Abstract: Data recording and reproduction systems, apparatus, and methods provide efficient recording of and reproduction from storage media having multiple surfaces. In particular, a grouping processing unit groups data based on several factors. The grouped data can then be efficiently stored on storage media having multiple sides to increase the efficiency of storage and retrieval of such data. For example, data belonging to the same group is not stored on two surfaces of the same storage media to avoid having to remove and reverse the direction of the storage media in order to store data on or retrieve data from the other side of the storage media.

Abstract: In a library apparatus, it is not considered that eliminated is an operation for reversing a direction of a double-sided readable/writable recording medium. In the library apparatus having a function of transporting and loading a recording medium from a recording medium storage unit to a recording and reproducing unit through a recording medium transportation unit, a direction in which an unrecorded recording medium is first loaded in the recording and reproducing unit is afterward treated as a front surface, and a direction opposite to the above direction is treated as a rear surface.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus, for producing a virtual disc independent upon a host PC, and for managing virtual discs with an easy operation, comprises a CPU 100, a memory 101, a storage I/F 102, an external I/F 103, a device portion (DP) controller portion 201, a virtual device portion (VDP) controller portion 202, a virtual serial ATA 601, a virtual ATAIP 602, and at least two (2) or more numbers of recording/reproducing apparatuses, wherein it is notices to a HOST PC that a device is connected to the device portion when a virtual disc is produced, and the virtual disc is cut off and also information corresponding thereto is deleted when taking out or an order of taking out is made from the HOST PC.

Abstract: A reproducing process of related data is efficiently performed also in a recording medium having recording surfaces at both of front and rear surfaces in a recording and reproducing system including a plurality of recording media. At the time of recording data on a data library apparatus, a recording medium selection unit selects a recording medium and recording surface on which data brought into the same group by a grouping processing unit is recorded.

Abstract: A distributing apparatus including a communication processor unit to execute transmission of data between a content receiving apparatus connected through a network; a content list producer unit to produce an optical disc content list for when loaded in the optical disc drive apparatus, while to produce a recording medium content list when the optical disc is not loaded; a content list transmitter unit; a content transmitter unit; an authenticator unit; a key producer unit, which is configured to produce key information necessary for encoding the content(s) to be transmitted by the content transmitter unit; and an encoder unit, which is configured to encode the content(s) with using the key information in the key producer unit.

Abstract: In a storage system including a plurality of recording medium drives and encrypting and recording data with a device key, even if a recording medium drive fails and is replaced with another drive, the data stored by the failed recording medium drive can be reproduced. The plurality of recording medium drives has not only their own device keys, but also copies of the device keys of the other recording medium drives. If any one of the recording medium drives is replaced and data in a recording medium mounted in the replaced recording medium drive cannot be decrypted, the drive queries the other recording medium drives to acquire a copy of a device key of a recording medium drive used in the past and decrypts the encrypted data.

Abstract: [Object] Portable-type storage equipment that by itself enables data control such as analysis of data recorded or to be recorded in recording media even under the environment where a host system such as a host PC does not exist. [Solution] Storage equipment including a drive unit 2 for driving a recording medium 1, a signal processing unit 3 for sending or receiving a regeneration and/or recording signal to/from the recording medium, a first control unit 20A having a first arithmetic processing unit 58 for controlling the drive unit and the signal processing unit, and a second control unit 20B having a control memory 60 and a second arithmetic processing unit 64 is characterized in that the control memory includes an area for storing a file system for data analysis of the recording medium, an area for storing an application program which uses the data, and an area for storing management information used by the application program.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus, for producing a virtual disc independent upon a host PC, and for managing virtual discs with an easy operation, comprises a CPU 100, a memory 101, a storage I/F 102, an external I/F 103, a device portion (DP) controller portion 201, a virtual device portion (VDP) controller portion 202, a virtual serial ATA 601, a virtual ATAIP 602, and at least two (2) or more numbers of recording/reproducing apparatuses, wherein it is notices to a HOST PC that a device is connected to the device portion when a virtual disc is produced, and the virtual disc is cut off and also information corresponding thereto is deleted when taking out or an order of taking out is made from the HOST PC.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing device for recording or reproducing one or more stream data blocks is arranged to have a setting unit for setting an operation mode about whether or not and how a backup data copy of one or more stream data blocks is created onto an external device and a generating unit for generating a script for executing a copy of only the backup data selected at the operation mode if the backup data copy is created onto the external device.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus in which when dubbing of audio/video information has been executed, by storing information showing that the audio/video information has been dubbed into a memory, a hard disk apparatus, or the like in a video camera, when the user intends to erroneously delete the audio/video information which is not dubbed yet, the user is notified that the audio/video information is not dubbed yet. According to such an apparatus, since such a situation that the user erroneously deletes the non-dubbed audio/video information by misunderstanding that the audio/video information has already been dubbed can be avoided, use efficiency can be improved for the user.

Abstract: For the purpose of processing and editing the video data, which was recorded by means of the record player, in such a way as adding titles, playlists, menus, and other similar data, the conventional technique requires a processing and editing software operating on a personal computer. Such software is usually supplied together with the record player when purchased, in the form of recorded data media such as CD-ROM, but users are required to install the software by themselves. To solve the abovementioned problem, the present invention specifies that the software necessary for processing and editing on a personal computer the video data recorded by the record player is to be loaded in the hard disk recording media of the record player. Once the record player is connected to the data processing system, said software is automatically installed in the data processing system. In this way, operation for installation of said software is automated, leading to realization of improved usability of the record player.