Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information communication terminal including: a storage unit for storing contents; a communication unit for carrying out a communication with an external apparatus; a content reproduction unit for reproducing a content stored in the storage unit; and an accessible-content setting unit for classifying contents into first category contents accessible by an external apparatus and second category contents inaccessible by an external apparatus and changing a content being reproduced by the content reproduction unit to a first category content if the content being reproduced is a second category content. The terminal further includes a transmission control unit for controlling the communication unit to transmit a first category content to an external apparatus if a request for the first category content is received from the external apparatus through said communication unit.

Abstract: A data editing method by which reduction of the burden of an editing process regarding stream data recorded on a recording medium is anticipated and a higher speed editing operation can be achieved. Stream data recorded on a recording medium are presupposed to be managed as a file by a file system. The stream data are managed in a unit of a track by a track managing data file managed by the file system. Editing of division or erasure in a unit of a track is executed by rewriting contents of track management information which defines each track in the track managing data file. With the configuration, when a division or erasure editing process in a unit of a track is performed, there is no necessity to rewrite the file system.

Abstract: A data accessing method includes the steps of obtaining a track information entry about a predetermined track from a play order table, which points to a track descriptor in a track information table; obtaining the track descriptor from the track information table, the track descriptor including a decryption key corresponding to the predetermined track, pointer information that points to a part descriptor of a plurality of part descriptors in a part information table, and name pointer information that points to a name slot entry in a name table having a plurality of name slot entries; using the name slot entry and the part descriptor to read a part of an audio file according to part pointer information in the part descriptor.

Abstract: A recording method is responsive to a user-initiated single instruction, that includes the steps of copying content data from a storage medium loaded in a first apparatus to a data storage device of a second apparatus; and setting a predetermined check-out count from a predetermined count to the predetermined count minus one, the predetermined check-out count including control information corresponding to a predetermined number of times the content data is allowed to be copied to the data storage device. A storage medium driving apparatus implements the recording method described above.

Abstract: A recording method is responsive to a user-initiated single instruction, that includes the steps of copying content data from a storage medium loaded in a first apparatus to a data storage device of a second apparatus; and setting a predetermined check-out count from a predetermined count to the predetermined count minus one, the predetermined check-out count including control information corresponding to a predetermined number of times the content data is allowed to be copied to the data storage device. A storage medium driving apparatus implements the recording method described above.

Abstract: A CD-R (20) in which the load when a CD player reads-in fringe data may be relieved to shorten the time until display. This CD-R is provided with contents files “00001” to “0000n”, holding respective contents, and database files TRNDB, ARNDB and ALNDB. In the contents files “00001” to “0000n”, data of the supplementary information of the contents, for each of the contents files “00001” to “0000n”, are stored, along with the contents. The database files TRNDB, ARNDB and ALNDB hold data of the supplementary information for each of the contents files “00001” to “0000n”.

Abstract: A storage medium includes a first area configured to have data stored therein in a first recording format; a second area configured to have data stored therein in a second recording format; a management table configured to manage a replacement area for a defect area in a data area in the storage medium, the management table being stored in the second area; an alert track stored in the first area; and a management data configured to manage the managing table and the alert track, the management data stored in the first area, wherein an end position of the first area is set a predetermined distance apart from a start position of the second area.

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 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 data editing method by which reduction of the burden of an editing process regarding stream data recorded on a recording medium is anticipated and a higher speed editing operation can be achieved. Stream data recorded on a recording medium are presupposed to be managed as a file by a file system. The stream data are managed in a unit of a track by a track managing data file managed by the file system. Editing of division or erasure in a unit of a track is executed by rewriting contents of track management information which defines each track in the track managing data file. With the configuration, when a division or erasure editing process in a unit of a track is performed, there is no necessity to rewrite the file system.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which handles content items categorized in a predetermined number of groups. The apparatus includes group number attaching means for attaching to the groups a series of group numbers made up of natural numbers starting from 1; and depth information attaching means for attaching depth information 1 to the group having the group number 1. If a given group with a group number N which is a natural number has depth information “a” which is also a natural number, then the depth information attaching means attaches the depth information formed by a natural number which is at least 1 and not more than a+1 to the group having the group number N+1.

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: After a reception start request of contents is issued, the presence or absence of a PD connected to a PC is discriminated. If no PD exists, the received contents is recorded into only the PC. If the PD exists, a media type of PD is discriminated. If it is a built-in type, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into a storing medium in the PD. If it is a media type, whether or not the storing medium has been loaded into the PD is discriminated. If it has been loaded, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into the storing medium in the PD. If it is not loaded, the user is urged to load the storing medium. Since the recording of the received contents into the PC and the recording into the PD are automatically executed, there is no need to individually execute those processes.

Abstract: A service body comprises a right server, a content server, and a buddy server. The right server correlatively manages charging information and a unique disc ID of each disc. The content server manages a content that is distributed and information associated therewith. The buddy server correlatively manages a disc ID of an information provider side and a disc ID of an information recipient side. A user loads a disc he or she bought from the service body into a disc drive device, logs in the content distributing server, and obtains information corresponding to the disc ID.

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 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: A data accessing method includes the steps of obtaining a track information entry about a predetermined track from a play order table having a plurality of track information entries, the track information entry pointing to a track descriptor in a track information table; obtaining the track descriptor from the track information table, the track descriptor including a decryption key corresponding to the predetermined track, pointer information that points to a part descriptor of a plurality of part descriptors in a part information table, and name pointer information that points to a name slot entry in a name table having a plurality of name slot entries; reading the name slot entry that corresponds to the name pointer information in the track descriptor; reading the part descriptor that corresponds to the pointer information in the track descriptor; and reading a part of an audio file according to part pointer information in the part descriptor, the part pointer information pointing to at least a part of a fi

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 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.