Abstract: When recording an AV stream, and carrying out a playlist editing, to carry out the editing with an accuracy of a frame unit. An editing point of a recorded AV stream file is configured with a position of a GOP and a frame quantity of the GOP, and recorded as a management file.

Abstract: In a video recording apparatus which records and reproduces digital TV broadcasting, an I-picture extraction processor that extracts packets containing I-pictures by analyzing a transport stream is arranged. Then, packets containing I-pictures is output, by reading predetermined amount of recorded data from an HDD in which recorded data is stored and by detecting start information and end information of the I-pictures. A stream for special reproduction is output by repeating the above-stated processes. With such arrangement, it is possible, even if data does not contain position information of I-picture, to execute special reproduction such as fast-forwarding reproduction for TV program data that is recorded as an MPEG-formatted transport stream.

Abstract: In an apparatus of reproducing contents in which an encryption key is to be changed at predetermined intervals for copyright protection purpose, the contents can be reproduced or specially reproduced with no problem such as fast forward, and fast rewind. For special reproduction, data and key information needed therefor are made ready in advance, and using the data and the key information, the contents are specially reproduced. Alternatively, an encryption key generation rule is defined in advance for use in generation of an encryption key. By making any needed key information ready in advance from this rule, the contents can be reproduced and specially reproduced with no problem.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a digital broadcast based on the MPEG standard. When performing special reproduction by use of access-unit management information that is used to manage access units, the image reproducing apparatus reads ahead the access-unit management information and compares time stamps. As a result of the comparison, if it is judged that the absence of a piece of the access-unit management information exists, the special reproduction is then performed by use of simple information that is used to manage a stream. This makes it possible to continuously perform the special reproduction even if it becomes impossible to utilize the access-unit management information.

Abstract: In a recording method, in particular, for recording still pictures, while classifying the still pictures and managing the still pictures classified, wherein still picture data and management information for managing that still picture data are recorded therein. The management information includes information for classifying the still picture data into a classifying unit, each, and also includes a file format of the still picture data classified into the classifying unit mentioned above.

Abstract: To provide a recording method for recording still images that is particularly suitable for sorting still images and recording and managing the sorted still images, there is disclosed a recording method for recording still image data and management information for managing the still image data, with the management information including information based on which a plurality of pieces of the still image data are sorted into sorting units, and an earliest one and a latest one of photographing dates at which the pieces of still image data sorted into each of the sorting units are respectively taken.

Abstract: In an apparatus of reproducing contents in which an encryption key is to be changed at predetermined intervals for copyright protection purpose, the contents can be reproduced or specially reproduced with no problem such as fast forward, and fast rewind. For special reproduction, data and key information needed therefor are made ready in advance, and using the data and the key information, the contents are specially reproduced. Alternatively, an encryption key generation rule is defined in advance for use in generation of an encryption key. By making any needed key information ready in advance from this rule, the contents can be reproduced and specially reproduced with no problem.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a unit to receive content data and information related to a copying of the content data; a separation/extraction unit to separate and extract the content data and the information; a writing unit to divide the content data extracted by the separation/extraction unit into plural data and write them in a first recording medium; an encryption key generation unit to generate an encryption key for encrypting each of the plural data; and a copy control information processing unit to generate, from the information related to the copying and the generated encryption key, a plurality of pieces of content protection management information for the plurality of pieces of data, wherein when the content data written into the first recording media is recorded into a second recording media, the plurality of pieces of data are recorded before the plurality of pieces of content protection management information are recorded.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a digital broadcast based on the MPEG standard. When performing special reproduction by use of access-unit management information that is used to manage access units, the image reproducing apparatus reads ahead the access-unit management information and compares time stamps. As a result of the comparison, if it is judged that the absence of a piece of the access-unit management information exists, the special reproduction is then performed by use of simple information that is used to manage a stream. This makes it possible to continuously perform the special reproduction even if it becomes impossible to utilize the access-unit management information.

Abstract: Where a follow-up playback is realized for content data that is recorded by changing an encryption key at predetermined intervals for copyright protection, fast feed and playback operations are provided that can get close to a video scene of a present point of time. There are two areas on the memory in which to manage key information. The key information and seed information being written into a hard disk drive are held in memory in order to allow access to the key information and seed information even as they are written.

Abstract: In a video recording and reproducing apparatus, data is divided into a plurality of data blocks encrypted with corresponding encryption keys and is recorded in a recording medium such as a HDD. The recorded data is copied from a data source to a move destination in the recording medium. Then, the encryption keys are successively copied from the data source to the move destination in the recording medium and the encryption keys stored in the data source are deleted. Thereafter, the data blocks stored in the data source are simultaneously deleted. Accordingly, a risk that a recorded file being moved is divided due to an interruption may be reduced.

Abstract: When recording an AV stream, and carrying out a playlist editing, to carry out the editing with an accuracy of a frame unit. An editing point of a recorded AV stream file is configured with a position of a GOP and a frame quantity of the GOP, and recorded as a management file.

Abstract: There is provided an optimum format for recording an AV stream of a digital broadcast or the like, omitting a reproduction of an unnecessary stream previous or subsequent to the recorded stream, and controlling a genuinely needed reproduction range in frame units. A configuration is such as to record a GOP position of a reproduction start of a recorded AV stream file, and a frame position thereof, as well as a GOP position of a reproduction finish and a frame position thereof, in a management file.

Abstract: When performing special reproduction with a video recording and reproducing apparatus that reproduces an AV stream, a controller of the video recording and reproducing apparatus calculates a reproduction position in AU at desired time by referring to a timestamp that is added to the head of AU of two adjacent AV streams, gives an instruction of an I-picture exclusive mode to output only I-pictures to a decoder, and reproduces an I-picture. With such arrangement, in a video recording and reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces digital TV broadcasting, it becomes possible to execute special reproduction such as fast-forwarding reproduction of data in which MPEG2-TS is recorded even if the data does not contain position information of I-picture such as SI.

Abstract: For providing a recording guidance method to increase an operability of a broadcast receiving apparatus, installing a removable hard disk in addition to an internal information recording medium built therein, within the broadcast receiving apparatus comprises a display portion and at least an install-type HDD 25 and a removable HDD (i.e., iVDR) 26, so as to enable recording of a broadcast program(s), selectively, the recording is conducted into the install-type HDD 25, in substation, if the removable iVDR 26 is not inserted therein when executing the recording programmed onto the said removable iVDR 26, as well as, displaying a message on the display portion, for prompting to insert the iVDR. Or, a message is displayed, for prompting to insert the iVDR, on the display portion, if the iVDR is not inserted into the apparatus when conducting the recording program into the iVDR.

Abstract: In a video recording apparatus which records and reproduces digital TV broadcasting, an I-picture extraction processor that extracts packets containing I-pictures by analyzing a transport stream is arranged. Then, packets containing I-pictures is output, by reading predetermined amount of recorded data from an HDD in which recorded data is stored and by detecting start information and end information of the I-pictures. A stream for special reproduction is output by repeating the above-stated processes. With such arrangement, it is possible, even if data does not contain position information of I-picture, to execute special reproduction such as fast-forwarding reproduction for TV program data that is recorded as an MPEG-formatted transport stream.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive has magnetic disks having tracks and a number of sectors forming each track. The tracks have an ID few track format and the drive is divided into a plurality of notches. The drive also includes a memory and a defect sector list, sector replacement list, defect track list and replacement track list, each of which is stored in the memory. Defective sectors and tracks in each notch are slipped during formatting, and further defective sectors and tracks detected subsequent to the formatting are skipped. Spare sectors in the notch are provided in a spare region to accommodate the slipped and skipped sectors and tracks, respectively. The defective sector list is supervised as a two stage table to reduce the required memory size for maintaining the list and to decrease the time required for searching the list.