Abstract: To photograph with a digital video camera, a still image is photographed and is inserted at the point to set a chapter. To dub a photographed video from a camera to a hard disk recorder, compression processing of the video data is performed at a variable bit rate by an MPEG encoder in the recorder and the compressed data is recorded on a hard disk. The value of the bit rate is compared with a threshold value. If a state in which the bit rate is less than the threshold value continues for a given section or more, the video is determined a still image and a chapter is set in the portion of the still image.

Abstract: When a video is input from a DV camcorder connected through an IEEE 1394 interface, a DVD recorder displays the input video in a dubbing screen displayed on a monitor of a television and starts dubbing the input video on a DVD. Subsequently, the DVD recorder displays a DV scene cut key for entering a temporary stop command of dubbing the input video on the monitor together with the input video. When the user operates the DV scene cut key with a remote controller, the DVD recorder temporarily stops dubbing the input video on the DVD. Accordingly, it is made possible to dub in a short time while the user reliably cuts the unnecessary scene of the input video being dubbed by properly operating the DV scene cut key just after display of the unnecessary scene is started on the monitor.

Abstract: In a PVR, when a prescribed type of data is present in external equipment connected to the PVR via an external connection portion, the prescribed type of data is read from the external equipment, and the read data is stored in an HDD. The prescribed type of data stored in the HDD is written into the external equipment connected to the PVR via the external connection portion, based on an operation by a user. After the prescribed type of data is read from the external equipment, the PVR may erase the prescribed type of data with respect to the external equipment.

Abstract: An HDD is divided into a segment area storing multimedia data, an information file area storing an information file of a file, and a system information area storing a system information file. Storage of the system information file in the system information area and storage of the information file in the information file area are performed every prescribed time (X seconds), instead of a time point when recording and/or reproduction is stopped. If an apparatus suddenly stops, a location where damage is likely in the HDD can be detected by referring to the information file area and the system information area.

Abstract: To photograph with a digital video camera, a still image is photographed and is inserted at the point to set a chapter. To dub a photographed video from a camera to a hard disk recorder, compression processing of the video data is performed at a variable bit rate by an MPEG encoder in the recorder and the compressed data is recorded on a hard disk. The value of the bit rate is compared with a threshold value. If a state in which the bit rate is less than the threshold value continues for a given section or more, the video is determined a still image and a chapter is set in the portion of the still image.

Abstract: When a video is input from a DV camcorder connected through an IEEE 1394 interface, a DVD recorder displays the input video in a dubbing screen displayed on a monitor of a television and starts dubbing the input video on a DVD. Subsequently, the DVD recorder displays a DV scene cut key for entering a temporary stop command of dubbing the input video on the monitor together with the input video. When the user operates the DV scene cut key with a remote controller, the DVD recorder temporarily stops dubbing the input video on the DVD. Accordingly, it is made possible to dub in a short time while the user reliably cuts the unnecessary scene of the input video being dubbed by properly operating the DV scene cut key just after display of the unnecessary scene is started on the monitor.

Abstract: An HDD is divided into a segment area storing multimedia data, an information file area storing an information file of a file, and a system information area storing a system information file. Storage of the system information file in the system information area and storage of the information file in the information file area are performed every prescribed time (X seconds), instead of a time point when recording and/or reproduction is stopped. If an apparatus suddenly stops, a location where damage is likely in the HDD can be detected by referring to the information file area and the system information area.

Abstract: In a PVR, when a prescribed type of data is present in external equipment connected to the PVR via an external connection portion, the prescribed type of data is read from the external equipment, and the read data is stored in an HDD. The prescribed type of data stored in the HDD is written into the external equipment connected to the PVR via the external connection portion, based on an operation by a user. After the prescribed type of data is read from the external equipment, the PVR may erase the prescribed type of data with respect to the external equipment.

Abstract: A PVR portion recording image data in an HDD is controlled by a sub-microcomputer. When power supply is started, the sub-microcomputer determines whether a flag is remained to be set or not, i.e., if the flag can not be reset due to an interruption of previous power supply during a recording operation. As a result, if the power failure during the image recording is detected, it notifies a recovery instruction to PVR portion. When PVR portion accepts the notice, it retrieves the image file from HDD that has been interrupted while being recorded, and closes the retrieved file to set it as an effective file. Additionally, it also determines image recording scheduling information, and if the image recording scheduling period is remained, the image recording operation is continued according to the scheduling information.