JP4211795B2 - Communication method, communication system, communication method, and server - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication method, a communication system, a communication method, and a server configured to transfer a plurality of data from a device in which data is stored in an accumulated manner to another device.

  Conventionally, a so-called CD changer in which a large number of CDs (Compact Discs) are stored and a CD is automatically reproduced has been put into practical use. In this CD changer, several tens to several hundreds of CDs are stored in one casing, and the CD selected by a predetermined operation is automatically reproduced. CD reproduction can be performed for each CD, or a plurality of CDs can be selected, and random reproduction can be performed in units of CDs or recorded songs. This CD changer is mainly used fixedly, that is, installed in a room.

  On the other hand, as a portable audio data reproducing apparatus, in recent years, an apparatus using a magneto-optical disk or an optical disk having a diameter of about 64 mm is becoming widespread. This portable audio data reproducing apparatus converts an analog audio signal into a digital signal, compresses it by a compression technique called ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding: trademark), and records it on a magneto-optical disk. Since the analog audio signal is compressed and recorded as digital data, there is little deterioration in sound quality, and there is an advantage that random reproduction is possible because a disk is used as a recording medium.

  However, in the above-described CD changer, it is difficult to realize continuous playback because a CD replacement time occurs even during automatic playback. A CD changer that stores 100 or 200 CDs has a large and heavy casing, which is very inconvenient to carry and install.

  Even in the portable audio data reproducing apparatus described above, once recording is performed on the magneto-optical disk, at the time of reproduction, random reproduction and general reproduction can be performed only within the range of the recorded magneto-optical disk. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the magneto-optical disk one by one in random reproduction or music designation reproduction using a plurality of magneto-optical disks. Therefore, the user has always had to carry a plurality of magneto-optical disks or optical disks.

  In order to solve these problems, for example, in the above-described CD changer, a music server using a recording medium such as a hard disk drive having a relatively small size and a large recording capacity has been proposed. The music server reads audio data recorded on a CD, compresses and encodes the read audio data by a predetermined method, and records and accumulates the data on a hard disk drive. By using a hard disk drive having a recording capacity of about 6 GB, music data of about 1000 songs can be recorded. The music server does not require the effort of exchanging CDs as in the above-described CD changer, so that continuous playback is easy and a large number of music data can be recorded on a single hard disk drive. There is an advantage that can be made.

  Further, it has been proposed to use a hard disk drive or a semiconductor memory as a recording or storage medium in the portable audio data reproducing apparatus described above. The music server described above is connected to the portable audio data reproducing apparatus, and the audio data stored in the music server is transferred to the portable audio data reproducing apparatus and stored in a recording or storage medium. If the capacity of the recording or storage medium is about 200 MB, for example, the user does not have to carry a plurality of magneto-optical disks or optical disks, and of course, it is not necessary to replace the magneto-optical disks or optical disks.

  By the way, as described above, the music server can store a large amount of music data. Therefore, if the music data is transferred from the music server to the portable audio data playback device by selecting the music data to be transferred one by one, the user repeats the same operation, which is very troublesome. There was a problem.

  In order to solve this problem, a method of creating a list by selecting music data stored in the music server and transferring the music data registered in the list collectively can be considered. However, when a user creates a list, the purpose of whether to simply create a list and organize music data stored in the music server or to collect music data to be transferred tends to be unclear. There was a problem that it might be confusing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication method, a communication system, a communication method, and a server that can easily transfer music data from an audio server to a portable audio data reproducing apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a communication method in which communication is performed between a music device and a server via a communication unit .
A first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, stored in the first storage medium A first storage step ;
An editing step of editing the program list identification information of the content data is registered,
A second storage step of storing the edited program list and second device identification information for identifying a music device to which the program list corresponds in a second storage medium of the server ;
When the server and the music device are connected , the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data not included in the list but included in the program list is controlled in the second storage by controlling the communication means of the server. is transferred from the medium to the first storage medium, a control step of performing a corresponding content data to the identification information of the content data that is not included in including and program list to the list, the control operation to be deleted from the first storage medium Is a communication method.

Further, the present invention provides a communication system including a music device and a server.
Music equipment
A first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, stored in the first storage medium Comprising first storage means ;
The server
Connection means for connecting to a music device;
A communication means for communicating with the music device;
An editing means for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered;
Second storage means for storing in the second storage medium a program list edited by the editing means and second device identification information for identifying a music device;
When a music device is connected , content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list is controlled from the second storage medium by controlling the communication means . is transferred to the storage medium, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data that is not included in including and program list on the list, a communication system and a control means for Ru is deleted from the first storage medium.
Further, the present invention is first used to identify the musical instruments and equipment identification information, the first recording medium list the first to be configured to include identification information of content data recorded in the music equipment A communication method for communicating with a music device stored in a storage medium ,
An editing step of editing the program list identification information of the content data is registered,
And edited program list, and a second device identification information for identifying the music equipment program list corresponding a storage step of storing in the second storage medium,
When a music device is connected , content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list is transferred from the second storage medium by controlling the communication means of the server . A control step of performing a control operation of transferring the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the list and not included in the program list from the first storage medium. It is a communication method.

Further, this invention comprises a first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, the A server for communicating with a music device stored in one storage medium,
Connection means for connecting to a music device;
A communication means for communicating with the music device;
An editing means for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered;
Second storage means for storing in the second storage medium a program list edited by the editing means and second device identification information for identifying a music device;
When a music device is connected, content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list is controlled from the second storage medium by controlling the communication means. Control means for transferring to the storage medium and deleting content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the list but not included in the program list from the first storage medium;
It is a server provided with.

As described above, in the invention of this, in a communication method for performing communication via a communication means between the music equipment and a server, and the first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, the musical instrument A first storage step for storing in the first storage medium a list including content data identification information recorded in one recording medium; and a program list in which the content data identification information is registered. An editing step for editing, a second storage step for storing in the second storage medium of the server, the edited program list, and second device identification information for identifying a music device to which the program list corresponds; When the server and the music device are connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data not included in the list but included in the program list is The communication means of the server is controlled to be transferred from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, and the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the list and not included in the program list is stored in the first storage medium. And a control step for performing a control operation to be deleted from one storage medium. Therefore, the first device identification information and the server held in the portable music device can be obtained simply by connecting the portable music device and the server. The music data can be transferred from the server to the portable music device based on the second device identification information held in the device .

Further, in the invention of this, in a communication system comprising a music equipment and a server, music device, a first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, recorded on the first recording medium of the music equipment The server includes first storage means for storing a list including identification information of content data in a first storage medium, and the server communicates with the music equipment and connection means for connecting to the music equipment. A communication means for editing, an editing means for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered, a program list edited by the editing means, and second device identification information for identifying a music device, When the second storage means for storing in the second storage medium and the music device are connected, the identification information of the content data not included in the list but included in the program list is included. The corresponding content data is transferred from the second storage medium to the first storage medium by controlling the communication means, and the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the list and not included in the program list And a control unit that deletes the mobile music device from the first storage medium . Therefore, by using this communication system , the mobile music device and the server can be stored in the mobile music device only by connecting them. You can transfer music data to the portable music device from the server based on the second device identification information held in the first device identification information and the server.
According to the present invention, the first device identification information for identifying the music device and the list configured to include the identification information of the content data recorded on the first recording medium of the music device are the first. A communication method for communicating with a music device stored in a storage medium, comprising: an editing step for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered; an edited program list; and a music device to which the program list corresponds A storage step of storing second device identification information for identification in the second storage medium, and content data not included in the list but included in the program list when the music device is connected The content data corresponding to the identification information is transferred from the second storage medium to the first storage medium by controlling the communication means of the server, and is included in the list. The portable music device and the server are connected to each other because the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data not included in the program list is provided with a control step for performing a control operation for deleting the content data from the first storage medium. By simply doing this, music data can be transferred from the server to the portable music device based on the first device identification information held in the portable music device and the second device identification information held in the server.

Further, in the invention of this, the first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, A server that communicates with a music device stored in a first storage medium, and registers connection means for connecting to the music device, communication means for communicating with the music device, and content data identification information Editing means for editing the program list, program list edited by the editing means, and second storage means for storing second device identification information for identifying music devices in a second storage medium; When the music device is connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data not included in the list but included in the program list is controlled in the second storage by controlling the communication means. Control means for transferring content data corresponding to identification information of content data included in the list but not included in the program list from the first storage medium. Therefore, by connecting to the portable music device, the portable music from the server is based on the first device identification information held in the received portable music device and the second device identification information held in the server. Music data can be transferred to the device.

  It is determined whether or not the portable music device and the server are connected. When it is determined that the portable music device and the server are connected, first identification information for identifying the portable music device held in the portable music device; And the second identification information corresponding to the portable music device held in the server, and the music data is transferred from the server to the portable music device based on the comparison result. By simply connecting the server, music data can be transferred from the server to the portable music device based on the first identification information held in the portable music device and the second identification information held in the server. There is an effect that can be done.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a music server to which the present invention is applied and a system using the music server. The music server 50 includes a server main body 51 and left and right speaker units 52L and 52R. The server body 51 is provided with a display unit 53 made of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, and a CD insertion unit 54 for inserting a CD into the server body 51.

  Although omitted in FIG. 1, an operation unit including a plurality of operation switches for the user to operate the function of the server main body 51 is provided in the server main body 51. For example, a signal receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal may be provided for remotely controlling the function of the server main body 51 using a remote commander. As will be described later, the server main body 51 has a controller, and various operations of the server main body 51 are controlled by the controller based on a predetermined program stored in advance in a ROM, for example.

  The user loads the CD 55 into the server main body 51 via the CD insertion unit 54, performs a predetermined operation using an operation unit (not shown), reproduces the CD 55, and outputs a reproduction signal reproduced from the CD 55 to the speaker unit 52L. , 52R, the music recorded on the CD 55 can be enjoyed. When the CD 55 includes text data such as a music title, the music title is displayed on the display unit 53 based on the text data.

  The music server 50 has a large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk inside. By performing a predetermined operation using an operation unit (not shown), it is possible to record the reproduction data reproduced from the CD 55 loaded in the server main body 51 from the CD insertion unit 54 on a recording medium composed of this hard disk. At this time, a method of recording at the same transfer speed as the standard reproduction speed of CD55 and a high-speed recording in which recording is performed at a transfer speed higher than the standard reproduction speed of CD55 can be selected. In the case of recording at a high transfer rate, a charging process is performed according to a predetermined procedure to select a CD or a song recorded on the CD, and play it as music data played from the CD. Data can be recorded at a transfer speed faster than the CD playback speed.

  In the music server 50, the music data reproduced from the CD 55 is compressed and encoded by a predetermined method such as the above-mentioned ATRAC and recorded as compressed music data. For example, about 1000 songs are stored in a hard disk having a capacity of 6 GB. Or can be stored. A list of songs stored or stored in the hard disk is displayed on the display unit 53, for example, and the user can select an arbitrary song from among the songs stored or stored in the hard disk based on the song name list displayed on the display unit 53. Can be played back. Since the hard disk can be randomly accessed, music data stored or stored in large numbers can be read out in an arbitrary order and continuously reproduced.

  Various methods can be used for the compression encoding. In the example of this embodiment, it is referred to as ATRAC2 (Adaptive Tranform Acoustic Coding 2) as disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,177,821. Method is used. This is an advanced version of ATRAC, which is a compression coding method used in the above-described portable audio data reproducing apparatus, and uses a masking effect based on auditory properties and frequency dependence of the minimum audible limit to transform codes. And entropy coding are used together to compress and encode audio data. With relatively small hardware, encoding / decoding can be performed at high speed while maintaining high sound quality.

  The music server 50 can be connected to an external system, for example, an Internet server 60 that is a server connected to the Internet, via a communication line 61 that is a public telephone line, for example. By connecting to the Internet server 60 from the music server 50 via the communication line 61, various information on the Internet can be obtained. The Internet server 60 has a database such as title information of commercially available music CDs, for example. The user is given a unique key for using this database, and by operating the unique key when using the database, data associated with the CD, for example, title information of the CD can be obtained. .

  The Internet server 60 also performs billing processing for the music server 50 according to the service supplied to the user. When the above-described high-speed recording of the CD 55 is performed, the music server 50 performs data communication to the Internet server 60 to perform high-speed recording, so that a billing process for the user who performs high-speed recording is performed. Selection, song selection, and high-speed recording can be performed.

  Here, the billing process is performed by the Internet server 60 having a lot of CD additional information, but this is not limited to the above-described example. For example, the above-described charging process may be performed by another server connected to the Internet. It is also possible to perform the above-described charging process using a dedicated network other than the Internet, for example.

  The portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 has a storage medium composed of a hard disk or a flash memory. Other storage media or recording media can be used as long as they can follow the music playback speed. By connecting the portable recording / reproducing device 70 to the music server 50 via the connection line 71, the music data recorded on the music server 50 is transferred to the portable recording / reproducing device 70, and the storage medium of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is stored. Can be recorded. At this time, on the music server 50 side, the music data transferred to the device 70 exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory but cannot be reproduced. A storage medium or a recording medium used in the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 has a capacity of about 200 Mbytes, for example, and can store or store several tens of music data. In the following description, a storage element or storage medium composed of a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory and a recording medium such as a disk-shaped recording medium such as a hard disk are collectively referred to as a storage medium.

  When the above transfer method used in the present invention, that is, music data is transferred, the music data is recorded in the transfer destination storage medium, and the transferred music data is stored on the storage medium in the transfer source storage medium. The state that exists but cannot be reproduced is called “move”. By moving in this way, unlimited copying of music data can be prevented.

  In the above-described example, the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing device 70 are connected by the connection line 71, but this is not limited to this example. For example, the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing device 70 are provided with mounting portions corresponding to each other, and the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is directly attached to the music server 50 to exchange data between the server 50 and the device 70. You can For example, an interface corresponding to IrDA (Infrared Data Association) for exchanging data using infrared signals as well as electrical connections is provided in both the server 50 and the device 70, and music data is transferred to and from the server 50 using infrared signals. You may make it carry out between the apparatuses 70.

  Furthermore, by providing a predetermined interface in the music server 50, it becomes possible to exchange information with various media. For example, by providing an interface corresponding to the PC card 80 in the server 50, music data distributed by the PC card 80 can be taken into the music server 50 or exchanged between the personal computer and the music server 50. Is possible. By providing the server 50 with a serial digital interface such as an optical cable, music data can be exchanged with another digital music data recording / reproducing apparatus such as a disk recorder 81 using a small magneto-optical disk having a diameter of 64 mm. Is possible. In this example, a disk cartridge 82 containing the above-described small magneto-optical disk is mounted on the disk recorder 81, and music data reproduced from the magneto-optical disk of the disk cartridge 82 is supplied to the music server 50. Similarly, an interface such as IEEE1394 can be provided in the server 50, and for example, a set top box 83 for CATV (Cable Television) or satellite broadcasting can be connected.

  The PC card is a standard for a card-type peripheral device for a personal computer jointly established by PCMCIA (Personal Memory Card International Association) in the United States and JEIDA (Japan Electronics Industry Promotion Association) in Japan. IEEE 1394 is an interface standard adopted by the American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

  The music server 50 can have a WWW (World Wide Web) browser as a built-in application. By connecting to the Internet server 60 via the communication line 61, various contents described in, for example, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) on the Internet can be searched and displayed on the display unit 53.

  With such a configuration, for example, the user can reproduce music data stored or stored in the music server 50 and listen to it through the speaker units 52L and 52R, and can also play the CD 55 through the CD insertion unit 54. 50 can be loaded to play CD55.

  By performing communication between the music server 50 and the Internet server 60, the title information of the CD 55 loaded in the server 50 via the CD insertion unit 54 can be automatically obtained from the server 60 via the communication line 61. it can. Information obtained from the server 60 is stored in the music server 50, and the stored title information is displayed on the display unit 53 of the server 50 as necessary.

  More specifically, user-specific information such as user ID data of the server 50 (hereinafter referred to as user information) is sent from the music server 50 to the Internet server 60. On the Internet server 60 side, verification processing and billing processing are performed based on the received user information. Also, the media information of the CD required by the user or the CD being played back is sent from the music server 50 to the Internet server 60. Based on the received media information, the Internet server 60 searches for additional information with respect to music data such as a song title, a player name, a composer / lyricist name, lyrics, and a jacket image. Then, the Internet server 60 returns predetermined information regarding the CD requested by the user to the music server 50.

  For example, TOC (Table Of Contents) information of CD 55 is sent to the Internet server 60 as media information. In the Internet server 60, a database is constructed in which additional information for the music data described above can be searched based on the TOC information. Additional information may be obtained by searching other WWW servers on the Internet. The Internet server 60 searches for additional information of music data using the received TOC information as media information. For example, it is possible to search based on the time information of each piece of music recorded on the CD 55 included in the TOC information.

  Additional information obtained by the search is sent from the Internet server 60 to the music server 50. In the music server 50, the received additional information is displayed on the display unit 53, and is written together with the TOC information of the CD 55 by, for example, a hard disk drive by the CPU 8 described later. The searched additional information is embedded in an HTML file and sent from the server 60, so that the music server 50 can display the additional information with the built-in WWW browser software.

  If another URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on the Internet is described in the additional information, the music server 50 can access a homepage on the Internet indicated by the other URL.

  Further, by performing data communication between the Internet server 60 and the server 50, the music data of the CD 55 loaded in the server 50 via the CD insertion unit 54 is stored in the storage medium of the music server 50 and the CD 55 is defined. For example, music data for one CD 55 can be recorded in about 2 minutes at a speed higher than the standard playback speed. When communication is not performed between the Internet server 60 and the server 50, the data is recorded on the storage medium of the server 50 at a speed equal to the standard reproduction speed defined by the CD 55 and at a single speed.

  The server 50 can transfer the music data stored or stored in the music server 50 to the portable playback device 71 and move it by connecting to the portable recording / playback device 70 via the connection line 71. The moved music data can be reproduced by the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 even when the server 50 and the apparatus 71 are not connected by the connection line 71, for example, can be listened by the headphones 72. The music data that has been transferred and moved is in a state in which the music server 50 cannot reproduce the music data.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the music server 50. First, the music server 50 is provided with a RAM 5, a ROM 6, a flash memory 7, and a CPU 8 coupled to each other by a bus, as in the configuration of a normal personal computer. CPU 8 is connected to bus 40. The CPU 8 functions as a controller, and the overall operation of the music server 50 is controlled.

  The ROM 6 stores a program for controlling the operation of the music server 50 in advance. In the music server 50, based on this program, the CPU 8 executes an operation corresponding to an operation of the input operation unit 1 described later. In the RAM 5 and the flash memory 7, a data area and a task area for executing the program are temporarily secured. The ROM 6 stores a program loader, and the program itself can be loaded into the flash memory 7 by the program loader of the ROM 6.

  The input operation unit 1 includes, for example, a plurality of push type and rotary type key operation keys and switches operated by these operation keys. The input operation unit 1 is not limited to this, and may be a rotation push type operation key called a jog dial, a touch panel on an LCD, or the like. Of course, it is possible to use a switch mechanism that reacts when pressed. A signal corresponding to the operation of the input operation unit 1 is supplied to the CPU 8 via the bus 40. In the CPU 8, a control signal for controlling the operation of the music server 50 is generated based on the signal from the input operation unit 1. The music server 50 is operated according to the control signal generated by the CPU 8.

  An infrared interface (IrDA I / F) driver 3 and / or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) driver 4 is connected to the bus 40. The keyboard 2 can communicate or connect to these drivers 3 and 4. By using the keyboard 2, for example, it is possible to easily input a song name, artist name, etc. corresponding to recorded music data. Alternatively, data transfer may be performed via the infrared interface driver 3 or the USB driver 4. The infrared interface 3 and the USB driver 4 can be omitted.

  The CD-ROM drive 9 is connected to the bus 40, and the CD 55 inserted from the disk insertion portion 54 as described above is loaded into the CD-ROM drive 9. In the CD-ROM drive 9, music data is read from the set CD 55 at a standard reproduction speed defined. Further, the CD-ROM drive 9 can read music data of the CD 55 at a speed higher than the standard reproduction speed specified, for example, 16 times or 32 times the standard reproduction speed prescribed. it can.

  The CD-ROM drive 9 is not limited to the above example, and may be adapted to other disk-shaped recording media storing music data, such as a magneto-optical disk or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). . A drive corresponding to the memory card can also be used. Further, the data read from the CD-ROM drive 9 is not limited to music data. Image data, text data, program data, etc. can be read out.

  A hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) 10 is connected to the bus 40. In the HDD 10, music data read from the CD-ROM drive 9 is recorded. As preprocessing for recording music data on the HDD 10, the music data read by the CD-ROM drive 9 is supplied to the compression encoder 12 via the bus 40 and the audio DRAM 11.

  In the compression encoder 12, for example, music data is compressed and encoded by the compression method disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,177,821. Note that two speeds of low speed and high speed are prepared for the compression speed of the music data by the compression encoder 12 based on the control of the CPU 8. The low-speed compression speed corresponds to the standard reproduction speed defined for CD55 in the CD-ROM drive 9. The compression speed is switched according to the reproduction speed of the CD 55 by the CD-ROM drive 9, for example. In the compression encoder 12, for example, an encoding algorithm corresponding to the compression speed is driven.

  Note that the change of the compression speed in the compression encoder 12 is not limited to the method described above. For example, it may be performed by switching the clock frequency of the compression encoder 12, or different hardware may be prepared for each. Further, in the compression encoder 12 capable of high-speed compression, processing may be thinned out to correspond to a low-speed compression speed.

  The compressed music data compressed and encoded by the compression encoder 12 is recorded and stored in the HDD 10 via the DRAM 11.

  Here, the compressed music data compression-encoded by the compression encoder 12 is stored in the HDD 10, but the music data read from the CD-ROM drive 9 is directly supplied to the HDD 10 to store the HDD 10. It can also be recorded and stored on a hard disk.

  In this example, an audio signal input from the microphone connected to the terminal 13 via the amplifier 14 and an audio signal input from the line input end 15 are supplied to the compression encoder 12 via the A / D converter 16. . These audio signals can be compressed and encoded by the encoder 12 and recorded in the HDD 10. Further, an optical digital signal is supplied from the optical digital input end 17 to the compression encoder 12 via an IEC958 (International Electrotechnical Commission 958) encoder 18. An audio signal supplied as an optical digital signal can be compressed and encoded by the encoder 12 and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 10.

  In the above-described example, the case where the compression encoder 12 uses an encoding algorithm as disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,177,821 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described example. In other words, the compression encoder 12 can use any other encoding algorithm that compresses information. The compression encoder 12 may use, for example, an encoding algorithm such as moving picture coding experts group (MPEG), precision adaptive sub-band coding (PASC), TwinVQ (trademark), RealAudio (trademark), or LiquidAudio (trademark). .

  A modem 20 is connected to the bus 40. An external network 19 such as a public telephone line, CATV, or wireless communication is connected to the modem 20. The music server 50 can communicate via the external network 19 by the modem 20.

  The music server 50 is connected to, for example, the Internet via the external network 19, and communication is performed between the music server 50 and the remote Internet server 60. From the music server 50 to the Internet server 60, a request signal, media information that is information related to the CD 55 loaded in the CD-ROM drive 9, user ID data and user information given in advance to each of the music servers 50 In addition, various information such as billing information for the user is transmitted and transmitted.

  Various information such as media information user information is transmitted to the Internet server 60, and the server 60 performs verification processing and billing processing based on the received user information such as user ID data, and music data based on the received media information. The additional information is retrieved and returned to the music server 50.

  Here, an example in which additional information of music data is returned has been shown, but it is also possible to supply music data directly from the external network 19 based on a user request. That is, the user can download music data from the Internet server 60 using the music server 50. Music data can be returned according to the media information. According to this, for example, a bonus track of a predetermined CD 55 can be acquired by distribution.

  The compressed music data compressed and encoded by the compression encoder 12 and recorded and stored in the HDD 10 is supplied to the compression decoder 21 via the bus 40 when read from the HDD 10 for reproduction. The compressed music data read from the HDD 10 is decompressed and encoded by the compression decoder 21 and is led to the terminal 24 via the D / A converter 22 and the amplifier 23. The music is reproduced by being supplied from the terminal 24 to the speaker units 52L and 52R. Although not shown in FIG. 2, two paths from the D / A converter 22 to the terminal 24 via the amplifier 23 are provided corresponding to the stereo output. Similarly, two terminals 24 are provided corresponding to the stereo.

  In the compression decoder 21, a decoding algorithm corresponding to the encoding algorithm in the compression encoder 12 is used. The compression decoder 21 and the compression encoder 12 described above may be software processing by the CPU 8 without having hardware.

  A liquid crystal display element (hereinafter abbreviated as LCD) 26 constituting the display unit 53 is connected to the bus 40 via the LCD drive circuit 25. A drawing control signal is supplied from the CPU 8 to the LCD drive circuit 25 via the bus 40. The LCD 26 is driven by the LCD driving circuit 25 based on the supplied drawing control signal, and a predetermined display is made on the display unit 53.

  For example, an operation menu of the music server 50 is displayed on the LCD 26. For example, a title list of the compressed music data recorded and stored in the HDD 10 is displayed on the LCD 26. The title list is displayed on the LCD 26 based on the data stored in the HDD 10 since the data based on the data obtained by decoding the additional information transmitted from the Internet server 60 is supplied to the HDD 10. Further, on the LCD 26, for example, a folder and a jacket image corresponding to the compressed music data to be selected and reproduced are displayed based on the additional information transmitted from the Internet server 60.

  By operating the pointing device of the input operation unit 1 or the keyboard 2 based on the display on the LCD 26, the CPU 8 controls the reproduction of the instructed music data. Based on the display of the LC 26, the selected music data can be deleted, and the selected music data can be copied and moved to an external device. For example, when the input operation unit 1 is a touch panel provided on the LCD 26, the music server 50 can be operated by touching the touch panel according to the display on the LCD 26. As described above, the music data recorded and stored in the HDD 10 is managed and controlled by the user using the LCD 26 as an interface.

  In the first embodiment, IEEE1394 and a PC card are supported as an interface between the music server 50 and an external general information device. An IEEE 1394 interface 28 is connected to the bus 40 via an IEEE 1394 driver 29. Similarly, a PC card slot 31 is connected to the bus 40 via a PC card driver 30.

  The IEEE 1394 interface 28 enables data exchange between the music server 50 and, for example, a personal computer. The IEEE 1394 interface 28 allows music data to be captured from IRD (Integrated Reciever / Decorder) for satellite broadcasts, small magneto-optical discs and optical discs with a diameter of approximately 64 mm, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc ™), digital video tapes, etc. it can. By mounting a PC card in the PC card slot 31, it is easy to expand various peripheral devices such as an external storage device and other media drives, or a modem, a terminal adapter, and a capture board.

  The interface 34 is an interface for exchanging music data and the like between the music server 50 and other corresponding recording / reproducing devices. For example, the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the other recording / reproducing apparatus. The present invention is not limited to this, and the other recording / playback apparatus may be another music server 50.

  An interface 34 is connected to the bus 40 via an interface driver 33. Another corresponding recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with an interface 35 that is paired with the interface 34. By electrically connecting the interfaces 34 and 35 with a predetermined connection line 71, for example, music data recorded and stored in the HDD 10 can be transferred from the music server 50 to another recording / reproducing apparatus.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a signal flow until the music data read by the CD-ROM drive 9 is recorded in the HDD 10. The music data read from the CD-ROM drive 9 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 11 as a buffer memory via the bus 40. Music data is read from the DRAM 11 at a predetermined timing and supplied to the compression encoder 12 via the bus 40. The compression encoder 12 has a predetermined compression speed corresponding to the reproduction speed of the CD-ROM drive 9 as described above. The music data is compression encoded by the compression encoder 12 and once stored in the DRAM 11 as a buffer memory again. The compressed music data read from the DRAM 11 at a predetermined timing is supplied to the HDD 10 via the bus 40 and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 10. At this time, as described above, the information of the CD 55 reproduced by the CD-ROM drive 9 is transmitted to the Internet server 60, and the additional information of the CD 55 transmitted from the server 60 is also recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 10 and is recorded from the CD 55. Along with the compressed music data based on the read music data, it is managed by the CPU 8 or the like as one data.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a signal flow from when the compressed music data read from the HDD 10 is reproduced to be output to the terminal 24. The compressed music data read from the HDD 10 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 11 as a buffer memory via the bus 40. Then, the compressed music data is read from the DRAM 11 at a predetermined timing and supplied to the compression decoder 21 via the bus 40. The compressed music data is decompressed and encoded by the compression decoder 21, converted into music data, and supplied to the D / A converter 22. The music data is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 22, amplified by the amplifier 23, and output to the terminal 24 as a reproduction output. If a speaker is connected to the terminal 24, the music reproduced by the speaker can be enjoyed. At this time, the additional information read together with the compressed music data from the disk of the HDD 10 is decoded by the CPU 8 or the like, and the music title or the like is displayed on the display unit 53.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 used as another recording / reproducing apparatus. This portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 has a configuration substantially equivalent to that of the music server 50 shown in FIG. Normally, the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is used by being carried as a single unit by separating the interface 34 on the music server 50 side and the interface 35 on the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 side.

  First, the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is provided with a RAM 103, a ROM 104, and a CPU 105, which are coupled to each other by a bus, in the same manner as the configuration of a normal personal computer. Of course, a flash memory may be provided similarly to the configuration of the music server 50 described above. The CPU 105 is connected to the bus 130. The CPU 105 functions as a controller, and the entire operation of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is controlled by the CPU 105.

  The ROM 104 stores in advance a program for controlling the operation of the portable recording / reproducing device 70. In the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, an operation corresponding to an operation of the input operation unit 102 described later is performed based on this program. In the RAM 103, a data area and a task area for executing the program are temporarily secured.

  The input operation unit 102 includes, for example, a plurality of push type and rotation type operation keys and a plurality of switches operated by these operation keys. The input operation unit 102 is not limited to this, and may be a rotary push type operation device called a jog dial, a touch panel on an LCD described later, or the like. Of course, it is also possible to use a mechanical switch mechanism that reacts when pressed. A signal corresponding to the operation of the input operation unit 102 is supplied to the CPU 105 via the bus 130. The CPU 105 generates a control signal for controlling the operation of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 based on an output signal generated by operating the operation key of the input operation unit 102. The portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is switched in operation and controlled in operation based on the control signal generated by the CPU 105.

  In the music server 50, the music data read from the HDD 10 and instructed to be transferred to the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is connected to the interface 34, the interface 35, and the connection line connecting the interface 34 and the interface 35. It is transferred or supplied to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. At the same time, the additional information of the music data instructed to be transferred is transmitted to the apparatus 70 together with the music data instructed to be transferred. Further, when the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 are provided with mounting portions corresponding to each other, the interface 34 and the interface 35 are directly connected, and the server 50 and the apparatus 70 are connected to each other. Music data is transferred. Further, when both the device 70 and the server 50 are provided with an IrDA interface, music data is transferred between the server 50 and the device 70 by an infrared signal.

  The music data transferred and supplied from the server 50 to the device 70 is supplied from the interface driver 101 to the HDD 106 which is a music data recording medium of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 via the bus 130 and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 106. .

  Note that the music data recording medium of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is not limited to the HDD 106, and for example, a flash memory may be used. Any other recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk can be used as the recording medium for the music data as long as it can follow the reproduction speed of the music data. As a music data recording medium of the device 70, for example, several tens of songs can be recorded by using a recording capacity of about 200 MBytes. The music data transmitted from the server 50 and additional information of the music data are also recorded on the disk of the HDD 106 of the apparatus 70.

  In this example, the music data transferred and recorded on the HDD 106 is compressed music data that has already been compression-encoded in the music server 50. The portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is not limited to this example, and music data that has not been compression-encoded can be supplied and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 106. For example, the music data reproduced and read from the CD 55 attached to the CD-ROM drive 9 of the music server 50 is supplied directly to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 via the interface driver 101. However, it goes without saying that the number of music data that can be recorded is greatly limited when directly supplied to the apparatus 70.

  As preprocessing for recording music data on the hard disk of the HDD 106, the supplied music data is temporarily stored in the audio DRAM 107 connected to the bus 130. Music data read from the DRAM 107 is supplied to the compression encoder 108 via the bus 130. The compression encoder 108 performs compression encoding processing of music data using an encoding algorithm equivalent to that of the compression encoder 12 in the music server 50. The compressed music data compression-encoded by the compression encoder 108 is supplied to the DRAM 107 and temporarily stored in the DRAM 107 again. Finally, the compressed music data stored in the DRAM 107 is read and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 106.

  As described above, when compressed music data stored in the HDD 10 in the music server 50 is instructed to move and transmitted and transferred to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, the compressed music data in the HDD 10 is stored as data on the HDD 10. It exists in a state where it exists but cannot be read from the HDD 10 and reproduced. The compressed music data moved to the device 70 can be played back on the source, that is, the server 50 by being returned to the source recording medium, that is, the HDD 10 of the server 50 again. At this time, the compressed music data returned to the server 50 is deleted from the hard disk of the HDD 106 of the apparatus 70 as the transfer destination recording medium.

  In this example, an audio signal input from the microphone connected to the terminal 109 via the amplifier 110 and an audio signal input from the line input end 111 are supplied to the compression encoder 108 via the A / D converter 112. . The audio signal supplied from the A / D converter 112 by the compression encoder 108 can be compressed and encoded and recorded in the HDD 106. Further, an optical digital signal is supplied from the optical digital input end 113 to the compression encoder 108 via the IEC958 encoder 114. An audio signal supplied as an optical digital signal can be compressed and encoded by the encoder 108 and recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 106. If the device 70 is a playback-only portable playback device that only plays back compressed music data, the above-described A / D converter 112, encoder 108, etc. can all be omitted.

  The compressed music data is read from the HDD 106 for reproduction and supplied to the compression decoder 115 via the bus 130. The music data obtained by decompressing the compressed music data supplied to the compressed music data supplied by the compression decoder 115 and being subjected to compression coding is led to a terminal 118 via the D / A converter 116 and the amplifier 117. For example, a headphone 72 is connected to the terminal 118. The user can listen to the reproduced music by wearing the headphones 72. Although omitted in FIG. 5, two signal paths from the D / A converter 116 to the terminal 118 via the amplifier 117 are provided corresponding to the L-channel and R-channel stereo outputs. Similarly, two terminals 118 are provided corresponding to the L-channel and R-channel stereo.

  The LCD 120 is connected to the bus 130 via the LCD drive circuit 119. A drawing control signal is supplied from the CPU 105 to the LCD drive circuit 119 via the bus 130, and the LCD 120 is driven based on the supplied drawing control signal to display a predetermined display on the LCD 120. On the LCD 120, an operation menu of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, a title list of music data stored in the HDD 106, and the like are displayed. For example, a folder or a jacket image corresponding to music data selected and reproduced from music data stored in the HDD 106 may be displayed on the LCD 120 based on the additional information stored in the HDD 106.

  Based on the display on the LCD 120, when the user operates the pointing device of the input operation unit 102, one piece of compressed music data stored in the HD 106 is selected and reproduced. Control of the deletion, duplication, and movement of the selected compressed music data can also be performed based on the display of the LC 120. For example, according to the display on the LCD 120, the user can perform an operation input of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 by touching the touch panel of the input operation unit 102. As described above, the management, recording, and reproduction of the compressed music data recorded on the HDD 106 are controlled by the user using the LCD 120 as an interface.

  Although omitted in FIG. 5, the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is driven by a battery. Therefore, the apparatus 70 is provided with a power supply unit using a general secondary battery or a dry battery as a power supply source and a charging unit. When the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing device 70 are directly connected by a connection line or a mounting unit, the charging unit is supplied with power from the music server 50 together with the transfer of the music data, and the secondary battery of the device 70 Charging is performed. Of course, the secondary battery of the device 70 can be charged by an external charging power source. Note that only one of a power source using a dry battery and a charging power source using a secondary battery may be used or provided as a power source.

  FIG. 6 shows another example of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 described above. In FIG. 6, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 170 shown in FIG. 6, a switch circuit 200 is inserted between the HDD (or flash memory) 106a and the bus 130 in the configuration shown in FIG. One selection end 200 a of the switch circuit 200 is connected to the bus 130, and the other selection end 200 b is connected to the interface 35. The switch circuit 200 separates the HDD 106 a from the bus 130.

  When the compressed music data is transferred from the music server 50, the switch circuit 200 switches to the selection end 200b or selects the selection end 200b. The HDD 106a and the bus 40 of the music server 50 are directly connected via the interfaces 34 and 35. When viewed from the CPU 8 of the server 50, the HDD 106 a appears to be a recording medium of the music server 50. The CPU 8 of the music server 50 can directly control the HDD 106a. It is possible to easily move or copy compressed music data between the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70.

  Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. First, functions executed by the music server 50 alone will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of processing when recording music data of the CD 55 loaded in the CD-ROM drive 9 on the disk of the HDD 10 of the music server 50.

  In the first step S10, a request for recording the music data of the CD 55 on the HDD 10 by the user is awaited. For example, when a recording request is input by the user using the input operation unit 1, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, it is determined whether the recording requested by the user is “high speed recording” or “single speed recording”. For example, when the recording request is issued in step S10 described above, the user specifies both the recording method, that is, whether the recording is performed at high speed or 1 × speed. Here, “single-speed recording” refers to an operation of reading the CD 55 at a standard speed defined and recording it on the disk of the HDD 10, and “high-speed recording” is a standard speed 2 defined by the CD 55. The operation of reading out at a speed more than double and recording it on the disk of the HDD 10.

  If it is specified in step S11 that “high-speed recording” is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S12, and the accounting system of the servers 50 and 60 is activated. Processing by the accounting system of the servers 50 and 60 will be described later. When charging processing by the charging system of the server 50 is performed and high-speed recording is permitted from the Internet server 60 and other devices, the processing moves to step S13, the high-speed compression processing is started in the compression encoder 12, and the processing proceeds to step S15. Migrate to

  On the other hand, if it is specified in step S11 that recording at 1 × speed is specified, the process proceeds to step S14, and the compression encoder 12 starts the low-speed compression process. The process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the CD-ROM drive 9 is driven at a predetermined speed based on the control of the CPU 8, and the music data recorded on the CD 55 loaded in the CD-ROM drive 9 is read. The read music data is compressed and encoded by the compression encoder 12 and transferred to and recorded on the disk of the HDD 10.

  If the transfer of the compressed music data read from the CD 55 to the HDD 10 is completed in step S16, the transfer of data from the CD-ROM drive 9 to the HDD 10 is prohibited in the next step S17. In step S18, the compression process of the compression encoder 12 is stopped.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the charging process of the charging system in step S12 of the flowchart of FIG. The billing process is performed by performing data communication between the music server 50 and the Internet server 60. FIG. 8A shows charging processing in the charging processing system at the music server 50, and FIG. 8B shows charging processing in the charging processing system at the Internet server 60.

  When the billing process is started, first, in step S20 of FIG. 8A, communication is started between the music server 50 and the Internet server 60 using a predetermined protocol. If it is confirmed in step S21 that the connection between the server 50 and the server 60 is established and communication is possible between the server 50 and the server 60, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S <b> 22, the TOC information of the CD 55 loaded in the CD-ROM drive 9 and transferred to and recorded on the HDD 10 is sent from the music server 50 to the Internet server 60. High-speed recording information indicating that high-speed recording is performed is sent from the music server 50 to the Internet server 60 together with the TOC information of the CD 55.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 8B, the Internet server 60 waits for the supply or transmission of high-speed recording information and TOC information from the music server 50 (step S30). When these high-speed recording information and TOC information are received by the server 60, in step S31, the transmitted TOC information is searched using a database in the server 60 or an external database based on the transmitted TOC information. Is done. The CD 55 is specified by searching for information corresponding to the TOC information.

  In the next step S32, a billing process is performed. The amount to be charged is calculated based on information such as the number of songs recorded at high speed, and the charge is deducted from the bank account designated by the user, for example, based on the user's registered credit card number. Can be done. The billing method is not limited to this. For example, the music server 50 is provided with a function of reading a prepaid card, the set billing amount is sent to the music server 50, and the amount charged by the user from the prepaid card is determined. A method of paying the charge amount by reducing the amount is also conceivable. Further, based on the TOC information, the charge amount can be changed depending on the contents of the CD 55, and recording of music data read from the CD 55 on the disk of the HDD 10 can be prohibited.

  In step S33, billing information is sent to the music server 50. In FIG. 8A, the content of the billing information transmitted is confirmed on the music server 50 side (step S23). Also on the Internet server 60 side, it is confirmed whether or not the billing information is received by the music server 50 (step S34). For example, it is performed by transmitting data representing confirmation from the music server 50 to the server 60 when it is confirmed that the billing information received on the music server 50 side has no error and is correctly received.

  Returning to FIG. 8A, when the charging information received on the music server 50 side is confirmed in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24, and the received charging information and the like are displayed on the display unit 53. In step S25, music data is read from the CD 55 at high speed by the CD-ROM drive 9, compression processing is performed at the high speed compression speed by the compression encoder 12, the compressed music data from the compression encoder 12 is supplied to the HDD 10, and the HDD 10 Recorded on the disc. This step S25 corresponds to step S15 in FIG.

  By the way, in this embodiment, a cooperative operation is possible between the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. For example, when music data is moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, a cooperative operation is performed between the server 50 and the apparatus 70. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example of this movement.

  First, in the first step S40, it is determined whether or not the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 are connected by the interfaces 34 and 35. The detection of the connection between the server 50 and the apparatus 70 is performed by exchanging a predetermined signal between the interfaces 34 and 35, for example. The detection of the connection between the server 50 and the device 70 is not limited to this, and a switch mechanism is provided at a portion where the music server 50 and the portable recording / reproducing device 70 are connected, and the server 50 and the device 70 are detected using a mechanical detection mechanism. It is also possible to detect the connection with 70.

  When the connection between the server 50 and the device 70 is confirmed in step S40, it is determined in the next step S41 whether or not the music data recorded and stored in the HDD 10 is requested to be moved to the portable recording / reproducing device 70. To be judged. For example, the compressed music data stored in the HDD 10 is displayed on the display unit 53 as a list of information including a song name, and is displayed on the display unit 53 by a predetermined pointing device of the input operation unit 1 by the user. Predetermined compressed music data is selected from the displayed list. Further, an instruction to move to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is input to the compressed music data selected by the user from the input operation unit 1.

  Various methods of inputting a movement instruction using the input operation unit 1 can be considered. For example, a button for instructing movement is displayed on the display unit 53, and this button can be specified by using the pointing device of the input operation unit 1. For example, an icon is displayed on the display unit 53 for each piece of compressed music data, and the icon displayed on the display unit 53 is moved onto the icon indicating the mobile recording / reproducing device 70 of the moving destination that is also displayed on the display unit 53. It can also be done by so-called drag and drop that moves. Of course, the movement may be instructed by operating an operation switch provided in the input operation unit 1.

  If it is determined in step S41 that there is a request to move the compressed music data, in step S42, for example, the CPU 8 on the server 50 side checks the file size, that is, the data amount, of the compressed music data designated for movement. In the next step S43, for example, the CPU 105 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 checks the free capacity of the HDD 106, that is, the recordable storage capacity. For example, the CPU 8 of the server 50 compares the free space of the HDD 106 with the file size of the compressed music data designated for movement checked in step S42. Based on the comparison result in step S 42, it is determined whether or not the compressed music data designated for movement by the CPU 8 can be recorded in the HDD 106. If it is determined that recording to the HDD 106 is possible, the process proceeds to step S45, and the transfer of the compressed music data designated to move from the server 50 to the apparatus 70 is started.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S43 that the HDD 106 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 has insufficient free space, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, the compressed music data already recorded on the HDD 106 is automatically or based on the procedure and method described later by the CPU 105 of the apparatus 70 so that the compressed music data designated for movement can be recorded on the HDD 106. And the process proceeds to step S45.

  The deletion of the compressed music data in step S44 is automatically performed under the control of the CPU 105 based on predetermined parameters of the compressed music data already recorded in the HDD 106. For example, in the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, it is conceivable that the number of times of reproduction is counted for each compressed music data recorded in the HDD 106, and deleted from the HDD 106 in order from the smallest number of times of reproduction. Further, the compressed music data recorded on the HDD 106 can be deleted in the order of the oldest date recorded on the HDD 106.

  When the compressed music data is automatically deleted from the HD 106 in step S44, the compressed music data important for the user may be deleted from the HD 106. In order to prevent this, the display unit 53 of the music server 50 and the LCD 120 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 are in an operation state in which compressed music data is automatically deleted from the HD 106, and a list of data to be deleted It is also possible to delete the compressed music data from the HD 106 after a user's confirmation is displayed by displaying a warning. There is a method in which a list of compressed music data already recorded in the HDD 106 is displayed on the display unit 53 of the music server 50 or the LCD 120 of the portable recording / reproducing device 70, and the user himself selects the compressed music data to be deleted. .

  When the compressed music data stored in the HD 10 can be recorded on the HDD 106 by the above-described steps S43 and S44, the music is recorded in the step S45. Transmission, that is, transfer of compressed music data from the server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is started. That is, the compressed music data read from the HDD 10 is supplied to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 via the bus 40 and the interface 34. In the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, the compressed music data supplied via the interface 34 is recorded on the HDD 106 via the interface 35.

  The transferred compressed music data exists in the HDD 10 on the music server 50 side as well as before the transfer to the device 70. In this embodiment, playback of the corresponding compressed music data that has been transferred to the device 70, that is, moved to the device 70 and exists in the HDD 10, is prohibited (step S46). For example, when the movement to the device 70 is completed, a reproduction prohibition flag indicating reproduction prohibition is set for the compressed music data of HD10. The reproduction prohibition flag prohibits the reproduction of the compressed music data moved to the device 70 by the CPU 8 of the server 50, and the compressed music data stored in the HDD 10 is transferred from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing device 70. Music data is virtually transferred. Therefore, the music data that can be played back by the server 50 or the apparatus 70 among the plurality of compressed music data is managed so that there is always only one, and unauthorized duplication of music data is prevented.

  In the next step S47, it is determined whether or not there is a request to move the next compressed music data to the device 70. If it is desired to move other compressed music data, the process returns to step S42. If there is no further request to move music data, a series of music data movement processing is terminated.

  In the above description, one of the plurality of compressed music data stored in the HDD 10 in steps S42 to S46 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is described as being moved from the server 50 to the device 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of compressed music data can be collectively transferred from the server 50 to the apparatus 70.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the process of step S46, in the HDD 10 of the music server 50 that is the movement source, the moved compressed music data is only prohibited from being reproduced, and the compressed music data itself does not exist. However, this is not limited to an example, and the moved compressed music data may be deleted from the HDD 10, that is, the data itself may be deleted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the compressed music data is moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 has been described. However, the movement in the reverse direction, that is, recorded in the HDD 106 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. The compressed music data can be moved to the HDD 10 of the music server 50 according to the same process as in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  At this time, the compressed music data moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is moved again from the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 to the music server 50, whereby a plurality of compressions stored in the HDD 10 are stored in the music server 50. Of the music data, the reproduction prohibition flag of the compressed music data that has been moved from the device 70 is cancelled. That is, by releasing the reproduction prohibition flag, the compressed music data that is the movement source can be reproduced on the music server 50 again. At this time, the moved compressed music data stored in the HDD 106 of the device 70 is deleted from the HDD 106 or the management data of the compressed music data moved from the management table of the HDD 106 is deleted. .

  In this embodiment, the user can create a program list that is a list in which music data recorded in the HDD 10 of the music server 50 is appropriately selected. In the music server 50, an edit screen for creating and editing a program list is displayed on the display unit 53, and the user can edit an existing program list or create a new program list using the edit screen. it can. The user can manage the recorded music data using the program list. The created program list is stored in a predetermined storage unit such as the HDD 10 in the music server 50. The music server 50 can have a plurality of program lists.

  For example, the user can play and enjoy a large amount of music data stored in the HDD 10 of the music server 50 collectively, for example, like a CD album, according to his / her preference by the program list. Furthermore, a plurality of music data can be moved collectively from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 using this program list.

  In the present invention, a dedicated editing means is provided for editing a program list used when moving a plurality of music data at once. Hereinafter, the creation and editing of the program list and the program list for batch movement of music data will be described.

  In the following description, a list of music data stored in the HDD 10 of the music server 50 is referred to as a storage list, and a list of music data transferred from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is referred to as a transfer list. Both the accumulation list and the transfer list are a kind of the above-described program list.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the transfer list editing screen, and illustrates the transfer list and the accumulation list. As shown in FIG. 10, a transfer list edit screen 310 is displayed on the display unit 53. A list area 300 and a list area 301 are displayed in a window on the edit screen 310. In the list area 300, an accumulation list is displayed, and music data accumulated in the music server 50 is displayed as a list. In the list area 301, a transfer list to be edited is displayed, and music data to be moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is displayed as a list. At this time, the music data can be easily recognized by the user if the title information corresponding to the music data is displayed.

  Triangular buttons 302 and 303 facing in opposite directions are buttons for editing the transfer list displayed in the list area 301. The button 302 is a button for adding music data selected from the accumulation list displayed in the list area 300 to the transfer list in the list area 301. A button 303 is a button for deleting selected music data from the transfer list in the transfer list displayed in the list area 301.

  Note that the music server 50 can have a plurality of different program lists. When there are a plurality of transfer lists, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, tabs 304A, 304B, and 304C are displayed at the top of the list area 301, and these tabs 304A, 304B, and 304C are selected and designated. Thus, the transfer list to be displayed in the list area 301 can be switched. Although illustration is omitted, in this case, an ID described later may be displayed at a predetermined position in the list area 301.

  Various operations on the editing screen 310 are performed by the input operation unit 1 (see FIG. 2). Display according to a predetermined operation of the input operation unit 1 is performed on the display unit 53. While viewing the display on the display unit 53, the user designates a predetermined position on the editing screen 310 or inputs a command using, for example, a jog dial, push-type operation keys, various switches, etc. provided in the input operation unit 1. Do. Signals corresponding to various operations performed on the input operation unit 1 are supplied to the CPU 8 via the bus 40.

  In FIG. 1 described above, the input operation unit 1 is described as being directly provided in the music server main body 51, but this is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, an external input operation unit 1 ′ that is connected to the server main body 51 with a wire can be provided. The external input operation unit 1 ′ is connected to the bus 40 of the server main body 51 directly or indirectly via a predetermined interface. The external input operation unit 1 ′ includes various operators for editing the transfer list on the editing screen 310, a transfer button for instructing transfer of music data based on the transfer list from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing device 70, and the like. Provided.

  In the example of FIG. 11, the server main body 51 is provided with a mounting portion 311 for mounting the portable recording / reproducing device 70. The mounting unit 311 is provided with an interface 34. By attaching the portable recording / reproducing device 70 to the attachment unit 311, the interface 34 and the interface 35 of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 are electrically connected, and communication between the portable recording / reproducing device 70 and the music server 50 is established. It is possible. As a result, music data can be transferred from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70.

  FIG. 12 conceptually shows a management method of an example of the program list. The program list is stored in a program file. The program file is stored, for example, in a predetermined area of the HDD 10 of the music server 50, and stores all program lists that the music server 50 has. Conceptually, the program file has a structure as shown in FIG. 12A, and the program lists are distinguished from each other by the ID.

  On the other hand, each portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 also has a unique ID, and each individual portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 can be identified. In the example of FIG. 5, this ID is stored in advance in the ROM 104, for example. By associating the ID of the program list stored in the music server 50 with the ID of the portable recording / reproducing device 70, a program list applicable only to a specific portable recording / reproducing device 70 can be created. For example, the same ID as that of the corresponding portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is used as the ID of the program list.

  In the example of FIG. 12, ID = 300 is assigned to a program list corresponding to a certain portable recording / reproducing device 70. That is, movement of music data based on the program list specified by ID = 300 is performed only for the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 having the corresponding ID.

  By using different IDs (for example, ID = 301), it is possible to define a program list corresponding to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 having different IDs. The music server 50 can have a program list corresponding to each of the plurality of portable recording / reproducing devices 70 by identifying with the ID.

  Further, the type of the program list can be identified by the ID of the program list.

  When editing the program list on the editing screen 310 described above, the program list to be edited is specified by the ID, and the specified program list is read from the program file. The read program list is stored together with the ID in, for example, a predetermined area of the RAM 5 (FIG. 12B). The CPU 8 performs display control of the transfer list to the list area 301 of the edit screen 310 according to the program list stored in the RAM 5. Based on the display on the edit screen 310, the user edits the transfer list, for example, adds music data to the transfer list or deletes music data from the transfer list. The program list stored in the RAM 5 is updated according to the editing result.

  The actual transfer of music data from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is performed using the edited program list. Therefore, the editing operation of the program list used for transferring the music data can be executed regardless of whether or not the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is attached to or connected to the music server 50.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example of the transfer list editing and music data transfer processing based on the edited transfer list. First, in the first step S50, editing of the transfer list is started. For example, the input operation unit 1 ′ is provided with a list edit button that instructs the music server 50 to edit the transfer list. When the user presses this list edit button, the list management portion recorded in the HDD 10 is searched.

  For example, the list management part is provided in a predetermined area at the top of the program file, and information regarding the program list is recorded. The CPU 8 reads the information written in the list management part, and acquires the address of the transfer list data in the HDD 10 determined in advance. Then, the transfer list written at the acquired address is extracted by the CPU 8, and display data based on the extracted transfer list is generated. Display data is supplied from the CPU 8 to the LCD 26 via the LCD driver 25, and a transfer list is displayed on the display unit 53.

  In this way, the editing screen 310 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 53, and the transfer list can be edited. At the time of this instruction, the ID of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 that is the transfer destination of the music data is input. This is done, for example, by selecting and specifying a desired item from the tabs 304A to 304C of the editing screen 310 (see FIG. 10). Here, it is assumed that ID = 300 is input.

  In the next step S51, the program list with ID = 300 is searched from the program file stored in the HDD 10. As a result of the search (step S52), if there is no program list with ID = 300, the process proceeds to step S53, and a new program list with ID = 300 is stored in the program file of the HDD 10, for example. Created. If a new program list is created, the process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, if there is a program list with ID = 300, the process proceeds directly to step S54.

  In step S54, the program list with ID = 300 is opened. That is, referring to FIG. 12 described above, the program list with ID = 300 is read in the program file on the HDD 10. The read program list is stored in the RAM 5 and read into the CPU 8. When the program list is read by the CPU 8, the editing screen 310 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 53 under the control of the CPU 8 in the next step S55. By displaying the edit screen 310, the user can edit the transfer list.

  In the edit screen 310, the list area 301 displays the program list opened in step S54 described above. When there is no data included in the program list as in the case where the program list is newly created, the list area 301 (transfer list) is left blank. On the other hand, the list area 300 displays a list of music data stored in the HDD 10 (storage list). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a search may be performed on all music data stored in the HDD 10 based on a predetermined condition, and a list narrowed down based on the search result may be displayed.

  As described above, the user exchanges music data between the list area 300 and the list area 301 using buttons 302 and 303 as appropriate, and adds music data to the transfer list and music from the transfer list. Delete data.

  When the user finishes editing the transfer list, the process proceeds to step S56, and the transfer of music data based on the transfer list from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is instructed. For example, the input operation unit 1 ′ is provided with a transfer button that instructs the music server 50 to transfer music data. The user presses this transfer button to instruct transfer of music data.

  In the next step S57, it is determined whether or not the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is actually attached to the music server 50. If it is not attached, a warning to that effect is issued in step S58, the process returns to step S57 again, and the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is put on standby. On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S57 that the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is attached to the music server 50, the process proceeds to step S59.

  Various methods can be considered to determine whether the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is attached to the music server 50. An example method will be described. The portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 includes detection means such as a micro switch for detecting hardware attachment of the music server 50. When the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is attached to the music server 50, this is detected by this detecting means. In the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70, a predetermined pin of the interface 35, for example, the third pin is set to the “H” state. .

  On the music server 50 side, the corresponding pin of the interface 34 is connected to the interrupt terminal of the CPU 8. When the state of the third pin of the interface 34 is set to “H”, an interrupt is generated to the CPU 8. The CPU 8 sets the value of a predetermined register to the “H” state by this interruption. In step S57 described above, the CPU 8 detects the value of the predetermined register described above. If the value is 'H', it is determined that the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is mounted.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 13, if it is determined in step S57 that the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is attached to the music server 50, the process proceeds to step S59. In step S59, the ID of the attached portable recording / reproducing device 70 is checked, and it is determined whether the ID is the value (ID = 300) input in step S50 described above. The ID is checked by, for example, reading the ID stored in the ROM 104 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 via the interfaces 34 and 35 by the CPU 8 of the music server 50.

  If the ID of the attached portable recording / reproducing device 70 is different from the ID input in step S50 described above, the process proceeds to step S58, and a warning notifying that is issued. On the other hand, if the ID of the attached portable recording / reproducing device 70 matches the ID input in step S50, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, music data is moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing device 70 based on the transfer list edited in step S55. At this time, the transfer list in which the moved music data is listed can be transferred from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 together.

  Thus, in the present invention, a unique transfer list is created for each portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. The batch transfer of music data to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is performed using a transfer list unique to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. The transfer list is held on the music server 50 side, and music data is transferred by the transfer list after the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is detected to be attached to the music server 50. Therefore, even if the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is not attached to the music server 50, the transfer list can be edited.

  Here, consider a case where music data previously moved from the music server 50 is still stored in the HDD 106 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. As described above, in this embodiment, the music data moved from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 is not moved back to the music server 50 from the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70. In the music server 50 side, playback is disabled.

  At this time, for example, the music data stored in the HDD 106 of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 is overwritten with the music data transferred from the music server 50, or the transferred music data is stored in the portable recording / reproducing device 70. At this time, if the previous music data is deleted, the music data originally transferred from the music server 50 cannot be reproduced on the music server 50.

  Therefore, when the music data is transferred from the music server 50 to the portable recording / reproducing device 70 using the transfer list, the music server 50 acquires a list of music data stored in the portable recording / reproducing device 70. Compare this list with the forwarding list. If there is data different from the music data in the transfer list among the music data in the list on the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 side, it is checked whether the data has already been returned to the music server 50. If the data is not returned to the music server 50, the music server 50 instructs the portable recording / reproducing device 70 to return the data from the HDD 106 of the portable recording / reproducing device 70 to the HDD 10 of the music server 50. It is.

  If there is music data common to the list on the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 side and the transfer list, the transfer of the data can be omitted, and the time required for the transfer process can be shortened.

  The list on the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 side can be obtained, for example, by giving a list acquisition command from the music server 50 to the CPU 105 of the portable recording / reproducing apparatus 70 via the interfaces 34 and 35. Based on this command, the CPU 105 creates a list of music data in the HDD 106 and supplies the created list to the music server 50 via the interfaces 35 and 34. Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the transfer list is created, the previous transfer list may be stored and the created transfer list may be compared with the previous transfer list.

  In the above, the transfer destination of the music data from the music server 50 is the portable recording / reproducing device 70, but this is not limited to this example. For example, the transfer destination of music data may be a magneto-optical disk or an optical disk having a diameter of about 64 mm. For example, the music server 50 is provided with a drive device capable of recording and / or reproducing on a magneto-optical disk or optical disk having a diameter of approximately 64 mm. According to this, music data to be transferred can be selected in advance even if a magneto-optical disk or optical disk having a diameter of about 64 mm is not loaded in the drive device. When a magneto-optical disk or optical disk having a diameter of approximately 64 mm is the transfer destination, the above-described ID check can be omitted.

In the above description, it has been described that music data recorded in the HDD 10 or the HDD 106 (HDD 106a) is compressed and encoded using ATRAC as a compression encoding method, but this is not limited to this example. For example, MPEG called MP3
A compression encoding method such as Audio Layer III (Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer III) is also applicable to the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, music data can be transferred collectively from the music server to the portable recording / reproducing apparatus using the transfer list.

  The transfer list is held on the music server side, and music data is transferred according to the transfer list after it is detected that the portable recording / reproducing apparatus is attached to the music server. Therefore, even if the portable recording / reproducing apparatus is not attached to the music server, the transfer list can be edited.

  Further, since the transfer list is edited on the transfer list editing screen, the user does not understand the purpose of the current list editing and is not confused.

  Furthermore, since the program list used when moving music data from the music server to the portable recording / playback device is limited to the transfer list, it was created to organize the music data stored in the music server, for example. The program list is not inadvertently used for batch movement of music data.

1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a music server and a system using the music server according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a music server. It is a figure which shows roughly the signal flow until the music data read by CD-ROM drive are recorded on a hard-disk drive. It is a figure which shows roughly the signal flow until the compression music data read from the hard-disk drive are reproduced | regenerated and derived | led-out to a terminal. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a portable recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of a portable recording / reproducing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart of an example of processing when recording music data of a CD on a hard disk drive in a music server. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the accounting process at the time of recording the music data of CD on a hard disk drive at high speed. It is a flowchart of an example of the process of the movement of the music data based on this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the edit screen of an example of a transfer list. It is a basic diagram which shows the other example of the external appearance of a music server. It is a basic diagram which shows notionally the management method of an example of a program list. It is a flowchart of an example of the process of transfer of the music data based on the edit of a transfer list and the edited transfer list.

Explanation of symbols

1 Input operation unit 8 CPU
9 CD-ROM drive 10 Hard disk drive 11 DRAM
12 Compression encoder 19 Communication line 20 Modem 21 Compression decoder 26 LCD
34, 35 Interface 40 Bus 50 Music server 55 CD
60 Internet server 70 Portable recording / reproducing apparatus 106 Hard disk drive or flash RAM
107 DRAM
108 Compression encoder 115 Compression decoder 120 LCD
130 Bus 200 Switch Circuit 300 List Area 301 List Area 302, 303 Buttons 304A, 304B, 304C Tab 310 Transfer List Edit Screen 311 Mounting Section

Claims (28)

In a communication method for performing communication between a music device and a server via a communication means ,
A first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, to the first storage medium A first storing step for storing ;
An editing step of editing the program list identification information of the content data is registered,
A second storage step of storing the edited program list and second device identification information for identifying a music device corresponding to the program list in a second storage medium of the server ;
When the said server and the music equipment is connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the program list not included in above Symbol list, the communication means of said server The content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the list and not included in the program list is transferred from the second storage medium to the first storage medium . And a control step of performing a control operation for deleting from the storage medium . The second storage step, of the upper Symbol plurality of program list in association with the desired program list and the second device identification information stored in said second storage medium,
Said control step, according to claim 1, wherein the performing the control operation based on the program list in which the second device identification information matching the upper Symbol first device identification information is associated with Communication method. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply step of performing power supply to a battery for driving the music equipment while performing the control operation. Whether or not content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list can be stored in the first storage medium is stored in the first storage medium . determined on the basis of the capacity, when it is determined that Ru storage impossible der to said first storage medium, according to claim 1, further comprising a suspend storage capacity determining step the control operation Communication method. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the program list is also transferred to the music device in the control operation. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the program list includes at least one of a title name, an artist name, a composer name, a songwriter name, and a jacket image corresponding to the content data. 2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the content data is digital data compressed by an MP3 system or an ATRAC system. In a communication system comprising a music device and a server,
The above music equipment
A first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include identification information of the content data recorded on the first recording medium of the music equipment, the first storage medium Comprising first storage means for storing ,
The server
A connection means for connecting to the music device;
Communication means for communicating with the music device;
An editing means for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered;
Second storage means for storing the program list edited by the editing means and second device identification information for identifying music devices in a second storage medium ;
When the music device is connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the program list not included in above Symbol list, the second by controlling the communication means from the storage medium is transferred to said first storage medium, the content data corresponding to identification information of the content data that is not included in the program list included in the list, Ru is deleted from the first storage medium A communication system comprising control means. Said second storage medium in association with the desired program list and the second device identification information of the multiple of the program list,
Said control means, according to claim 8, wherein the performing the control operation based on the program list in which the second device identification information on SL is associated matching the upper Symbol first device identification information Communications system. The music device further includes a battery for driving the music device,
The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit performs the control operation and supplies power to the battery via the communication unit. The control means determines whether or not content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list can be stored in the first storage medium . determined on the basis of the storage capacity of the storage medium, when it is determined that the Ru storage impossible der in the first storage medium, a communication according to claim 8, characterized in that interrupting the control operation system. 9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein, in the control operation, the control means controls the communication means to transfer the program list to the music device. 9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the program list includes at least one of a title name, an artist name, a composer name, a songwriter name, and a jacket image corresponding to the content data. 9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the content data is digital data compressed by an MP3 system or an ATRAC system. Storing the first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment in the first storage medium A communication method for communicating with the music device ,
An editing step of editing the program list identification information of the content data is registered,
And the program list which is edited, a storage step of the second device identification information for identifying the music equipment to which the program list corresponding to stored in the second storage medium,
When the music device is connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the program list not included in above Symbol list, by controlling the communication means of said server said from the second storage medium is transferred to said first storage medium, the content data corresponding to identification information of the content data that is not included in the program list included in the list, from the first storage medium A communication method comprising a control step for performing a control operation to be deleted. Said storage step, said second storage medium, in association with a desired program listing and the second device identification information of the multiple of the program list,
It said control step, according to claim 15, characterized in that for performing the control operation based on Symbol first device identification information and matching the second program listings device identification information is associated Communication method. The communication method according to claim 15, further comprising a power supply step of performing the control operation and supplying power to a battery for driving the music equipment by controlling the connection means. Whether or not content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list can be stored in the first storage medium is stored in the first storage medium . determined based on the volume, when the said first storage medium is judged to Ru der not stored, according to claim 15, further comprising a suspend storage capacity determining step the control operation Communication method. 16. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein in the control operation, the communication means is controlled to transfer the program list to the music device. 16. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein the program list includes at least one of a title name, an artist name, a composer name, a songwriter name, and a jacket image corresponding to the content data. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein the content data is digital data compressed by an MP3 system or an ATRAC system. A first device identification information for identifying the music equipment, and a list is configured to include the identification information of content data recorded in the first recording medium of the music equipment, to the first storage medium A server for communicating with the music device to be stored;
A connection means for connecting to the music device;
Communication means for communicating with the music device;
An editing means for editing a program list in which identification information of content data is registered;
Second storage means for storing the program list edited by the editing means and second device identification information for identifying music devices in a second storage medium ;
When the music device is connected, the content data corresponding to the identification information of the content data included in the program list not included in above Symbol list, the second by controlling the communication means from the storage medium is transferred to said first storage medium, the content data corresponding to identification information of the content data that is not included in the program list included in the list, Ru is deleted from the first storage medium A server comprising control means. Said second storage medium in association with the desired program list and the second device identification information of the multiple of the program list,
Said control means, according to claim 22, wherein the performing the control operation based on the program list in which the second device identification information on SL is associated matching the upper Symbol first device identification information server. The music device further includes a battery for driving the music device,
The server according to claim 22, wherein the control unit performs the control operation and supplies power to the battery via the communication unit. The control means determines whether or not content data corresponding to identification information of content data not included in the list but included in the program list can be stored in the first storage medium . of determining on the basis of the storage capacity of the storage medium, the if it is determined that the Ru storage impossible der in the first storage medium, according to 22 to claim, characterized in that interrupting the control operation server. 23. The server according to claim 22, wherein, in the control operation, the control unit controls the communication unit to transfer the program list to the music device. The server according to claim 22, wherein the program list includes at least one of a title name, an artist name, a composer name, a songwriter name, and a jacket image corresponding to the content data. The server according to claim 22, wherein the content data is digital data compressed by an MP3 system or an ATRAC system.

Images