Abstract: In one aspect a communication system is provided. A terminal generates predetermined music information on a reproduced piece of music and reproduction frequency information including a reproduction count of the piece of music. The terminal transmits the reproduction frequency information and its own apparatus ID to a server. The server computes a similarity coefficient between pieces of music reproduced by the terminal and another terminal on the basis of the terminals' reproduction frequency information and apparatus IDs. The server catalogs the computed similarity coefficient on a favorite list by associating the similarity coefficient with the reproduction frequency information and the apparatus IDs. The server identifies a similar piece of music reproduced by the terminal and the other terminal by referring to the favorite list and selects a piece of music reproduced by the other terminal but not reproduced by the terminal.

Abstract: A service offering system is disclosed which includes a recording element for recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of storage media issued, a database for storing and managing the identifiers, a reading element for reading the recorded identifier from any of the storage media, a checking element for checking the identifier read by the reading element against the identifiers managed in the database and a service offering element for offering a service to the storage medium identified by the checked identifier depending on a result of the check by the checking element.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a grouping section configured to group a plurality of content data stored on a storage medium into a plurality of content groups; a group selection section configured to select one of the plurality of content groups in response to an input from a user; and a reproduction control section configured to reproduce one of a plurality of content data belonging to one content group selected by the group selection section, for output starting from a point in time of the selection.

Abstract: It is possible for an information processing device to read or write a large amount of contents-related information more quickly if the device has a relatively small processing capacity. The file format identifier information and the block identifier information that correspond to contents-related information are identified in Step S11 and it is determined in Step S17 if the file format version information read out from the file identified by the file format identifier information and the predefined file format version information agree with each other or not. If it is determined that the two pieces of file format version information agree with each other, the related information is read out from the block identified by the block identifier information of the identified file according to the block position information of the identified file in Step S22.

Abstract: A storage medium initializing method includes steps of recording on a storage medium a management table configured to manage a replacement area for a defect area in a data area in the storage medium; recording a unique identification on the storage medium; and recording management data in the data area. The step of recording a unique identification includes recording the unique identification on the storage medium, but outside an area managed by the management data. The method optional includes initialization and cancellation steps.

Abstract: A service offering system is disclosed which includes a recording element for recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of storage media issued, a database for storing and managing the identifiers, a reading element for reading the recorded identifier from any of the storage media, a checking element for checking the identifier read by the reading element against the identifiers managed in the database and a service offering element for offering a service to the storage medium identified by the checked identifier depending on a result of the check by the checking element.

Abstract: A reproducing method, reproducing apparatus, recording method and recording apparatus provide read/record data in an efficient way to a storage medium.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of causing a first management system retained in a first apparatus to manage a storage medium loaded in a second apparatus when the first apparatus and the second apparatus are connected to one another; and recording the data to the storage medium based on a second management system which is retained in the second apparatus and which limits consecution of data recording segments when it is determined that data transferred from the first apparatus to the second apparatus are to be recorded to the storage medium. A recording apparatus and editing method and apparatus also manage data storage and editing between first and second apparatuses.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of detecting whether unique information is recorded in a storage medium outside a predetermined area managed by a management data that manages data in a data area on a storage medium; generating unique information when in the detecting step no unique information is detected as being recorded in the storage medium; and recording the unique information when generated in the generating step to the storage medium outside the area managed by the management data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which can efficiently execute construction of a contents management database and setting of a reproduction list. The information processing apparatus includes a storage section for storing a plurality of pieces of contents and a data processing section. The data processing section sets a directory having a tree structure, sets layer attribute information representative of attributes of layers which form the tree structure, and coordinates each of pieces of the layer attribute information with a group which includes contents or a group belonging to a lower layer than the layer indicated by the piece of the layer attribute information to produce a group tree as a contents management directory composed of the groups and the contents.

Abstract: The track information table has: decrypting information corresponding to each track; file pointer information showing one of a plurality of files with headers; and index information showing positions in the files. A function for adding the header to the track of the index information is provided. The decrypting information corresponding to the selected track, the file pointer information, and the index information are read out from the track information table. The header of the file with the header is read out on the basis of the file pointer information. Position information in the file corresponding to the index information is detected from the header. The latter half data of the file is read out on the basis of the position information and added to the track in which coupling has been instructed, thereby newly forming a file with a header.

Abstract: A terminal generates predetermined music information on a reproduced piece of music and reproduction frequency information including a reproduction count of the piece of music. Then, the terminal transmits the reproduction frequency information and its own apparatus ID to a server. When receiving the reproduction frequency information and the apparatus ID, the server computes a similarity coefficient between pieces of music reproduced by the terminal and an other terminal on the basis of the terminals' reproduction frequency information and apparatus IDs. The server then catalogs the computed similarity coefficient on a favorite list by associating the similarity coefficient with the reproduction frequency information's music information and the apparatus IDs. The server also identifies at least a similar piece of music reproduced by the terminal and the other terminal by referring to the favorite list.

Abstract: A recording method including searching for at least one of a plurality of free areas on a storage medium, said storage medium including a file that is stored according to a file system; generating a track descriptor; generating a part descriptor; recording data encrypted with an encryption key in at least one free area; connecting the free area where the encrypted data is recorded to an end of the file managed by the file system; recording in the part descriptor the part pointer information that points to the free area where the encrypted data is recorded; recording in the track descriptor a decryption key so as to enable later decryption of the encrypted data, and pointer information that points to the part descriptor; and recording a track number that points to the track descriptor in a play order table having a play order of a plurality of tracks.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of reading a management table for managing whether data are recorded on a recording medium in units of a first recording segment; detecting whether the first recording segment is associated with a second recording segment smaller than the first recording segment according to a designation of data recording in units of the second recording segment into the recording medium; discriminating from data in the management table whether it is possible to read data of the first recording segment; reading the data in units of the first recording segment and temporarily recording the data to a memory when in the discriminating step it is determined that it is possible to read data in units of the first recording segment; recording data to a part of the first recording segment recorded in the memory in units of the second recording segment; and recording data of the first recording segment that was temporarily recorded in the memory to the storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a configuration that verifies erased contents at a check-out destination efficiently and properly. A portable device or other apparatus at a contents check-out destination retains an erased contents management file, which registers contents identification information corresponding to check-out contents erased in the portable device or the like. A personal computer at a contents check-out source performs an erased contents verification process in accordance with the information registered in the erased contents management file and performs an update process (check-in process) on a check-out counter for contents whose erasure has been verified. Even if a large amount of check-out contents exists, the present invention can efficiently perform an erased contents verification process and check-in process.

Abstract: Decrypting information corresponding to a selected track, file pointer information, and index information are read out from a track information table having the decrypting information corresponding to each track, the file pointer information showing one of a plurality of files with headers, and the index information showing a position in the file. The header of the file with the header is read out on the basis of the file pointer information and position information in the file corresponding to the index information is detected from the header. A part of data of the file is read out on the basis of the position information and the read-out data is decrypted on the basis of the decrypting information.

Abstract: A track management method includes steps of obtaining track information from a play order table having track information entries arranged in a predetermined play order, the track information corresponds to a track to be deleted and points to a track descriptor in a track information table; obtaining the track descriptor, the track descriptor including a decryption key corresponding to the track to be deleted and pointer information that points to one of a plurality of part descriptors in a part information table; advancing the predetermined play order for a subset of the plurality of track information entries that follow the track to be deleted in the predetermined play order; reading the one of a plurality of part descriptors; separating in a file system a data block that is a part of a file specified by part pointer information in the part descriptor from the file managed by the file system and freeing the data block on the file system, the part pointer information pointing to a part of the file that includ

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a display unit; a communication unit for carrying out a communication with an external apparatus; a reproduction unit for reproducing a content; and a control unit for executing control to change a predetermined display screen appearing on the display unit on the basis of whether or not the content being reproduced by the reproduction unit is a content acquired through the communication unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus, including: a display unit; an operation input unit for receiving an operation input; a communication unit for carrying out a communication with an external apparatus; a reproduction unit for reproducing a content; and a display control unit for executing control to display first information on a user owning the external apparatus in a first area of the display unit and display information on the content in a second area of the display unit when the reproduction unit reproduces the content. When an operation input is entered to the operation input unit in order to select the first information, the control unit executes control to display the first information or second information on the user owning the external apparatus in the second area in place of the information on the content.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a grouping section configured to group a plurality of content data stored on a storage medium into a plurality of content groups; a group selection section configured to select one of the plurality of content groups in response to an input from a user; and a reproduction control section configured to reproduce one of a plurality of content data belonging to one content group selected by the group selection section, for output starting from a point in time of the selection.