KR100727799B1 - Reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

An editing apparatus for editing the digest section among the programs recorded in the nonvolatile memory is described, which is an input means allowing a user to input a start position and an end position of the digest section, a start address and a digest of the digest section in correspondence with a start address and an end position. Generating means for generating sub period information, and recording means for recording the start address of the digest part and the digest sub period information in a nonvolatile memory.

Recording / reproducing apparatus, editing apparatus, nonvolatile memory, digest section, header section.

Description

Reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method}

1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a digital audio recorder / player using a nonvolatile memory card according to the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the DSP 30 according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the memory card 40 according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram showing a file management structure of a memory card as a storage medium according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows the physical structure of data in flash memory 42 of memory card 40 according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows the data structure of the memory card 40 according to the present invention.

7 shows a hierarchical structure of a file structure in the memory card 40. FIG.

8 shows the data structure of the reproduction management file PBLIST.MSF, which is a sub directory stored in the memory card 40;

FIG. 9 shows a data structure when one ATRAC3 data file is divided into blocks having a predetermined unit length and an attribute file is added to the blocks. FIG.

Fig. 10A shows the file structure before two files are edited by the combining process.

Fig. 10B shows the file structure after two files have been edited by the combining process.

Fig. 10C is a diagram showing the file structure after one file has been edited by division processing.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure of a reproduction management file PBLIST.

Fig. 12A is a diagram showing a data structure of a header portion of a reproduction management file PBLIST.

Fig. 12B is a diagram showing the data structure of the main data portion of the reproduction management file PBLIST.

Fig. 12C is a diagram showing the data structure of the additional information data portion of the reproduction management file PBLIST.

Fig. 13 is a table showing correlations between types of additional information data and code values thereof.

Fig. 14 is a table showing correlations between types of additional information data and code values thereof.

Fig. 15 is a table showing correlations between types of additional information data and code values thereof.

Fig. 16A shows a data structure of additional information data.

Fig. 16B is a diagram showing a data structure when the additional information data is a player name.

FIG. 16C is a diagram showing a data structure when the additional information data is a copyright code. FIG.

Fig. 16D shows a data structure when the additional information data is date / time information.

Fig. 16E shows a data structure when additional information data is reproduced and logged in.

17 shows a detailed data structure of the ATRAC3 data file.

FIG. 18 shows the data structure of the upper portion of an attribute header constituting an ATRAC3 data file; FIG.

Fig. 19 shows the data structure of the middle part of the attribute header constituting the ATRAC3 data file.

20 is a table that correlates recording modes, recording times and the like.

21 is a table showing copy control states.

FIG. 22 shows the data structure of the lower portion of an attribute header constituting an ATRAC3 data file; FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a data structure of a header of a data block of an ATRAC3 data file. FIG.

24 is a diagram showing a peripheral portion of the operation portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

25 is a diagram showing a peripheral portion of an operation unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a process of specifying a digest section according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

27 is a timing diagram showing a digest sub designation process according to the present invention;

Fig. 28 is a flowchart showing digest sub designation processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 29 is a flowchart showing digest sub designation processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

10: Audio Encoder / Decoder IC 20: Security IC

30: DSP 40: memory card

42: flash memory 52: security block

The present invention relates to an editing apparatus, an editing method, and a nonvolatile memory, which allow a user to specify a digest portion of a program / album and to allow the location and duration of the designated digest portion to be recorded in the management area.

Electrically rewritable memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) requires large space because each bit consists of two transistors. Thus, integration of the EEPROM is limited. To solve this problem, flash memory has been developed that allows a bit to be made into a transistor using an all-bit-erase system. Flash memory is expected to inherit conventional recording media such as magnetic disks and optical disks.

Memory cards using flash memory are also known. The memory card is freely attached and detached from the device. A digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus using a memory card instead of a conventional compact disc (CD) or mini disc (MD) can be made.

Conventional digital audio recording / playback devices, e.g. CD (Compact Disc) players, automatically scan the top part (for about 10 seconds) continuously and continuously so that the user can quickly know the contents of the CD being played. Function or an injectable injection function. However, this function is only allowed in the upper portion of each music program to be played. Thus, the user sometimes does not know the contents or features of each music program.

In addition, a reproduction apparatus for reproducing a designated digest portion of a desired music program of a video CD has been proposed. Since the video CD is a playback-only disc, a digest portion designated by the producer (content owner or record company) is recorded in advance. In other words, the user cannot specify the desired digest portion in the video CD.

It can also be stored in a nonvolatile memory arranged in the digest appended disc playback apparatus for the music program of the disc designated by the user. In this case, the digest portion of the music program is correlated with the identifier of the disc and the table. The correlated table is stored in nonvolatile memory. The associated digest portion is reproduced by referring to the table stored in the nonvolatile memory and the identifier of the disc loaded in the reproduction device.

However, since the digest part information is not recorded on the disc, it is necessary to refer to the table stored in the nonvolatile memory of the reproduction device. Thus, the microcomputer processing of the device becomes heavy. As a result, it takes a long time to reproduce the associated digest portion.

In addition, in the conventional method, digest portion information of each music program is recorded instead of each album.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a nonvolatile memory and a recording / reproducing apparatus which allow a user to specify index information of a music program.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a nonvolatile memory having a variable compression ratio to allow the digest portion of multiple albums to be recorded with the contents of multiple disks.

A first aspect of the present invention is an editing apparatus for editing a digest portion of a program in a storage medium on which a plurality of programs are stored, an input for allowing the user to input a start position and an end position of the digest portion. Means, generating means for generating management information of the digest portion corresponding to the start position and the end position, and recording means for recording the management information of the digest portion on the storage medium.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an editing method for editing a digest portion of a program in a storage medium in which a plurality of programs are stored, wherein the user inputs a start position and an end position of the digest portion, and the start position and the end position. Generating management information of the digest unit corresponding to the recording medium, and recording the management information of the digest unit to the storage medium.

A third aspect of the present invention is a nonvolatile memory for recording a program consisting of a plurality of blocks, wherein one of the plurality of blocks is used as an attribute information area for attribute information, and the other blocks are each header portions. And a main data portion, and the start address and digest sub period information of the digest portion specified by the user are recorded in the attribute information area.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the detailed description of embodiments of the best mode as described in the accompanying drawings.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a digital audio recorder / player using a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Digital audio recorders / players use removable memory cards to record and play back digital audio signals. In practice, the recorder / player constitutes an audio system with an amplifying unit, speakers, CD player, MD recorder, tuner, and the like. However, it should be noted that the present invention can be applied to other audio recorders. In other words, the present invention can be applied to a portable recording / reproducing apparatus. Further, the present invention can be applied to a set top box for recording digital audio data circulated such as phase data communication, digital broadcasting, or the Internet. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to a system for recording / reproducing moving picture data and still picture data rather than audio data. The system according to an embodiment of the present invention can record and reproduce additional information such as images and text in addition to the digital audio signal.

The recording / reproducing apparatus has an audio encoder / decoder IC 10, a security IC 20, and a digital signal processor (DSP) 30. Each of these devices consists of an IC on one chip. The recording / playback apparatus has a removable memory card 40. The memory card 40, which is an IC of one chip, has a flash memory (nonvolatile memory), a memory control block, and a security block. The security block has a Data Encryption Standard (DES) encryption circuit. According to an embodiment, the recording / reproducing apparatus may use a microcomputer instead of the DSP 30.

The audio encoder / decoder IC 10 has an audio interface 11 and an encoder / decoder block 12. The encoder / decoder block 12 encodes the digital audio data in accordance with a very effective encoding method, and records the encoded data in the memory card 40. In addition, the encoder / decoder block 12 decodes the encoded data read from the memory card 40. A very effective encoding method is the ATRAC3 format, which is a modification of the ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) format used in mini-disc.

In the ATRAC3 format, audio data sampled at 44.1 kHz and quantized to 16 bits is encoded very effectively. In the ATRAC3 format, the minimum data unit of audio data to be processed is a sound unit (SU). One SU is data in which 1024 samples of data (1024 x 16 bits x 2 channels) are compressed into hundreds of bytes of data. The duration of 1 SU is about 23 msec. In a very effective encoding method, the data amount of audio data is compressed into data 10 times smaller than the original data amount. As in the ATRAC1 format used in mini discs, audio signals compressed and decompressed corresponding to the ATRAC3 format are less deformed in audio quality.

The line input selector 13 selectively supplies the reproduction output signal of the MD, the output signal of the tuner, or the reproduction output signal of the tape to the A / D converter 14. The A / D converter 14 converts the input line signal into a digital audio signal (sampling frequency = 44.1 kHz; number of quantization bits = 16). The digital input selector 16 selectively supplies digital output signals of MD, CD, or CS (Satellite Digital Broadcast) to the digital input receiver 17. The digital input signal is transmitted via an optical cable, for example. The output signal of the digital input receiver 17 is supplied to the sampling rate converter 15. The sampling rate converter 15 converts the digital input signal into a digital audio signal (sampling frequency = 44.1 kHz; number of quantization bits = 16).

The encoder / decoder block 12 of the audio encoder / decoder IC 10 supplies the encoded data to the DES encryption circuit 22 via the interface 21 of the security IC 20. The DES encryption circuit 22 has a FIFO 23. The DES encryption circuit 22 is arranged to protect the copyright of the contents. The memory card 40 also has a DES encryption circuit. The DES encryption circuit 22 of the recording / reproducing apparatus has a plurality of master keys and a storage key unique to the apparatus. The DES encryption circuit 22 also has a random number generator. The DES encryption circuit 22 may share an authentication process and a session key with the memory card 40 having the DES encryption circuit. In addition, the DES encryption circuit 22 can re-encrypt data with the storage key of the DES encryption circuit.

The encrypted audio data output from the DES encryption circuit 22 is supplied to a digital signal processor (DSP) 30. The DSP 30 communicates with the memory card 40 via an interface. In this example, the memory card 40 is attached to the attaching / detaching mechanism (not shown) of the recording / reproducing apparatus. The DSP 30 writes the encrypted data to the flash memory of the memory card 40. Encrypted data is transferred in series between the DSP 30 and the memory card 40. In addition, an external static random access memory (SRAM) 31 is connected to the DSP 30. The SRAM 31 provides a storage capacity sufficient for the recording / reproducing apparatus to control the memory card 40.

Bus interface 32 is connected to DSP 30. Data is supplied to the DSP 30 via the bus 33 from an external controller (not shown). The external controller controls all the operations of the audio system. The external controller supplies data, such as a recording command or a reproduction command, generated in response to the user's operation through the operation unit to the DSP 30 via the bus interface 32. The external controller also supplies additional information, such as image information and text information, to the DSP 30 via the bus interface 32. Bus 33 is a bidirectional communication path. The additional information read from the memory card 40 is supplied to the external controller via the DSP 30, the bus interface 32, and the bus 33. In practice, an external controller is arranged, for example, in the amplification unit of the audio system. The external controller also allows the display to display additional information, the operating status of the recorder, and the like. The display unit is shared by the audio system. The data exchanged via the bus 33 is not copyrighted data and therefore is not encrypted.

The encrypted audio data read out from the memory card 40 by the DSP 30 is decrypted by the security IC 20. The audio encoder / decoder IC 10 decodes encoded data corresponding to the ATRAC3 format. Output data of the audio encoder / decoder 10 is supplied to the D / A converter 18. The D / A converter 18 converts the output data of the audio encoder / decoder 10 into an analog signal. The analog audio signal is supplied to the line output terminal 19.

The analog audio signal is supplied to the amplifying unit (not shown) through the line output terminal 19. Analog audio signals are reproduced from speakers or head sets. The external controller supplies a muting signal to the D / A converter 18. When the mute signal indicates a mute-on state, the external controller prevents the audio signal from being output from the line output terminal 19.

2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the DSP 30. As shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the DSP 30 includes a core 34, a flash memory 35, an SRAM 36, a bus interface 37, a memory card interface 38, and an inter-bus bridge. bus bridge). The DSP 30 has the same function as the microcomputer. Core 34 is identical to the CPU. The flash memory 35 stores a program for causing the DSP 30 to execute a predetermined process. The SRAM 36 and the external SRAM 31 are used as the RAM of the recording / reproducing apparatus.

The DSP 30 performs a recording process of writing encrypted audio signals and additional information to the memory card 40 in response to an operation signal such as a recording command received through the bus interfaces 32, 37 and a reading process of reading them therefrom. To control. In other words, the DSP 30 is arranged between the application software side of the audio system for recording / reproducing audio data and additional information and the memory card 40. The DSP 30 is operated when the memory card 40 is accessed. In addition, the DSP 30 operates in correspondence with software such as a file system.

The DSP 30 manages files stored in the memory card 40 in a FAT system used in a conventional personal computer. In the file system, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a management file is used. The management file is described later. The management file is used to manage the data file stored in the memory card 40. The management file which is the first file management information is used to manage the audio data file. On the other hand, the second file management information FAT is used to manage all files including the management file and the audio data file stored in the flash memory of the memory card 40. The management file is stored in the memory card 40. The FAT is written to the flash memory together with the route directory and the like before the memory card 40 is delivered. The details of the FAT will be described later.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, to protect the copyright of the data, the audio data compressed corresponding to the ATRAC3 format is encrypted. On the other hand, since it is not necessary to report the copyright of the management file, it is not encrypted. There are two types of memory cards, an encryption type and a non-encryption type. However, the memory card used with the recorder / player for recording copyright-protected data is limited to the type of encryption.

Video data and audio data recorded by the user are recorded on a non-encryption type memory card.

3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the memory card 40. As shown in FIG. The memory card 40 includes a control block 41 composed of a single chip IC and a flash memory 42. The bidirectional serial interface is disposed between the memory card 40 and the DSP 30 of the recorder / player. The bidirectional serial interface includes a clock line (SCK) for transmitting clock signals transmitted with data, a status line (SBS) for transmitting signals representing states, a data line (DIO) for transmitting data, and an interrupt line (INT). ), Two GND lines, two INT lines, and two predetermined lines, 10 lines.

The clock line SCK is used to transmit a clock signal in synchronization with data. The status line SBS is used to transmit a signal indicating the state of the memory card 40. Data lines (DIOs) are used to input and output command and encrypted audio data. The interrupt line INT is used to transmit an interrupt signal which causes the memory card 40 to interrupt the DSP 30 of the recorder / player. When the memory card 40 is attached to the recorder / player, the memory card 40 generates an interrupt signal. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the interrupt signal is transmitted through the data line DIO, the interrupt line INT is grounded.

Serial / parallel conversion, parallel / serial conversion, and interface blocks (S / P, P / S, I / F blocks) 43 are control blocks 41 of the DSP 30 of the recorder / player and the memory card 40. Is an interface placed between them. The S / P, P / S and IF block 43 converts serial data received from the DSP 30 of the recorder / player into parallel data and supplies the parallel data to the control block 41. In addition, the S / P, P / S, and IF block 43 converts the parallel data received from the control block 41 into serial data and supplies the serial data to the DSP 30. When the S / P, P / S, and IF blocks 43 receive commands and data via the data line DIO, the S / P, P / S, and IF blocks 43 load them into the flash memory 42. ), Which is normally accessed and encrypted.

In a format in which data is transmitted over a data line (DIO), data is transmitted after a command is transmitted. The S / P, P / S and IF block 43 detects the code of the command and determines whether the command and data are normally accessed or encoded. In response to the determined result, the S / P, P / S, and IF block 43 stores the normally accessed instruction in the instruction register 44, and stores the normally accessed data in a page buffer 45 and It is stored in the write register 46. In association with the write register 46, the memory card 40 has an error correction code encoding circuit 47. The error correction code encoding circuit 47 generates a redundant code, which is an error correction code for data temporarily stored in the page buffer 45.

The output data of the command register 44, the page buffer 45, the write register 46, and the error correction code encoding circuit 47 are referred to as a flash memory interface and a sequencer (hereafter referred to as memory I / F and sequencer). 51). The memory IF and the sequencer 51 are interfaces disposed between the control block 41 and the flash memory 42 to control data exchanged between them. Data is written to the flash memory via the memory IF and sequencer 51.

The audio data compressed in correspondence with the ATRAC3 format and recorded in the flash memory (hereinafter, this audio data is called ATRAC3 data) is a security block 52 and a recorder / player of the memory card 40 to protect the copyright of the ATRAC3 data. Is encrypted by the security IC 20. The security block 52 includes a buffer memory 53, a DES encryption circuit 54, and a nonvolatile memory 55.

The security block 52 of the memory card 40 has a plurality of authentication keys and unique storage keys for each memory card. The nonvolatile memory 55 stores a key necessary for encrypting data. The key stored in the nonvolatile memory 55 cannot be analyzed. According to the embodiment, for example, the storage key is stored in the nonvolatile memory 55. The security block 52 also has a random number generator circuit. Security block 52 authenticates the applicable recorder / player and shares the session key with them. The security block 52 also re-encrypts the content with the storage key via the DSE encryption circuit 54.

For example, when memory cards 40 are attached to a recorder / player, they are mutually authenticated. The security IC 20 of the recorder / player and the security block 52 of the memory card 40 are mutually authenticated. When the memory card 40 with the recorder / player is authenticated as an applicable memory card and the memory card 40 authenticates the recorder / player as an applicable recorder / player, they are mutually authenticated. After the mutual authentication process is successfully executed, the recorder / player and the memory card 40 generate respective session keys and share them with each other. Each time recorder / player and memory card 40 are authenticated to each other, they generate respective session keys.

When the contents are recorded in the memory card 40, the recorder / player encrypts the contents key with the session key and supplies the encrypted data to the memory card 40. The memory card 40 decrypts the content key with the session key, re-encrypts the content key with the storage key, and supplies the content key to the recorder / player. The storage key is a unique key for each memory card 40. When the recorder / player receives an encrypted content key, the recorder / player executes a format process on the encrypted content key, and records the encrypted content key and the encrypted content on the memory card 40.

The recording process for the memory card 40 has been described above. Next, the reading process for the memory card 40 will be described. Data read from the flash memory 42 is supplied to the page buffer 45, the read register 48, and the error correction circuit 49 through the memory IF and the sequencer 51. The error correction circuit 49 corrects an error of data stored in the page buffer 45. The output data of the error corrected page buffer 45 and the output data of the read register 48 are supplied to the S / P, P / S, and IF blocks 43. S / P, P / S, and IF blocks 43 are supplied to the DSP 30 of the recorder / player via the serial interface described above.

When data is read from the memory card 40, the content key encrypted with the storage key and the content encrypted with the block key are read from the flash memory 42. The security block 52 decrypts the content key with the storage key. The security block 52 re-encrypts the content key decrypted with the session key and sends the re-encrypted content key to the recorder / player. The recorder / player decrypts the content key with the received session key and generates a block key with the decrypted content key. The recorder / player successively decrypts the encrypted ATRAC3 data.

config. The ROM 50 is a memory that stores division information, various kinds of attribute information, and the like of the memory card 40. The memory card 40 also has an erase protection switch 60. When the switch 60 is in the erase protection position, even if a command for causing the memory card 40 to delete data stored in the play memory 42 is supplied to the memory card 40 from the recorder / player side, the memory card 40 The deletion of data stored in the flash memory 42 is prohibited. The OSC cont. 61 is an oscillator that generates a clock signal as a reference at the processing timing of the memory card 40.

4 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure for processing of a file system among computer systems using a memory card as a storage medium. In the hierarchy, the hierarchy level at the top is the application processing layer. The application processing layer leads to a file management processing layer, a logical address management layer, a physical address management layer, and a flash memory access layer. In the above-described hierarchy, the file management processing layer is a FAT file system. The physical address is assigned to each block of flash memory. The relationship between the block of physical memory and the physical address does not change. Logical addresses are addresses that are logically handled at the file management layer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the physical structure of data processed in the flash memory 42 of the memory card 40. As shown in FIG. In the memory 42, data units (called segments) are divided into a predetermined number of blocks (fixed length). One block is divided into a predetermined number of pages (fixed length). In flash memory, data is erased once in each block. Data is written to or read from flash memory 42 one page at a time. Each block is the same size. Similarly, each page is the same size. One block consists of pages 0 to m. For example, one block has a storage capacity of 8 KB (kilobyte) or 16 KB. One page has a storage capacity of 512 B (bytes). When one block has a storage capacity of 8 KB, the total storage capacity of the flash memory 42 is 4 MB (512 blocks) or 8 MB (1024 blocks). When one block has a storage capacity of 16 KB, the total storage capacity of the flash memory 42 is 16 MB (1024 blocks), 32 MB (2048 blocks), or 64 MB (4096 blocks).

One page consists of a 512-byte data portion and a 16-byte redundant portion. The first three bytes of the redundant portion are overwrite portions that are rewritten each time data is updated. The first three bytes in succession comprise a block status area, a page status area, and an update status area. The remaining 13 bytes of the redundant portion are fixed data depending on the contents of the data portion. 13 bytes include a management flag area (1 byte), a logical address area (2 bytes), a format reversal area (5 bytes), a distributed information ECC area (2 bytes), and a data ECC area (3 bytes). . The distributed information ECC area includes redundant data for error correction processing for the management flag area, logical address area, and format reversal area. The data ECC area contains redundant data for error correction processing on 512-byte data.

The management flag area includes system flags (1: user block, 0: boot block), translation table flag (1: invalid, 0: table block), copy inhibit flag (1: OK, 0: NG), and access. Allow flag (1: free, 0: read protection).

The first two blocks-blocks 0 and 1 are boot blocks. Block 1 is a backup of block 0. The boot block is the top block that is valid on the memory card. When a memory card is attached to the recorder / player, the boot block is first accessed. The remaining blocks are user blocks. Page 0 of the boot block includes a header area, a system entry area, and a boot and attribute information area. Page 1 of the boot block contains the forbidden block data area. Page 2 of the boot block contains a Card Information Structure (CIS) / Identify Drive Information (IDI) area.

The header area of the boot block includes a boot block ID and the number of valid entries. The system entry is the start position of the forbidden block data, its data size, its data type, its data starting position in the CIS / IDI area, its data size, and its kind. The boot and attribute information can be read from the memory card type (read only, rewritable, or hybrid), block size, number of blocks, total number of blocks, secure / non-secure type, card creation data (production date), etc. It includes.

Since the flash memory has a limitation on the number of rewrites due to the deformation of the insulating film, it is necessary to prevent the same storage area (block) from being intensively accessed. Thus, when data of a specific logical address stored at a specific physical address is rewritten, the update data of a specific block is recorded as an unused block rather than the original block. Thus, after the data is updated, the relationship between the logical address and the physical address is changed. This process is called swap processing. As a result, the same block is prevented from being intensively accessed. Thus, the service life of the flash memory can be extended.

The logical address is associated with the data written to the block. Even if the original block of data is different from the updated block of data, the address on the FAT does not change. Thus, the same data can be accessed properly. However, since the swap processing is performed, a translation table is required that correlates the logical address and the physical address (this table is called a logical-physical address translation table). With reference to the logical-physical address translation table, the physical address corresponding to the logical address specified in the FAT is obtained. Thus, the block designated by the physical address can be accessed.

DSP 30 stores the logical-physical address translation table in SRAM. When the storage capacity of the RAM is small, the logical-physical address translation table may be stored in flash memory. The physical-logical address translation table correlates logical addresses (2 bytes) sorted in ascending order with physical addresses (2 bytes). Since the maximum storage capacity of the flash memory is 128 MB (8192 blocks), an 8192 address can be allocated in two bytes. Logical-physical address translation tables are maintained for each segment. Thus, the size of the logical-physical address translation table is proportional to the storage capacity of the flash memory. When the storage capacity of flash memory is 8 MB (two segments), two pages are used as the logical-physical address translation table for each segment. When the translation table is stored in flash memory, a predetermined one of the management flag areas in the redundant portion of each page indicates whether the current block is a block including a logical-physical address translation table.

The above-described memory card can be used as a FAT file system of a personal computer system such as a disk-shaped recording medium. The flash memory has an IPL area, a FAT area, and a root directory area (not shown in FIG. 5). The IPL area contains the address of a program that is first loaded into the memory of the recorder / player. In addition, the IPL area includes various kinds of memory information. The FAT area contains information about a block (cluster). The FAT has a defined unused block, next block number, defective block, and last block number. The root directory area contains directory entries such as file attributes, update date [day, month, year], file size, and so on.

Next, a management method using a FAT table will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a memory map. The upper area of the memory map is the partition table portion. The partition table portion leads to a block area, a boot sector, a FAT area, a FAT backup area, a root directory area, a sub directory area, and a data area. In the memory map, logical addresses are translated into physical addresses corresponding to logical-physical address translation tables.

The boot sector, FAT area, FAT backup area, root directory area, subdirectory area, and data area are called FAT partitioned areas.

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

FAT used for conventional floppy disks does not have such a partition table. Since only the first track has a partition table, there is an empty area. The boot sector includes the size of the FAT structure (12 bit FAT or 16 bit FAT), the cluster size, and the size of each area. The FAT is used to manage the location of the file recorded in the data area. The FAT copy area is a FAT backup area. The root directory area contains the file name, starting cluster address, and various attributes. The root directory area uses 32 bytes per file.

The sub directory area consists of directories by directory attribute files. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the sub directory area has four files called PBLIST.MSF, CAT.MSF, DOG.MSF, and MAN.MFA. The sub directory area is used to manage file names and recording positions in the FAT. In other words, the slot of the file name CAT.MSF is the address " 10 " assigned in the FAT. The slot of the file name DOG.MSF is the address "10" allocated from the FAT. The area after cluster 2 is used as the data area. In this embodiment, compressed audio data corresponding to the ATRAC3 format is recorded. The upper slot of the file name MAN.MSA is the address "110" allocated from the FAT. According to the embodiment of the present invention, audio data of the file name CAT.MSF is recorded in clusters 5-8. Audio data of DOG-1, which is the first half of the file of the file name DOG.MSF, is recorded in clusters 10-12. Audio data of DOG-2, the second half of the file of the file name DOG.MSF, is recorded in clusters 100 to 101. Audio data of the file name MAN.MSF is recorded in the clusters 110 to 111.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which a single file is divided into two parts and recorded separately is described. In an embodiment, the area " empty " in the data area is a recordable area. The area after cluster 200 is used to manage file names. The file CAT.MSF is recorded in cluster 200. The file DOG.MSF is written to cluster 201. The file MAN.MSF is written to cluster 202. When the file's location changes, the area after cluster 200 is rearranged. When the memory card is attached, the beginning and end of the FAT partition area are recorded with reference to the upper partition table portion. After the boot sector portion is reproduced, the root directory area and sub directory area are reproduced. The slot of the reproduction management information PBLIST.MSF is detected in the sub directory area. Thus, the address of the end portion of the slot of the file PBLIST.MSF is obtained. In this embodiment, since the address "200" is recorded at the end of the file PBLIST.MSF, the cluster 200 is referred to.

The area after cluster 200 is used to manage the playback order of files. In this embodiment, the file CAT.MSA is the first program. The file DOG.MSA is the second program. The file MAN.MSA is the third program. After the region after cluster 200 is referenced, the slots of the files CAT.MSA, DOG.MSA, and MAN.MSA are referenced. In Fig. 6, the end of the slots of the file CAT.MSA is the assigned address " 5 ". The end of the slot of the file DOG.MSA is the assigned address "10". The end of the slot of the file MAN.MSA is the assigned address "110". When the entry address is retrieved from the FAT with the address "5", the cluster address "6" is obtained. When the entry address is retrieved from the FAT with the address "6", the cluster address "7" is obtained. When the entry address is retrieved from the FAT with the address "8", the code "FFF" indicating termination is obtained. As such, the file CAT.MSA uses clusters 5, 6, 7, and 8. With reference to clusters 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the data area, the ATRAC3 data area of the file name CAT.MSA can be accessed.

The following describes how to search the distributed and recorded file DOG.MSF. The end of the slot of the file DOG.MSA is the assigned address "10". When the entry address is retrieved to address "10" in the FAT, the cluster address "11" is obtained. When the entry address is retrieved to address "11" in the FAT, the cluster address "12" is obtained. When the entry address is retrieved to address "12" in the FAT, the cluster address "101" is obtained. When the entry address "101" is referenced, the code "FFF" indicating termination is obtained. As such, the file DOG.MSF uses clusters 10, 11, 12, 100, and 101. When clusters 10, 11, and 12 are referenced, the first portion of ATRAC3 data in file DOG.MSF can be accessed. When clusters 100 and 101 are referenced, a second portion of ATRAC3 data in file DOG.MSF can be accessed. Further, when the entry address is retrieved from the FAT with the address "110", the cluster address "101" is obtained. When the entry address "111" is retrieved from the FAT with the address "101", the code "FFF" indicating termination is obtained. So, it is clear that the file MAN.MSA uses clusters 110 and 111. As described above, the data files distributed in the flash memory can be linked and reproduced sequentially.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the file management system defined in the format of the memory card 40, the management file is also used to manage a part of music files and tracks. The management file is recorded in the user block in the flash memory 42 of the memory card 40. Thus, as will be described later, even if the FAT of the memory card 40 is destroyed, the file can be recovered.

The management file is generated by the DSP 30. When the power of the recorder / player is turned on, the DSP 30 determines whether the memory card 40 is attached to the recorder / player. When the memory card is attached, the DSP 30 authenticates the memory card 40. When the DSP 30 successfully authenticates the memory card 40, the DSP 30 reads a boot block of the flash memory 42. Thus, the DSP 30 reads the physical-logical address translation table and stores the read data in the SRAM. The FAT and root directory are written to the flash memory of the memory card 40 before the memory card 40 is shipped. When data is recorded to the memory card 40, a management file is generated.

In other words, the write command given by the user's remote controller is supplied to the DSP 30 from an external controller via the bus and bus interface 32. Encoder / decoder IC 10 compresses the received audio data and supplies the resulting ATRAC3 data to security IC 20. The security IC 20 encrypts ATRAC3 data. The encrypted ATRAC3 data is recorded in the flash memory 42 of the memory card 40. After that, the FAT and management files are updated. Each time the file is updated (actually every time the recording process of audio data is completed), the management file and the FAT stored in the SRAMs 31 and 36 are rewritten. When the memory card 40 is detached or the power of the recorder / player is turned off, the management file and FAT finally supplied from the SRAMs 31 and 36 are written to the flash memory 42. Alternatively, each time the recording process of audio data is completed, the management file and the FAT recorded in the flash memory 42 can be rewritten. When the audio data is edited, the contents of the management file are updated.

In the data structure according to the embodiment, the additional information is included in the management file. The additional information is updated and written to the flash memory 42. In another data structure of the management file, an additional information management file is generated in addition to the track management file. Additional information is supplied to the DSP 30 from an external controller via the bus and bus interface 32. The additional information is recorded in the flash memory 42 of the memory card 40. Since no additional information is supplied to the security IC 20, it is not encrypted. When the memory card 40 is detached from the recorder / player or its power is turned off, additional information is written from the SRAM of the DSP 30 to the flash memory 42.

7 shows the file structure of the memory card 40. As shown in FIG. The file structure includes a still picture directory, a moving picture directory, an audio directory, a control directory, and a music (HIFI) directory. According to an embodiment, a music program is recorded and played back. Next, the music directory is described. The music directory contains two kinds of files. The first kind is a reproduction management file BLIST.MSF (hereinafter referred to as PBLIST). The other kind is ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn.MSA, which stores encrypted music data. The music directory can store up to 400 ATRAC3 data files (ie 400 music programs). The ATRAC3 data file is registered as a reproduction management file and generated by the recorder / player.

8 is a diagram showing the structure of a reproduction management file. 9 shows the file structure of one ATRAC3 data file. The reproduction management file is a file of fixed length of 16 KB. The ATRAC3 data file consists of an attribute header and an encrypted music data area for each music program. Attribute data has a fixed length of 16 KB. The structure of the attribute header is similar to that of the reproduction management file.

The reproduction management file shown in FIG. 8 includes headers, memory card names NM1-S (1 byte code), memory card names NM2-S (2 byte codes), program playback sequence table TRKTBL, and memory card additional information INF-S. It is composed. The attribute header (shown in FIG. 9) at the beginning of the data file includes a header, program name NM1 (1 byte code), program name NM2 (2 byte code), track information TRKINF (such as track key information), and partial information. PRTINF, and track additional information INF. The header contains information about the total number of parts, the attribute of the name, the size of additional information, and the like.

Attribute data leads to ATRAC3 music data. The music data is a block segmented every 16 KB. Each block begins with a header. The header contains an initial value for decrypting the encrypted data. Only music data in ATRAC3 data files is encrypted. In this manner, other data such as a reproduction management file, a header, and the like are not encrypted.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the relationship between a music program and an ATRAC3 data file is described. One track is like one music program. In addition, one music program is composed of one ATRAC3 data (see Fig. 9). The ATRAC3 data file is audio data compressed corresponding to the ATRAC3 format. The ATRAC3 data file is written to the memory card 40 once in a cluster. One cluster has a capacity of 16 KB. Many files are not included in one cluster. The minimum data erase unit of the flash memory 42 is one block. In the case of the memory card 40 for music data, a block is synonymous with a cluster. Also, one cluster is equal to one sector.

A music program basically consists of one part. However, when a music program is edited, one music program may consist of a plurality of parts. One part is a unit of data that is continuously recorded. In general, one track consists of one part. The concatenation of parts in the music program is managed by the part information PRTINF in the attribute header of each music program. In other words, the partial size is represented by the partial size PRTSIZE (4 bytes) of the partial information PRTINF. The first two bytes of the part size PRTSIZE indicate the total number of clusters of the current part. The next two bytes indicate the position of the start sound unit SU and the end sound unit SU in the first and last cluster, respectively. The sound unit is hereinafter referred to as SU. With this partial display, when the music data is edited, the movement of the music data can be suppressed. Although the movement can be suppressed when the music data is edited for each block, the editing unit of the block is much larger than that of the SU.

SU is the minimum unit of the part. Also, SU is the minimum data unit when audio data is compressed corresponding to the ATRAC3 format. One SU is audio data compressed at 44.1 kHz with 1024 samples of data (1024 x 16 bits x 2 channels) approximately 10 times smaller than the original data. The duration of 1 SU is approximately 23 msec. In general, one part consists of thousands of SUs. When one cluster consists of 42 SUs, one cluster allows 1 second of sound to occur. The number of parts that make up a track depends on the size of the additional information. Since the number of parts is obtained by subtracting the header, program name, additional data, etc. from one block, when there is no additional information, the maximum number of parts (645 parts) can be used.

Fig. 10A shows a file structure when two music programs such as a CD are recorded in succession. The first program (file 1) is composed of, for example, five clusters. Since a cluster cannot contain two files, a second program and a second program, file 2 starts at the beginning of the next cluster. Thus, the end of part 1 corresponding to file 1 is in the middle of one cluster, and the remaining area of the cluster does not contain data. Similarly, the second music program (file 2) consists of one part. For file 1, the partial size is five. The first cluster starts at the 0th SU. The final cluster ends at the fourth S.

There are four types of editing processing: division processing, combination processing, deletion processing, and moving processing. The division process is performed to divide a track into two parts. When the division process is executed, the total number of tracks is increased by one. In the partitioning process, one file is divided into two files in the file system. In this case, therefore, the reproduction management file and the FAT are updated. The combining process is executed to combine the two tracks into one track. When the combining process is executed, the total number of tracks is reduced by one. In the combining process, two files are combined into one file in the file system. Thus, when the combining process is executed, the reproduction management file and the FAT are updated. The delete process is executed to delete the track. The track number after the deleted track is decremented by one. Movement processing is executed to change the track sequence. Therefore, the reproduction management file and the FAT are updated when the delete process or the move process is executed.

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a result of combining two programs (file 1 and file 2) shown in FIG. 10 (a). As a result of the combining process, the combined file consists of two parts. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing the division result of one program (file 1) divided in the middle of cluster 1. FIG. By the division process, the file 1 is composed of cluster 0, 1, and the beginning portion of the cluster 2. File 2 consists of the end of cluster 2 and clusters 3 and 4.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the partial display is defined as the combined result (see FIG. 10 (b)), the start position of part 1, the end position of part 1, and the end of part 2 Some may be defined as SU. So there is no need to move the music data of part 2 to fill the space resulting from the combination. In addition, as a result of the division (see Fig. 10C), it is not necessary to move data at the beginning of file 2 to fill the space.

11 is a diagram showing the detailed data structure of the reproduction management file PBLIST. 12A and 12B show a header part and the remaining part of the reproduction management file PBLIST. The size of the reproduction management file is one cluster (one block = 16 KB). The size of the header shown in (a) of FIG. 12 is 32 bytes. The remainder of the reproduction management file PBLIST shown in Fig. 12B is named NM1-S area (256 bytes) (for memory card), name NM2-S area (512 bytes), content key area, MAC area, S -YMDhms area, reproduction sequence management table TRKTBL area (800 bytes), memory card additional information INF-S area (14720 bytes), and header information redundant area. The starting positions of these areas are defined in the reproduction management file.

The first 32 bytes of (0x0000) to (0x0010) shown in (a) of FIG. 12 are used as a header. In the file, a 16-byte area is called a slot. Referring to FIG. 12A, the header is disposed in the first and second slots. The header contains the following areas. The area marked "Reserved" is an undefined area. Generally, null (0x00) is recorded in the spare area. However, even if any data is recorded in the spare area, the data recorded in the spare area is ignored. In future versions some spare area may be used. In addition, data is prohibited from being recorded in the spare area. When the option area is not used, it is treated as a spare area.

= BLKID-TL0 (4 bytes)

Meaning: BLOCKID FILE ID

Function: Identifies the top of the playback management file.

Value: fixed value = "TL = 0" (for example, 0x544C2D30)

= MCode (2 bytes)

Meaning: MAKER CODE

Function: Identifies the make and model of the recorder / player.

Value: upper 10 bits (maker code); Lower 6 bits (model code).

= REVISION (4 bytes)

Meaning: Number of rewrites of PBLIST.

Function: Incremented each time a reproduction management file is rewritten.

Value: Starts at 0 and increments by 1.

= S-YMDhms (4 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: Year, month, day, hour, minute, and second recorded by the recorder / player with a certain clock.

Function: Identifies the date and time of the last recording.

Value: bits 25 to 31: years 0 to 99 (1980 to 2079)

    Bits 21 through 24: month 0 through 12

    Bits 16 to 20: days 0 to 31

    Bits 11-15: Hours 0-23

    Bit 05-10: Minute 0-59

    Bits 00 to 04: seconds 0 to 29 (two bit intervals)

= SY1C + L (2 bytes)

Meaning: The attribute (1-byte code) of the name of the memory card recorded in the NM1-S area.

Function: Represents character code and language code in one byte code.

Value: Character code (C): High 1 byte

     00: non-letter code, binary number

     01: American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)

     02: ASCII + KANA

     03: Modified 8859-1

     81: MS-JIS

     82: KS C 5601-1989

     83: GB (Great Britain) 2312-80

     90: Japanese Industrial Standards (S-JIS) (for voice)

   Language code (L): The lower 1 byte identifies the language based on EBU Tech 3258.

     00: not set

     08: German

     09: English

     0A: Spain

     0F: French

     15: Italian

     1D: Dutch

     65: Korean

     69: Japanese

     75: Chinese

     When data is recorded, this area is mode 0.

= SN2C + L (2 bytes)

Meaning: The attribute of the name of the memory card in the NM2-S area.

Function: Represents character code and language code in one byte code.

Value: Same as SN1C + L.

= SINFSIZE (2 bytes)

Meaning: The total size of additional information of the memory card in the INF-S area.

Function: Displays the data size in increments of 16 bytes. When no data is recorded, this area is all zeros.

Value: Size: 0x0001 to 0x039C (924)

= T-TRK (2 bytes)

Meaning: TOTAL TRACK NUMBER

Function: Indicates the total number of tracks.

Value: 1 to 0x0190 (Max. 400 tracks)

   When data is recorded, this area is all zeros.

= VerNo (2 bytes)

Meaning: Number of format versions.

Function: Indicates major version number (upper 1 byte) and minor version number (lower 1 byte).

Value: 0x0100 (Ver 1.0)

    0x0203 (Ver 2.3)

Next, the area leading to the header (see Fig. 13B) is described.

= NM1-S

Meaning: Name of the memory card (one byte code).

Function: Indicates the name of the memory card by one byte code (max. 256). At the end of this area, an end code (0x00) is recorded. The size is calculated from the exit code. When no data is recorded, null (0x00) is written from the beginning (0x0020) of this area for at least one byte.

Values: Various character codes.

= NM2-S

Meaning: Name of the memory card (2-byte code).

Function: Represents the name of a memory card with a 2-byte code (max. 512). The end code (0x00) is recorded at the end of this area. The size is calculated from the exit code. When no data is recorded, null (0x00) is written from the beginning (0x0120) of this area for at least two bytes.

Values: Various character codes.

= CONTENTS KEY

Meaning: A value for a music program. It is stored protected by MG (M). Same as CONTENTS KEY.

Function: Used as a key to calculate the MAC of S-YMDhms.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= MAC

Meaning: Counterfeit copyright information checksum.

Function: Indicates the value generated by S-YMDhms and CONTENTS KEY.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= TRK-nnn

Meaning: The SQN (sequence) number of the played ATRAC3 data file.

Function: Indicates the FNo of TRKINF.

Value: 1 to 400 (0 × 190).

   When there are no tracks, this area is all zeros.

= INF-S

Meaning: Additional information on the memory card (for example, pictures, songs, guides, etc.).

Function: Indicates additional information of variable length as a header. Many kinds of additional information are used. The kind of additional information has ID and data size, respectively. Each additional information area comprising a header consists of a multiple of at least 16 bytes and 4 bytes. See the next section for more details.

Value: See section "Data structure of additional information".

= S-YMDhms (4 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: Year, month, day, hour, minute, and second recorded by the recorder / player with a certain clock.

Function: Identifies the last recording date and time. For EMD this area is essential.

Value: bits 25 to 31: years 0 to 99 (1980 to 2079)

    Bits 21 through 24: month 0 through 12

    Bits 16 to 20: days 0 to 31

    Bits 11-15: Hours 0-23

    Bit 05-10: Minute 0-59

    Bits 00 to 04: seconds 0 to 29 (two bit intervals)

In the last slot of the reproduction management file, the same BLKID-TL0, MCode, and REVISION as in the header are recorded.

While data is being written to the memory card, the memory card may be accidentally or accidentally removed or the recorder / player may be turned off. When this improper operation is performed, a defect must be detected. As described above, the REVISION area is disposed at the beginning and end of each block. Each time data is rewritten, the value of the REVISION field is increased. If a defect ends in the middle of a block, the value of the REVISION area at the beginning of the block does not match the value of the REVISION area at the end of the block. So this defect closure should be detected. Since there are two REVISION regions, abnormal termination can be detected with high probability. When abnormal termination is detected, an alarm such as an error message is generated.

In addition, since the fixed value BLKID-TL0 is recorded at the beginning of one block (16 KB), when the FAT is destroyed, the fixed value is used as a reference for recovering data. In other words, with reference to the fixed value, the type of file can be determined. Since the fixed value BLKID-TL0 is written to the end and header of each block redundantly, certainty can be guaranteed. Alternatively, the same reproduction management file can be recorded extra.

The data amount of the ATRAC3 data file is much larger than the track information management file. Also, as will be described later, a block number BLOCK SERIAL is added to the ATRAC3 data file. However, since many ATRAC3 files are written to the memory card, both CONNUM0 and BLOCK SERIAL are used to prevent them from becoming excessive. Otherwise, when the FAT is destroyed, it becomes difficult to recover the file. In other words, one ATRAC3 data file consists of a number of distributed blocks. CONNUM0 is used to identify blocks in the same file. In addition, BLOCK SERIAL is used to identify the order of blocks in the ATRAC3 data file.

Similarly, a producer code (MCode) is written at the beginning and end of each block extraly to identify the producer and model if the file is improperly recorded without the FAT being destroyed.

Fig. 12C is a diagram showing the structure of additional information data. The additional information consists of the following header and variable length data. The header has the following area:

= INF

Meaning: FIELD ID

Function: Indicates the beginning of additional information (fixed value).

Value: 0x69

= ID

Meaning: Additional information key code.

Function: Indicates a category of additional information.

Value: 0 to 0xFF

= SIZE

Meaning: The size of each additional information.

Function: Indicates the size of each kind of additional information. The data size is not limited, but it should be a multiple of at least 16 bytes and 4 bytes. The rest of the data should be filled with null (0x00).

Value: 16 to 14784 (0x39C0)

= MCode

Meaning: MAKER CODE

Function: Identifies the make and model of the recorder / player.

Values: High 10 bits (manufacturer code), Low 10 bits (machine code).

= C + L

Meaning: Character attribute in the data area starting at byte 12.

Function: Represents character code and language code in one byte code.

Value: Same as SNC + L.

= DATA

Meaning: Each additional information.

Function: Represents each kind of additional information with variable length data. The actual data always starts at byte 12. The length (size) of the actual data must be at least 4 bytes and a multiple of 4 bytes. The rest of the data area should be filled with null (0x00).

Value: Defined respectively corresponding to the content of each kind of additional information.

Fig. 13 is a table which correlates the types of key code values (0 to 63) of additional information with their types. The key code values 0 to 31 are assigned to the music character information. The key code values 32 to 63 are assigned to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) (web information). The music character information and the URL information include character information such as album title, performer name, CM, and the like as additional information.

Fig. 14 is a table that correlates the key code values 64 to 127 of additional information with their types. Key code values 64 to 95 are assigned to paths / others. Key code values 96 to 127 are assigned to control / numeric data. For example, ID = 98 indicates TOC-ID as additional information. The TOC-ID indicates a first music program number, a last music program number, a current program number, a total playing period, and a current music program period corresponding to the TOC information of the CD (Compact Disc).

Fig. 15 is a table which correlates the types of key code values 128 to 159 of additional information with their types. Key code values 128 to 159 are assigned to the synchronization reproduction information. In Figure 15, EMD stands for electronic music distribution.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16, an example of additional information is described. As shown in FIG. 12C, FIG. 16A shows a data structure of additional information. In Fig. 16B, key code ID = 3 (performer name as additional information). SIZE = 0x1C (28 bytes) indicates that the data length of the additional information including the header is 28 bytes, and C + L indicates that the character code C = 0x01 (ASCII) and language code L = 0x09 (English). Variable-length data after 12 bytes represents one-byte data "SIMON & GRAFUNKEL" as the performer name. Since the data length of the additional information must be a multiple of 4 bytes, the remainder is filled with (0x00).

In FIG. 16C, key code ID = 97 indicates an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) as additional information. SIZE = 0x14 (20 bytes) indicates that the data length of the additional information is 20 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00 indicate that the character and language are not set. So, the data is binary code. Variable length data is an 8-byte ISRC code representing copyright information (nationality, copyright holder, recorded year, and serial number).

In Fig. 16D, key code ID = 97 indicates the recorded date and time as additional information. SIZE = 0x10 (16 bytes) indicates that the data length of the additional information is 16 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00 indicate that the character and language are not set. Variable length data is a 4-byte code (32 bits) representing the date and time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) recorded.

In Fig. 16E, key code ID = 107 indicates a reproduction log as additional information. SIZE = 0x10 (16 bytes) indicates that the data length of the additional information is 16 bytes. C = 0x00 and L = 0x00 indicate that the character and language are not set. Variable length data is a 4-byte code representing a reproduction log (year, month, day, hour, minute, second). When the recorder / player has a playback log function, it records 16 bytes of data each time music data is played back.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the data arrangement of the ATRAC3 data file A3Dnnnn when 1 SU is N bytes (e.g., N = 384 bytes). 17 shows an attribute header (1 block) and a music data file (1 block) of a data file. 17 shows a first byte (0x0000 to 0x7FF0) in each slot of two blocks (16 × 2 = 32 kbytes). As shown in Fig. 18, the first 32 bytes of the attribute header are used as headers; 256 bytes are used for the music program area NM1 (256 bytes); 512 bytes are also used for the music program title area NM2 (512 bytes). The header of the attribute header includes the following areas.

= BLKID-HD0 (4 bytes)

Meaning: BLOCKID FIELD ID

Function: Identifies the top of the ATRAC3 data file.

Value: Fixed value = "HD = 0" (eg 0x48442D30).

= MCode (2 bytes)

Meaning: MAKER CODE

Function: Identifies the manufacturer and model of the recorder / player.

Value: upper 10 bits (maker code); Lower 6 bits (machine code).

= BLOCK SERIAL (4 bytes)

Meaning: Track serial number.

Function: Starting from 0 and incremented by 1. This value does not change even if the music program is edited.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF.

= N1C + L (2 bytes)

Meaning: Indicates the attribute of the data NM1 of the track (music program title).

Function: Represents the character code and language code of NM1 as one byte code.

Value: Same as SN1C + L.

= N2C + L (2 bytes)

Meaning: Indicates the attribute of the track's data NM2 (music program title).

Function: Represents the character code and language code of NM1 as one byte code.

Value: Same as SN1C + L.

= INFSIZE (2 bytes)

Meaning: The total size of additional information of the current track.

Function: Represents data size in multiples of 16 bytes. When no data is recorded, this area should be in mode 0.

Value: 0x0000 to 0x3C6 (966)

= T-PRT (2 bytes)

Meaning: Total number of bytes.

Function: Indicates the number of parts that make up the current track. In general, the value of T-PRT is 1.

Value: 1 to 285 (645 dec).

= T-SC (4 bytes)

Meaning: The total number of SUs.

Function: Indicates the total number of SUs in a track, such as the duration of program play.

Values: 0x01 through 0x001FFFFF

= INX (2 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: Relative position of INDEX.

Function: Used as a pointer to the top of the representative part of the music program. The value of INX is the current position of the program, specified as the number of SUs divided by four. The value of INX is equal to four times greater than the number of SUs (about 93 msec).

Value: 0 to 0xFFFF (maximum, about 6084 sec).

= XT (2 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: The playback period of the INDEX.

Function: Specifies the playback period specified by INX-nnn as a value in which the number of SUs is divided by four. The value of INDEX is equal to 4 times greater than normal SU (about 93 msec).

Value: 0x0000 (not set); 0x01 to 0xFFFE (up to 6604 sec); 0xFFFF (to end of music program).

Next, the music program title areas NM1 and NM2 are described.

= NM1

Meaning: A character string of the music program title.

Function: Displays the music program title in one byte code (up to 256 characters) (variable length). The subject area must be completed with an exit code (0x00). The size must be calculated from the exit code. When no data is written, null (0x00) must be written from the beginning (0x0020) of the area for at least one byte.

Values: Various character codes.

= NM2

Meaning: A character string of the music program title.

Function: Represents a music program title in 2-byte code (up to 512 characters) (variable length). The subject area must be completed with an exit code (0x00). The size must be calculated from the exit code. When no data is written, null (0x00) must be written from the beginning (0x0120) of the area for at least two bytes.

Values: Various character codes.

80 bytes of data starting from the fixed position (0x320) of the attribute header is referred to as track information area TRKINF. This area mainly manages security information and copy control information as a whole. 19 shows a portion of TRKINF. The area TRKINF contains the following areas.

= CONTENTS KEY (8 bytes)

Meaning: A value for each music program. The value of CONTENTS KEY is protected and stored in the security block of the memory card.

Function: Used as a key to play music programs. This is used to calculate the value of the MAC.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= MAC (8 bytes)

Meaning: Counterfeit copyright information checksum.

Function: Represents a value generated by multiple TRKINF values, including a cumulative number of contents and a secret sequence number.

The secret sequence number is a sequence number recorded in the secret area of the memory card. A non-copyright protected recorder cannot read data from the secret area of the memory card. On the other hand, a computer and a copyright protected recorder operating as a program capable of reading data from the memory card can access the secret area.

= A (1 byte)

Meaning: The property of a part.

Function: Indicates the compression mode information of the part.

Values: Details are described below (see FIGS. 19 and 20).

Next, the value of the area A is described. In the following description, monaural mode (N = 0 or 1) is defined as a special combined mode where bit 7 = 1, sub-signal = 0, main signal = (L + R). Non-copyright protected players ignore the information in bits 2 and 1.

Bit 0 of area A represents information of the highlighted on / off state. Bit 1 of the area A represents information of reproduction skip or normal reproduction. Bit 2 of the area A represents data type information such as audio data, FAX data and the like. Bit 3 of area A is not defined. By combining bits 4, 5, and 6, the mode information of ATRAC3 is defined as shown in FIG. In other words, N is a 3-bit mode value. For five types of modes: monaural (N = 0 or 1), LP (N = 2), SP (N = 4), EX (N = 5), and HQ (N = 7), the recording period (64) MB memory card only), data transfer rate, and number of SUs per block are listed. The number of bytes of 1 SU depends on each mode. In monaural mode, the number of bytes of 1 SU is 136 bytes. In LP mode, the number of bytes of 1 SU is 192 bytes. In the SP mode, the number of bytes of 1 SU is 304 bytes. In the EX mode, the number of bytes of 1 SU is 384 bytes. In HQ mode, the number of bytes of 1 SU is 512 bytes. Bit 7 of the area A indicates the ATRAC3 mode (0: Dual, 1: Joint).

For example, an example in which a 64 MB memory card is used in the SP mode is described. The 64-MB memory card has 3968 blocks. Since 1 SU is 304 bytes in SP mode, one block has 53 SUs. 1 SU is equal to (1024/44100) sec. So, one block is (1024/44100) x 53 x (3968-10) = 4863 sec = 81 min. The transmission rate is (44100/1024) x 304 x 8 = 104737 bps.

= LT (1 byte)

Meaning: Indicates restriction flags (bits 7 and 6) and security partitions (bits 5 through 0).

Function: Indicates the limitation of the current track.

Value: Bit 7: 0 = unlimited, 1 = limit.

    Bit 6: 0 = expired, 1 = expired.

    Bits 5 through 0: Secure partition (no playback outside of 0)

= FNo (2 bytes)

Meaning: File number.

Function: Indicates an initially recorded track number which designates the location of the MAC calculation value recorded in the secret area of the memory card.

Value: 1 to 0 × 190 (400).

= MG (D) SERIAL-nnn (16 bytes)

Meaning: Indicates the serial number of the recorder / player's security block (security IC 20).

Function: Unique value for each recorder / player.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= CONNUM (4 bytes)

Meaning: Content cumulative count

Function: Shows the accumulated unique value for each music program. The value is managed by the security block of the recorder / player. The upper limit of the value is 2 ^{32, which} is 4,200,000,000. It is used to identify the recorded program.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF

= YMDhms-S (4 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: Start date and time of the track with the playback limit.

Function: Indicates the date and time at which data playback is allowed with the EMD.

Value: Same as the date and time display in other areas.

= YMDhms-E (4 bytes) (optional)

Meaning: The playback end date and time of a track with a playback limit.

Function: Represents the date and time data playback has expired with the EMD.

Value: Same as the date and time display in other areas.

= MT (1 byte) (optional)

Meaning: The maximum number of regenerations allowed.

Function: Indicates the maximum value of the number of times of reproduction specified by the EMD.

Value: 1 to 0xFF. When not used, the value of the area MT is 00.

= CT (1 byte) (optional)

Meaning: Regeneration count.

Function: Indicates the number of regenerations within the allowed regeneration number. Each time data is reproduced, the value of the area CT decreases.

Value: 0x00 to 0xFF. When not used, the value of the area CT is 00. When bit 7 of the area LT is 1 and the value of the area CT is 00, reproduction of data is prohibited.

= CC (1 byte)

Meaning: COPY CONTROL

Function: Controls copy operation.

Values: Bits 6 and 7 represent copy control information. Bits 4 and 5 represent copy control information of a fast digital copy operation. Bits 2 and 3 represent secure block authentication levels. Bits 0 and 1 are undefined.

Example of CC:

  (Bits 7 and 6)

   11: Allow unlimited copy operation

   01: No copy

   00: allow one copy operation

  (Bits 3 and 2)

   00: The analog / digital input recording MG authentication level is zero.

When the digital write operation using data from the CD is executed (bits 7 and 6): 00 (bits 3 and 2): 00.

= CN (1 byte) (optional)

Meaning: Number of copies allowed in a high-speed serial copy management system.

Function: Extends the copy permission with copy recall without being limited to one copy permission and free copy permission. Valid only in first generation copy. The value of the area CN is decreased each time the copy operation is executed.

value:

   00: No copy

   01 to 0xFE: recovery

   0xFF: unlimited copies

The track information area TRKINF is followed by a 24-byte partial management information area PRTINF starting from 0x0370. When a track is composed of a plurality of parts, in each part, the value of the area PRTINF is continuously arranged on the time axis. 22 shows a portion of the area PRTINF. Next, the areas in the area PRTINF are described in the arrangement order.

= PRTSIZE (4 bytes)

Meaning: PART SIZE

Function: Indicates the size of a part. Cluster: 2 bytes (highest position), Start SU: 1 byte (top), End SU: 1 byte (lowest position).

Value: cluster: 1 through 0x1F40 (8000)

    Start SU: 0 to 0xA0 (160)

    End SU: 0 to 0xA0 (16) (Note that SU starts from 0)

= PRTKEY (8 bytes)

Meaning: Partial encryption value.

Function: Encrypt part. Initial value = 0. Note that editing rules should be applied.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= CONNUM0 (4 bytes)

Meaning: The key for the cumulative number of contents that occurred initially.

Function: Uniquely specifies the ID of the content.

Value: the same value as the initial value key for the cumulative number of contents

As shown in Fig. 17, the attribute header of the ATRAC3 data file includes additional information INF. The additional information is the same as the additional information INF-S (see Fig. 11 and Fig. 12B) of the reproduction management file except that the start position is not fixed. The last byte position (multiple of 4 bytes) at the end of one or more parts leads to data of the additional information INF.

= INF

Meaning: Additional information about the track.

Function: Represents variable length additional information with a header. Many other kinds of additional information can be arranged. Each additional information area has an ID and a data size. Each additional information area consists of a multiple of at least 16 bytes and 4 bytes.

Values: Additional information in the playback management file Same as INF-S.

The attribute header described above is followed by data of each block of the ATRAC3 data file. As shown in Fig. 23, a header is added for each block. Next, the data of each block is described.

= BLKID-A3D (4 bytes)

Meaning: BLOCKID FILE ID

Function: Identifies the top of ATRAC3 data.

Value: fixed value = "A3D" (eg 0x41334420).

= MCode (2 bytes)

Meaning: MAKER CODE

Function: Identifies the make and model of the recorder / player.

value; Upper 10 bits (maker code); Lower 6 bits (model code).

= CONNUM0 (4 bytes)

Meaning: The cumulative number of initially generated content.

Function: Specify a unique ID for the content. Even if the contents are edited, the value of the area CONNUM0 does not change.

Value: The same as the content cumulative default value key.

= BLOCK SERIAL (4 bytes)

Meaning: The serial number assigned to each track.

Function: starts from 0 and is incremented by 1. Even if the contents are edited, the value of the area BLOCK SERIAL does not change.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFF

= BLOCK-SEED (8 bytes)

Meaning: A key for encrypting a block.

Function: The beginning of the block is a random number generated by the secure block of the recorder / player. The random number is followed by an increment of one. When the value of the area BLOCK-SEED is lost, no sound is generated for about one second such as one block, so that the same data is recorded at the end of the header and the block. Even if the contents are edited, the value of the area BLOCK-SEED does not change.

Value: Initial 8-bit random number.

= INITIALIZATION VECTOR (8 bytes)

Meaning: The value required to encrypt / decrypt ATRAC3 data.

Function: Represents the initial value needed to encrypt and decrypt ATRAC3 data for each block. Blocks start at zero. The next block starts with the last encrypted 8-bit value in the last SU. When the block is split, the last 8 bytes just before the start SU are used. Even if the contents are edited, the value of the area INITIALIZATION VECTOR does not change.

Value: 0 to 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

= SU-nnn

Meaning: The data of a sound unit.

Function: Represents compressed data from 1024 samples. The number of bytes of output data depends on the compression mode. Even if the contents are edited, the value of the area SU-nnn does not change. For example, in SP mode, N = 384 bytes.

Value: The data value of ATRAC3.

In Fig. 17, since N = 384, 42 SUs are recorded in one block. The first two blocks (4 bytes) of a block are used as headers. In the last slot (2 bytes), the areas BLKID-A3D, MCode, CONNUM0, and BLOCK SERIAL are recorded extra. Thus, M bytes of the remaining area of one block are (16,384-384 x 42-16 x 3 = 208) bytes. As described above, the 8-byte area BLOCK SEED is recorded redundantly.

Next, a digital audio recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 24 shows a structure for the principle part of the first embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 24, reference numeral 70 denotes a CPU arranged in the audio system. The CPU 70 is connected to the DSP 30 described above via a bus interface and a bus. The operation unit 80 is connected to the CPU 70.

As shown in FIG. 24, the operation unit 80 has buttons 80 to 86. In practice, the button 81 is a read / playback position backward button. The button 84 is a record / playback position forward button. The button 82 is a recording button. Button 85 is a playback button. Button 83 is a stop button. Button 86 is a pause button.

When one of the buttons 81 to 86 is pressed, the operation unit 80 generates detection information at the timing at which the button was pressed and corresponding thereto. The detection information is supplied to the CPU 70. The CPU 70 monitors the operating state of the operation unit 80 corresponding to the detection information received therefrom. When the CPU 70 determines that a predetermined operation has been executed from the predetermined button, the CPU 70 generates control information corresponding to the button and supplies the control information to each part of the apparatus. Thus, the device operates in response to the control information.

When the recording button 82 is pressed, the recording operation is started. In other words, audio data generated by the selected input source is continuously recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 40. When the playback button 85 is pressed, the playback operation starts. In other words, the audio data recorded in the predetermined area of the memory card 40 is read continuously. Corresponding to the audio data read out from the memory card 40, an analog signal is generated from the line output terminal 19 and obtained.

In the reproducing mode, along with the reproducing operation, when the user continues to press the reproducing button 85 for a predetermined time period, the index management information recording process is executed. In the index management information recording process, the user can designate a reproduction area. In fact, in the index management information recording process, the CPU 70 generates information indicating the start position of the index information defined when the playback button 85 is pressed and information indicating the time period when the playback button 85 is pressed. These two types of information are recorded as information representing a reproduction area in a predetermined area of the memory card 40.

In other words, the user designates a preferred characteristic part or digest part of the music program being played. Information representing the reproduction area is recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 40. Information indicating the start position of the index information defined when the play button is pressed is stored in INX of the attribute header of the ATRAC3 audio file A3DDnnnn described above. Information indicating the time period during which the playback button 85 is continuously pressed is stored in the XT. The INX can be specified up to about 6084 seconds. XT can be specified up to about 6084 seconds.

Once the user's preferred feature portion or digest portion is specified and information representing the playback area is recorded in the predetermined area of the memory card 40, the user can easily search for the desired music program before the playback operation is performed next. Can be. Also, only the feature portion can be reproduced continuously.

Next, referring to Figs. 26 and 27, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. In the above data format, as the values of INX and XT, the number of SUs decremented by four is used. However, in the following description, an example is briefly described in which the number of SUs is not reduced by four. First, a memory card is attached to the recorder. Then, the playback button 85 is pressed. Thus, the playback operation is started (step S1). The flowchart then proceeds to step S2. In step S2, it is determined whether the current position is the top of the track. When the result determined in step S2 is Yes (that is, when the current position is the top of the track), the number of SUs is counted. The flowchart then proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not the playback button 85 has been pressed. When the result determined in step S3 is Yes (i.e., when the playback button 85 is pressed), the flowchart proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether the playback button 85 has been pressed continuously for 4 seconds or more. When the result determined in step S4 is Yes (i.e., when the playback button 85 is continuously pressed for 4 seconds or more), the flowchart proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the index management information recording process is executed in parallel with the reproduction operation. In the index management information recording process, the value counting the number of SUs from the top of the track to the timing at which the playback button 85 is pressed is recorded in INX. In fact, as shown in Fig. 27, the playback button 85 is pressed at the timing t1. When the playback button 85 is pressed continuously for 4 seconds (at timing t2), the position is tracked by 4 seconds from the timing t2. The value P1 counting the value of SU from the top of the track to the timing t1 is recorded in INX. In step S5, the starting position of the index information is defined.

The flowchart then proceeds to step S6. In step S6, it is determined whether the playback button 85 is released. When the result determined in step S6 is Yes (i.e., when the playback button 85 is released and turned off), the flowchart proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the value which counted the number of SUs which the reproduction button 85 continued to press is recorded in XT. In fact, when the playback button 85 is in the off state at the timing t3 as shown in Fig. 27, the number of SUs corresponding to the time period t3-t1 that the playback button 85 is continuously pressed is counted. Values P3-P1 are recorded in XT. In step S7, the length of the designated playback area is defined. Next, along with the reproduction operation, the index management information recording process is completed.

In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the playback button 85 is pressed for four seconds or longer and the index management information recording process is executed. Alternatively, the timing at which another button goes off can be monitored. Further, when the button is continuously pressed for more than a predetermined time period, the index management information recording process can be executed. In other words, in the monitor processing of the conventional operation section, only the timing at which the predetermined button is pressed is used to generate various kinds of control information. However, according to the present invention, the timing at which the button is turned off is used to determine whether the button has been continuously pressed for 4 seconds or more. Thus, the predetermined button can generally be used in common with the specified operation and the index management information recording process. In general, the determination time period during which the designated operation is distinguished from the index management information recording process is not limited to 4 seconds. As a result, the determination time period can be more than 4 seconds or less than 4 seconds as long as the device can be prevented from malfunction.

25 shows the structure of the operation unit 80 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the operation unit 80 has the dedicated index buttons 87 as well as the operation buttons 81 to 86 shown in FIG. With the index button 87, index management information is recorded. Detection information generated corresponding to the operation state of the operation unit 80 is supplied to the CPU 70 as in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

For example, when the record button 82 is pressed, the operation portion starts. In other words, the audio data generated by the selected input source is continuously recorded in the predetermined area of the memory card 40. When the playback button 85 is pressed, the playback operation starts. In other words, audio data recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 40 is continuously read. The analog audio signal is generated corresponding to the audio data read out from the memory card 40. The generated audio signal is obtained from the line output terminal 19.

In the reproducing mode, along with the reproducing operation, when the user continues to press the index button 87 for more than a predetermined time period, the index management information recording process is executed. In this state, the user can designate a desired playback area. In fact, in the index management information recording process, information indicating the start position of the index information specified at the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed and information indicating the time period during which the index button 87 is continuously pressed are generated by the CPU 70. . These two kinds of information are recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 40 as information representing a reproduction area.

In other words, the user designates the preferred feature portion or the digest portion thereof in the music program being played or the like. Information indicating the reproduction area is recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 40. Information indicating the start position of the index information defined at the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed is stored in INX of the ATRAC3 data file A3D-nnn described above as in the first embodiment. Information indicative of the time period during which the playback button 85 is continuously pressed is stored in the XT.

Once the user designates the user's preferred feature portion or digest portion and the playback area is recorded in the predetermined area of the memory card 40, the user can easily search for the desired music program before the next playback operation is executed. have. Also, only the feature portion can be reproduced continuously.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. First, a memory card is attached to the recorder. When the playback button 85 is pressed, the playback operation starts (step S11). The flowchart then proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether the current position is the top of the track. When the result determined in step S11 is Yes (that is, when the current position is the top of the track), the number of SUs is counted. The flowchart then proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 has been pressed. When the result determined in step S13 is Yes (i.e., when the index button 87 is pressed), the flowchart proceeds to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 has been pressed continuously for 4 seconds or more. When the result determined in step S14 is Yes (i.e., when the index button 87 is continuously pressed for 4 seconds or more), the flowchart proceeds to step S15. In step S15, in parallel with the reproduction operation, the index management information recording process is executed. In the index management information recording process, the value counting the number of SUs from the top of the track to the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed is recorded in INX. In fact, as shown in FIG. 27, the index button 87 is pressed at timing t1. When the index button 87 is pressed continuously for 4 seconds (at timing t2), the position is tracked for 4 seconds from the timing t2. The value of counting the number of SUs from the top of the track to the timing t1 is recorded in INX. In step S15, the starting position of the index information is defined.

The flowchart then proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 is released. When the result determined in step S16 is Yes (i.e., when the index button 87 is released and turned off), the flowchart advances to step S17. In step S17, the value of counting the number of SUs corresponding to the time period in which the index button 87 is continuously pressed is recorded in XT. In fact, as shown in Fig. 27, when the index button 87 is turned off at the timing t3, the number of SUs corresponding to the time period t3-t1 that the index button 87 continues to be pressed is determined. The counted values P3-P1 are recorded in XT. In step S17, the length of the reproduction area is defined. Next, along with the reproduction operation, the index management information recording process is completed.

In the second embodiment, the index management information recording process is executed when the dedicated index button 87 is continuously pressed for 4 seconds or more. Alternatively, the index management information recording operation can be executed by using the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed.

Fig. 29 shows an index management information recording process using only the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed. Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 29. First, a memory card is attached to the recorder. When the playback button 85 is pressed, the playback operation is started (step S21). The flowchart then proceeds to step S22. In step S22, it is determined whether the current position is at the top of the track. When the result determined in step S22 is Yes (that is, when the current position is the top of the track), the number of SUs is counted. The step then proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 has been pressed for 0.2 seconds or more. When the result determined in step S23 is Yes (i.e., when the index button 87 is continuously pressed for 0.2 seconds or more), the flowchart proceeds to step S24. In step S24, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 has been pressed again and again for more than 2 seconds. In steps S23 and S24, a determination criterion of 0.2 seconds is made to determine whether the index button 87 has been intentionally operated. Thus, in steps S23 and S24, it is determined whether or not the index button 87 is simply pressed. When the result determined in step S24 is Yes (i.e., when the index button 87 is pressed for 0.2 seconds or more), the flowchart proceeds to step S25. In step S25, in parallel with the playback operation, the index management information recording process is executed. In the index management information recording process, a value that counts the number of SUs from the top of the track to the timing at which the index button 87 is first pressed is recorded in INX. In fact, as shown in FIG. 27, the index button 87 is pressed at timing t1. When the index button 87 is kept pressed for 0.2 seconds (at timing t4), the position is tracked for 0.2 seconds from the timing t4. The value P1 counting the number of SUs from the top of the track to the timing t1 is recorded in INX. In step S25, the starting position of the index information is defined.

The flowchart then proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the value of counting the number of SUs from the timing at which the index button 87 is first pressed to the timing at which the index button 87 is pressed second is recorded in XT. In step S26, the length of the reproduction area is defined. In fact, as shown in Fig. 27, the index button 87 is pressed at timing t3. When the index button 87 is kept pressed for 0.2 seconds (at timing t5), the position is tracked for 0.2 seconds from the timing t5. Thus, the end timing of the reproduction area is defined. The value P3-P1 that counts the number of SUs corresponding to the time period t3-t1 from the timing at which the index button 87 is first pressed to the timing at which the index button 87 is second pressed is recorded in XT. Next, the index management information recording process is completed in parallel with the reproduction operation.

In the above-described embodiment, the index management information recording process is executed when the predetermined operation is executed by the predetermined operation member in the reproduction state in which the reproduction button is pressed. Alternatively, the index management information recording process can be executed in parallel with the recording operation when the predetermined operation is executed with the predetermined operation member in the recording state where the recording button is pressed.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 20, a recording time period of 128 minutes can be designated in the LP mode. For example, music programs of three 40-minute CDs can be recorded on one memory card.

When music programs of a plurality of albums are recorded on one memory card, if a representative music program of three albums can be reproduced by the digest section, a desired music program can be easily searched for.

The representative music program of the album is preferably the digest portion of the music program single-cut from the album.

The digest portion of the album is recorded in the INF-S after address 0x0647 in the reproduction management file (PBLIST).

The album digest portion is designated with variable length at ID = 77 as shown in FIG.

With reference to the total number of albums (total number of sets) recorded on a memory card corresponding to ID = 117 shown in FIG. 14, when the digest points of the plurality of albums are designated as the playback management file PBLIST, the digest The number of copies is recorded at ID = 77.

When the digest parts (INX, XT) are specified for all music programs of a particular album, the music program number for the representative music program of the album is recorded in ID = 77.

When the digest portion of the album is reproduced with reference to the INF-S after the address 0x0647 of the reproduction management file (PBLIST), the number of albums and the number of programs are obtained from ID = 77. Thus, a representative music program is played.

Alternatively, the digest part information (INX, XT) corresponding to the representative music program of the album can be recorded directly at ID = 77.

In the index management information recording process of the above-described embodiment, a value obtained by counting the number of SUs from the top of the track is used as information indicating the start position of the index information. Alternatively, information indicating another reproduction position or reproduction timing can be recorded in the INX. As information indicating the length of the reproduction area, a value obtained by counting the number of SUs between specific timings was used. Alternatively, information indicating another playback position or playback timing can be recorded in the XT. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, index management information is recorded in INX and XT. Alternatively, index management information can be recorded in another predetermined area.

According to the present invention, the index management information recording process is executed when a predetermined operation along with the reproduction operation is executed with the predetermined operation member. Thus, the user can specify any playback area. In fact, in the index management information recording process, the control unit generates information indicating the start position of the index information defined at the timing when the user pressed the playback button and information indicating the time period during which the user continued to press the playback button. Two kinds of information are information representing a reproduction area and are recorded in a predetermined area of the semiconductor memory. Thus, the user's preferred feature portion or digest portion of the music program to be played back can be specified. As a result, according to the present invention, the user can specify index information of the music program. Thus, the user can easily search for a desired music program. In addition to the digest portion of the audio content, the peak portion of the video content may be specified.

In this way, the usability and elasticity of the recording / reproducing apparatus can be improved.

While the present invention has been shown and described with respect to embodiments of the best mode, it is to be understood that various modifications, omissions, and additions, in the form and detail thereof, of the foregoing and various other modifications and additions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that it can be done.

Claims (20)

A reproduction apparatus for reproducing a digest portion of a program recorded on a storage medium, comprising: A storage medium storing management information including a plurality of programs and digest information indicating a digest portion of the program; Input means for instructing reproduction of the digest portion of the program; Reproducing means for reproducing the digest portion of the program; And control means for controlling the reproducing means to reproduce the digest portion of the program when the input means receives a command to reproduce the digest portion of the program. The method of claim 1, And the control means controls the reproducing means to continuously reproduce the digests of the programs. The method of claim 1, And the program is categorized into a plurality of groups, wherein the management information includes album digest information data and a digest section representing the album. The method of claim 3, wherein And the control means controls the control means to reproduce the digest portion representing the album. The method of claim 1, Editing means for editing the address information of the digest section; The input means inputs position information of the digest information during reproduction of the program, And the editing means edits the digest information based on the positional information. The method of claim 5, And the positional information is input by two operations of the same key. The method of claim 6, And the key is an index key. The method of claim 6, And the key is a playback key. The method of claim 3, wherein And the program is one of music content or video content. The method of claim 9, And the storage medium is a memory. A reproduction method of reproducing a digest portion of a program recorded on a storage medium, Storing management information including a plurality of programs and digest information indicating a digest portion of the program in a storage medium; Inputting a command to play the digest portion of the program; And controlling to reproduce the digest portion of the program if a command to reproduce the digest portion of the program is received in the input step. The method of claim 11, And the controlling step controls to continuously reproduce the digests of the programs. The method of claim 11, And the program is categorized into a plurality of groups, wherein the management information includes album digest information data and a digest portion representing the album. The method of claim 13, And the controlling step controls to reproduce the digest portion representing the album. The method of claim 11, An editing step of editing the address information of the digest section; Inputting position information of the digest information also during reproduction of the program in the input step, And reproducing the digest information based on the positional information in the editing step. The method of claim 15, And the positional information is input by two operations of the same key. The method of claim 16, And the key is an index key. The method of claim 16, And the key is a playback key. The method of claim 13, The program is one of music content or video content. The method of claim 19, And the storage medium is a memory.

Images