CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/141,417, filed on Dec. 26, 2013 (the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/567,898, filed on Sep. 28, 2009 (the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/203,457, filed on Aug. 11, 2005 (the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes), which application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Nos. JP2004-349264, filed Dec. 2, 2004, JP2004-378767, filed Dec. 28, 2004, and JP2004-378768, filed on Dec. 28, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing device which records data onto a recording medium and reproduces data from the recording medium.

Description of the Related Art

As the high-efficiency coding technique advances, it has become possible to handle AV data such as video data and audio data as digital data, conduct code rate compression, and record resultant data on a large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk or a recording type optical disk in real time. When digital data already compressed in Code rate is inputted to a recording and reproducing device having such a recording medium from outside by broadcasting or communication, it is also possible to record the digital data on the recording medium intact.

In these recording and reproducing devices, management information for managing digital data to be recorded is generated and recorded together onto the same recording medium. When a rewritable recording medium is used, the user can conduct editing work on the recording and reproducing device by rewriting the management information and generating and manipulating a list indicating the reproduction sequence (hereafter referred to as play list) (see, for example, JP-A-2000-152180).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the above-described conventional technique, it is mentioned that the play list indicates the reproduction sequence by linking portions of AV data together. As an example, a management state of AV data on a recording medium in the above-described conventional technique is shown in FIG. 2.

Reference numeral 201 designates AV data themselves on the recording medium. The case where a program #1 to a program #3 are present as recording units is shown. Reference numeral 202 designates a second management hierarchical level (management level 2) in management information. Original cell information #1 to original cell information #3 indicate the whole reproduction range, of program units, i.e., a program #1 to a program #3, respectively. Each of user-defined cell information #1 to user-defined information #2 indicates a reproduction range of the whole or a part of a program arbitrarily specified by the user. The number of the user-defined cell information #1 to user-defined information #2 is increased or decreased by the user's editing manipulation. Reference numeral 203 designates a first management hierarchical level (management level 1). Program information contains all of the original cell information #1 to original cell information #3. By conducting reproduction on the basis of the program set information, the user can reproduce all AV data recorded on the recording medium. Play list information #1 to play list information #k indicate a reproduction sequence of the user-defined cell information arbitrarily specified by the user. It is possible to have a plurality of reproduction sequences. Inside of a frame 204 becomes original information for managing the Whole AV data in the management information. Inside of a frame 205 becomes user-defined information for managing the play list obtained by the user's editing manipulation.

In FIG. 2, the play list information is placed on the same level with the program set information and managed as the management level 1. Therefore, the sequence of a plurality of play list information pieces themselves is determined uniquely. For example, as for a catalog of the play lists, it is impossible on the user's interface to alter the display sequence. In view of the problem, the present invention has been achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording scheme and device in which the user can conduct manipulation of arbitrarily rearranging the display sequence of the play lists in the play list catalog on the user interface.

Furthermore, in the conventional technique example, attention is not paid to that a plurality of users generate, select and manage favorite play list information. For example, even when a plurality of users desire to generate, select and manage respective favorite play list information pieces, it cannot be implemented. Furthermore, attention is not especially paid to that a user select some arbitrary play lists from among a plurality of play lists and manage them.

In view of these problems, the present invention has been achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording and reproducing device in which the user can select and manage arbitrary play lists.

In order to achieve the objects, in accordance with the present invention, a unit of management for managing all registered play list information and an upper management hierarchical level are added. The unit of management is adapted to be handled on the same level with unified information that indicates a reproduction range of all AV data. User-defined unified information is adapted to be handled on the added management hierarchical level. The user-defined unified information is formed to allow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lower hierarchical level to be registered.

In a recording and reproducing device according to the present invention, it becomes possible for the user to select arbitrary play lists or reproduction ranges and conduct management. Even in the case where a plurality of users share a single recording medium, therefore, each user can manage favorite reproduction contents, resulting in improved usage. Since the play lists are subject to unified management, it becomes possible for the user to arbitrarily alter the display sequence of play lists.

According to the present invention, a recording and reproducing device improved in usage can be provided.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a management state of AV data in a recording and reproducing device according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a management state of AV data in a conventional technique example;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a recording and reproducing device according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 shows a display output example of original unified information;

FIG. 5 shows a display output example of play list unified information;

FIG. 6 shows a first output example of user-defined unified information;

FIG. 7 shows a second output example of user-defined unified information;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a file structure of original unified information, play list unified information, user-defined unified information, play list information, program information, and AV data (program);

FIG. 9 shows an example of a management table structure of original unified information, play list unified information, and user-defined unified information;

FIG. 10 shows an example of a management table of play list information;

FIG. 11 shows an example of a management table of program list information;

FIG. 12 shows a display output example of play list unified information; and

FIG. 13 shows an example of a table indicating contents of user-defined information #m.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a management state of AV data on a recording medium in a recording and reproducing device according to the present invention. In the same way as the reference numeral 201 in FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 designates AV data themselves on the recording medium. The case where programs #1 to #3 are present as recording units is shown.

Reference numeral 102 corresponds to 202 in FIG. 2. However, reference numeral 102 designates a third management hierarchical level (management level 3) in management information. Program information #1 to program information #3 indicate the whole reproduction ranges of program units, i.e., program #1 to program #3, respectively. Each of program information #2a to program information #3a indicates a reproduction range of the whole or a part of a program arbitrarily specified by the user. The program information #2a to program information #3a indicate a part of the program #2 and a part of the program #3, respectively. In places corresponding to the program information #1 to program information #3, information is also added, as AV data is added, i.e., with an increase in programs. In places corresponding to the program information #2a to the program information #3a, the number of information pieces increases or decreases due to the editing manipulation of the user.

Reference numeral 103 corresponds to the management level 1 in FIG. 2. However, numeral 103 designates a second management hierarchical level (management level 2), which includes only play list information #1 to play list information #n. Each play list information indicates a reproduction sequence of arbitrary program information pieces on the management level 3. It is possible to have a plurality of reproduction sequences.

Reference numeral 104 designates a newly added first management hierarchical level (management level 1) in the management information as a feature point of the present invention. The management level 1 includes a plurality of unified information pieces. Original unified information corresponds to the program set information shown in FIG. 2. The original unified information contains all of the program information #1 to program information #3 on the management level 3. By conducting reproduction on the basis of all of the program information #1 to program information #3, it becomes possible for the user to reproduce all AV data recorded on the recording medium. Play list unified information contains all of the play list information #1 to play list information #n on the management level 2. By conducting reproduction on the basis of all of the play list information #1 to play list information #n on the management level 2, it becomes possible for the user to successively reproduce all registered play lists. User-defined unified information #1 to user-defined unified information #m contain arbitrary one or more from among play list information pieces on the management level 2 and program information pieces on the management level 3. For example, when a plurality of users use a single recording medium, it becomes possible to manage reproduced contents that meet respective users' tastes by using one user-defined unified information every user.

An embodiment of a recording and reproducing device according to the present invention will be described more specifically by using another drawing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a recording and reproducing device according to the present invention. A recording and reproducing device capable of receiving digital broadcast, recording the digital broadcast on a recording medium, reproducing recorded data, and obtaining a reproduced output is shown. Reference numeral 300 designates a recording and reproducing device, 301 an input terminal supplied with a received wave from an antenna, 3011 an input terminal supplied with compressed video and audio data from another device, 3012 an analog video input terminal supplied with an analog video signal, 3013 an analog audio input terminal supplied with an analog audio input terminal, 333 and 334 analog/digital (A/D) conversion circuits each of which converts an analog signal to a digital signal, 302 a demodulation circuit, 330 a separation circuit which separates the demodulated digital signal into audio, video and other data, 335 a compression circuit which compresses digitized video and audio signals, 303 a recording unit signal processing circuit, 331 an encryption circuit which encrypts data to be recorded, 304 a recording and reproducing unit including a drive function of a recording medium, 305 a recording medium, 332 a decryption circuit which decrypts data encrypted and recorded on the recording medium, 306 a reproducing unit signal processing circuit, 307 a switchover circuit, 308 a separation circuit, 309 a video decoding circuit, 310 a digital/analog (D/A) conversion circuit, 311 a video output terminal, 312 an audio decoding circuit, 313 a D/A conversion circuit, 314 an audio output terminal, 315 a TV set, 316 a user I/F, 317 a control unit, 318 a system bus, 319 an OSD generation unit, and 320 an addition circuit.

At the time of recording, a signal transmitted by digital broadcast or the like and received is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 302 by using a predetermined scheme, subjected to necessary signal processing such as timing adjusting data addition and modulation in the recording unit signal processing circuit 303, encrypted in the encryption circuit 331, and then recorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording and reproducing unit 304. A digital signal input from the digital input terminal 3011 is subjected to necessary signal processing such as timing adjusting data addition and modulation in the recording unit signal processing circuit 303, encrypted in the encryption circuit 331, and then recorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording and reproducing unit 304. An analog video signal input from the analog video input terminal 3012 and an analog audio signal input from the analog audio input terminal 3013 are subjected to compression processing in the compression circuit 335, encrypted in the encryption circuit 331 via the recording unit signal processing circuit 303, and then recorded on the recording medium 305 by the recording and reproducing unit 304.

At the time of reproducing, encrypted digital data read out from the recording medium 305 via the recording and reproducing unit 304 in accordance with the user's order is decrypted in the decryption circuit 332, subjected to signal processing required for reproduction such as demodulation in a form based on a predetermined modulation scheme in the reproducing unit signal processing circuit 103, and sent to the separation circuit 308 via the switchover circuit 307. Resultant video digital data is subjected to predetermined video decoding processing in the video decoding circuit 309, converted to an analog signal in the D/A conversion circuit 310, and then displayed as a monitor output on the TV set 315 via the video output terminal 311. Audio digital data obtained from the separation circuit 308 is subjected to predetermined audio decoding processing in the audio decoding circuit 312, converted to an analog signal in the D/A conversion circuit 313, and then outputted by an audio output mechanism in the TV set 315 via the audio output terminal 314.

The control unit 317 controls various components in the recording and reproducing device 300 via the system bus 318. Furthermore, the control unit 317 controls the whole device to cause operation based on the user's order input which is inputted via the user I/F 316 to be conducted. By the way, an order input request to the user or necessary OSD display for the user is implemented by preparing it in the OSD generation unit 319, adding it to an output of the video decoding circuit 309 on a suitable level, and finally outputting it to a monitor screen on the TV set 315.

The case where each unified information on the management level 1 is used for menu display of recording data will now be described as a specific use example of the management information configuration in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using the original unified information shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 315 designates the TV set shown in FIG. 3, 401 a tag for displaying all programs, 402 a thumbnail indicating program information #1, 403 a thumbnail indicating program information #2, and 404 a thumbnail indicating program information #3. The user moves a cursor position on the screen to a desired thumbnail and conducts selection and determination by using a remote controller or the like. As a result, the user can reproduce arbitrary programs or all programs.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using the play list unified information shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 501 designates a tag for displaying all play lists, 502 a thumbnail indicating play list information #1, and 503 a thumbnail indicating play list information #2. In the same way as the above-described case, the user moves a cursor position on the screen to a desired thumbnail and conducts selection and determination by using a remote controller or the like. As a result, the user can reproduce arbitrary play lists or all play lists. By the way, display switching from the all program display tag 401 to all play list display tag can be implemented by, for example, movement of the cursor in tag character positions conducted by the user.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using the user-defined unified information #1 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 601 designates a menu display tag for user #1 (who is supposed to be â€œratherâ€ here). As appreciated from FIG. 1, reference numerals 402 and 502 designate thumbnails indicating the program information #1 and the play list information #1, respectively. The â€œmotherâ€ can use the menu display tag for mother 601 as a folder dedicated to herself, and freely register and delete data to be reproduced. In the same way, FIG. 7 shows an example in which menu display is conducted by using the user-defined unified information #2 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 701 designates a menu display tag for user #2 (who is supposed to be â€œfatherâ€ here). As appreciated from FIG. 1, reference numerals 503 and 502 designate thumbnails indicating the play list information #2 and the play list information #1, respectively. In this case, the â€œfatherâ€ selects two play lists. However, the reproduction sequence of them can be altered. In the same way as the â€œmother,â€ the â€œfatherâ€ can use the menu display tag for father 701 as a folder dedicated to himself, and freely register and delete data to be reproduced.

As heretofore described, in the embodiment of the present invention, a unit of management for managing all registered play list information and an upper management hierarchical level are added. The unit of management is adapted to be handled on the same level with unified information that indicates a reproduction range of all AV data. User-defined unified information is adapted to be handled on the added management hierarchical level. The user-defined unified information is formed to allow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lower hierarchical level to be registered therein. As a result, it becomes possible for the user to select arbitrary play lists or reproduction ranges and conduct management. Even in the case where a plurality of users share a single recording medium, therefore, each user can manage favorite reproduction contents, resulting in improved usage.

In the embodiment heretofore described, the case where digital broadcast is received and digital data is recorded intact has been described. However, this is not restrictive. A configuration having a network I/F to acquire AV data from an external network or having coding unit to conduct recording onto the recording medium while coding analog data may also be used. In other words, the present embodiment refers to data management on the recording medium, and its input route is not especially restricted.

FIG. 8 shows an example of file configurations used to actually record the program, program information, play list information, original unified information, play list unified information, and user-defined information on the recording medium 305 (FIG. 3). The recording medium is a medium on which digital recording and reproducing are conducted. Files on the medium are managed by a file system similar to that used to manage a recording medium in the so-called personal computer or the like. In FIG. 8, â€œROOTâ€ 800 represents a highest hierarchical level of a file directory. â€œTV_RECâ€ 801 is a directory under the highest hierarchical level. â€œTVREC.MANâ€ 802, â€œPGRG.IFOâ€ 803, â€œPGR.IFOâ€ 804, â€œPROG00001.TSâ€ 805, â€¢â€¢â€¢ of files which implement the management structure shown in 7 according to the present invention are recorded in the â€œTV_RECâ€ 801. In the â€œTVREC.MANâ€ 802, the original unified information, the play list unified information, and the user-defined unified information #1 to #m on the management level 1 shown in FIG. 1 are described as management tables. In the â€œPGRG.IFOâ€ 803, the play list information #1 to the play list information #n on the management level 2 shown in FIG. 1 are recorded as management tables. In the â€œPGR.IFOâ€ 804, the program information #1 to the program information #3a on the management level 3 shown in FIG. 1 are recorded as management tables. â€œPROG0001.TSâ€ 805, â€œPROG0002.TSâ€ 806 and â€œPROG0003.TSâ€ 807 are entity files of AV data in each program. For example, AV data between recording start and recording end of one time is recorded in the â€œPROG00001.TS.â€ AV data between recording start and recording end of the next time is recorded in the â€œPROG0002.TS.â€ In this way, the file name is updated and recording is conducted. Thereafter, the management files 802 to 804 are updated.

The file structure and the configuration of management tables themselves concerning the management structure â€œTVREC.MANâ€ 802, â€œPGRG.IFOâ€ 803, â€œPGR.IFOâ€ 804, â€œPROG0001.TSâ€ 805, of files may be formed by using any method. However, an example of how to implement the management configuration in the case of FIG. 1 using the files will now be described.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of management tables of the â€œTVREC.MANâ€ 802 (FIG. 8). As original unified information 901, the number of AV data recorded as the number of program information pieces 9011, i.e., the total number (three in this case) of entity files (â€œPROG0001.TSâ€ 805, â€œPROG0002.TSâ€ 806 and â€œPROG0003.TSâ€ 807) of the AV data is described. Under the original unified information 901, location tables 9012 of respective original program information pieces are recorded. As play list unified information 902, play list location information tables are recorded in 9021 and subsequent tables. In 9031, the number of user-defined unified information pieces is recorded. After that, contents of #1 to #m of the user-defined information are recorded.

FIG. 13 shows contents of the user-defined information #m described above. The user-defines information #m has combinations of original program information and play list information as a table.

FIG. 10 shows a management table of the â€œPGRG.IFOâ€ 803 (FIG. 8) which corresponds to the management level 2 shown in FIG. 1. As play list information 1001, the total number of the play list information pieces is first described as designated by 10011. (In this case, the total number of the play list information pieces is n.) Beginning with 10012 indicated under the reference numeral 10011, locations in which contents of the play list information #1 to #n are described are recorded as tables. Beginning with 10013, contents of the play list information #1 to #n (contents of the reproduction sequence, which are management tables having combinations of program information indicating the reproduction start location and reproduction end location of AV data described later) are recorded.

FIG. 11 shows a management table of the â€œPGR.IFOâ€ 804 (FIG. 8), which corresponds to the management level 3 shown in FIG. 1. As program information 1101, the total number of the program information pieces including all of the program information pieces paired with the original information program #1, #2 and #3 (FIG. 1) and the user-defined program information #2a and #3a (FIG. 1) is recorded as designated by 11011. Beginning with 11012 indicated under the reference numeral 11011, tables indicating locations in which contents of the program information #1 to #3a are described are recorded. Beginning with 11013, contents of the program information #1 to #3a (describing the reproduction start location and reproduction end location of the â€œPROG00001.TSâ€ 805, â€œPROG0002.TSâ€ 806 and â€œPROG0003.TSâ€ 807 (FIG. 8)) are recorded.

By conducting the management as heretofore described, it becomes possible to sort the location information, for example, in the play list location table 9021 and alter the sequence of displaying play lists on a GUI view from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 12. In the case where the number of play lists has become very large, a play list that is high in user's use frequency can be displayed in the first place in the GUI view. As a result, it is possible to implement a usable recording and reproducing device, reproducing device, or recording method. For example, a plurality of users can set play lists that they want to view and recorded original contents freely and individually. Even when the number of recorded programs is very large, the user can rapidly find out a program that the user wants to view, because the user can refer to a folder defined by the user.

In the present embodiment, a clear distinction is made between the user-defined play list unified information and the user-defined unified information #1 to #m. The user-defined play list unified information may be defined as user-defined play list unified information having no link to the original program information of the user-defined unified information.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.