochronous transmission, the digital TV 12 sends an AV / C command “RECORD” to the recording device (VCR 16).
Is transferred asynchronously. Thereby, recording of the program received by the digital TV 12 by the digital VCR 16 is started (step ST20).

FIG. 3 shows a process of selecting content to be recorded (step ST1) in the flowchart of FIG.
It is a flowchart explaining an example of the content of 6). This flowchart shows that the user can use the digital VCR1 of FIG.
6 shows processing applicable to the case of performing scheduled recording.

First, program components that have not been purchased for recording or viewing have been deleted (step ST16).
01).

Next, if there is a component for which recording is prohibited (copy protected), the component is deleted (step ST1602).

Steps ST1601, ST1602
If no component remains after the deletion process (No in step ST1603), a display such as "no content to be recorded" is appropriately displayed on the screen (not shown) of digital TV 12 in FIG. 1 (step ST160).
4), the process of FIG. 3 ends in error.

Steps ST1601, ST1602
If the component remains after the deletion process (YES in step ST1603), the recording rate required to record the remaining component is calculated (step ST1603).
1605).

For example, if the remaining components are c
Assuming that a video requesting a rate of Mbps, an audio requesting a rate of f Mbps, and service data requiring a rate of s Mbps are included, "c + f +
"s" Mbps (Mbps value obtained by rounding up a fraction when c + f + s includes a fraction) is calculated as a rate required for recording (step ST1605).

If the calculated required rate is within the recording rate of the device (digital VCR / VTR 16 in FIG. 1) used for recording (YES in step ST1606), recording is possible, so the selected component (step ST1603) Only the remaining components are designated as the recording data (step ST160)
7).

After specifying the recording data for recording in this way, the process shifts to step ST18 in FIG.

If the required rate calculated in step ST1605 exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST16)
06 No), since recording cannot be performed as it is, in step ST1603, components other than the basic components (video and audio used as references in the program) are deleted from the remaining components. Then, a necessary recording rate is calculated for the remaining basic components (step ST1608).

If the required rate for the basic component left after the processing in step ST1608 exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR 16) used for recording (step ST1609 NO),
The display "Recording is not possible" is displayed on the digital TV
12 (not shown) (step ST).
1610), the processing in FIG. 3 ends in error.

If the required rate for the basic components left after the processing in step ST1608 is within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR 16) used for recording (step ST1609 YES), the remaining basic components are The recording rate required to record the main program (MP in FIG. 5) is calculated (step S).
T1611).

If the required rate of the main program component calculated in the process of step ST1611 exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST1612: NO), the main program component Of which recording equipment (VCR / VT
Only the range that falls within the vacant recording rate of R16) is selected (step ST1613). Only the component selected in this way is designated as the recording data (step ST1607).

If the required rate of the main program component calculated in the process of step ST1611 is within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST1612: YES), the additional data (FIG. 5) AD) component is selected, and a rate required for recording information in which the additional data is further added to the main program component is calculated (step ST1).
614).

If the required rate of the main program component + additional data calculated in the process of step ST1614 falls within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (YES in step ST1615), this main program Component + additional data is designated as recording data (step ST1607).

If the required rate of the main program component + additional data calculated in the process of step ST1614 exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (No in step ST1615), the additional data Recording equipment (VCR / VTR)
Only the range that falls within the vacant recording rate of 16) is selected (step ST1616). Only the component selected in this way is designated as the recording data (step ST1607).

After the recording data has been designated, the process proceeds to step ST18 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for selecting a content to be recorded (step ST1).
It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the content of 6). This flowchart shows that the user can use the digital TV 12 shown in FIG.
2 shows processing applicable when recording a program currently being viewed.

Hereinafter, the processing after step ST1606 including the processing different from the processing of FIG. 3 will be described.

If the required rate calculated in step ST1605 exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST16)
06 No), since recording cannot be performed as it is, in step ST1603, components other than the currently viewed video and audio components are deleted from the remaining components. Then, the necessary recording rate for the remaining current viewing component is calculated (step ST1608).
A).

If the required rate for the current viewing component left after the processing in step ST1608A exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (No in step ST1609), a message such as "recording is not possible" is made. The display is appropriately displayed on the screen (not shown) of the digital TV 12 in FIG. 1 (step ST1610), and the processing in FIG. 3 ends in error.

If the required rate for the current viewing component left after the processing in step ST1608A is within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR 16) used for recording (step ST1609 YES), the remaining current viewing component is displayed. A recording rate required to further record components of the additional data (AD in FIG. 5) related to viewing is calculated (step S).
T1611A).

If the required rate of the component (current viewing component + additional data component) calculated in the process of step ST1611A exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (NO in step ST1612) ), Out of the calculated components, the component of the additional data related to the viewing is a recording / using device (VCR / VTR1
Only the range that falls within the vacant recording rate of 6) is selected (step ST1613A). Only the component selected in this way is designated as the recording data (step ST1607).

If the required rate of the component calculated in the process of step ST1611A is within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST1612: YES), the main program (FIG. 5)
The remaining components of MP) are selected, and the required recording rate including the selected components is calculated (step ST1614A).

If the required rate of the component data calculated in the process of step ST1614A falls within the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR 16) used for recording (step ST1615 YES), this component data is used as the recording data. It is specified (step ST1607).

If the required rate of the component data calculated in the process of step ST1614A exceeds the recording rate of the device (VCR / VTR16) used for recording (step ST1615 NO), the main program (FIG. 5) The remaining components of MP) are selected as long as they fall within the available recording rate of the recording device (VCR / VTR 16) (step ST1616A). Only the component selected in this way is designated as the recording data (step ST1607).

After specifying the recording data for recording in this way, the process proceeds to step ST18 in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made at the stage of implementation without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations as much as possible, and in such a case, effects of the combinations are obtained.

Furthermore, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in this application. For example, even if one or more components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, if the effects of the present invention can be obtained, a configuration from which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention. is there.

[0092]

As described above, according to the digital recording system of the present invention, it is possible to digitally record a large amount of component information relating to contents unique to digital broadcasting without requiring the user to be aware of it. The system is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the digital recording system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the content of a content to be recorded (step ST16) in the flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the content selection process (step ST16) of the content to be recorded in the flowchart process of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view exemplifying a group of components transmitted as a program service regarding content recorded by the digital recording system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Antenna (BS / UHF / VHF); 12: Digital TV; 12A: Tuner subunit; 12B, 1
6B: IEEE 1394 interface; 14: IE
EE1394 serial bus; 16 AV / C command compatible device A (digital VCR or digital VTR); 1
6A: Tape subunit; 18: AV / C command compatible device B; 20: AV / C command compatible device C: MP
Main program; AD: additional data.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ken Matsushita 1-9-2, Hara-cho, Fukaya-shi, Saitama F-term in the Toshiba Fukaya Video Factory (reference) 5C053 FA20 FA22 FA25 GB05 GB17 GB40 JA01 JA15 KA08 KA26 LA07 LA14 LA20 5D044 AB07 BC01 CC03 GK12 HL11 5K033 BA01 CC01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A signal output to a digital recording device connected to an AV network, wherein the content of the signal output is selected so as not to exceed the recording rate of the digital recording device. Digital recording system. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed such that a recording rate required by the content of the signal output does not exceed a recording rate of the digital recording device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output condition for the digital recording device is automatically determined without receiving an instruction from another device connected to the AV network. System. 4. In a case where devices connected to the AV network can include a digital recording device for recording digital information and a source device for providing digital information for recording to the digital recording device, the source device However, in the signal output to the digital recording device, the source device is configured to select the content of the signal output so as not to exceed the recording rate of the digital recording device. 5. In a case where devices connected to the AV network can include a digital recording device for recording digital information and a source device for providing the digital recording device with digital information for recording, the source device The digital recording device is configured to select contents of the signal output so that a signal output from the digital recording device does not exceed a recording rate of the digital recording device. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the selection is performed such that a recording rate required by the content of the signal output does not exceed a recording rate of the digital recording device. Equipment.