DE10010497B4 - Playback device and playback method - Google Patents

Abstract

A playback apparatus comprising: a memory (40) for recording a plurality of files and their playback frequency limitation information; an actuator (91) for selecting a desired file from the plurality of files stored in the memory (40) to the desired one Reproduce file; determining means (30) for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency limit information has been set on the file selected by the operating means (91); counting means (30) for determining the playing time of the file which selected by the actuator (91) to count; comparing means (30) for determining whether the playback elapsed time determined by the counting means (30) exceeds a predetermined value; and editing means (30) for editing the reproduction frequency limitation information stored in the memory (40), characterized in that the counting means (30) counts the reproduction elapsed time (S11) when the reproduction frequency limitation information has been set on the file , the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file stops and the previous count value of the playback elapsed time is saved (S7) when a fast forward command, a rewinding command or a playback pause command has been issued (S6), and the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file with the stored count value after stopping the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file (S7) when a playback command has been issued (S5); and the editing means (30) edits the reproduction frequency limit information when the reproduction elapsed time counted by the counting means (30) exceeds a predetermined value as a result of the determination by the comparing means (30).

Description

Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method for reproducing files having a reproduction limit information from a recording medium.

State of the art

An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) is an electrically rewritable memory that requires a large space because each bit consists of two transistors. This limits the integration of the EEPROM. To solve this difficulty. a flash memory was developed. which allows a bit to be represented by a transistor, and an all-bit erase system has been developed. Flash memory is regarded as a successor to conventional recording media, for example magnetic disks and optical disks.

A memory card using a flash memory is also known. The memory card can be freely attached to and detached from a device. A digital audio recording / playback device. using a memory card instead of a conventional CD (Compact Disc: trademark) or MD (Mini-Disc: trademark) can be manufactured.

On the other hand, if the audio / video information is digitized and used for multimedia, its copyright protection becomes important. In the field of information services, the user is provided with a record carrier on which digitized audio / video information. which has special playback limit information has been recorded. In addition, the digitized audio / video information, which has certain playback limitation information, is brought to the user via digital broadcasting or the Internet. The user can reproduce the supplied or circulated audio / video information (content) for the duration or frequency shown by the playback restriction information. If necessary, the user can record the desired audio / video information on a memory card at a predetermined cost.

A conventional audio player does not have to restrict the playback operation for the audio / video information recorded on a recording medium. However, as mentioned above, music programs are paid for in contrast to package carriers, for example CD's. In such a case, unlike a conventional device in which the user can freely reproduce the audio / video information from a medium that he has bought, the reproducing operation of data recorded on a medium that the user has bought can , be limited. Thus, it is necessary to clearly define the playback operation for the audio / playback information, and to set the frequency of playback and the playback time according to the determination. In other words, if the user listens to a particular music program for 30 seconds or more, it may be determined that the music program has been reproduced once. On the other hand, if the user has listened to the particular music program for 25 seconds and then jumped to the next music program, it may be determined that the particular music program has not been reproduced. If the user buys a music program, if he only listens to it three times, the user can buy it inexpensively.

In contrast, the user who has bought a compact carrier can usually freely reproduce music programs from it. In the very near future, however, a playback device could test various playback limitation information associated with the carriers. In other words, a playback device that does not operate in accordance with such playback restriction information cannot reproduce music programs that have playback restriction information. The playback device should manage the playback frequency, playback time, etc. according to the setting of the playback operation. Of course, values that are managed should be adequately secured.

A playback device according to the preamble of appended claim 1 is described in US 5 799 081 .

A method for the reproduction of video programs, in which payment for the reproduction of a video program is only to be made after the video program has been reproduced in full, is disclosed in US Pat US 5 619 247 known.

Object and overview of the invention

The object underlying the invention is to provide a playback device and a method for reproducing a selected file from a recording medium, with which playback of the file is reliably determined and the frequency of playback of the file can be limited in accordance with reproduction limit information.

This object is achieved in accordance with the features of the independent claims. The invention is developed by the features of the dependent claims.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure list

• 1 Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing the construction of a digital audio reproducing apparatus using a non-volatile memory card according to the present invention;
• 2nd is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a DSP 30th according to the present invention;
• 3rd is a block diagram, the internal structure of a memory card 40 according to the present invention;
• 4th Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a file management structure of a memory card as a storage medium according to the present invention;
• 5 is a schematic diagram showing the real structure of data in a flash memory 42 the memory card 40 according to the present invention;
• 6 is a data structure of the memory card 40 according to the present invention;
• 7 is a schematic diagram showing the hierarchy of the file structure in the memory card 40 shows;
• 8th Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the playback management file PBLIST.MSF, which is a sub-directory which is on the memory card 40 is saved;
• 9 Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the case that an ATRAC3 data file is divided into blocks with a predetermined unit length and that attribute files are added;
• 10A Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure before two files are edited with a combination process;
• 10B Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure after two files are edited by the one combining process;
• 10C Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure after a file is edited with a splitting process;
• 11 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a playback management file PBLIST:
• 12A Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a header area of the playback management file PBLIST;
• 12B Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a main data area of the playback management file PBLIST;
• 12C Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of an additional information data area of the playback management file PBLIST;
• 13 Fig. 12 is a table that concatenates showing the types of additional information data and their code values;
• 14 Fig. 12 is a concatenation table showing types of additional information data and their code values;
• 15 Fig. 12 is a concatenation table showing types of additional information data and their code values;
• 16A Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of additional information data;
• 16B Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the case where the additional information data is an artist name;
• 16C Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the case where additional information data is a copyright code;
• 16D Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the case where additional information data is the date / time information;
• 16E Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the case where the additional information data is a reproduction protocol;
• 17th Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed data structure of an ATRAC3 data file;
• 18th Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of an upper portion of an attribute header that forms an ATRAC3 data file;
• 19th Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a middle area of the attribute header that forms an ATRAC3 data file;
• 20th is a table that concatenates recording modes, recording time, etc.;
• 21st is a table. the copy control states shows:
• 22 Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a lower portion of the attribute header that forms an ATRAC3 data file;
• 23 Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a header of a data block of an ATRAC3 data file;
• 24th Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a recovery process according to the present invention in the event that a FAT area has been destroyed;
• 25th is a schematic diagram showing the data structure in the memory card 40 according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
• 26 Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between a track information management file TRKLIST.MSF and an ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnnn.MSA;
• 27th Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the track information data file TRKLIST.MSF in detail;
• 28 is a schematic representation of the data structure of NAME1 for managing a name shows in detail:
• 29 is a schematic representation of the data structure of NAME2 shows in detail for managing a name;
• 30th is a schematic representation that shows the data structure of an ATRAK3 data file A3Dnnnnn.MSA in detail:
• 31 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of INFLIST.MSF in detail, showing the additional information;
• 32 Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of INFLIST.MSF in detail, showing the additional information data;
• 33 Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a recovery process according to the second embodiment of the present invention in the event that a FAT area has been destroyed;
• 34 Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the construction of the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention; and
• 35 is a flow chart. which shows a reproduction limit information update method according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. 1 Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing the construction of a digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital audio recorder / player records and reproduces a digital audio signal using a removable memory card. In reality, the recording / reproducing apparatus consists of an audio system, that is, an amplifier, a speaker, a CD player, an MD recorder, a tuner, etc. However, it should be noted that the present invention also applies to other audio -Recorders can be applied. In other words, the present invention can be used in a portable recording / reproducing apparatus. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a set top box that records digital audio data that is being circulated, such as satellite data communication, digital broadcasting, or the Internet. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a system. which preferably records / reproduces moving picture data and still picture data to audio data. The system according to the embodiment of the present invention can include additional information, for example an image or a text. that is different from a digital audio signal, record and reproduce.

The recorder / player has an audio encoding / decoding IC 10th . a security IC 20th . one DSP 30th (Digital signal processor). Each of these devices consists of an IC chip. The recording / playback device has a removable memory card 40 . The IC chip of the memory card 40 has a flash memory (non-volatile memory), a memory control block and a security block. The security block has a DES encryption circuit (Data Encryption Standard). According to the embodiment, the recording / reproducing apparatus may use a microcomputer instead of the DSP 30th use.

The audio encoder / decoder IC 10th has an aduios interface 11 and an encoding / decoding block 12 . The coding / decoding block 12 encodes digital audio data according to a highly effective Coding procedure and writes the encoded data to the memory card 40 . The encoding / decoding block also decodes 12 encoded data from the memory card 40 to be read. The ATRAC3 format, ie. is a modification of ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) format used in Mini Disc.

The ATRAC3 format uses audio data. which are sampled at 44.1 kHz and quantized with 16 bits, coded very effectively. With the ATRAC3 format, the minimum data unit is audio data. which is processed, a sound unit ( SU ). 1 SU are data where data from 1024 Samples (1024 x 16 bits x 2 channels) on data of several hundred bytes are compressed. The duration of 1 SU is approximately 23 ms. With the highly effective coding method, the data volume of audio data is compressed onto data. which is about 10 times smaller than the original data. In contrast to the ATRAC 1 format, which is used in the mini-disk, the audio signal, which is compressed and decompressed in accordance with the ATRAX3 format, has less deterioration in the audio quality.

A line entry selector 13 optionally provides the playback output signal one MD , the output of a tuner or the playback output of a tape to an A / D converter 14. The A / D converter 14 converts the input line signal into a digital audio signal (sampling frequency = 44.1 kHz; the number of quantization bits = 16). A digital input selector 16 supplies either a digital output signal from an MD, a CD or a CS (Satellite Digital Broadcast) to a digital input receiver 17th . The digital input signal is transmitted via an optical cable, for example. An output signal from the digital input receiver 17th becomes a sample rate converter 15 delivered. The sample rate converter 15 converts the digital input signal into a digital audio signal (sampling frequency = 44.1 kHz; the number of quantization bits = 16).

The coding / decoding block 12 of the audio encoding / decoding IC 10th delivers the encoded data to a DES encryption circuit 22 via an interface 21st of the security IC 20th . The DES encryption circuit 22 has a FIFO 23 . The DES encryption circuit 22 is set up to protect the copyright of the content. The memory card 40 also has a DES encryption circuit. The DES encryption circuit of the recording / playback device has several master keys and a device-specific storage key. The DES encryption circuit 22 also has a random number generation circuit. The DES encryption circuit 22 can have an authorization process and a dialog key with the memory card 40 split proportionately. which the DES encryption circuit has. In addition, the DES encryption circuit 22 Decrypt data with the storage key of the DES encryption circuit.

The encrypted audio data. that of the DES encryption circuit 22 be issued. become one DSP 30th (Digital Signal Processor) supplied. The DSP 30th communicates with the memory card 40 via an interface. In this example is the memory card 40 attached to an attachment / detachment mechanism (not shown) of the recording / reproducing apparatus. The DSP 30th writes the encrypted data to the flash memory of the memory card 40 . The encrypted data is serial between the DSP 30th and the memory card 40 transfer. In addition there is an external one SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 31 with the DSP 30th connected. The SRAM 31 provides the recording / playback device with sufficient storage capacity, in order to store the memory card 40 to control.

A bus interface 32 is with that DSP 30th connected. The data is from an external controller (not shown) via a bus 33 to the DSP 30th delivered. The external control controls all operations of the audio system. The external controller supplies data such as a recording command or a playback command that is generated in accordance with a user's operation to an operation part DSP 30th via the bus interface 32 . In addition, the external controller supplies additional information, for example image information and character information, via the bus interface 32 to the DSP 30th . The bus 33 is a bidirectional communication path. The additional information from the memory card 40 is read, is used for external control via the DSP 30th , the bus interface 32 and the bus 33 delivered. In reality, the external control is arranged, for example, in an amplification unit of the audio system. In addition, the external control causes a display part to display the additional information. indicates the operation status of the recorder, etc. The display part is part of the audio system. Because data on the bus 33 be replaced. is not copyright-protected data, it is not encrypted.

The encrypted audio data. from the memory card 40 through the DSP 30th be read by the security IC 20th decrypted. The audio coding / decoding IC 10th decodes the encoded data according to the ATRAC3 format. Output data of the audio encoder / decoder 10th become a D / A converter 18th delivered. The D / A converter 18 sets the output data of the audio encoder / decoder 10th into an analog signal. The analog audio signal becomes a line output connector 19th delivered.

The analog audio signal becomes an amplifier (not shown) via the line output connector 19th delivered. The analog audio signal is reproduced by a loudspeaker or a headphone. The external controller provides a mute signal to the D / A converter 18. If the mute signal shows a mute on state, the external controller prevents the audio signal from the line output connector 19th is issued.

2nd is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the DSP 30th shows. According to 2nd includes the DSP 30th a core memory 34 . a flash memory 35 . one SRAM 36 . a bus interface 37 . a memory card interface 38 and Interbus bridges. The DSP 30th has the same function as a microcomputer. The core storage 34 is equivalent to a CPU. The flash memory 35 stores a program that causes the DSP 30th performs predetermined processes. The SRAM 36 and the external SRAM 31 are used as the RAM of the recording / playback device.

The DSP 30th controls a writing process for writing encrypted audio data and the additional information to the memory card 40 corresponding to an operation signal, for example a record command, which is sent via the bus interfaces 32 and 37 is received, and a reading process. to read them from. In other words, it is DSP 30th between the application software side of the audio system, which records / reproduces audio data and additional information, and the memory card 40 arranged. The DSP 30th is operated when on the memory card 40 is accessed. In addition, the DSP 30th according to the software. operated for example a file system.

The DSP 30th manages files in the memory card 40 are saved. with the FAT system, which is used in conventional personal computers. In addition to the file system, a management file is used according to the embodiment of the present invention. The management file will be described later. The management file is used for this. Data files in the memory card 40 are saved. manage. The management file as the first file management information is used to manage audio data files. In contrast, the FAT used as second file management information to all files including audio files and management files. those in the flash memory of the memory card 40 are saved to manage. The management file is in the memory card 40 saved. The FAT will be in the flash memory together with the route directory etc. before the memory card 40 is sent, written. The details of the FAT will be described later.

According to the embodiment of the present invention. to protect the copyright of data. Audio data. encrypted according to the ATRAC3 format. Against. since it is not necessary. to protect the copyright of the management file, it is not encrypted. There are two types of memory cards, an encryption type and a non-encryption type. However, a memory card is for use with the recorder / player. which records copyright-protected data is restricted to the encryption type.

Sound data and image data. which are recorded by users. are recorded on non-encryption type memory cards.

3rd is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the memory card 40 shows. The memory card 40 includes a control block 41 and a flash memory 42 . which are constructed as a one-chip IC. A bidirectional serial interface is between the DSP 30th the recorder / player and the memory card 40 arranged. The bidirectional serial interface consists of 10th Lines, ie a clock line SCK for transmitting a clock signal, which is transmitted together with data. a status line SBS for transmitting a signal showing a status to a data line DIO for transferring data, a separating line INT , two GND lines, two INT lines and two reserved lines.

The clock line SCK is used to transmit a clock signal in synchronism with data. The status line SBS is used to transmit a signal indicating the status of the memory card 40 shows. The data line DIO is used for this. to input and output a command and encrypted audio data. The separation line INT is used to transmit a separation signal. which causes the memory card 40 from DSP 30th the recorder / player is disconnected. If the memory card 40 is attached in the recorder / playback device. creates the memory card 40 the disconnect signal. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the separation signal is via the data line DIO is transmitted is the separation signal INT grounded.

A serial / parallel conversion block, a parallel / serial conversion block and an interface block (S / P-. P / S-. I / F block) 43 is an interface. the between the DSP 30th of Recorders / players and the control block 41 the memory card 40 is arranged. The S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 sets serial data from the DSP 30th of the recorder / playback device are received into parallel data and supplies parallel data to the control block 41 . In addition, the S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 parallel data from the control block 41 received into serial data and delivers the serial data to DSP 30th . If the S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 a command and data over the data line DIO receives, the S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 these into those that are normally on the flash memory 42 is accessed. and those that are encrypted.

In the format with which data is transmitted over the data line DIO be transmitted after a command has been transmitted. the data is transferred. The S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 determines the code of a command and determines whether the command and the data are those that are normally accessed or those. which are encoded. The S / P- saves according to the result of the determination. P / S and IF block 43 a command that is normally accessed in a command register 44 and stores data that is normally accessed in a page (data) buffer 45 and a write register 46 . In connection with the write register 46 owns the memory card 40 an error correction code coding circuit 47 ( ECC ). The error correction code coding circuit 47 generates a redundant code that is an error correction for data that is temporarily stored in the page (data) buffer 45.

Output data of the command register 44 , the page buffer 45 , the write register 46 and the error correction code encoding circuit 47 become a flash memory interface and sorter 51 (hereinafter referred to as the memory I / F sorter). The memory IF sorter 51 is an interface. between the control block 41 and the flash memory 42 is arranged and controls data that are exchanged between them. The data is in the flash memory via the memory IF sorter 51 written.

Audio data that is compressed in accordance with the ATRAC3 format and written to the flash memory (hereinafter, this audio data is referred to as ATRAC3 data) is generated by the security IC 20th of the recorder / player and the security block 52 the memory card 40 encrypted to protect the copyright of the ATRAC3 data. The security block 52 includes a buffer memory 53 , a DES encryption circuit 54 and a non-volatile memory 55 .

The security block 52 the memory card 40 has multiple authorization keys and a unique memory key for each memory card. The non-volatile memory 55 stores a key. which is necessary to encrypt the data. The key. that in non-volatile memory 45 is saved. cannot be analyzed. According to the embodiment, for example, a memory key is in the non-volatile memory 55 saved. The security block 52 also has a random number generation circuit. The security block 52 authorizes a suitable recorder / playback device and shares a dialog key with it. The security block is also encrypted 52 again the content with the storage key via the DSE encryption circuit 54 .

For example, if the memory card 40 attached to the recorder / playback device, they are mutually authorized. The security IC 20th of the recorder / player and the security block 52 the memory card 40 mutually authorize each other. When the recorder / playback device has the attached memory card 40 authorized as a suitable memory card and the memory card 40 has authorized the recorder / playback device as a suitable recorder / playback device. they are mutually authorized. If the mutual authorization process has been carried out successfully, the recorder / playback device and the memory card generate 40 corresponding dialog key. that they share with each other. When the recorder / player and the memory card 40 mutually authorized, they generate the corresponding dialog key.

When the content is on the memory card 40 is written, the recorder / playback device encrypts a content key with a dialog key and delivers the encrypted data to the memory card 40 . The memory card 40 decrypts the content key with the dialog key. encrypts the content key again with a storage key and delivers the content key to the recorder / playback device. The storage key is a unique key for every memory card. When the recorder / player receives the encrypted content key, the recorder / player performs a formatting process for the encrypted content key and writes the encrypted content key and the encrypted content to the memory card 40 .

In the section above was the write process for the memory card 40 described. Then the reading process for the memory card 40 described. Data from the flash memory 42 to be read. become a page buffer 45 . to the Reading registers 48 (RD.Reg) and for error correction circuit 49 via the memory IF sorter 51 delivered. The error correction circuit 49 (ECC) corrects an error in the data stored in the page buffer 45 are saved. Output data of the page buffer 45 that have been corrected and the read register output data 48 become S / P-. P / S and IF block 43 delivered. The output data of the S / P, P / S and IF blocks 43 become the DSP 30th of the recorder / playback device via the serial interface described above.

If data from the memory card 40 to be read. becomes the content key. which was encrypted with the memory key, and the content. which was encrypted with the block key. from the flash memory 42 read. The security block 52 decrypts the content key with the storage key. The security block 52 decrypts the decrypted content key with the dialog key and transmits the decrypted content key to the recorder / playback device. The recorder / playback device decrypts the content key with the received dialog key and generates a block key with the decrypted content key. The recorder / playback device gradually decrypts the encrypted ATRAC3 data.

A configuration ROM 50 (CONFIG ROM) is a memory. which is the partition information. various types of attribute information, etc. of the memory card 40 saves. The memory card 40 also has an extinguisher protection switch 60 . If the switch 60 is in the erase protection position, even if a command that causes the memory card 40 Deletes data in flash memory 42 from the side of the recorder / playback device to the memory card 40 Delivered prevents data stored in flash memory 42 are saved from the memory card 40 to be deleted. An OSC cont. 61 is an oscillator that generates a clock signal which is the reference of the timing of the process of the memory card 40 forms.

4th Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the hierarchy of processes of the file system of the computer system using a memory card as a storage medium. In the hierarchy, the upper hierarchy level is an application process level. The application process level is followed by a file management process level, a management level for logical addresses, a management level for a real address and an access level for a flash memory. With the above hierarchical structure, the file management process level is the FAT file system. Real addresses are assigned to the individual blocks of the flash memory. The relationship between the blocks of the flash memory and its real addresses does not change. Logical addresses are addresses that are handled logically at the level of the file management process.

5 is a schematic diagram showing the real structure of data stored in flash memory 42 the memory card 40 be handled. In the storage room 42 is a data unit (called a segment) divided into a predetermined number of blocks (fixed length). A block is divided into a predetermined number of data pages (fixed length). In the flash memory, data is deleted as a block at the same time. Data is in the flash memory 42 written or read from it page by page at the same time. The size of each block is the same. Likewise, the size of each page is the same. A block consists of page 0 to side m. For example, a block has a memory capacity of 8 KB (kilobytes) or 16 KB, for example. One page has a memory capacity of 512 bytes. If a block has a storage capacity of 8 KB. is the total storage capacity of the flash memory 42 equal to 4 MB ( 512 Blocks) or 8 MB ( 1024 Blocks). If a block has a storage capacity of 16 KB. is the total storage capacity of the flash memory 42 16 MB ( 1024 Blocks). 32 MB ( 2048 Blocks) or 64 MB ( 4096 Blocks).

One page consists of a data area of 512 bytes and a redundant area of 16 bytes. The first three bytes of the redundant area are an overwrite area that is rewritten. when data is updated. The first three bytes contain a block status area in succession. a page status area and an update status area. The remaining 13 bytes of the redundant area are fixed data, which depend on the content of the data area. The 13 bytes include a management flag area (1 byte), a logic address area (2 bytes), a format reserve area (5 bytes), a distribution information ECC area (2 bytes) and a data ECC area (3 bytes). The distribution information ECC area contains redundant data for an error correction process against the management flag area, the logic address area and the format reserve area. The data ECC area contains redundant data for an error correction process against 512 byte data.

The management flag area contains a system flag ( 1 : User block, 0: boot block), a conversion table flag ( 1 : invalid, 0: table block), a copy prohibition flag ( 1 : OK, O: NG) and an access permission flag ( 1 : free. 0: read protection).

The first two blocks - blocks 0 and 1 - are boat blocks. The block 1 is a fuse block of the block 0 . The boot blocks are header blocks that are valid in the memory card. If the Memory card is attached to the recorder / playback device, the boot blocks are first accessed. The remaining blocks are user blocks. The page 0 of the boot block contains a header area. a system entry address area and a boot and attribute information area. The page 1 of the boot block contains a prohibition block data area. The page 2nd of the boot block contains a CIS (Card Information Structure) / IDI (identify Drive Information) area.

The header of the boot block contains a boot block ID and the number of effective input addresses. The system input addresses are the start position of the prohibition block data, their data size, their data type, their data start position of the CIS / IDI area, their data size and their data type. The boot information and the attribute information contain the memory card type (read-only type, rewritable type or hybrid type), the block size. the number of blocks, the number of all blocks, the security / non-security type. the card manufacturing data (manufacturing date) etc.

Since the flash memory has a limitation on the rewriting frequency due to the deterioration of the insulation film. it's necessary. to prevent the same memory area (block) from being concentratedly accessed. If there is data at a certain logical address. which is stored in a specific real address can be rewritten. updated data of a certain block is preferably written into an unused block to the original block. After data is updated. the relationship between the logical address and the real address changes. This process is referred to as a swap process. This prevents concentrated access to the same block. This can extend the life of the flash memory.

The logical address is associated with data written in the block. Even if the block of the original data is different from the block of the updated data, the address on the changes FAT Not. This means that the same data can be accessed appropriately. However, since the rearrangement process is being performed, a translation table that relates logic addresses and real addresses is required (this table is called a logic-real address translation table). With respect to the logic real address translation table becomes a real address. which corresponds to the logical address on the FAT is determined. receive. This means that a block that is determined by a real address can be accessed.

The DSP 30th stores the logic real address translation table in the SRAM . When the memory capacity of the RAM is small. the logic real address translation table can be stored in flash memory. The logic real address translation table brings logical addresses (2 bytes), which are sorted in increasing order. with real addresses (2 bytes) in connection. Because the maximum storage capacity of the flash memory 128 MB ( 8192 Blocks), 8192 addresses can be assigned to 2 bytes. The logic real address translation table is maintained for each segment. The size of the logic real address conversion table is therefore proportional to the storage capacity of the flash memory. If the storage capacity of the flash memory 8th MB ( 2nd Segments). will 2nd Pages used as the logic real address translation table for each of the segments. When the conversion table is saved in flash memory. shows a predetermined bit of the management flag area in the redundant area on each side whether the current block is a block. which the logic real address translation table contains or not.

The memory card described above can be used with the FAT file system of a personal computer system such as the disk-shaped recording medium. The flash memory has an IPL area. a FAT area and a route directory area (not in 5 shown). The IPL area contains the address of a program. which is initially to be loaded into the memory of the recorder / playback device. In addition, the IPL area contains various types of storage information. The FAT area contains information related to blocks (clusters). The FAT has defined unused blocks, the next block number, bad blocks and the last block number. The path directory area contains directory input addresses. which is a file attribute. Update dates (day, month, year). the file size, etc.

Then with the help of 6 describes an administrative procedure using the FAT table.

6 Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a memory card. The header area of the memory card is a partition table area. The partition table area is followed by a block area, a boot sector, a FAT area, a FAT save area, a path directory area, a sub-directory area and a data area. Logical addresses are converted on the memory card into real addresses in accordance with the logic-real address conversion table.

The boat sector, the FAT area. the FAT backup area, the route directory area. the The subdirectory area and the data area are called the FAT partition area.

The partition table area contains the start address and the end address of the FAT partition area.

The FAT used with a conventional floppy disk. does not have such a partition table. Since the first track is just a partition table, this is an empty area. The boot sector contains the size of the FAT structure ( 12 bit FAT or 16 bit FAT ). the cluster size and the size of each area. The FAT is used to manage the location of a file. which is recorded in the data area. The FAT copy area is a FAT save area. The path directory area contains file names, their start cluster addresses and various attributes thereof. The path directory area uses 32 bytes per file.

The subdirectory area is maintained as a directory by a directory attribute file. At the in 6 embodiment shown has the sub-directory area 4th Files named PBLIST.MSF. CAT.MSF, DOG.MSF and MAN.MFA. The subdirectory area is used for this. Filenames and recording positions in the FAT manage. In other words, the slot of the file name CAT.MSF of the address " 5 " in the FAT assigned. The slot of the file name DOG.MSF will be the address " 10th " in the FAT assigned. An area after the cluster 2nd is used as a data area. In this embodiment, audio data compressed according to the ATRAC3 format is recorded. The header of the file name MAN.MSA will be the address " 110 " in the FAT allocated. According to the embodiment of the present invention, audio data with the file name CAT.MSF is clustered 5 to 8th recorded. Audio data from DOG-1 as the first half of the file with the file name DOG.MSF are in the clusters 10th to 12 recorded. Audio data DOG-2 as the second half of the file with the file name DOG.MSF are in the clusters 100 and 101 recorded. Audio data with the file name MAN.MSF are stored in the clusters 110 and 111 recorded.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which a single file is divided into two areas and recorded scattered will be described. In the embodiment, an "empty" area in the data area is a writable area. An area after the cluster 200 is used to manage file names. The CAT.MSF file is in the cluster 200 recorded. The DOG.MSF file is in the cluster 201 recorded. The MAN.MSF file is in the cluster 202 recorded. When the positions of the files are changed. becomes the area after the cluster 200 rearranged. When the memory card is attached, the beginning and end of the FAT partition area are recorded with respect to the head partition table area. After the boot sector area is reproduced, the route directory area and the sub-directory area are reproduced. The slot of the reproduction management information PBLIST.MSF in the sub-directory area is determined. The address of the end area of the slot in the PBLIST.MSF file is thus obtained. In this embodiment. because the address "200" is recorded at the end of the PBLIST.MSF file. on the cluster 200 referred.

The area after the cluster 200 is used to manage the playback order of files. In the embodiment, the CAT.MSA file is the first program. The DOG.MSA file is the second program. The MAN.MSA file is the third program. After on the area after the cluster 200 was referenced to the slots of the CAT.MSA files. DOG.MSA and MAN.MSA referenced. In 6 is the end of the slot of the file CAT.MSA of the address " 5 "Assigned. The end of the slot in the DOG.MSA file is the address " 10th "Assigned. The end of the slot in the MAN.MSA file is the address " 110 "Assigned. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 5 "Is searched, the cluster address" 6 " receive. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 6 "Is searched, the cluster address" 7 " receive. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 8th "Is searched. the code " FFF “, Which shows the end. The CAT.MSA file thus uses the clusters 5 . 6 . 7 and 8th . Regarding the clusters 5 . 6 . 7 and 8th In the data area, an area of the ATRAC3 data with the file name CAT.MSA can be accessed.

Then there is a procedure to find the DOG.MSF file. which was recorded scatteredly. The end of the slot in the DOG.MSA file is the address " 10th "Assigned. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 20th "Is searched, the cluster address" 11 " receive. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 11 "Is searched for as reference, the address" 12 " receive. If an input address on the FAT with the address " 12 "Is sought for reference, the cluster address" 101 " receive. If the input address " 101 ”, The code“ FFF ”showing the end is obtained. The file DOG.MSF thus uses clusters 10th , 11 , 12 , 100 and 101 . If on the cluster 10th , 11 and 12 can be referred to the first part the ATRAC3 data of the DOG.MSF file can be accessed. If on the cluster 100 and 101 the second part of the ATRAC3 data in the DOG.MSF file can be accessed. If there is also an input address on the FAT with the address " 110 "Is searched. the cluster address " 101 " receive. If an input address " 101 " on the FAT with the address " 101 "Is searched, the code" FFF ". that shows the end. So it is clear. that the MAN.MSA file the clusters 110 and 111 used. As described above, data files scattered in the flash memory can be linked and reproduced one by one.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the file management system which is in the format of the memory card 40 is set. the administration file is used for this. Manage tracks and parts of music files. The management file is on a user block of the flash memory 42 the memory card 40 recorded. Thus, as will be described later, even if the FAT the memory card 40 is destroyed, a file can be restored.

The management file is created by the DSP 30th generated. When the power supply of the recorder / playback device is switched on. determines the DSP 30th . whether the memory card 40 attached to the recorder / player or not. When the memory card is attached. entitles the DSP 30th the memory card 40 . If the DSP 30th the memory card 40 has successfully authorized, reads DSP 30th the boot block of the flash memory 42 . So that reads DSP 30th the real logic address translation table and stores the read data in the SRAM . The FAT and the route directory were in the flash memory of the memory card 40 written. before the memory card 40 is dispatched. If the data on the memory card 40 the management file is created.

In other words, a record command issued by the remote control of the user or the like becomes DSP 30th from the external control via the bus and the bus interface 32 delivered. The encoder / decoder IC 10th compresses the received audio data and delivers the resulting ATRAC3 data to the safety IC 20th . The security IC 20th encrypts the ATRAC3 data. The encrypted ATRAC3 data is stored in flash memory 42 the memory card 40 recorded. After that the FAT and updated the management file. When a file is updated (actually, when the audio data recording process is completed), the FAT and the management file that is in the SRAMs 31 and 36 saved, rewritten. If the memory card 40 is released or the voltage of the recorder / playback device is switched off, are the FAT and the management file that is ultimately used by the SRAMs 31 and 36 be delivered in flash memory 42 saved. Alternatively, when the audio data recording process is finished, the FAT and the management file that is in the flash memory 42 are written to be rewritten. When audio data is edited, the contents of the management file are updated.

In the data structure according to the embodiment, the additional information is contained in the management file. The additional information is updated and in the flash memory 42 recorded. In another data structure of the management file, the additional information management file is created next to the track management file. The additional information is provided by the external control system via the bus and the bus interface 32 to the DSP 30th delivered. The additional information is stored in flash memory 42 the memory card 40 recorded. Since the additional information is not for the safety IC 20th it is not encrypted. If the memory card 40 is released from the recorder / playback device or its voltage is switched off, is the additional information from SRAM of DSP 30th into the flash memory 42 written.

7 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure of the memory card 40 shows. There is a still image directory as the file structure. a moving picture directory, a sound directory, a control directory and a music directory (HIFI). According to the embodiment, music programs are recorded and reproduced. Then the music directory is described. The music directory has two types of files. The first type is a playback management file BLIST.MSF (hereinafter referred to as PBLIST). The other type is an ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn.MSA. which stores encrypted music data. The music directory can be up to 400 Save ATRAC3 files (i.e. 400 Music programs). The ATRAC3 data files are registered in the playback management file and are generated by the recorder / playback device.

8th Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a playback management file. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure of an ATRAC3 data file. The playback management file is a file with a fixed length of 16 KB. An ATRAC3 data file consists of an attribute header and an encrypted music data area for each music program. The attribute data has a fixed length of 16 KB. The structure of the attribute header is similar to that of the rendering management file.

In the 8th The playback management file shown consists of a data header, a memory card name NM-1S (for the one-byte code), a memory card name NM2-S (for the Two-byte code), a program play sequence table TRKTBL . and additional memory card information INF-S. The attribute header (in 9 shown) at the beginning of the data file consists of a data header, a program name NM1 (for the one-byte code), a program name NM2 (for the two-byte code). the track information TRKINF (for example, the track key information), the partial information PRTINF, and the track additional information INF. The data header contains information on the number of total parts, the attribute of the name, the size of the additional information, etc.

The ATRAC3 music data follow the attribute data. The music data are block segmented at 16 KB each. Each block begins with a header. The data header contains an initial value for decrypting encrypted data. Only music data from an ATRAC3 data file is encrypted. Thus, the other data such as the playback management file, the header, etc. are not encrypted.

Then with reference to the 10A to 10C describes the relationship between music programs and ATRAC3 data files. A track is equivalent to a music program. In addition, a music program consists of an ATRAC3 data word (see 9 ). The ATRAC3 data file is audio data. which have been compressed in accordance with the ATRAC3 format. The ATRAC3 data file is simultaneously on the memory card as a cluster 40 recorded. A cluster has a capacity of 16 KB. Multiple files are not included in a cluster. The minimum data erase unit of the flash memory 42 is a block. In the case of the memory card 40 for music data, a block is synonymous with a cluster. In addition, a cluster is equivalent to a sector.

A music program basically consists of one part. However, when a music program is edited, a music program can be composed of several parts. A part is a data unit. which is recorded one after the other. Usually a track consists of one part. The connection of parts of a music program is managed with the part information PRTINF in the attribute data header of the music program. In other words, the partial size is represented by the partial size PRTSIZE (4 bytes) of the partial information PRTINF. The first two bytes of the PRTSIZE part size show the number of all clusters of the current part. The next two bytes show the positions of the start tone unit ( SU ) and the end tone unit ( SU ) from the beginning or last cluster. Here is a sound unit as SU abbreviated. With such a partial display, when music data is edited, the shifting of the music data can be suppressed. If music data is edited for each block, although its shift can be suppressed, the editing block of a block is much larger than the editing unit of one SU .

The SU is the minimum unit of a part. Besides, that is SU the minimum data unit in the event that audio data is compressed in accordance with the ATRAC3 format. A SU are audio data. of which 1024 sample data at 44.1 kHz (1024 x 16 bits x 2 channels) is compressed into data approximately 10 times smaller than the original data. The duration of one SU is approximately 23 ms. Usually a part consists of several thousand SU . If a cluster is out 42 SU a cluster allows a one second tone to be generated. The number of parts that form a track depends on the size of the additional information. Because the number of tracks by subtracting the header. the program name, the additional data etc. obtained from a block. can. if there is no additional information. the maximum number of parts ( 645 Parts) can be used.

10A Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the file structure in the case where two music programs of a CD or the like are recorded one after another. The first program (file 1 ) consists of, for example 5 Clusters. Since a cluster cannot contain two files from the first and second programs, the file starts 2nd from the beginning of the next cluster. So that's the end of the part 1 (part 1) according to the file 1 in the middle of a cluster and the remaining area of the cluster contains no data. The second piece of music (file 2nd ) from one part. In the case of the file I. is the part size 5 . The first cluster starts at 0. SU . The last cluster ends at the 4th SU .

There are four types of editing processes, that is, a sub-process, a combination process, an erase process, and a move process. The subprocess is carried out by dividing a track into two areas. When the subprocess is carried out, the number of total tracks increases by one. In the sub-process, a file is divided into two files in the file system. Thus, in this case, the playback management file and the FAT updated. The combining process is carried out to combine two tracks into one track. When the combination process is carried out, the number of total tracks decreases by one. The combination process combines two files into one file in the file system. Thus, when the combination process is performed, the playback management file and the FAT updated. The erase process is performed to erase a track. The track numbers after the track. that have been deleted decrease one after the other. The shifting process is performed to close the track sequence to change. Thus, when the deleting process or the moving process is performed, the reproduction management file and the FAT updated.

10B is a schematic diagram showing the combination result of two programs (file 1 and file 2nd ), in the 10A are shown. As a result of the combination process, the combination file consists of two parts (part 1, part 2). 10C is a schematic diagram showing the division result in which a program (file 1 ) in the middle of the cluster 2nd is divided. As a result of this subprocess, the file consists of clusters 0 , 1 and the starting area of the cluster 2nd . The file 2nd consists of the end area of the cluster 2nd and the clusters 3rd and 4th .

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the partial view is fixed. as a combination result (see 10B) the start position of the part 1 , the end position of the part 1 and the end of the part 2nd With SU be determined. Thus, in order to pack the space due to the combination result, it is not necessary to have the music data of the part 2nd to postpone. In addition, it is a partial result (see 10C ) not necessary to move data and space at the beginning of the file 2nd to pack.

11 is a schematic diagram showing the detailed data structure of the playback management file PBLIST. 12A and 12B show a header area and the remaining area of the playback management file PBLIST. The size of the playback management file is a cluster (1 block = 16 KB). The size of the header that is in 12A is shown. is 32 bytes. The rest of the playback management file PBLIST, which is in 12B is shown. contains a name area NM1-S (256 bytes) (for the memory card), a name area NM2-S (512 bytes), a content key area, a MAC area, an S-YMDhms area, a playback sequence management table area TRKTBL (800 bytes) , a memory card additional information area INF-S (14720 bytes) and a header information redundancy area. The starting positions of these areas are defined in the playback management file.

• -- BLKID-TLO (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: BLOCKID FILE ID
• Funktion: identifiziert den Kopf der Wiedergabeverwaltungsdatei
• Wert: fester Wert = „TL = 0“ (zum Beispiel. 0x544C2D30)
• -- MCode (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: MAKER CODE (Herstellercode)
• Funktion: identifiziert den Hersteller und das Modell des Rekorders-/Wiedergabegeräts
• Wert: "höherwertige 10 Bits (Herstellercode); niedrigwertigere 6 Bits (Modelicode).
• -- REVISION (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Anzahl der Umschreibhäufigkeiten von PBLIST
• Funktion: inkrementiert, wenn die Wiedergabeverwaltungsdatei umgeschrieben ist.
• Wert: Start bei 0 und inkrementiert um 1.
• -- S-YMDhms (4 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Jahr. Monat, Tag, Stunde, Minute und Sekunde, die durch den Rekorder/das Wiedergabegerät mit einem verläßlichen Takt aufgezeichnet sind.
• Funktion: identifiziert das letzte Aufzeichnungsdatum und die Zeit.
• Wert: Bits 25 bis 32: Jahr 0 bis 99 (1980 bis 2079)
• Bits 21 bis 24: Monat 0 bis 12
• Bits 16 bis 20: Tag 0 bis 31
• Bits 11 bis 15: Stunde 0 bis 23
• Bits 05 bis 10: Minute bis 59
• Bits 00 bis 04: Sekunde 0 bis 29 (Zwei-Bit-Intervall)
• -- SY1C+L (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Attribut des Namens (Ein-Byte-Code) der Speicherkarte, welches in den NM1-S-Bereich geschrieben wurde.
• Funktion: zeigt den Zeichencode und den Sprachcode als Ein-Byte-Code. Wert: Zeichencode (C): höherwertiges Ein-Byte
• 00: kein Zeichencode, Binärzahl
• 01: ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) 02: ASCII+KANA
• 03: modifizierte 8859-1
• 81: MS-JIS
• 82: KS C 5601-1989
• 83: GB (Großbritannien) 2312-80
• 90: S-JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards for Voice)
• Sprachcode (L): niedrigwertiges Ein-Byte
• identifiziert die Sprache auf der Basis von der EBU-Tech 32 58-Norm. 00: keine Eisntellung
• 08: deutsch
• 09: englisch
• 0A: spanisch
• 0F: französisch
• 15: italienisch
• 1D: holländisch
• 65: koreanisch
• 69: japanisch
• 75: chinesisch
• Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, ist der Bereich immer 0.
• -- SN2C-L (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Attribut des Namens der Speicherkarte im NM2-S-Bereich. Funktion: zeigt den Zeichencode und die Sprache, codiert als Ein-Byte-Code. Wert: wie SN1C+L
• -- SINFSIZE (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Gesamtgröße der Zusatzinformation der Speicherkarte in INF-S-Bereich.
• Funktion: zeigt die Datengröße als Inkrement von 16 Bytes. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, ist dieser Bereich immer 0.
• Wert: Größe: 0x0001 bis 0x39C (924)
• -- T-TRK (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: TOTAL TRACK NUMBER (Gesamtspurzahl)
• Funktion: zeigt die Gesamtspurzahl
• Wert: 1 bis 0x0190 (max. 400 Spuren)
• Wenn Daten aufgezeichnet sind, ist dieser Bereich immer 0.
• -- VerNo (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Formatversionsnummer
• Funktion: zeigt die Hauptversionsnummer (höherwertiges Ein-Byte) und die Nebenversionsnummer (niedrigwertiges Ein-Byte)
• Wert: 0x0100 (Ver 1.0)
  • 0x0203 (Ver 2.3)
• Anschließend werden Bereiche (siehe 13B), denen der Datenkopf vorhergeht, beschrieben.
• -- NM1-S
• Bedeutung: Name der Speicherkarte (als Ein-Byte-Code)
• Funktion: zeigt den Namen der Speicherkarte als Ein-Byte-Code (maximal 256) an. Am Ende dieses Bereichs ist ein Endcode (0x00) geschrieben. Die Größe wird aus dem Endcode berechnet. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, werden Nullen (0x00) vom Anfang (0x00) dieses Bereichs für zumindest ein Byte aufgezeichnet.
• Wert: verschiedener Zeichencode
• -- NM2-S
• Bedeutung: Name der Speicherkarte (als Zwei-Byte-Code)
• Funktion: zeigt den Namen der Speicherkarte als Zwei-Byte-Code (maximal 512). Am Ende dieses Bereichs ist ein Code (0x00) geschrieben. Die Größe wird aus dem Endcode berechnet. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, werden Nullen (0x00) vom Beginn (0x0120) dieses Bereichs für zumindest zwei Bytes aufgezeichnet.
• Wert: unterschiedlicher Zeichencode
• -- CONTENTS KEY (Inhaltsschlüssel)
• Bedeutung: Wert für Musikprogramm. Geschützt mit MG (M) und gespeichert. wie CONTENTS KEY
• Funktion: verwendet als Schlüssel, der zur Berechnung MAC von S-YMDhms notwendig ist.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• -- MAC
• Bedeutung: die Führung übernehmender Copyright-Informations-Prüfwert
• Funktion: zeigt den Wert, der mit S-YMDhms und CONTENTS KEY erzeugt wird.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• -- TRK-nnn
• Bedeutung: SQN (Sequenz)-Zahl der ATRAC3-Datendatei, die reproduziert wurde.
• Funktion: zeigt FNo von TRKINF.
• Wert: 1 bis 400 (0x190) wenn es keine Spur gibt, ist dieser Bereich insgesamt 0.
• -- INF-S
• Bedeutung: Zusatzinformation der Speicherkarte (beispielsweise in bezug auf Fotos. Lieder. Führungen usw.)
• Funktion: zeigt die Zusatzinformation mit einer variablen Länge mit einem Datenkopf. Es können mehrere Arten von Zusatzinformationen verwendet werden. Jede der Arten von Zusatzinformation hat eine ID und eine Datengröße. Jeder zusätzliche Informationsbereich einschließlich eines Datenkopfs besteht zumindest aus 16 Bytes und einem Vielfachen von 4 Bytes. Bezüglich der Details siehe folgenden Abschnitt.
• Wert: siehe Abschnitt „Datenstruktur der Zusatzinformation“.
• -- S-YMDhms (4 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Jahr. Monat, Tag, Stunde, Minute und Sekunde, die durch den Rekorder/ das Wiedergabegerät mit einem verläßlichen Takt aufgezeichnet sind.
• Funktion: identifiziert das letzte Aufzeichnungsdatum und die Aufzeichnungszeit. Im Fall EMD ist dieser Bereich Sachverwalter.
• Wert: Bits 25 bis 31: Jahr 0 bis 99 (1980 bis 2079)
• Bits 21 bis 24: Monat 0 bis 12
• Bits 16 bis 24: Tag 0 bis 31
• Bits 11 bis 15: Stunde 0 bis 23
• Bits 05 bis 10: Minute 0 bis 59
• Bits 00 bis 04: Sekunde 0 bis 29 (Zwei-Sekunden-Intervall)

The first 32 bytes (0x0000) to (0x0010) that are in 12A are used for the header. In the file, 16-byte areas are called slots. In relation to 12A the data header is arranged in the first and second slots. The data header contains the following areas. An area designated by "reserved" (res.) Is an indefinite area. Usually a zero (0x00) is written in a reserved area. However, when data is written to a reserved area, the data written in that area is ignored. Some reserved areas may be used in a future release. In addition, data is prevented from being written to a reserved area. If an option area is not used, it is treated as a reserved area.

• - BLKID-TLO (4 bytes)
• Meaning: BLOCKID FILE ID
• Function: identifies the head of the playback management file
• Value: Fixed value = "TL = 0" (for example. 0x544C2D30)
• - MCode (2 bytes)
• Meaning: MAKER CODE (manufacturer code)
• Function: identifies the manufacturer and model of the recorder / player
• Value: "higher order 10 bits (manufacturer code); lower order 6 bits (model code).
• - REVISION (4 bytes)
• Meaning: Number of rewriting frequencies of PBLIST
• Function: incremented when the playback management file is rewritten.
• Value: Start at 0 and increment by 1.
• - S-YMDhms (4 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: year. Month, day, hour, minute and second recorded by the recorder / player with a reliable clock.
• Function: identifies the last recording date and time.
• Value: Bits 25 to 32: Year 0 to 99 (1980 to 2079)
• Bits 21 to 24: month 0 to 12
• Bits 16 to 20: day 0 to 31
• Bits 11 to 15: hour 0 to 23
• Bits 05 to 10: minute to 59
• Bits 00 to 04: second 0 to 29 (two-bit interval)
• - SY1C + L (2 bytes)
• Meaning: Attribute of the name (one-byte code) of the memory card, which was written in the NM1-S area.
• Function: shows the character code and the language code as a one-byte code. Value: Character code (C): higher-order one byte
• 00: no character code, binary number
• 01: ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) 02: ASCII + KANA
• 03: modified 8859-1
• 81: MS-JIS
• 82: KS C 5601-1989
• 83: GB (Great Britain) 2312-80
• 90: S-JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards for Voice)
• Language code (L): low-order one byte
• identifies the language based on the EBU-Tech 32 58 standard. 00: no ice removal
• 08: German
• 09: English
• 0A: Spanish
• 0F: French
• 15: Italian
• 1D: Dutch
• 65: Korean
• 69: Japanese
• 75: chinese
• If data is not recorded, the area is always 0.
• - SN2C-L (2 bytes)
• Meaning: Attribute of the name of the memory card in the NM2-S area. Function: shows the character code and the language, coded as a one-byte code. Value: like SN1C + L
• - SINFSIZE (2 bytes)
• Meaning: Total size of the additional information on the memory card in the INF-S area.
• Function: shows the data size as an increment of 16 bytes. If data is not recorded, this area is always 0.
• Value: Size: 0x0001 to 0x39C (924)
• - T-TRK (2 bytes)
• Meaning: TOTAL TRACK NUMBER (total number of tracks)
• Function: shows the total number of tracks
• Value: 1 to 0x0190 (max. 400 tracks)
• When data is recorded, this area is always 0.
• - VerNo (2 bytes)
• Meaning: format version number
• Function: shows the major version number (higher-order one-byte) and the minor version number (lower-order one-byte)
• Value: 0x0100 (Ver 1.0)
  • 0x0203 (Ver 2.3)
• Then areas (see 13B) , which are preceded by the data header.
• - NM1-S
• Meaning: Name of the memory card (as a one-byte code)
• Function: shows the name of the memory card as a one-byte code (maximum 256). An end code (0x00) is written at the end of this area. The size is calculated from the end code. If data is not recorded, zeros (0x00) from the beginning (0x00) of this area are recorded for at least one byte.
• Value: different character code
• - NM2-S
• Meaning: Name of the memory card (as a two-byte code)
• Function: shows the name of the memory card as a two-byte code (maximum 512 ). A code (0x00) is written at the end of this area. The size is calculated from the end code. If data is not recorded, zeros (0x00) from the beginning (0x0120) of this area are recorded for at least two bytes.
• Value: different character code
• - CONTENTS KEY
• Meaning: Value for music program. Protected with MG (M) and saved. like CONTENTS KEY
• Function: used as a key, which is necessary for the MAC calculation of S-YMDhms.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• - MAC
• Meaning: copyright information check value that takes the lead
• Function: shows the value generated with S-YMDhms and CONTENTS KEY.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• - TRK-nnn
• Meaning: SQN (sequence) number of the ATRAC3 data file that was reproduced.
• Function: shows FNo from TRKINF.
• Value: 1 to 400 (0x190) if there is no trace, this area is 0 in total.
• - INF-S
• Meaning: Additional information on the memory card (e.g. in relation to photos, songs, tours, etc.)
• Function: shows the additional information with a variable length with a data header. Several types of additional information can be used. Each of the types of additional information has an ID and a data size. Each additional information area including a data header consists of at least 16 bytes and a multiple of 4 bytes. See the following section for details.
• Value: see section "Data structure of the additional information".
• - S-YMDhms (4 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: year. Month, day, hour, minute and second recorded by the recorder / player with a reliable clock.
• Function: identifies the last recording date and the recording time. In the case of EMD, this area is the administrator.
• Value: Bits 25 to 31: Years 0 to 99 (1980 to 2079)
• Bits 21 to 24: month 0 to 12
• Bits 16 to 24: day 0 to 31
• Bits 11 to 15: hour 0 to 23
• Bits 05 to 10: minute 0 to 59
• Bits 00 to 04: second 0 to 29 (two-second interval)

The last slot in the playback management file is the same BLKID-TLO, MCode and REVISION as those in the header.

While data is being recorded on a memory card, it can be accidentally or unintentionally removed or the power supply to the recorder / playback device switched off. If such improper operation is performed, an error should be determined. As described above, a REVISION is provided at the beginning and end of each block. When data is rewritten. the value of the revision area is incremented. If an incorrect termination occurs in the middle of a block, the value of the revision area at the beginning of the block does not match the value of the revision area at the end of the block. Such an incorrect termination can thus be determined. Since there are two revision areas, a non-normal termination can be identified with a high probability. If a non-normal termination is determined, an alarm, for example an error message, is generated.

In addition, since the fixed value BLKID-TLO is written at the beginning of a block (16 KB), if the FAT is destroyed, the fixed value is used as a reference for data recovery. In other words, the reference to the fixed value can determine the type of the file. Since the fixed value BLKID-TLO is written redundantly in the data header and the end area of each block, reliability can be ensured. Alternatively, the same playback management file can be recorded redundantly.

The amount of data in the ATRAC3 data file is much larger than that in the track information management file. In addition, as will be described later, a BLOCK SERIAL block number is added to the ATRAC3 data file. However, since multiple ATRAC3 data files are recorded on the memory card. to avoid being redundant, use both CONNUMO and BLOCK SERIAL. Otherwise it will if the FAT destroyed, difficult to restore the file. In other words, an ATRAC3 data file can consist of several blocks that are scattered. CONNUMO is used to identify the blocks of the same file. BLOCK SERIAL is used to further identify the order of blocks in the ATRAC3 data file.

In the same way, the manufacturer code (MCode) is redundantly recorded at the beginning and at the end of each block, so as to identify the manufacturer and model in the event that a file has been improperly recorded in the state where the FAT was not destroyed.

• --INF
• Bedeutung: FIELD-ID
• Funktion: stellt den Anfang der Zusatzinformation dar (fester Wert)
• Wert: 0x69
• --ID
• Bedeutung: Zusatzinformations-Schlüsselcode
• Funktion: stellt die Kategorie der Zusatzinformation dar.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFF
• -- SIZE (Größe)
• Bedeutung: Größe der individuellen Zusatzinformation
• Funktion: zeigt die Größe eines jeden Typus der Zusatzinformation. Obwohl die Datengröße nicht begrenzt ist, sollte sie zumindest 16 Bytes sein und ein Vielfaches von 4 Bytes. Der Rest der Daten sollte mit Nullen (0x00) gefüllt sein.
• Wert: 16 bis 14784 (0x39C0)
• -- MCode
• Bedeutung: MAKER CODE
• Funktion: identifiziert den Hersteller und das Modell des Rekorders-/Wiedergabegeräts
• Wert: höherwertige 10 Bits (Herstellercode), niedrigwertige 10 Bits (Gerätecode).
• -- C + L
• Bedeutung: Attribut von Zeichen im Datenbereich beginnend vom Byte 12. Funktion: zeigt den Zeichencode und den Sprachcode als Ein-Byte-Code.
• Wert: wie SNC + L
• -- DATA
• Bedeutung: individuelle Zusatzinformation
• Funktion: zeigt jeden Typus von Zusatzinformation mit variablen Längendaten. Reale Daten beginnen immer vom Byte 12. Die Länge (Größe) der Realdaten sollte zumindest 4 Bytes sein und ein Vielfaches von 4 Bytes. Der Rest des Datenbereichs sollte mit Nullen (0x00) gefüllt sein.
• Wert: individuell bestimmt entsprechend dem Inhalt jedes Typus von Zusatzinformation.

12C is a schematic representation. which shows the structure of additional information data. The additional information consists of the following data header and variable length data. The head has the following areas.

• --INF
• Meaning: FIELD-ID
• Function: represents the beginning of the additional information (fixed value)
• Value: 0x69
• --ID
• Meaning: Additional information key code
• Function: represents the category of additional information.
• Value: 0 to 0xFF
• - SIZE
• Meaning: Size of the individual additional information
• Function: shows the size of each type of additional information. Although the data size is not limited, it should be at least 16 bytes and a multiple of 4 bytes. The rest of the data should be filled with zeros (0x00).
• Value: 16 to 14784 (0x39C0)
• - MCode
• Meaning: MAKER CODE
• Function: identifies the manufacturer and model of the recorder / player
• Value: higher order 10 bits (manufacturer code), lower order 10 bits (device code).
• - C + L
• Meaning: Attribute of characters in the data area starting from byte 12. Function: shows the character code and the language code as a one-byte code.
• Value: like SNC + L
• - DATA
• Meaning: individual additional information
• Function: shows each type of additional information with variable length data. Real data always start from byte 12. The length (size) of the real data should be at least 4 bytes and a multiple of 4 bytes. The rest of the data area should be filled with zeros (0x00).
• Value: individually determined according to the content of each type of additional information.

13 is a table that shows key code values ( 0 to 63 ) who associates the additional information with their types. The key code values ( 0 to 31 ) are assigned to the musical sign information. The key code values ( 32 to 63 ) URLs (Uniform Resource Lactor) (web information) are assigned. The music character information and the URL information include the character information of the album title, the subtitle, the name of the artist, the CM, etc. as additional information.

14 a table, the key code values ( 64 to 127 ) that relates the additional information and its types. The key code values ( 64 to 95 ) are assigned to paths / others. The key code values ( 96 to 127 ) control data / numerical data are assigned. For example, ID = 98 shows the TOC-ID as additional information. The TOC-ID shows the first music program number, the last music program number, the running program number, the total duration of the performance and the running music program duration according to the TOC information of a CD (Compact Disc).

15 is a table that shows key code values ( 128 to 159 ) relates the additional information to its types. Key code values ( 128 to 159 ) are assigned to the synchronous playback information. In 15 is EMD representative for electronic music distribution.

Then with the help of 16A to 16E real examples of additional information are described. As in 12C shows 16A the data structure of the additional information. In 16B is the key code ID = 3 (artist name as additional information). SIZE = 0x1C (28 bytes), which shows that the data length of the additional information including the data header is 28 bytes; C + L show that the character code C = 0x0I (ASCII) and the language code L = 0x09 (English). The variable length data after byte 12 show one-byte data "SIMON &GRAFUNKEL" as artist name. Since the data length of the additional information should be a multiple of 4 bytes, the rest is filled with (0x00).

In 16C is the key code ID = 97. which shows this ISRC (International Standard Recording Code: Copyright Code) as additional information. Size (SIZE) = 0x14 (20 bytes), which shows that the data length of the additional information is 20 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00, which shows that the characters and language are not set. So the data is the binary code. The variable length data is an eight-byte ISRC code that shows the copyright information (nation. Copyright owner. Record year and manufacturer number).

In 16D is the key code ID = 97. which shows recorded data and the time as additional information. SIZE = 0x10 (16 bytes). which shows that the data length of the additional information is 16 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00, which shows. that the characters and the language are not set. The variable length data is a four-byte code (32 bits). which show the recording date and time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second).

In 16E is the key code ID = 107, which shows a playback protocol as additional information. SIZE = 0x10 (16 bytes), which shows that the data length of the additional information is 16 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00, which shows that the characters and language are not set. The length data variable is a four-byte code that shows a playback log (year, month, day, hour, minute, second). When the recorder / player has a playback log function, records this data of 16 bytes each time it reproduces music data.

• -- BLKID-HD0 (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: BLOCKID FIELD ID
• Funktion: identifizierte Kopf einer ATRAC3-Datendatei.
• Wert: fester Wert = „HD = 0“ (Beispielsweise 0x48442D30)
• -- MCode (2Bytes)
• Bedeutung: MAKER CODE (Herstellercode (MCode))
• Funktion: identifiziert den Hersteller und das Modell des Rekorders-/Wiedergabegeräts
• Wert: höherwertige 10 Bits (Herstellercode): niedrigwertige 6 Bits (Gerätecode)
• -- BLOCK SERIAL (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: serielle Spurnummer
• Funktion: beginnt von 0 und inkrementiert mit 1. Sogar wenn ein Musikprogramm editiert wird, variiert dieser Wert nicht.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFF
• -- N1C + L (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: zeigt das Attribut von Daten (NM1) einer Spur (Musikprogrammtitel).
• Funktion: zeigt den Zeichencode und den Sprachcode von NM1 als Ein-Byte-Code.
• Wert: wie SN1C + L
• -- N2C + L (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: zeigt das Attribut von Daten (NM2) einer Spur (Musikprogrammtitel)
• Funktion: zeigt den Zeichencode und den Sprachcode von NM1 als Ein-Byte-Code.
• Wert: wie SN1C + L
• -- INFSIZE (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Gesamtgröße der Zusatzinformation einer laufenden Spur.
• Funktion: zeigt die Datengröße als ein Vielfaches von 16 Bytes. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, sollte dieser Bereich immer 0 sein.
• Wert: 0x0000 bis 0x3C6 (966)
• -- T-PRT (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Anzahl von Gesamt-Bytes
• Funktion: zeigt die Anzahl von Teilen, die die laufende Spur bildet. normalerweise ist der Wert von T-PRT gleich 1.
• Wert: 1 bis 285 (645 dec).
• -- T-SU (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Anzahl von gesamten SU.
• Funktion: zeigt die Gesamtzahl von SU in einer Spur. die der Programmaufführungsdauer äquivalent ist.
• Wert: 0x01 bis 0x001FFFFF
• -- INX (2 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Relativposition von INDEX
• Funktion: verwendet als Zeiger, der den Kopf eines repräsentativen Bereichs eines Musikprogramms zeigt. Der Wert von INX wird mit einem Wert bestimmt, bei dem die Anzahl von SU durch 4 unterteilt ist. als laufende Position des Programms. Dieser Wert von INX ist äquivalent zum Vierfachen und größer als die Anzahl von SU (ungefähr 93 ms).
• Wert: 0 bis OxFFFF (maximal etwa 6084 s)
• -- XT (2 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Wiedergabedauer von INDEX
• Funktion: bestimmt die Wiedergabedauer, die durch INX-nnn mit einem Wert bestimmt ist, bei dem die Anzahl von SU durch 4 geteilt ist. Der Wert von INDEX ist äquivalent und größer als das Vierfache als die normale SU (etwa 93 ms).
• Wert: 0x0000 (keine Einstellung); 0x01 bis 0xFFFE (bis zu 6084 s); 0xFFFF (bis zum Ende des Musikprogramms)
• Anschließend werden die Musikprogramm-Titelbereiche NM1 und NM2 beschrieben.
• -- NM1
• Bedeutung: Zeichenfolge des Musikprogrammtitels.
• Funktion: zeigt einen Musikprogrammtitel als Ein-Byte-Code (bis zu 256 Zeichen) (Variable Länge). Der Titelbereich sollte mit einem Endcode (0x00) beendet sein. Die Größe sollte vom Endcode berechnet sein. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, sollten Nullen (0x00) vom Beginn (0x0020) des Bereichs für zumindest ein Byte aufgezeichnet sein.
• Wert: verschiedene Zeichencodes
• -- NM2
• Bedeutung: Zeichenfolge des Musikprogrammtitels
• Funktion: stellt einen Musikprogrammtitel als Zwei-Byte-Code dar (bis zu 512 Zeichen) (Variable Länge). Der Titelbereich sollte mit einem Endcode (0x00) beendet sein. Die Größe sollte von dem Endcode berechnet sein. Wenn Daten nicht aufgezeichnet sind, sollten Nullen (0x100) vom Beginn (0x0120) des Bereichs für zumindest zwei Bytes aufgezeichnet sein.
• Wert: verschiedene Zeichencodes
• Daten von 80 Bytes vom Beginn der festen Position (0x320) des Attribut-Datenkopfs werden als Spurinformationsbereich TRKINF bezeichnet. Dieser Bereich wird hauptsächlich dazu verwendet, um insgesamt die Sicherheitsinformation und die Kopiersteuerinformation zu verwalten. 19 zeigt einen Teil von TRKINF. Der Bereich TRKINF enthält die folgenden Bereiche.
• -- CONTENTS KEY (8 Bytes) (Inhaltsschlüssel)
• Bedeutung: Wert für jedes Musikprogramm. Der Wert von CONTENTS KEY wird im Sicherheitsblock der Speicherkarte geschützt und dann gespeichert.
• Funktion: verwendet als Schlüssel zum Reproduzieren eines Musikprogramms. Er sollte verwendet werden, um den Wert von MAC zu berechnen.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• = MAC (8 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: die Führung übernehmender Copyright-Informations-Prüfwert
• Funktion: zeigt den Wert, der mit mehreren Werten von TRKINF erzeugt wurde, einschließlich der Inhaltsanhäufungszahlen und der geheimen Sequenznummer.
• Die geheime Sequenznummer ist eine Sequenznummer, die in einem geheimen Bereich der Speicherkarte aufgezeichnet ist. Ein Nicht-Copyright-Schutz-Rekorder kann Daten aus dem geheimen Bereich der Speicherkarte nicht lesen. Dagegen kann ein Copyright-Schutz-Rekorder und ein Computer, der mit einem Programm arbeitet, der Daten von einer Speicherkarte lesen kann, auf den geheimen Bereich zugreifen.
• -- A (1Byte)
• Bedeutung: Teil-Attribut
• Funktion: zeigt die Information als Kompressionsmodus eines Teils.
• Wert: die Details werden anschließend beschrieben (siehe 19 und 20).

17th Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a data arrangement of the ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn in the case where 1SU is N Bytes (for example, N = 384 bytes). 17th shows an attribute header (1 block) of a data file and a music data file (1 block). 17th shows the first byte (0x0000 to 0x7FF0) of each slot of the two blocks (16 × 2 = 32 kBytes). As in 18th is shown. the first 32 bytes of the attribute header are used as the header: 256 bytes are used as the music program area NM1 (256 bytes) used: and 512 bytes are used as the music program title area NM2 (512 bytes) is used. The header of the attribute header contains the following areas.

• - BLKID-HD0 (4 bytes)
• Meaning: BLOCKID FIELD ID
• Function: identified header of an ATRAC3 data file.
• Value: Fixed value = "HD = 0" (e.g. 0x48442D30)
• - MCode (2 bytes)
• Meaning: MAKER CODE (manufacturer code (MCode))
• Function: identifies the manufacturer and model of the recorder / player
• Value: higher order 10 bits (manufacturer code): lower order 6 bits (device code)
• - BLOCK SERIAL (4 bytes)
• Meaning: serial track number
• Function: starts from 0 and increments with 1. Even when a music program is edited, this value does not vary.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF
• - N1C + L (2 bytes)
• Meaning: shows the attribute of data ( NM1 ) a track (music program title).
• Function: shows the character code and the language code of NM1 as a one-byte code.
• Value: like SN1C + L
• - N2C + L (2 bytes)
• Meaning: shows the attribute of data ( NM2 ) one track (music program title)
• Function: shows the character code and the language code of NM1 as a one-byte code.
• Value: like SN1C + L
• - INFSIZE (2 bytes)
• Meaning: Total size of the additional information of a running track.
• Function: shows the data size as a multiple of 16 bytes. If data is not recorded, this area should always be 0.
• Value: 0x0000 to 0x3C6 (966)
• - T-PRT (2 bytes)
• Meaning: Number of total bytes
• Function: shows the number of parts that make up the running track. normally the value of T-PRT is 1.
• Value: 1 to 285 (645 dec).
• - T-SU (4 bytes)
• Meaning: number of total SU .
• Function: shows the total number of SU in one track. which is equivalent to the duration of the program.
• Value: 0x01 to 0x001FFFFF
• - INX (2 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: relative position of INDEX
• Function: used as a pointer that shows the head of a representative area of a music program. The value of INX is determined with a value at which the number of SU by 4th is divided. as the current position of the program. This value of INX is equivalent to four times and greater than the number of SU (approximately 93 ms).
• Value: 0 to OxFFFF (maximum about 6084 s)
• - XT (2 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: Playback time of INDEX
• Function: determines the playback time, which is determined by INX-nnn with a value at which the number of SU divided by 4. The value of INDEX is equivalent and greater than four times the normal SU (about 93 ms).
• Value: 0x0000 (no setting); 0x01 to 0xFFFE (up to 6084 s); 0xFFFF (until the end of the music program)
• Then the music program title areas NM1 and NM2 described.
• - NM1
• Meaning: String of the music program title.
• Function: shows a music program title as a one-byte code (up to 256 Characters) (variable length). The title area should end with an end code (0x00). The size should be calculated from the end code. If data is not zeros (0x00) from the beginning (0x0020) of the range should be recorded for at least one byte.
• Value: different character codes
• - NM2
• Meaning: String of the music program title
• Function: represents a music program title as a two-byte code (up to 512 Characters) (variable length). The title area should end with an end code (0x00). The size should be calculated from the end code. If data is not recorded, zeros (0x100) from the beginning (0x0120) of the area should be recorded for at least two bytes.
• Value: different character codes
• Data of 80 bytes from the beginning of the fixed position (0x320) of the attribute header is called the track information area TRKINF. This area is mainly used to manage the security information and the copy control information as a whole. 19th shows part of TRKINF. The TRKINF area contains the following areas.
• - CONTENTS KEY (8 bytes) (content key)
• Meaning: value for each music program. The value of CONTENTS KEY is protected in the security block of the memory card and then saved.
• Function: used as a key to reproduce a music program. It should be used to calculate the value of MAC.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• = MAC (8 bytes)
• Meaning: copyright information check value that takes the lead
• Function: shows the value generated with multiple values by TRKINF, including the content accumulation numbers and the secret sequence number.
• The secret sequence number is a sequence number recorded in a secret area of the memory card. A non-copyright protection recorder cannot read data from the secret area of the memory card. In contrast, a copyright protection recorder and a computer that works with a program that can read data from a memory card can access the secret area.
• - A (1 byte)
• Meaning: partial attribute
• Function: shows the information as compression mode of a part.
• Value: the details are described below (see 19th and 20th ).

First, the value of area A is described. In the following description, the mono-aural mode (N = 0 or 1) is defined as a special connection mode, in which bit 7 = 1, the subsignal = 0. the main signal = (L + R). A playback device with no copyright protection can display the information of bits 2 and I. to ignore.

Bit 0 of area A shows the information on the on / off status of the emphasis. Bit 1 of area A shows the reproduction information of a skip or normal reproduction. Bit 2 of area A shows the information of the data type. for example audio data. FAX data or the like. Bit 3 of area A is indefinite. By combining bits 4, 5 and 6, the mode information of ATRAC3 determines how in 20th is shown. In other words N a mode value of 3 bits. For 5 Mode types, the mono-aural (N = 0 or 1), LP (N = 2). SP (N = 4), EX (N = 5) and HQ (N = 7) are the recording time (only 64 MB memory card), the data transfer rate and the number of SU listed per block. The number of bytes from I. SU depends on each mode. The number of bytes from I. SU in mono-aural mode is 136 bytes. The number of bytes from 1 SU in LP mode is 192 bytes. The number of bytes from 1 SU in SP mode is 304 bytes. The number of bytes from 1 SU in EX mode is 384 bytes. The number of bytes from 2nd SU in HQ mode is 512 bytes. The bit 7 of area A shows ATRAC3 modes ( 0 : Dual, 1 : Connection).

• -- LT (1 Byte)
• Bedeutung: Wiedergabebegrenzungsflag (Bits 7 und 6) und Sicherheitspartition (Bits 5 bis 0).
• Funktion: zeigt eine Begrenzung der laufenden Spur.
• Wert: Bit 7: = = keine Begrenzung, 1 = Begrenzung.
• Bit 6: 0 = nicht abgelaufen, 1 = abgelaufen
• Bits 5 bis 0: Sicherheitspartition (Wiedergabeverbot mit Ausnahme von 0).
• -- FNo (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Dateinummer
• Funktion: zeigt die anfänglich aufgezeichnete Spumummer. die die Position des MAC-Berechnungswerts bestimmt, der im geheimen Bereich der Speicherkarte aufgezeichnet ist.
• Wert: 1 bis 0x 190 (400)
• -- MG (D) SERIAL-nnn (16Bytes)
• Bedeutung: zeigt die serielle Nummer des Sicherheitsblocks (Sicherheit-IC 20) des Rekorders-/ des Abspielgeräts.
• Funktion: einmaliger Wert für jeden Rekorder/jedes Abspielgerät
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• = CONNUM (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Inhaltsanhäufungsnummer
• Funktion: zeigt einen einmaligen Wert, der für jedes Musikprogramm angesammelt ist. Der Wert wird durch den Sicherheitsblock des Rekorders-/des Wiedergabegeräts verwaltet. Die obere Grenze des Werts beträgt 2³². d.h.. 4.200.000.000. Wird verwendet, ein aufgezeichnetes Programm zu identifizieren.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFF
• YMDhms-S (4 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Wiedergabestartdatum und Zeit der Spur mit Wiedergabebegrenzung
• Funktion: zeigt das Datum und die Zeit, bei dem die Datenreproduktion mit EMD erlaubt ist.
• Wert: wie die Darstellung des Datums und die Zeit anderer Bereiche
• -- YMDhms-E (4 Bytes) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Reproduktion von Enddaten und der Zeit der Spur mit Wiedergabebegrenzung.
• Funktion: zeigt das Datum und die Zeit. bei dem die Datenreproduktion mit EMD abgelaufen ist.
• Wert: wie die Darstellung des Datums und der Zeit der anderen Bereiche
• -- MT (1 Byte) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Maximalwert der Anzahl von zugelassenen Wiedergabehäufigkeiten
• Funktion: zeigt die maximale Anzahl von Wiedergaben, die durch EMD bestimmt wird
• Wert: 1 bis 0xFF. Wenn nicht verwendet, ist der Wert des Bereichs MT gleich 00.
• -- CT (1 Byte) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Anzahl der Wiedergabehäufigkeit
• Funktion: zeigt die Anzahl der Wiedergabehäufigkeit bei der Anzahl von zugelassenen Wiedergaben. Wenn Daten reproduziert werden, wird der Wert des Bereichs CT dekrementiert.
• Wert: 0x00 bis 0FF. Wenn nicht verwendet, ist der Wert des Bereichs CT gleich 0x00. Wenn das Bit 7 des Bereichs LT gleich 1 ist und der Wert des Bereichs CT gleich 00 ist, wird verhindert, daß Daten reproduziert werden.
• -- CC (1 Byte)
• Bedeutung: COPY CONTROL
• Funktion: steuert die Kopieroperation
• Wert: Bits 6 und 7 zeigen die Kopiersteuerinformation. Die Bits 4 und 5 zeigen die Kopiersteuerinformation eines digitalen Hochgeschwindigkeits-Kopierbetriebs. Die Bits 2 und 3 zeigen einen Sicherheitsblock-Berechtigungswert. Bits 0 und 1 sind nicht bestimmt.
• Beispiel von CC:
• (Bits 7 und 6)
• 11: unbeschränkte Kopieroperation zugelassen
• 01: Kopieren verboten
• 00: einmaliges Kopieren zugelassen (Bits 3 und 2)
• 00: analoger/digitaler Eingangs-Aufzeichnungs-MG-Berechtigungswert ist 0.
• Wenn der digitale Aufzeichnungsbetrieb. wobei Daten von einer CD verwendet werden, durchgeführt wird, (Bit 7 und 6) = 00 und (Bits 3 und 2) = 00.
• -- CN (1 Byte) (Option)
• Bedeutung: Anzahl der zugelassenen Kopierhäufigkeit im Hochgeschwindigkeits-Seriell-Kopier- Verwaltungssystem.
• Funktion: erweitert die Kopierzulassung mit der Anzahl von Kopien, nicht beschränkt auf eine einmalige Kopierzulassung und freie Kopierzulassung. Gültig lediglich in der ersten Kopiergeneration. Der Wert des Bereichs CN wird dekrementiert, wenn der Kopierbetrieb durchgeführt wird.
• Wert:
• 00: Kopie verboten
• 01 bis 0xFE: Häufigkeit
• 0xFF: unbeschränkte Kopierhäufigkeit

For example, an example. which uses a 64 MB memory card in SP mode. A 64MB memory card has 3968 blocks. Has in SP mode since I. SU equal to 304 bytes. a block 53 SU . 1 SU is equivalent (1024/44100) seconds. Thus, one block (1024/44100) × 53 × (3968-10) = 4863 seconds = 81 minutes. The transmission rate is (44100/1024) × 304 × 8 = 104737 bps.

• - LT (1 byte)
• Meaning: Playback limitation flag (bits 7 and 6) and security partition (bits 5 to 0).
• Function: shows a limitation of the current track.
• Value: Bit 7: = = no limitation, 1 = limitation.
• Bit 6: 0 = not expired, 1 = expired
• Bits 5 to 0: Security partition (no playback except 0).
• - FNo (2 bytes)
• Meaning: file number
• Function: shows the initially recorded track number. which determines the position of the MAC calculation value recorded in the secret area of the memory card.
• Value: 1 to 0x 190 ( 400 )
• - MG (D) SERIAL-nnn (16Bytes)
• Meaning: shows the serial number of the safety block (safety IC 20th ) of the recorder / player.
• Function: unique value for each recorder / player
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• = CONNUM (4 bytes)
• Meaning: content accumulation number
• Function: shows a unique value that is accumulated for each music program. The value is managed by the security block of the recorder / playback device. The upper limit of the value is 2 ³² . ie. 4,200,000,000. Used to identify a recorded program.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF
• YMDhms-S (4 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: Playback start date and time of the track with playback limitation
• Function: shows the date and time at which data reproduction with EMD is permitted.
• Value: like the representation of the date and time of other areas
• - YMDhms-E (4 bytes) (option)
• Meaning: Reproduction of end dates and the time of the track with playback limitation.
• Function: shows the date and time. where the data reproduction with EMD has expired.
• Value: like the date and time of the other areas
• - MT (1 byte) (option)
• Meaning: Maximum value of the number of allowed playback frequencies
• Function: shows the maximum number of plays determined by EMD
• Value: 1 to 0xFF. If not used, the value is the range MT equal to 00.
• - CT (1 byte) (option)
• Meaning: Number of playback frequencies
• Function: shows the number of playback frequencies for the number of allowed playbacks. When data is reproduced, the value of the area CT decremented.
• Value: 0x00 to 0FF. If not used, the value is the range CT equal to 0x00. When bit 7 of area LT is 1 and the value of the area CT is 00, data is prevented from being reproduced.
• - CC (1 byte)
• Meaning: COPY CONTROL
• Function: controls the copy operation
• Value: Bits 6 and 7 show the copy control information. Bits 4 and 5 show the copy control information of a high speed digital copy operation. Bits 2 and 3 show a security block authorization value. Bits 0 and 1 are not determined.
• Example of CC:
• (Bits 7 and 6)
• 11: unlimited copy operation allowed
• 01: Copying prohibited
• 00: one-time copying allowed (bits 3 and 2)
• 00: analog / digital input record MG permission value is 0.
• When the digital recording operation. using data from a CD, (bits 7 and 6) = 00 and (bits 3 and 2) = 00.
• - CN (1 byte) (option)
• Meaning: Number of permitted copy frequencies in the high-speed serial copy management system.
• Function: extends the copy permit with the number of copies, not limited to a single copy permit and free copy permit. Valid only in the first generation of copies. The value of the area CN is decremented when the copying operation is performed.
• Value:
• 00: copy prohibited
• 01 to 0xFE: frequency
• 0xFF: unlimited copying frequency

• -- PRTSIZE (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Teilgröße
• Funktion: zeigt die Größe eines Teils.
• Cluster: 2 Bytes (höchste Position). Start-SU: 1 Bytes (obere Position). End-SU: 1 Bytes (unterste Position).
• Wert: Cluster: 1 bis 0x1F40 (8000)
• Start-SU: 0 bis 0xA0 (160)
• End-SU: 0 bis 0xA0 (16) (beachte, daß SU von 0 beginnt).
• -- PRTKEY (8 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Teilverschlüsselungswert
• Funktion: verschlüsselt ein Teil. Anfangswert = 0. Beachte. daß Editierregeln angewandt werden sollten.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• -- CONNUMO (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: anfänglich erzeugter Inhaltskumulations-Anzahlschlüssel
• Funktion: bestimmt einheitlich eine ID des Inhalts
• Wert: gleicher Wert wie der Wert des Inhaltskumulations-Anzahlanfangswertschlüssels.

The track information area TRKINF is followed by a 24-byte sub-management information area (PRTINF) starting from 0x0370. If a track is composed of several parts, the values of the PRTINF areas become the individual parts arranged one after the other on the time axis. 22 shows part of the PRTINF area. The areas in the PRTINF area are then described in the order of their arrangement.

• - PRTSIZE (4 bytes)
• Meaning: part size
• Function: shows the size of a part.
• Cluster: 2 bytes (highest position). Start SU: 1 bytes (upper position). End SU: 1 bytes (lowest position).
• Value: Cluster: 1 to 0x1F40 (8000)
• Start SU: 0 to 0xA0 (160)
• End SU: 0 to 0xA0 (16) (note that SU starts from 0).
• - PRTKEY (8 bytes)
• Meaning: partial encryption value
• Function: encrypts a part. Initial value = 0. Note. that editing rules should be applied.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• - CONNUMO (4 bytes)
• Meaning: initially generated content accumulation number key
• Function: uniformly determines an ID of the content
• Value: same value as the value of the content accumulation number initial value key.

• -- INF
• Bedeutung: Zusatzinformation in bezug auf die Spur
• Funktion: zeigt die Variabel-Längenzusatzinformation mit einem Datenkopf. Mehrere unterschiedliche Arten von Zusatzinformation können angeordnet sein. Jeder der Zusatzinformationsbereiche hat eine ID und eine Datengröße. Jeder zusätzliche Informationsbereich besteht aus zumindest 16 Bytes und einem Vielfachen von 4 Bytes.
• Wert: wie die Zusatzinformation INF-S der Wiedergabeverwaltungsdatei.
• Auf den oben beschriebenen Attribut-Datenkopf folgen Daten eines jeden Blocks der ATRAC3-Datendatei. Wie in 23 gezeigt ist, ist ein Datenkopf für jeden Block hinzugefügt. Anschließend werden Daten eines jeden Blocks beschrieben.
• -- BLKID-A3D (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: BLOCKID FILE ID
• Funktion: identifiziert den Kopf der ATRAC3-Daten.
• Wert: fester Wert = „A3D“ (beispielsweise 0x41334420)
• -- MCode (2 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: MAKER CODE (Herstellercode)
• Funktion: identifiziert den Hersteller und das Modell des Rekorders/Wiedergabegeräts
• Wert: höherwertige 10 Bits (Herstellercode): niedrigwertige 6 Bits (Modellcode)
• -- CONNUMO (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: kumulative Anzahl von anfänglich gebildetem Inhalt
• Funktion: bestimmt eine einzigartige ID für den Inhalt. Sogar wenn der Inhalt editiert wird, wird der Wert des Bereichs CONNUMO nicht geändert.
• Wert: gleich dem Inhalt Kumulations-Anzahl-Anfangs-Schlüssel
• -- BLOCK SERIAL (4 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Serialnummer. die jeder Spur zugeordnet ist.
• Funktion: beginnt von 0 und wird um 1 inkrementiert. Sogar wenn der Inhalt editiert wird, wird der Wert des Bereichs Block SERIAL nicht geändert.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFF
• -- BLOCK-SEED (8 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Schlüssel zum Verschlüsseln eines Blocks
• Funktion: Der Beginn des Blocks ist eine Zufallszahl. die durch den Sicherheitsblock des Rekorders/Wiedergabegeräts erzeugt wird. Auf die Zufallszahl folgt ein Wert, der um 1 inkrementiert ist. Wenn der Wert des Bereichs BLOCKSEED verloren ist, da der Ton nicht für etwa eine Sekunde äquivalent einem Block erzeugt wird, werden die gleichen Daten in den Datenkopf und in das Ende des Blocks geschrieben. Sogar wenn der Inhalt editiert wird, wird der Wert des Bereichs Daten-BLOCK-SEED nicht geändert.
• Wert: anfängliche 8-Bit-Zufallszahl= INITIALIZATION VECTOR (8 Bytes)
• Bedeutung: Wert, der zum Verschlüsseln/Entschlüsseln von ATRAC3-Daten erforderlich ist
• Funktion: zeigt einen Anfangswert. der zum Verschlüsseln und Entschlüsseln von ATRAC3-Daten für jeden Block notwendig ist. Ein Block beginnt von 0. Der nächste Block beginnt vom letzten verschlüsselten 8-Bit-Wert in der letzten SU. Wenn ein Block geteilt ist. werden die letzten 8 Bytes unmittelbar vor der Start-SU verwendet. Sogar wenn der Inhalt editiert wird, wird der Wert des Bereichs INITIALIZATION VECTOR nicht geändert.
• Wert: 0 bis 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• -- SU-nnn
• Bedeutung: Daten der Toneinheit
• Funktion: zeigt Daten, die aus 1024 Abtastungen komprimiert wurden.
• Die Anzahl von Bytes von Ausgangsdaten hängt vom Kompressionsmodus ab. Sogar wenn der Inhalt editiert wird, wird der Wert des Bereichs SU-nnn nicht geändert. Beispielsweise im SP-Modus, N = 384 Bytes.
• Wert: Datenwert von ATRAC3

As in 17th is shown. the attribute header of an ATRAC3 data file contains additional information INF. The additional information is the same as the additional information INF-S (see 11 and 12B) the playback management file except that the start position is not fixed. The last byte position (a multiple of 4 bytes) at the end of one or more parts is followed by data from the additional information INF.

• - INF
• Meaning: Additional information regarding the track
• Function: shows the additional variable length information with a data header. Several different types of additional information can be arranged. Each of the additional information areas has an ID and a data size. Each additional information area consists of at least 16 bytes and a multiple of 4 bytes.
• Value: as the additional information INF-S of the playback management file.
• The attribute header described above is followed by data from each block of the ATRAC3 data file. As in 23 a header is added for each block. Then data of each block is written.
• - BLKID-A3D (4 bytes)
• Meaning: BLOCKID FILE ID
• Function: identifies the header of the ATRAC3 data.
• Value: Fixed value = "A3D" (e.g. 0x41334420)
• - MCode (2 bytes)
• Meaning: MAKER CODE (manufacturer code)
• Function: identifies the manufacturer and model of the recorder / playback device
• Value: higher order 10 bits (manufacturer code): lower order 6 bits (model code)
• - CONNUMO (4 bytes)
• Meaning: cumulative number of initially formed content
• Function: determines a unique ID for the content. Even when the content is edited, the value of the CONNUMO area is not changed.
• Value: equal to the content of the cumulation number start key
• - BLOCK SERIAL (4 bytes)
• Meaning: serial number. assigned to each track.
• Function: starts from 0 and is incremented by 1. Even when the content is edited, the value of the Block SERIAL area is not changed.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF
• - BLOCK-SEED (8 bytes)
• Meaning: Key for encrypting a block
• Function: The beginning of the block is a random number. which is generated by the security block of the recorder / playback device. The random number is followed by a value that is incremented by 1. If the value of the BLOCKSEED area is lost because the sound is not generated equivalent to a block for about a second, the same data is written into the header and the end of the block. Even when the content is edited, the value of the data BLOCK-SEED area is not changed.
• Value: initial 8-bit random number = INITIALIZATION VECTOR (8 bytes)
• Meaning: Value required to encrypt / decrypt ATRAC3 data
• Function: shows an initial value. which is necessary for encrypting and decrypting ATRAC3 data for each block. One block starts from 0. The next block starts from the last encrypted 8-bit value in the last SU . When a block is divided. the last 8 bytes immediately before the start SU are used. Even when the content is edited, the value of the INITIALIZATION VECTOR area is not changed.
• Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
• - SU-nnn
• Meaning: data of the sound unit
• Function: shows data compressed from 1024 samples.
• The number of bytes of output data depends on the compression mode. Even when the content is edited, the value of the area SU-nnn is not changed. For example, in SP mode, N = 384 bytes.
• Value: data value of ATRAC3

According to 17th because N = 384, 42 SU written in a block. The first two slots (4 bytes) of a block are used as data headers. In the last slot (2 bytes) are the areas BLKID-A3D, MCode. CONNUMO and BLOCK SERIAL written redundantly. Thus M bytes of the remaining area of a block are (16,384 - 384 × 42 - 16 × 3 = 208) bytes. As described above, the 8-byte block BLOCK SEED is recorded redundantly.

When the FAT area is destroyed. all blocks of the flash memory are searched. It is determined whether the value of the area ID BLKID at the beginning of each block TLO. HDO or A3D is. As in 24A to 24C is shown in step SP1 determines whether or not the value of the ID BLKID area at the beginning of the header is BLKID-TO. If the determination result in step SP1 No is. the river continues to step SP2 . In step SP2 the block number is incremented. After that, in step SP3 determines whether the last block was searched or not.

If the determination result in step SP3 If NO, the flow returns to the step SP1 .

If the determination result in step SP1 YES is. the river continues to step SP4 . In step SP4 it is determined that the searched block is the playback management file PBLIST. Then the river continues to step SP5 . In step SP5 is the number of total tracks T-TRK in the playback management file PBLIST as N saved in the register. For example, if the memory 10th ATRAC3 data files (10 music programs) saved, 10 was saved in the T-TRK.

Thereafter, with respect to the value of the number of total tracks, T-TRK on the blocks TRK-00 1 referred to TRK-400 in succession. In this example. since 10 music programs have been recorded, refer to blocks TRK-001 to TRK-010. Because a file number FNO in TRK-XXX (where X = 1 to 400) in the step SP7 has been recorded, a table that shows the track number TRK-XXX with the file number FNO related, stored in memory. After that, in step SP8 N . which was saved in the register is decremented. A loop of steps SP6 . SP7 and SP8 is repeated until N in step SP9 becomes 0.

If the determination result in step SP9 YES is. the river continues to step SP10 . In step SP10 the pointer is reset to the head block. The search process is repeated from the header. Then the river continues to step SP11 . In step SP11 it is determined whether or not the value of the ID BLKID area of the header is BLKID-HDO. If the determination result in step SP11 If NO, the flow continues to step SP12 . In step SP12 the block number is incremented. In step SP13 determines whether the last block was searched or not.

If the determination result in step SP 13 If NO, the flow returns to step SP11 back. The search process is repeated until the determination result in step SP11 YES will.

If the determination result in step SP11 YES is. the river continues to step SP14 . In step SP14 it is determined whether the block of the attribute header (see 8th ) (0x0000 to 0x03FFF. As in 8th is shown) at the beginning of the ATRAC3 data file.

After that, in step SP15 the file number FNO , the sequence number BLOCK SERIAL of the same ATRAC3 data file and the content accumulation number key CONNUMO, which are contained in the attribute data header, are stored in the memory. If 10th ATRAC3 data files are recorded, since there are 10 blocks, the value of the ID BLKID area of the header block is BLKID-TLO, the search process continues until 10 blocks are searched.

If the determination result in step SP13 YES, the flow continues to step SP16 . In step SP16 becomes the pointer to the head block reset. The search process is repeated from the header.

Then the river continues to step SP17 . In step SP17 it is determined whether or not the value of the ID BLKID area of the header is BLKID-A3D.

If the determination result in step SP17 If NO, the flow continues to step SP18 . In step SP18 the block number is incremented. After that, in step SP18 ' determines whether the last block was searched or not. If the determination result in step SP18 ' If NO, the flow returns to the step SP17 .

If the determination result in step SP17 YES, the flow continues to step SP19 . In step SP19 it is determined that the block contains ATRAC3 data. Then the river continues to step SP20 . In step SP20 are stored in the memory with respect to the serial number BLOCK SERIAL recorded in the ATRAC3 data block and the content accumulation number key CONNUMO.

In the same ATRAC3 data file, the common number is assigned to the content accumulation number key CONNUMO. In other words, if an ATRAC3 data file consists of 10 blocks, a common number is assigned to all values of the CONNUMO areas.

If also ATRAC3 data from 10th If there are blocks, the serial numbers 1 to 0 the values of the BLOCK SERIAL ranges from 10th Allocated blocks.

According to the values of the CONNUMO and BLOCK SERIAL areas, it is determined whether the current block has the same content and the same playback order of the current block in the same content (i.e., connection sequence).

If 10th ATRAC3 data files (ie. 10 music programs) were recorded and each ATRAC3 data file 10th There are blocks 100 Data blocks.

With regard to the values of the CONNUMO and BLOCK SERIAL ranges, the playback order of music programs from 100 Data blocks and their connection order are obtained.

If the determination result in step SP19 YES is. all blocks have been searched for the playback management file, the ATRAC3 data file and the attribute data file. So in step SP21 receive the file link state based on the value of the CONNUMO, BLOCK SERIAL, FNO, and TRK-X ranges in the order of block numbers of the blocks stored in the memory.

If the link state is preserved, the FAT generated in a free area of the memory.

Then, the management file according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 25th shows the file structure according to the second embodiment of the invention. In terms of 25th A music directory contains a track information management file TRKLIST.MSF (hereinafter referred to as TRKLIST), a backup track information management file TRKLISTB.MSF (hereinafter referred to as TRKLISTB), an additional information file INFLIST.MSF (which contains an artist name, an ISRC code, a time stamp, still image data etc. (this file is called INFIST)), an ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn.MSF (hereinafter referred to as A3nnnn). The TRKLIST file contains two areas NAME1 and NAME2 . The area NAME1 is an area. which contains the memory card name and the program name (for one-byte code corresponding to ASCII / 8859-I character code). The area NAME2 is an area containing the memory card name and the program name (for the two-byte code according to MS-JIS / Hankul / Chinese Code).

26 shows the relationship between the track information management file TRKLIST, the areas NAME1 and NAME2 and the ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn. The file TRKLIST is a file with a fixed length of 64 kBytes (= 16 k × 4). An area of 32 kBytes of the file is used to manage the tracks. The remaining area of 32 bytes is used for the areas NAME1 and NAME2 to record. Although the areas NAME1 and NAME2 can be provided for program names as a different file as a track information management file, it is in a system which has a small storage capacity. pleasant to manage the track information management file and program name files as a whole.

The track information area TRKINF-nnnn and partial information area PRTINF-nnnn of the track information management file TRKLIST are used to manage the data file A3Dnnnn and the additional information INFLIST. Only the ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn is encrypted. In 26 the data length in the horizontal direction is 16 bytes ( 0 to F ). A hexadecimal number in the vertical direction shows the value at the beginning of the current line.

According to the second embodiment, three files, ie the track management file TRKLIST (including the program title file). the additional information management file INFLIST and the data file A3Dnnnn are used. According to the first embodiment (see 7 , 8th and 9 ) are two files, ie the playback management file PBLIST for managing the memory card and the data file ATRAC3 used to save programs.

Then, the data structure according to the second embodiment will be explained. For the sake of simplicity, the description of parts that are similar to the first embodiment is omitted in the data structure according to the second embodiment.

• -- YMDhms (4 Bytes)
• zeigt das letzte Aktualisierungsdatum (Jahr, Monat, Tag) der Datei TRKLIST.
• -- N1 (1 Byte) (Option)
• zeigt die folgerichtige Nummer der Speicherkarte (Zählerseite). Wenn eine Speicherkarte verwendet wird, ist der Wert des Bereichs N1 gleich 0x01.
• -- N2 (1 Byte) (Option)
• zeigt die folgerichtige Nummer der Speicherkarte (Nennerseite). Wenn eine Speicherkarte verwendet wird, ist der Wert des Bereichs N2 gleich 0x01.
• -- MSID (2 Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt die ID einer Speicherkarte. Wenn mehrere Speicherkarten verwendet werden, ist der Wert des Bereichs MISD jeder Speicherkarte der gleiche (T.B.D.). (T.B.D.) (was zu definieren ist) zeigt, daß dieser Wert zukünftig definiert werden kann).
• -- S-TRK (2 Bytes)
• zeigt eine spezielle Spur (T.B.D.)
• Normalerweise ist der Wert des Bereichs S-TRK gleich 0x0000.
• -- PASS (2Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt ein Paßwort (T.B.D.).
• -- APP (2 Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt die Definition einer Reproduktionsanwendung (T.B.D.) (normalerweise ist der Wert des Bereichs APP gleich 0x0000).
• -- INF-S (2 Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt den Zusatzinformationszeiger der gesamten Speicherkarte. Wenn es keine Zusatzinformation gibt, ist der Wert des Bereichs INF-S gleich 0x00.

27th shows the detailed structure of the track information management file TRKLIST. In the track information management file TRKLIST, a cluster (block) consists of 16 kbytes. The size and data of the TRKLISTB file is the same as that of the TRKLISTB backup file. The first 32 bytes of the track information management file are used as the header. As with the header of the playback management file PBLIST, the header of the file TRKLIST contains a BLKID-TLO / TLI area (backup file ID) (4 bytes). an area T-TRK (2 bytes) for the number of total tracks, a manufacturer code area MCode (2 bytes), an area REVISION (4 bytes) for the number of TRKLIST rewriting frequencies, and an area S-YMDhms (4 bytes) (option) to update the date and time data. The meanings and functions of these data areas are the same as those of the first embodiment. The TRKLIST file also contains the following areas.

• - YMDhms (4 bytes)
• shows the last update date (year, month, day) of the TRKLIST file.
• - N1 (1 byte) (option)
• shows the logical number of the memory card (meter side). If a memory card is used, the value is the range N1 equal to 0x01.
• - N2 (1 byte) (option)
• shows the logical number of the memory card (denominator side). If a memory card is used, the value is the range N2 equal to 0x01.
• - MSID (2 bytes) (option)
• shows the ID of a memory card. When multiple memory cards are used, the value of the MISD area of each memory card is the same (TBD). (TBD) (what needs to be defined) shows that this value can be defined in the future).
• - S-TRK (2 bytes)
• shows a special track (TBD)
• Normally the value of the S-TRK range is 0x0000.
• - PASS (2Bytes) (option)
• shows a password (TBD).
• - APP (2 bytes) (option)
• shows the definition of a replication application (TBD) (normally the value of the area APP is 0x0000).
• - INF-S (2 bytes) (option)
• shows the additional information pointer of the entire memory card. If there is no additional information, the value of the area INF-S is 0x00.

The last 16 bytes of the TRKLIST file are used for an area BLKID-TLO, an area MCode and an area REVISION, which are the same as the data header. The backup file TRKLISTB contains the data header described above. In this way, the data header contains an area BLKID-TL1. a MCode area and a REVISION area.

The data header is followed by a track information area TRKINF for information relating to each track and a partial information area PRTINF for information relating to each part of the tracks (music programs). 27th shows the areas that precede the TRKLIST area. The lower part of the TRKLISTB area shows the detailed structure of these areas. In 27th a hatched area shows an unused area.

• -- T0 (1 Byte)
• fester Wert (T0 = 0x74)
• = INF-nnn (Option) (2Bytes)
• zeigt den Zusatzinformationszeiger (0 bis 409) jeder Spur. 00: Musikprogramm ohne Zusatzinformation
• -- FNM-nnn (4 Bytes)
• zeigt die Dateinummer (0x0000 bis 0xFFFF) einer ATRAC3-Datendatei.
• Die Nummer nnnn (in ASCII) der ATRAC3-Datendatei (A3Dnnnn) wird in Oxnnnnn umgesetzt.
• -- APP_CTL (4 Bytes (Option)
• zeigt einen Anwendungsparameter (T.B.D.) (normalerweise ist der Wert des Bereichs APP_CTL gleich 0x0000).
• -- P-nnn (2 Bytes)
• zeigt die Anzahl von Teilen (1 bis 2039). aus denen ein Musikprogramm zusammengesetzt ist. Dieser Bereich entspricht dem oben beschriebenen Bereich T-PART.
• -- PR (1 Byte)
• fester Wert (PR = 0 × 50).

The track information area TRKINF-nnn and the partial information area PRTINF-nnn contain areas of an ATRAC3 data file. In other words, the track information area TRKINF-nnn and the partial information area PRTINF-nnn each contain a reproduction limit flag area LT (1 byte). a content encryption area CONTENTS KEY (8 bytes), a recorder / player fuse block serial number area MG ( D ) SERIAL (16 bytes), an area XT (2 bytes) (option) for displaying a feature area of a music program. an area INX (2 bytes) (option), an area YMDhms-S (4Bytes) (option), a B area YMDhms-E (4 bytes) (option), an area MT (1 byte) (option), an area CT (1 byte) (option), an area CC (1 byte) (option), an area CN (1 byte) (option) (these areas YMDhms-S, YMDhms-E. MT , CT . CC and CN become the Reproduction limit information and used for the copy control function), an area A (1 byte) for the partial attribute, a partial size range PRTSIZE (4 bytes), a partial key area PRTKEY (8 bytes). and a content accumulation number area CONNUM (4 bytes). The meaning, functions and values of these areas are the same as those of the first embodiment. In addition, the track information area TRKINF-nnn and the partial information area PRTINF-nnn each contain the following areas.

• - T0 (1 byte)
• fixed value (T0 = 0x74)
• = INF-nnn (option) (2 bytes)
• shows the additional information pointer ( 0 to 409 ) every trace. 00: Music program without additional information
• - FNM-nnn (4 bytes)
• shows the file number (0x0000 to 0xFFFF) of an ATRAC3 data file.
• The number nnnn (in ASCII) of the ATRAC3 data file (A3Dnnnn) is converted into Oxnnnnn.
• - APP_CTL (4 bytes (option)
• shows an application parameter (TBD) (normally the value of the APP_CTL area is 0x0000).
• - P-nnn (2 bytes)
• shows the number of parts ( 1 to 2039 ). of which a music program is composed. This area corresponds to the T-PART area described above.
• - PR (1 byte)
• fixed value (PR = 0 × 50).

• -- BLKID-NM1 ((4 Bytes)
• zeigt den Inhalt eines Blocks (fester Wert) (NM 1 = 0x4E4D2D31)
• -- PNM1-nnn (4Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt den Zeiger auf den Bereich NM1 (für Ein-Byte-Code)-
• -- PNM1-S
• zeigt den Zeiger auf einen Namen, der eine Speicherkarte zeigt nnn (= 1 bis 408) zeigt den Zeiger auf einen Musikprogrammtitel
• Der Zeiger zeigt die Startposition (2 Bytes) des Blocks, den Charaktercodetypus (2 Bytes) und die Datengröße (14 Bits).
• -- NM1-nnn (Option)
• zeigt den Speicherkartennamen und den Musikprogrammtitel für Ein-Byte-Code (Variable Länge). Ein Endcode (0x00) wird am Ende des Bereichs geschrieben.

Then the areas NAME1 (for the one-byte code) and NAME2 (for the two-byte code) for managing the names. 28 shows the detailed structure of the area NAME1 (for the one-byte code area). Each of the areas NAME1 and NAME2 (which will be described later) is segmented by 8 bytes. So one slot of them consists of 8 bytes. At 0x8000, ie a data header is arranged from the beginning of each of these areas. A pointer and a name follow the data header. The last slot in the area NAME1 contains the same areas as the data header.

• - BLKID-NM1 ((4 bytes)
• shows the content of a block (fixed value) (NM 1 = 0x4E4D2D31)
• - PNM1-nnn (4Bytes) (option)
• shows the pointer to the area NM1 (for one byte code) -
• - PNM1-S
• shows the pointer to a name that shows a memory card nnn (= 1 to 408) shows the pointer to a music program title
• The pointer shows the starting position (2 bytes) of the block, the character code type (2 bytes) and the data size (14 bits).
• - NM1-nnn (option)
• shows the memory card name and music program title for one-byte code (variable length). An end code (0x00) is written at the end of the range.

• -- BLKID-NM2 (4Bytes)
• zeigt den Inhalt eines Blocks (fester Wert) (NM2 = 0x4E4D2D32).
• -- PNM2-nnn (4 Bytes) (Option)
• zeigt den Zeiger auf den Bereich NM2 (für Zwei-Byte-Code).

29 shows the detailed data structure of the area NAME2 (for two-byte code). At 0x8000, that is, at the beginning of the range. a data header is arranged. A pointer and a name follow the data header. The last slot in the area NAME2 contains the same areas as the data header.

• - BLKID-NM2 (4Bytes)
• shows the content of a block (fixed value) (NM2 = 0x4E4D2D32).
• - PNM2-nnn (4 bytes) (option)
• shows the pointer to the area NM2 (for two-byte code).

PNM2-S shows the pointer to the name that shows the memory card, nnn (= 1 to 408) shows the pointer to a music program title.

• -- NM2-nnn (Option)
• zeigt den Namen der Speicherkarte und den Titel des Musikprogramms für Zwei-Byte-Code (Variabel). Ein Endcode (0x0000) ist am Ende des Bereichs geschrieben.

The pointer shows the start position (2 bytes) of the block. the character code type (2 bits) and the data size (14 bits).

• - NM2-nnn (option)
• shows the name of the memory card and the title of the music program for two-byte code (variable). An end code (0x0000) is written at the end of the range.

30th shows the data arrangement (for one block) of the ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn in the case that 1 SU consists of N bytes. In this file, a slot consists of 8 bytes. 30th shows the values of the header area (0x0000 to 0x3FF8) of each slot. The first four slots in the file are used for a header. As with the data block that corresponds to the attribute header of the data file (see 17th ) of the first example, a data header is arranged. The data header contains an area BLKID-A3D (4 bytes), a manufacturer code area MCode (2 bytes). a BLOCK SEED area (8 bytes) necessary for the encryption process, a CONNUMO area (4 bytes) for the initial content accumulation number, a BLOCK SERIAL serial number area (4 bytes for each Track. and an INITIALIZATION VECTOR area (8 bytes) necessary for the encryption / decryption process. The second to last slot of the block contains a BLOCK SEED area redundantly. The last slot contains areas BLKID-A3D and MCode. As in the first embodiment, the sound unit data SU-nnnn follow the data header.

• -- BLKID-INF (4 Bytes)
• zeigt den Inhalt des Blocks (fester Wert) (INF = 0x494E464F).
• -- T-DAT (2 Blöcke)
• zeigt die Anzahl der gesamten Datenbereiche (0 bis 409).
• -- MCode (2 Bytes)
• zeigt den Herstellercode des Rekorders/Wiedergabegeräts
• -- YMDhms (4 Bytes)
• zeigt die aktualisierten Aufzeichnungsdaten und die Zeit.
• -- INF-nnnn (4 Bytes)
• zeigt den Zeiger auf den Bereich DATA der Zusatzinformation (Variable Länge, als zwei Bytes (Schlitz) gleichzeitig). Die Startposition wird mit höherwertigen 16 Bits (0000 bis FFFF) dargestellt.
• -- DataSlot-0000 (0x0800) (Datenschlitz)
• zeigt den Offset-Wert vom Anfang (als Schlitz gleichzeitig).

31 shows the detailed data structure of the additional information management file INFLIST, which contains additional information. In the second embodiment, the following data header is arranged at the beginning (0x0000) of the INFLIST file. The pointer and the areas follow the data header.

• - BLKID-INF (4 bytes)
• shows the content of the block (fixed value) (INF = 0x494E464F).
• - T-DAT (2 blocks)
• shows the number of total data areas ( 0 to 409 ).
• - MCode (2 bytes)
• shows the manufacturer code of the recorder / playback device
• - YMDhms (4 bytes)
• shows the updated record data and time.
• - INF-nnnn (4 bytes)
• shows the pointer to the DATA area of the additional information (variable length, as two bytes (slot) at the same time). The start position is assigned higher 16 bits ( 0000 to FFFF ).
• - DataSlot-0000 (0x0800) (data slot)
• shows the offset value from the beginning (as a slot at the same time).

The data size is determined by low-order 16 bits ( 0001 to 7FFF ) shown. A switch-off flag is set to the most significant bit. MSB = 0 (switch on). MSB = 1 (switch off)

The data size shows the total amount of data in the music program.

(The data starts from the beginning of each slot. The non-data area of the slot is padded with 00).

The first INF shows a pointer to the additional information of the entire album (usually INF-409).

32 shows the structure of the additional information. An eight-byte data header is arranged at the beginning of an additional information data area. The structure of the additional information is the same as that in the first embodiment (see 12C ). In other words, the additional information contains an area IN (2 bytes) as an ID. an area key code ID (1 byte), an area SIZE (2 bytes) showing the size of each additional information area, and a manufacturer code area MCode (2 bytes). The additional information also contains an area SID (1 bytes) as a sub-ID.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, in addition to the file system which is defined as the format of the memory card. uses the track information management file TRKLIST for music data. Even if that FAT the file can be restored. 33 shows a flow of a file recovery process. In order to recover the file, a computer that works with a file recovery program and that can access the memory card and a storage device (hard disk, RAM or the like) connected to the computer are used. The computer has a function equivalent to that DSP 30th is. Then, a file recovery process using the track management file TRKLIST will be described.

All blocks of flash memory whose FAT are destroyed, TL-0 is searched for as the value (BLKID) at the head position of each block. In addition, all blocks are searched for NM-1 as a value (BLKID) at the head position of each block. Then all blocks are searched for NM-2 as a value (BLKID) at the head position of each block. The entire contents of the four blocks (track information management file) are stored on a hard disk by a recovery computer, for example.

The number of all tracks is acquired from the data after the fourth byte of the track information management file. The twentieth byte of the track information area TRKINF-001, the value of the CONNUM-001 area of the first music program and the value of the next area P-001 are detected. The number of parts is detected with the value of the area P-001. The values of the PRTSIZE areas of all parts of the track 1 of the PRTINF area are recorded. The number of total blocks (clusters) n is calculated and recorded.

When the lane information management file is acquired, the flow goes to step 102 . In step 102 a voice data file (ATRAC3 data file) is searched. All blocks with the exception of the management file are searched for by the flash memory. Blocks. whose header value (BLKID) is A3D are recorded.

A block whose value of the CONNUMO area at the 16th byte of A3Dnnnn is the same as that of the CONNUM-001 area of the first music program of the track information management file and the value of the BLOCK SERIAL area. starting from the 20th byte. Is 0. is wanted. After the first block is won. becomes a block (cluster) with the same value of the CONNUM area as the first block and with the value of BLOCKSERIAL around 1 (1 = 0 + 1) is incremented. searched. When the second block is won. a block with the same value of the CONNUMO area as the second block and of which the value of the BLOCKSERIAL area is incremented by 1 (2 = 1 + 1) is searched for.

By repeating the process, the ATRAC3 data file is searched until n blocks (clusters) of the track 1 won. When all blocks (clusters) have been won, they are saved one after the other on the hard disk.

The same process as for the track 1 will for the track 2nd carried out. In other words, a block of which the value of the CONNUMO area is equal to that of the CONNUM-002 area of the first music program of the track information management file and of which the value of the BLOCK SERIAL area starting at the 20th byte is zero . After that, the same way as with the track I. searches the ATRAC3 data file. until the last block (cluster) n 'is determined. When all blocks (clusters) are won. they are saved one after the other on the hard disk.

By repeating the process described above for all tracks (the number of tracks: m), all ATRAC3 data is stored on the hard disk which is controlled by the recovery computer.

In step 102 will the memory card whose FAT was destroyed, reinitialized and then the FAT restored. A predetermined directory is formed on the memory card. Then, the track information management file and the ATRAC3 data file for m tracks are copied from the hard disk to the memory card. This completes the recovery process.

In the administration file and data file, important parameters (in particular codes in data heads) can preferably be recorded three times as two times. If data is recorded redundantly, the same data can be recorded at any position as long as it is spaced apart by one page or more.

According to the present invention, when a data file (ATRAC3 file). reproduced from a memory card has playback limit information on the number of playback frequencies. a playback operation determines. If the number of playback frequencies exceeds a predetermined value, the playback operation is prohibited. Then, an area related to the reproduction limit will be described. which corresponds to the TRKLIST track management file, which is created using 25th to 32 was explained. However, such an area can also be applied in accordance with the reproduction limit information contained in the track information TRKINF of the attribute header of the ATRAC3 data file. in the 9 is shown.

34 Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing the construction of a range feature of the present invention in the digital audio recorder described above. The range according to the present invention includes one DSP 30th . a memory card 40 . a CPU 90 , an operational input area 91 , a SRAM 31 (or 36 ), an audio decoder 12 , an interface 11 and a D / A conversion circuit 18th . The CPU 90 and the operational input area 91 are arranged in an amplifier or the like, which is connected to the outside of the digital audio recorder via the bus described above 32 connected is. The CPU 90 and the operational input area 91 allows various commands to be entered and all operations to be controlled. The operation that follows is called the software process of the DSP 30th or the CPU 90 coped.

The operational input area 91 has a normal play button, a stop button, a fast forward button, a pause button, a rewind button. a button for automatically selecting a program, etc. The automatic music program selection operation is one of the file search operations. With the automatic music program selection mode, a music program (track) is stored in the memory card 40 is automatically selected. The operational input area 91 generates an operating signal corresponding to the status of each switch / button. The operation signal becomes the CPU 90 delivered. With a control signal that corresponds to the operation signal that comes from the operational input area 91 playback operation, etc. is performed.

If the memory card 40 is attached to the playback device and the playback button is pressed, the memory card is authorized (namely, it is determined whether the attached memory card is valid or not). If the authorization process was carried out successfully, the reads DSP 30th the track information management file TRKLIST.MSF from the flash memory of the memory card 40 in the SRAM 31 or 36 . In addition, the reads DSP 30th a Playback limit value group from the track information management file TRKLIST.MSF in the SRAM 31 or 36 .

The DSP 30th transfers an audio file. from the memory card 40 was read to the audio decoder 12 for one SU at the same time. The audio decoder 12 decodes the audio file. In this case, an encrypted audio file is decrypted. In 34 the encryption area is omitted for reasons of simplicity. A decoded output signal becomes the D / A conversion circuit 18 via the interface circuit 11 delivered. The D / A conversion circuit 18th generates a playback audio signal. The playback audio signal is through an output connector 19th won. The reproduced audio signal is supplied to an amplifier (not shown) or the like and reproduced as an audio sound thereof.

The DSP 30th controls the approval / prohibition of the playback operation according to the playback start date, the playback expiration date. the number of track playback frequencies CT , the guidance information determination flag, etc. When the guidance limitation information is determined, the DSP 30th playback mode. If the number of playback frequencies is less than the allowed value and the information taking the lead is not determined, the DSP 30th playback mode.

If, however, the DSP 30th the information that has taken over the leadership has been generated by the DSP 30th the control information and prohibits the playback operation. Even if the DSP 30th has not identified the information taking the lead, prohibits when the number of playback frequencies exceeds the playback limit value that DSP 30th playback mode. To define. whether the number of playback frequencies exceeds the playback limit value is for the DSP 30th necessary to set a playback mode.

To do this, the DSP 30th the value of SU the playback data that goes to the audio decoder 12 was transferred to the playback period, and assumes that when the accumulation time of the playback operation of the same track (same music program file) becomes a predetermined value. the track was reproduced once. There 51 SU are equivalent to one second in a particular mode. for example in the event that if a track 30th Is reproduced for seconds, the track is reproduced once when the reproduced data is 51 × 30 = 1530 SU to the audio decoder 12 are transmitted, assume that the playback operation has been performed once.

Once a track has been reproduced. becomes the playback frequency number CT that in SRAM 31 or 36 is saved. decremented by 1 (namely CT = CT - 1). If the playback command for DSP 30th via the CPU 90 is delivered, the DSP 30th again a total value corresponding to the number of playback frequencies CT and determines whether the current total value matches the previous total value or not. If these fit, he determines DSP 30th . that the number of playback frequencies CT when the playback limit information did not take the lead. If these do not match, he determines DSP 30th . that the number of playback frequencies CT probably took the lead. If the number of playback frequencies CT has not taken the lead. the playback operation is performed and the number of playback frequencies CT will be around I. decremented. If the memory card 40 detached from the playback device and then attached to it. or when the power supply of the playback device is switched off. before a track is reproduced. the total value is calculated. The total value obtained is in a certain area of the non-volatile memory of the encryption circuit 22 stored in such a way that the total value cannot be accessed from outside. In other words, the DSP 30th only the comparison result and does not read the total value itself. According to the present invention, a process for determining whether the reproduction limit information has taken over or not is not always required.

When the user is fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing with the operation input area 91 carries out. while a track is being reproduced, counting the playback time of the track to be reproduced. temporarily stopped. When the user performs the stop operation or the automatic selection operation for the music program. while a track is being reproduced, counting the playback time of the track to be reproduced is reset.

Then, the playback operation according to the embodiment will be described in detail. 35 Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of managing a partial playback operation for about 30 seconds as a playback operation.

In step S1 it is cyclically determined whether the playback command has been received or not. If the result of the investigation in step S1 YES is. the river continues to step S2 . In step S2 it is determined whether the current track (music program) that has playback limit information. is reproduced with respect to the track information management file TRKLIST. the in SRAM31 or 36 (in step S2 ) is saved. If the result of the investigation in step S2 If NO, the flow continues to step S9 . In step S9 the track file will be played normally.

If the result of the investigation in step S2 YES, the flow continues to step S3 . In step S3 becomes the previous value of playback frequencies CT set. In addition, the value m of SU (Sound unit) from DSP 30th to the audio decoder 12 is transmitted, set to 0 (namely m = 0). The previous value of the number of plays CT is in the track information management file TRKLIST des SRAM 31 or 36 recorded. The value m of SU is in a predetermined range of SRAM 31 or 36 recorded. The information taking the lead is added to the step with a total value S2 and S3 checked.

Then the river runs to the crotch S4 continue. In step S4 the current audio file from the memory card 40 read. The audio file is for 1 SU at the same time as the audio decoder 12 on the DSP 30th transfer. The audio file is through the audio decoder 12 decoded. The decoded output data becomes a D / A conversion circuit 18 via the interface circuit 11 delivered. A reproduced audio signal output from the D / A conversion circuit 18 is sent through the output terminal 19th receive. The audio signal obtained is supplied to an amplifier (not shown) and reproduced as an audio sound.

The CPU monitors in parallel with the playback process 90 the operational status of the operational input area 91 . In step S5 determines whether a button other than the play button has been pressed or not. If the result of the investigation in step S5 If NO, the flow continues to step S11 . In step S11 the value m is the number of transmitted SU counted. In other words, the value m becomes the number of transmitted SU incremented by 1 (namely m = m + 1).

In step S12 it is determined whether the value m is the number of transmitted SU one exceeds 1500 (about 30 seconds). If the result of the investigation in step S12 If NO, the flow returns to the step S4 . In step S4 will be the next SU transfer. When a button other than the play button is not pressed and the value m is the number of transferred SU Not 1500 exceeds. becomes the number of transmitted SU incremented by 1.

If the determined result in step S12 YES is. the river continues to step S14 . In step S14 if you accept. that the file was reproduced once, the number of plays CT decremented by 1 (namely CT = CT - 1) and the value m of the number of transmitted SU (Tone units) is reset to 0 (namely m = 0). The decremented value (CT-1) is stored in the track information management file of the memory card 40 rewritten.

Then the river runs to the crotch S15 . In step S15 determines whether the number of plays CT which has been decremented is 0. If the result of the investigation in step S15 YES (namely CT = 0), the flow continues to step S16 . In step S16 a process of prohibiting the playback operation is performed. In other words, it controls DSP 30th the tax information. which prohibits the playback operation and provides the control information for each area of the playback device. In this case, the user is informed of audio and / or optical information which shows that the playback mode is prohibited because of the number of playbacks CT exceeds the set value. If the determination result in step S15 If NO (namely CT = 0), the process for the number of reproductions is completed. Thus, the playback operation continues.

If the result of the investigation in step S5 YES, the flow continues to step 6 . In step S6 It is determined whether the fast forward button, the rewind button or the pause button has been pressed for the fast forward playback mode, the rewind mode or the pause mode. If the result of the investigation in step S6 YES, the flow continues to step S7 . In step S7 becomes the value m the number of transmitted SU saved. Then the river returns to the crotch S5 .

If the result of the investigation in step S6 If NO, the flow continues to step S8 . In step S8 It is determined whether the stop operation or the automatic selection operation for the music program has been carried out. When the automatic selection operation for the music program is performed. the current track that is being reproduced is stopped and the next track is reproduced. Thus, when the automatic selection program for the music program has been selected, a playback request from the CPU 90 to the DSP 30th transfer. Thus the river returns to the crotch S1 . In step S1 it is determined that the playback command for the automatic selection operation for the music program has been received. If the result of the investigation in step S8 If NO, the process for the number of plays is completed.

In the example described above, when the reproducing operation is performed, the number of reproductions becomes CT decremented by 1. If the value of the number of plays CT to 0 will (namely CT = 0). playback mode is prohibited. Alternatively, the number of plays CT can be incremented by 1 when the playback operation is performed. If the number of plays CT equal to the number of allowed plays MT playback mode (namely MT = CT), playback mode can be prohibited. As another alternative method, the number of reproductions allowed MT can be decremented by 1 when the playback operation is performed. In this case, the number of plays CT not used. The values of the number of plays CT and the number of allowed plays MT are changed in the processes mentioned above. If the memory card 40 is released from the playback device or the power supply of the playback device is switched off, these values are in the track information management file TRKLIST of the memory card 40 rewritten.

In the embodiment described above. if the value m is the number of transmitted SU 1500 exceeds (approximately 30 seconds) that the current file has been reproduced once. However, it should be noted that the value m is not limited to 1500. In addition, the playback time can be calculated with a different time unit.

In the above description, the invention has been applied to a digital audio recorder. However, the present invention can be applied to other video / audio devices. In addition, it is clear that the present invention can be applied to a medium using a flash memory regardless of its storage capacity and shape.

According to the present invention, when the accumulation time is the normal playback time of content. which exceeds the number of playback limitation times by a predetermined value. determines that the content has been reproduced once. The specified number of plays is compared with the number of play time limits. The playback operation can be performed for the number of playback limit frequencies. With this, the content can be reproduced with respect to the reproduction limit information.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms of a best mode, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes have been made to the above. Omissions and additions can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

A playback device comprising: a memory (40) for recording a plurality of files and their playback frequency limitation information; an actuator (91) for selecting a desired file from the plurality of files stored in the memory (40) to reproduce the desired file; determining means (30) for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency limit information has been set on the file selected by the operating means (91); counting means (30) for counting the playback time of the file selected by the actuator (91); comparing means (30) for determining whether the playback elapsed time determined by the counting means (30) exceeds a predetermined value; and editing means (30) for editing the reproduction frequency limitation information stored in the memory (40), characterized in that the counting means (30) counts the reproduction elapsed time (S11) when the reproduction frequency limitation information on the file has been set, the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file stops and the previous count value of the playback elapsed time is saved (S7) when a fast forward command, a rewind command or a playback pause command has been issued (S6) and the counting of the playback elapsed time the file with the stored count value continues after the stop of the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file (S7) when a playback command has been issued (S5); and the editing means (30) edits the reproduction frequency limitation information when the reproduction elapsed time counted by the counting means (30) exceeds a predetermined value as a result of the determination by the comparing means (30). Playback device after Claim 1 wherein the memory (40) consists of a non-volatile memory. Playback device after Claim 1 or 2nd , wherein the memory is detachable from a housing of the playback device. Playback device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3rd , wherein the count of the counter (30) is reset (S3) when a Playback stop command is issued for the selected file in the state that the playback elapsed time counted by the counter (30) does not exceed the predetermined value. Playback device according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th wherein the count value of the counter (30) is reset when a file search command is issued in the state that the playback elapsed time counted by the counter (30) does not exceed the predetermined value. Playback device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , the editing process decrementing the value of the reproduction frequency limitation information by 1. Playback device according to one of the Claims 1 to 6 , preventing the selected file from being reproduced when the playback frequency limit information becomes a limit. A method for reproducing a selected file from a recording medium (40), comprising the steps of: (a) causing (S4) the selected file recorded on the storage medium (40) to be reproduced; (b) determining (S2) whether or not reproduction frequency limitation information is set on the selected file; (c) counting (S11) the playback elapsed time of the selected file; (d) comparing (S12) whether the counted playback elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value; and (e) editing (S14) the reproduction frequency limitation information stored on the recording medium (40), characterized in that the reproduction elapsed time is counted in step (c) if it was determined in step (b) that the Playback frequency limit information has been set to the selected file, the counting of the playback time of the file is stopped and the previous count of the playback time is saved (S7) when a fast forward command, a rewind command or a play pause Command has been issued (S6) and the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file with the stored count value continues after the stopping of the counting of the playback elapsed time of the file when a playback command has been issued; and the reproduction frequency limit information is edited in step (e) when the reproduction elapsed time counted in step (c) exceeds the predetermined value as the determination result in step (d). Procedure according to Claim 8 , wherein the record carrier (40) consists of a non-volatile memory. Procedure according to Claim 8 or 9 , The record carrier (40) being detachable from a housing. Procedure according to one of the Claims 8 to 10th , wherein the count value is reset when a playback stop command is issued for the selected file in the state where the playback elapsed time counted in step (c) does not exceed the predetermined value. Procedure according to one of the Claims 8 to 11 , wherein the count value is reset when a file search command is issued in the state where the playback elapsed time counted in step (c) does not exceed the predetermined value. Procedure according to one of the Claims 8 to 12 wherein step (e) is performed by decrementing the value of the playback frequency limit information by 1. Procedure according to one of the Claims 8 to 13 , preventing the selected file from being reproduced when the playback frequency limit information becomes a limit.

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