JP2003030969A - Reproduction apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable random reproduction in consideration of reproduction frequency. SOLUTION: When a FS key is pressed, track reproduction frequency data having a reproduction frequency number equal to or more than a numerical value set in an initial setting is extracted from track reproduction frequency data including a track number and a reproduction frequency number, Numbers are assigned to these track reproduction frequency data in order from 1. A random number is generated within a range of numbers assigned to the track reproduction frequency data, and a track having a track number included in the track reproduction frequency data corresponding to the random number is reproduced. If the end key has been pressed, the process ends.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing a program in random order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called shuffle reproducing function for reproducing music data of a plurality of songs recorded on a recording medium in a random order is one of the most widely known reproducing functions. Conventionally, the following three shuffle reproduction functions are known.

That is, shuffle reproduction for randomly reproducing songs included in an album, shuffle reproduction for randomly reproducing a plurality of songs specified by a user, and random extraction of albums from a plurality of albums, Shuffle reproduction for randomly reproducing the songs included in the extracted album has been widely known.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional shuffle reproduction, whether or not the music is frequently listened to by the user is not considered, and the music is reproduced at random based on the random number table. , It was not possible to randomly play the songs that the user often listens to. In addition, it was not possible to randomly play around songs that the user does not listen to often.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus and method capable of performing shuffle reproduction according to the reproduction frequency.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 associates the number of times of reproduction of a program recorded on a recording medium with each program. Memory means for storing as a random number, random number generating means for generating a random number based on the ascending / descending order of the number of times of reproduction of each program stored in the memory means, and reproducing for reproducing a program corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means. And a reproducing means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a program area in which a plurality of programs are recorded, a plurality of programs recorded in the program area are grouped and managed, and the number of reproduction frequencies for each group and each of the groups belong to each group. In a reproducing device for reproducing a program on a recording medium including a management area in which management information for managing the number of times of reproduction of each program is recorded, the number of times of reproduction of each group reproduced from the management area and belonging to each group A memory means for storing the number of times of reproduction for each program, a first random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in group units, and a second random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in program units belonging to a predetermined group are selected. If the operation means and the first random reproduction mode are selected by the operation means, A random number generated based on the reproduction frequency count for each stored group to re unit, the second by the operation means
When the random reproduction mode is selected, a random number generating means for generating a random number based on the number of reproduction frequencies of each program belonging to a predetermined group, and a program belonging to a group number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means Alternatively, the reproducing apparatus is provided with reproducing means for reproducing a program number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a program area in which a plurality of programs are recorded, a plurality of programs recorded in the program area are grouped and managed, and the number of reproduction frequencies for each group and each of the groups belong to each group. In a reproducing method for reproducing a program on a recording medium including a management area in which management information for managing the number of times of reproduction for each program is recorded, in a first random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in group units and within a predetermined group A first step of selecting a second random reproduction mode in which random reproduction is performed for each program unit to which it belongs, and when the first random reproduction mode is selected, a random number is generated based on the number of reproduction frequencies of each group. And the second random play mode is selected,
The third step of generating a random number based on the number of reproduction frequencies of each program belonging to a predetermined group, and the program belonging to the group number corresponding to the random number generated in the second step or the random number generated in the third step. And a fourth step of reproducing the corresponding program number.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the reproducing device stores the number of times of reproduction of the program recorded in the recording medium in association with each program, and the memory means stores the number of times of reproduction in association with each program. Since the random number generating means for generating a random number based on the ascending / descending order of the reproduction frequency of each program and the reproducing means for reproducing the program corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means are included, the shuffling considering the reproduction frequency is performed. Playback can be performed.

According to the second and sixth aspects of the invention, the reproducing apparatus groups and manages the program area in which a plurality of programs are recorded and the plurality of programs recorded in the program area, and reproduces each group. In a reproducing device for reproducing a program on a recording medium, which includes a management area in which management information for managing the frequency count and the reproduction frequency count for each program belonging to each group is recorded, for each group reproduced from the management area Memory means for storing the number of reproduction frequencies and the number of reproduction frequencies for each program belonging to each group, a first random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in group units, and a first random reproduction mode for performing program unit belonging to a predetermined group The operation means for selecting the random reproduction mode of No. 2 and the first random reproduction by the operation means. When the mode is selected, a random number is generated based on the number of reproduction frequencies stored in the memory means for each group, and when the second random reproduction mode is selected by the operation means, each random number belongs to a predetermined group. Random number generating means for generating a random number based on the number of times of reproduction for each program, and a program belonging to a group number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means or a program number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means Since it is provided with a reproducing means for reproducing the program, it is possible to shuffle-reproduce a program having a reproduction frequency of a predetermined number or more or a predetermined number of times or less from a predetermined album based on the reproduction frequency of the program that has been reproduced in the past. In addition, it is possible to shuffle-play a group whose number of times of reproduction is a predetermined number of times or more or a predetermined number of times or less, based on the number of times of reproducing the group in the past.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This dubbing device includes a CD changer 1,
A hard disk recording / reproducing device (hereinafter, HD recording / reproducing device) 101, an audio input / output device 201, and a system controller 301 are included.

A CD changer 1 is connected to a system controller 301 via a cable 401, and an HD
The recording / reproducing device 101 is connected to the system controller 301 via a cable 402, and the audio input / output device 201 is connected to the system controller 301 via a cable 403. Further, the CD changer 1 and the voice input / output device 201 are connected via a cable 404. Furthermore, the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 and the audio input / output apparatus 201 are connected to cables 405, 406 and 40.
It is connected via 7.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the CD changer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First of this invention
In the CD changer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a compact disc (hereinafter, referred to as C
D) Disk storage unit 3 to 1 in which a large number of 6 are stored
The CD 6 is taken out, and the information signal recorded on the taken CD 6 is reproduced.

The CD changer 1 is selected from a disc storage unit 3 capable of storing 100 CDs 6 in an outer casing 2 which constitutes the apparatus body having a substantially rectangular shape, and the disc storage unit 3. And a disc reproducing unit (not shown) for reproducing one CD 6.
Although not shown, the disc storage unit 3 is provided with a 100 slot for storing the CD 6.

The outer casing 2 of the CD changer 1 is provided with a disc insertion / removal opening 4 for inserting / removing the CD 6 into / from the disc storage unit 3. The disc insertion / removal opening 4 is covered with an openable / closable lid 5 made of transparent synthetic resin. Therefore, when the CD 6 is reproduced or not in use, the lid 5 is closed to prevent accidental contact with the CD 6 stored in the disc storage unit 3 through the disc insertion / removal opening 4. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the income of dust from entering the outer casing 2 and protect the CD 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front side of the outer casing 2, there is provided an operation panel 10 in which operation switches and operation buttons for operating the CD changer 1 are arranged.

Further, although not shown, on the back side of the outer casing 2, an output terminal and a control terminal to which cables can be connected are provided.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the CD changer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The main operation switches and operation buttons provided on the operation panel 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a power switch 11 is arranged on the upper left side of the operation panel 10, and a reproduction mode selection key 12a for selecting a reproduction operation mode for the CD 6 on the upper right side of the operation panel 10.
Pause key 12b, stop key 12c, unload key 12d, preview key 12e and next key 12
An operation key group 12 composed of f is arranged. Further, in the lower central part of the operation panel 13, 100 CDs 6 accommodated in the disc accommodating unit 3 are provided in a predetermined manner according to the contents of the recorded information or the frequency of use of a plurality of users. A disk group designation key 13 for unitizing each number is arranged. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the disk group designating key 13 is composed of ten keys from the first disk group designating key 13a to the tenth disk group designating key 13j. A disc group entry key 14 is arranged above the first disc group designation key 13a in the disc group designation key 13. Further, on the left side of the disc group entry key 14, a switching key 15 for registering character information regarding a disc, a group or a track is arranged. On the left side of the switching key 15, a memo scan key 16 for sequentially displaying the information input by memo in a memo display area 32 of the display unit 30 described later is arranged.

In the CD changer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a JOG key 17 is arranged on the lower right side of the operation panel 10 shown in FIG. The JOG key 17 has a data setting push button switch 18 fixed to the operation panel 10 at the center thereof. The JOG key 17 has, for example, 10 stop positions intermittently per one rotation, and the data is updated for each stop position. For example, when rotated to the right, data + is updated, and when rotated to the left, -is updated. A memo input key 19, a file key 20, and an erase key 21 are arranged on the left side of the JOG key.

The CONTINUE key 22 and SC are provided in the upper right part of the lower part of the central portion of the operation panel 10.
A mode setting key including a HUFLE key 23 and a PROGRAM key 24 is arranged, and the user can select a desired reproduction mode by these mode setting keys.

At the center of the operation panel 10, a display unit 30 composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or a FL office is installed. The display unit 30 includes a registered group display unit 31a that displays the registered group number by lighting the numbers, a disk group number display area 30b that displays the group number of the selected or current disk, and a selection. A memo display area 32 for displaying a memo such as a title relating to the number of the played or current disc, and the CD 6 currently being played or selected.
Disc number display area 33 for displaying the disc number of the CD 6 and the disc number of the CD 6 to be reproduced next.
a and 33b, a track number display area 34 for displaying the track number of the disc being played, and a time display area 3
5 and the remaining track display section 3 for displaying the remaining tracks of the disk track including the track number of the disk being played.
6 and.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the CD changer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the CD changer 1 includes a spindle motor 41, an optical head 42, and an RF (Radio Freq).
uency) amplifier 43, servo circuit 44, thread 45,
EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) and CIR
It is composed of a C (Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) decoding circuit 46, a controller 47, and the like.

The output terminal 48 is connected to the voice input / output device 201 via the cable 404. The control terminal 49 is connected to the system controller 301 via the cable 401.

The CD 6 loaded in the disc reproducing unit (not shown) is driven by the spindle motor 41 during the CD reproducing operation by a constant linear velocity (Constant linear Velocity).
(CLV)). The CD 6 is for reproduction only.

The optical head 42 irradiates the recording surface of the CD 6 with laser light and receives the reflected light to read the data recorded in the pit form on the CD 6 and supply it to the RF amplifier 43. The laser light intensity is optimized by APC (Automatic Power Control) not shown. The optical head 42 can be displaced in the tracking and focusing directions. The optical head 42 can move in the radial direction of the CD 6 based on the signal supplied from the sled 45.

The RF amplifier 43 generates a reproduction RF signal, a focus error signal and a tracking error signal based on the signal supplied from the optical head 42. Then, the focus error signal and the tracking error signal are supplied to the servo circuit 44, and the reproduction RF signal is supplied to the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46.

The servo circuit 44 generates various drive signals such as a focus drive signal, a tracking drive signal, a threat drive signal and a spindle drive signal based on the focus error signal and the tracking error signal supplied from the RF amplifier 43. The operations of the sled 45 and the spindle motor 41 are controlled based on these signals.

EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46
Binarizes the reproduced RF signal supplied from the RF amplifier to obtain an EFM signal. Then, by performing EFM demodulation and CIRC decoding on this EFM signal, the information read from the optical disc is decoded into a digital format of 16-bit (Binary digiT (bit)) quantization and 44.1 KHz sampling. , The audio input / output device 20 via the cable 404 connected to the output terminal 48.
Supply to 1. Here, the CIRC decoding is the CIR.
Error detection and error correction processing using C,
Specifically, it is an error detection and error correction process using C1 and C2 codes.

Further, the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 extracts control data such as TOC (Table Of Contents) and subcodes, which will be described later, from the reproduction RF signal supplied from the RF amplifier 43, and controls these control data. Supply to 47.

The controller 47 uses the EFM and CIR.
Each unit is controlled based on the data such as TOC and subcode supplied from the C decoding circuit 46. In addition, the controller 47 uses the cable 40 connected to the control terminal 49.
For example, control data such as TOC and sub-code is transmitted to the system controller 301 via 1. Further, the controller 47 is the system controller 30.
For example, the control signal is received from 1 via the cable 401 connected to the control terminal 49, and each unit provided in the CD changer 1 is controlled based on the control signal. Furthermore, although not shown here, the controller 4
Reference numeral 7 is connected to operation switches and operation buttons arranged on the operation panel 10, and based on signals supplied from these operation switches and operation buttons, the CD
It controls each part provided in the changer 1.

FIG. 5 shows the EFM and CIR shown in FIG.
The frame structure of data generated by the C decoding circuit 46 and supplied to the controller 47 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, one frame includes a synchronization pattern part (24 channel bits) and a sub-coding part (1 symbol, that is, 1 symbol).
4 channel bits), first data part (12 symbols, ie 12 × 14 channel bits), first parity part (4 symbols, ie 4 × 14 channel bits), second data part (12 symbols, ie 12)
× 14 channel bits) and a second parity part (4 symbols, that is, 4 × 14 channel bits). Here, although not shown, 3 bits of combined bits are included in the frame for combining each symbol (the synchronization pattern is also regarded as a symbol composed of 24 bits). The total number of combined bits is 34 × 3 = 1.
02 channel bits. Therefore, one frame has a total of 588 channel bits.

As shown in FIG. 6, 98 frames form one group of information (subcode frame) consisting of frame synchronization information, subcode information, data and parity information. Subcode data in 98 frames expresses subcode information as one block. Such blocks will be described with reference to FIG. The subcodes of the first frame F1 and the second frame F2 are fixed synchronization patterns S0 = 001000, respectively.
00000001, S1 = 0000000000001001
It consists of zero. A pattern that cannot appear in EFM modulation is used as S0 and S1, and the start position of the block relating to the subcode information is specified during reproduction.

Subcodes of 96 frames of the third frame F3, the fourth frame F4, ..., The 97th frame F97, and the 98th frame F98 are P1, Q1, R1, S1, respectively. T1, U1, V1,
W1, P2-W2, ..., P95-W95, P96-
It consists of W96. And P1, P2, ..., P9
6, Q1, Q2, ..., Q96, R1 to R96, S1
~ S96, T1 to T96, U1 to U96, V1 to V9
6, W1-W96 each form a complete information channel.

These sub-coding informations include:
(1) Information related to program functions such as cueing of music, reproduction according to a preset order, and (2) additional information such as text information are included. The P code and Q channel of the subcode are used as the information of (1), and the R channel to the W channel of the subcode are used as the information of (2). Note that the P channel indicates a pause between pieces of music, and is information that is used without any rough indication. The Q channel is information for more detailed control.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents of Q data. As shown in FIG. 8, the Q data includes a control part, an address part, a data part and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Cod).
e) consists of parts.

The control section consists of 4 bits Q1 to Q4, and records data for identifying the number of audio channels, emphasis, digital data, and the like.

The address part is composed of 4 bits Q5 to Q8, and a control signal indicating the format and type of data in the data part described later is recorded therein.

The CRC part consists of 16 bits Q81 to Q96, and records data for detecting an error of the cyclic code.

The data portion is, as shown in FIG. 9, Q9-Q.
It consists of up to 80 72-bit data. If the 4-bit data in the address part is "0001", the CD
Data part (TOC (Table
of Contents)) has the structure shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the data part includes an MNR part (song number part), a POINT part (point part), a MIN part (elapsed time minute component part), a SEC part (elapsed time second component part), and FR.
It is composed of an AME part (elapsed time frame number part), a ZERO part (zero part), a PMIN part (absolute time minute component part), a PSEC part (absolute time second component part) and a PFRAME part (absolute time frame number part). In addition, each of these parts,
Each consists of 8-bit data.

MNR section, MIN section, SEC section, FRAM
Both the E part and the ZERO part are "0" in hexadecimal notation.
It is fixed to "0" and "0" is added to all 8 bits.

In the PMIN section, the POINT section is 16
In the case of "A0" in the decimal notation, it indicates the first music number or movement number, and the POINT part is "A1" in hexadecimal.
Indicates the last song number or movement number.
When the POINT part is "A2" in hexadecimal notation, the PMIN part (absolute time minute component part), the PSEC part (absolute time second component part) and the PFRAME part (absolute time frame number part) are respectively The absolute time (PTIME) at which the lead-out area starts is shown.

Further, when the POINT part is expressed by a 2-digit BCD, the PMIN part (absolute time minute component part), PSEC part (absolute time second component part) and PF
The RAME part (absolute time frame number part) is
The address at which each song or movement indicated by the numerical value starts is expressed in absolute time (PTIME).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is capable of audio compression encoding /
Decoding device 102, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynami)
c Random Access Memory) 103, HDD 104 and controller 105.

The output terminal 107, the input terminal 108, and the input terminal 109 are connected to the cable 405 and the cable 40, respectively.
6. The audio input / output device 201 is connected via the cable 407. The control terminal 110 is connected to the cable 402.
Is connected to the system controller 301 via.

Audio compression encoding / decoding device 102
From the audio input / output device 201 to the HD recording / reproducing device 101 via the cable 406 connected to the input terminal 108.
Audio data supplied to the ATRAC3 (Adap
Compressed by tive Transform Acoustic Cording 3),
It is supplied to the controller 105 via the SDRAM 103. Also, the audio compression encoding / decoding device 102
From the audio input / output device 201 to the HD recording / reproducing device 101 via the cable 407 connected to the input terminal 109.
The audio data supplied to is processed in the same manner. The data compression method is not limited to ATRAC3, and MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer 3), W
MA (Windows (registered trademark) Media Audio), AAC (A
dvancedAudio Cording) or TwinVQ (Tran
sform-domain Weighted Interleave Vector Quantizati
A compression method such as on) may be used.

Further, the audio compression encoding / decoding device 102 includes the controller 10 via the SDRAM 103.
The data compressed by ATRAC3 supplied from the No. 5 is expanded and supplied to the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 405 connected to the output terminal 107.

The SDRAM 103 is a storage device. Specifically, the audio compression encoding / decoding device 102
Is a storage device used when exchanging encoded data or decoding data with the HDD 104 via the controller 105.

The controller 105 controls each unit provided in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101. A file system 106 is installed in the controller 105, and the file system 106 allows the HDD 104 to operate.
Access to a file to read a file, or HD
It becomes possible to access D104 and write a file. Note that in the first embodiment of the present invention, Fi
le Allocation Table File System (FAT F
S) is used as a file system.

FAT FS started from DISK BASIC, and recently MS-DOS (registered trademark), Windows
It is a file system that has been widely used since 1977 up to ws (registered trademark).

FAT FS divides the disk area into clusters and assigns a number to each cluster.
It is a system that manages programs and data recorded on a disc. The FAT includes FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, etc., and the number of manageable clusters is different.

FA used in the early days of MS-DOS
At T12, the cluster is managed with 12 bits, so 2 ¹² = 4096 (actually 4085 (FFF5h))
Individual clusters can be managed. That is, F
The maximum capacity of the disc that can be managed by AT12 is 32KB
(Upper limit of cluster) × 4096 = 128 MB.

MS-DOS ver. 4. In FAT16 used in x, clusters are managed by 16 bits, so 2 ¹⁶ = 65536 (actually 65525)
(FFF 5h) clusters can be managed. That is, the maximum capacity of the disk that can be managed by FAT16 is 32 KB (upper limit of cluster) × 65536 =
It is 2 GB.

WINDOWS OSR2.
Since the FAT32 used from 0 manages a cluster with 32 bits, it is possible to manage 2 ³² clusters. In reality, since 28 bits manage the cluster, 2 ²⁸ = 268435445 (FFFF
FF5h) clusters can be managed.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, VFAT32 is used as FAT FS.
VFAT32 is FATFS used in WINDOWS (registered trademark) 95, and FA of MS-DOS.
It allows long file names to be added while maintaining compatibility with TFS.

FIG. 11 illustrates a management method by FAT management. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a hard disk in the HDD 104, and a partition table section, a free area, a boot sector, a FAT area, a FAT backup area, a root directory area, a subdirectory area, and a data area are stacked from the top. ing.

The above-mentioned boot sector, FAT area, FA
The T backup area, root directory area, subdirectory area, and data area are collectively referred to as a FAT partition area.

In the partition table section described above, F
Addresses at the beginning and end of the AT partition area are recorded. The FAT that is normally used for floppy disks does not have a partition table section. The first track has an empty area because nothing else is put on it except the partition table.

Next, a 12-bit FA is set in the boot sector.
The size of the FAT structure, the cluster size, and the size of each area are recorded depending on whether T, 16-bit FAT, or 32-bit FAT.

The FAT is for managing the file position recorded in the data area. The FAT copy area is an area for FAT backup.

In the root directory section, directory entries including information about sub directories are recorded.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the structure of a directory entry in VFAT32. This directory entry has a file name, extension,
File attributes, case flag, creation time, creation date,
The access date and time, cluster number (upper 2 bytes), update time, update date, cluster number (lower 2 bytes), file size, and the like.

The file name (alias name) and extension are areas where the short name (8.3 format) is stored. When the file name and extension are less than 8 characters and 3 characters respectively, they are filled with 0x20. When the first byte is 0xE5, it means a deleted file. When the first byte is 0x01, the first byte is 0x.
It is E5. For volume labels,
The total file name and extension is recorded in 11 bytes.

The file attribute is an area for storing the file attribute. As attribute values, 0x01 (read only), 0x02 (hidden file), 0x04 (system file), 0x08 (volume label), 0x10
(Directory) and 0x20 (normal file).

The creation time, creation date, and access date are areas used as reserved areas in the conventional FAT. The binary format is the same as the conventional one.

The cluster number is an area for recording the number of the starting cluster, and is composed of an area for recording the upper 2 bytes and an area for recording the lower 2 bytes, as shown in FIG.

The update time is an area in which the time when the file is updated is stored. Bit field is HHHH
Hmmm mmmssssss, hhhhhh (0-23), mmmmmm minutes (0-59), sssss
Seconds (0 to 29, actually doubled).

The update date is an area in which the updated date is stored. Bit field is YYYYYYYYM
If MMMDDDDDD, then YYYYYYY year (0-9
91980-), MMMM month (1-12), DDDD
It is D day (1 to 31).

The file size is an area for storing the size of the file.

A subdirectory entry is recorded in the subdirectory section, and a file name and a recording position on the FAT are managed in this subdirectory entry. In FIG. 11, the FAT address of “5” is managed in the subdirectory entry in which the file name of album 1 is recorded, and “5” in the subdirectory entry in which the file name of album 2 is recorded. The address on the FAT of "10" is managed. Further, an address on the FAT of "110" is managed in the subdirectory entry in which the file name of album 3 is recorded.

The data area is an actual data area after the cluster 5, and this data area is the first data area of the present invention.
In the embodiment, audio data compressed by ATRAC3 is recorded.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the clusters 5, 6, 7 and 8 have the file name A of the album A.
The audio data compressed by TRAC3 is recorded, and the first half part of the file name of album 2, album 2-1 is recorded in clusters 10, 11 and 12.
The audio data compressed by the RAC3 is recorded, and the second half part of the file name “Album 2” is recorded in the clusters 100 and 101 as ATRA 2-2.
Audio data compressed in C3 is recorded. In addition, album 3 is added to clusters 110 and 111
Audio data compressed by ATRAC3 having the file name is recorded.

The file name of album 2 is 2
An example in which the data is divided and recorded discretely is shown. In addition, the area marked "Empty" on the data area is a recordable area.

The process of reading files named album 1, album 2 and album 3 will be described below. Here, in the root directory area, a root directory entry in which a file name “album 1”, a cluster number “2”, etc. are recorded and a root directory entry in which a file name “album 2”, a cluster number “3”, etc. are recorded. It has a directory entry and a root directory entry in which a file name “album 3”, a cluster number “3”, etc. are recorded.

First, a process of reading a file having a file name of album 1 will be described. First, based on the address "2" recorded in the cluster number of the directory entry in which the file name of album 1 is recorded, the cluster of this number in the sub-directory area is accessed. Then, based on the address "5" recorded in the cluster number of the subdirectory entry in which the file name "Album 1" is recorded, the entry address on the FAT is searched. A cluster address "6" is entered in the entry address 5, and when the entry address "6" is referred to, it is "7".
The cluster address is entered as "7".
When the entry address of "8" is referred to, the cluster address of "8" is entered, and when the entry address of "8" is referred to, a code indicating the end of "FFF" is recorded.

Therefore, the file called album 1 uses the cluster areas of clusters 5, 6, 7, and 8.
By referring to the clusters 5, 6, 7, 8 of the data area, the area in which the ATRAC3 data of the album 1 is actually recorded can be accessed.

Next, a method for searching a discretely recorded file called album 2 will be described below. First, based on the address "3" recorded in the cluster number of the directory entry in which the file name "Album 2" is recorded, the cluster of this number in the sub-directory area is accessed. Then, based on the address "10" recorded in the cluster number of the subdirectory entry in which the file name "Album 2" is recorded, FAT is set.
Search the entry address above. Entry address 1
A cluster address of "11" is entered in 0, a cluster address of "12" is entered when the entry address of "11" is referred to, and a "1" is entered when the entry address of "12" is referred to.
The cluster address "00" is entered.
Further, referring to the entry address of "100", the cluster address of "101" is entered, and referring to the entry address of "101", a code indicating the end of FFF is recorded.

Therefore, the file of album 2 uses the cluster areas of clusters 10, 11, 12, 100 and 101, and the clusters 10 and 1 of the data area are used.
By referring to 1 and 12, the area where the ATRAC3 data corresponding to the first half part of the file of album 2 is actually recorded can be accessed. further,
By referring to the clusters 100 and 101 in the data area, the AT corresponding to the latter half part of the file called album 2
The area where the RAC3 data is actually recorded can be accessed.

Finally, a process of reading a file having a file name of album 3 will be described. First, based on the address "4" recorded in the cluster number of the directory entry in which the file name "Album 3" is recorded, the cluster of this number in the sub-directory area is accessed. Then, based on the address "110" recorded in the cluster number of the subdirectory entry in which the file name "Album 3" is recorded, FA
Search the entry address on T. A cluster address "111" is entered in the entry address 110, and a code indicating the end "FFF" is recorded when the entry address "111" is referenced.

Therefore, the file called album 3 uses the cluster areas called clusters 110 and 111, and by referring to the clusters 110 and 111 in the data area, the area where the ATRAC3 data is called album 3 is actually recorded. Can be accessed.

As described above, the data files discretely recorded on the HD can be connected and sequentially reproduced.

In the above description, for convenience,
Three sub directories are Root Direct
The example in which the directory entry is registered in the ry area has been described, but the same applies when three or more subdirectories are registered.

Further, the controller 105 stores, in the HDD 104, the address pointer of the audio data to be recorded in the HDD 104, based on the signal supplied from the controller 302. For example, the controller 105
Is based on the signal supplied from the controller 302,
The start pointer and end pointer of the track and the track information are stored in the HDD 104. Here, the track information is composed of, for example, a track number, a folder number (virtual slot number), a playing time and the like. The folder number (virtual slot number) is the HDD
This is the number of the folder created in 104. Details of this folder (virtual slot number) will be given later.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of a voice input / output device 201 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, this voice input / output device 201
Is a D / A converter 202, an A / D converter 203, a digital interface (hereinafter, digital I / F) 204, D
It is composed of an A / A converter 205 and a switch 206.

The input terminal 207, the input terminal 208, the output terminal 209, and the output terminal 210 are connected to an external device or the like via a cable (not shown).

The input terminal 211 is connected to the output terminal 107 provided in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via the cable 405. The output terminal 212 is connected to the input terminal 108 included in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via the cable 406. The output terminal 213 is connected to the input terminal 109 provided in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via the cable 407. The input terminal 214 is connected to the output terminal 48 of the CD changer 1 via the cable 404. The control terminal 215 is connected to the system controller 301 via the cable 403.

The D / A converter 202 is connected to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 1 via the cable 405 connected to the input terminal 211.
The digital audio signal supplied from 01 to the audio input / output device 201 is converted into an analog audio signal and supplied to the switch 206.

The A / D 203 converter converts an analog audio signal supplied from the external device or the like to the audio input / output device 201 via a cable (not shown) connected to the input terminal 207 to a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz. Digitized with 16-bit quantization bit and output terminal 212
It is supplied to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via the cable 406 connected to the.

The digital I / F 204 has an input terminal 208.
A digital audio signal supplied to the audio input / output device 201 from an external device or the like via a cable (not shown) connected to the cable 4 connected to the output terminal 213.
It is supplied to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via 07.

Further, the digital I / F 204 receives the digital audio signal supplied from the CD changer 1 to the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 404 connected to the input terminal 214, and the cable 407 connected to the output terminal 213. And is supplied to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 via.
As a result, the digital CD reproduction data output from the CD changer 1 can be recorded in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

Further, the digital I / F 204 receives the digital audio signal supplied from the CD changer 1 to the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 404 connected to the input terminal 214 to the cable (connected to the output terminal 209 ( (Not shown), and output to an external device or the like. As a result, the digital CD reproduction data can be output to an external device or the like.

The D / A converter 205 converts the digital audio signal supplied from the CD changer 1 to the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 404 connected to the input terminal 214 into an analog audio signal, and the switch 206. Supply to.

The switch 206 is controlled based on a signal supplied from the system controller 301 to the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 403 connected to the control terminal 215. Specifically, during reproduction of the CD changer 1, the switch 206 is connected to the system controller 30 via the cable 403 connected to the control terminal 215.
The D / A converter 205 is selected on the basis of the signal supplied to the audio input / output device 201 from 1. As a result, D /
The analog signal output from the A converter 205 is supplied to the output terminal 210.

During reproduction by the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, the switch 206 operates on the basis of a signal supplied from the system controller 301 to the audio input / output apparatus 201 via the cable 403 connected to the control terminal 215.
Select the / A converter 202. That is, the switch 20
6 supplies the analog audio signal supplied from the D / A converter 202 to the output terminal 210.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the structure of the system controller 301. As shown in FIG. 14, the system controller 301 includes a controller 302, a display device 303, an operation device 304, and a file management processing device 305.

The control terminal 306 is connected to the control terminal 49 of the CD changer 1 via the cable 401. The control terminal 307 is connected to the HD via the cable 402.
The recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is connected to the control terminal 110. The control terminal 308 is connected to the control terminal 215 included in the audio input / output device 201 via the cable 403.

The controller 302 includes a microcomputer, a CD changer 1 and an HD recording / reproducing apparatus 10.
1. Control the voice input / output device 201. Specifically, the controller 302 uses the CD changer 1, based on the signal supplied from the operating device 304 to the controller 302.
The HD recording / reproducing device 101 and the audio input / output device 201 are controlled. Further, the controller 302 is the CD changer 1
The HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is controlled on the basis of the signal supplied from the system controller 301 to the system controller 301. Furthermore, the controller 302 controls the CD changer 1 based on the signal supplied from the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 to the system controller 301.

The controller 302 judges the start time of recording a track based on the TOC information supplied from the controller 47 provided in the CD changer 1, for example. Then, when the recording of the track is started, the address pointer of the audio data stored in the HDD 104 is set to HD.
The controller 105 is instructed to store it in D104. Note that the controller 302 is the CD changer 1
The recording start time of the track may be determined based on the P channel supplied from the controller 47 provided in the.

Further, the controller 302 is, for example, C
Based on the TOC information supplied from the controller 47 provided in the D changer 1, the end of recording of the track is determined. Then, when the recording of the track ends, the HDD 10
The controller 105 is instructed to store the address pointer of the audio data stored in No. 4 in the HDD 104. It should be noted that the controller 302 may determine the end of track recording based on the P channel supplied from the controller 47 provided in the CD changer 1.

The display device 303 is a display device including, for example, a liquid crystal display or an FL tube. The display device 303 is connected to the controller 302 and displays based on a signal supplied from the controller 302. For example, the display device 303, based on the signal supplied from the controller 302, the total playing time of the CD 6 housed in the CD changer 1, the elapsed time of the music being played by the CD changer 1, the music being played by the CD changer 1. Remaining playing time, time information such as the total remaining playing time of the CD 6 stored in the CD changer 1, the track number of the music being played by the CD changer 1, the HD recording / reproducing device 10
The total playing time of the audio data recorded in No. 1, the elapsed time of the music being reproduced by the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, the remaining playing time of the music being reproduced by the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, and the data stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101. The time information such as the total remaining playing time of the audio data, and the track number of the music being played by the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 are displayed.

Further, when information such as album name and track name is recorded on the CD 6 or HDD 104, the display device 303 may also display such information. The information display on the display device 303 described above is based on the information supplied from the CD changer 1 to the system controller 301, or from the HD recording / reproducing device 101 to the system controller 3.
01 based on the information supplied.

The operating device 304 includes a power key, an eject key, a play key, a pause key, a stop key, a music selection key, a recording key, a synchronized recording key, a numeric key, a playlist registration key, an end key, an enter key, and a cancel key. Key, Frequency Shuffle key, mode selection key, JO
A G key, a menu key, and the like are provided, and when these keys are pressed, a signal corresponding to the pressed key is supplied to the controller 302.

The synchronized recording key is a key for performing synchronized recording. Synchronous recording is a recording method that automatically starts / stops recording according to the playback side. Specifically, when you press the sync recording key, the CD changer 1
HD reproduction is started at the same time
Will also start recording. Then, when the reproduction of the CD changer 1 is stopped, the recording of the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is also stopped. Therefore, the user does not have to operate each of the CD changer 1 and the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.
The music data reproduced by the CD changer 1 can be easily stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

The play list registration key is for starting the registration of the music in the play list. The menu key is for displaying the playlist type selection screen on the display device 303.

The rotary operation key is the same as the rotary operation key 17 provided in the CD changer 1, and has a push button switch at the center thereof. Frequency Shuf
The fle key (hereinafter, FS key) is a key for starting shuffle reproduction.

The random number generator 309 is used by the controller 302.
Generate a random number upon request. Specifically, when there is a request from the controller 302 to generate a random number in the range of 1 to n (n: natural number), the random number generation unit 309 generates a random number in this range.

The file management processor 305 is connected to the controller 302. The file management processing device 305 is a device that controls the file management structure in the HDD 104, and performs the following processing, for example.

That is, the file management processor 305
Creates a folder in the HDD 104 in advance according to the number of slots in the disk storage unit 3 via the controllers 302 and 105. Then, at the time of dubbing, each album is stored in a folder that is automatically selected.

Also, the file management processing device 305 creates a playlist storage folder in addition to the above-mentioned folder for album storage, and stores the playlist in this folder. That is, the playlist is also managed under the same management as the album and is managed as one of the albums. As a result, the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can centrally manage albums and playlists without separately managing them.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the file management processing device 305 creates 100 folders for storing albums and 4 folders for storing playlists in the HDD 104. .

Further, the file management processing device 305 creates or updates the playlist based on the signal supplied from the operation device 304 via the controller 302. The play list is for registering songs desired by the user. Specifically, the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101
By selecting your favorite songs from the albums stored in and registering them in the playlist, you can play only your favorite songs in the order in which they were registered, based on the program, or shuffled. it can. It should be noted that what is registered in the playlist is not the actual music data but the title of the song and a pointer indicating the presence or absence of the actual music data of this song.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, three types of playlists are provided. That is, a playlist in which a predetermined number of songs recently listened to is registered (hereinafter, a reproduction history playlist), and a playlist in which a predetermined number of songs are registered from a song having a high reproduction frequency (hereinafter, a reproduction frequency playlist) And a playlist in which the songs selected by the user from all the virtual slots are registered (hereinafter,
Selection playlist) exists. In addition, selection of these playlist types is performed by pressing a menu key provided on the operation device 304 of the system controller 301 to display a selection menu on the display device 303, and selecting a desired menu from this menu. .

Further, the file management processor 305 is
Every time the playback CD 6 is replaced in the D changer 1,
Change the folder that stores audio data. The folder changing process of the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the CD6 is replaced, a mechanical operation for attaching / detaching the CD6 to / from the disc reproducing unit (not shown) is always performed. Silence occurs for a certain period of time. Therefore, whether or not the CD 6 has been replaced can be determined by detecting whether or not the silence has continued for a certain period or longer.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the folder changing process by the silent detection. First, the controller 47 provided in the CD changer 1
However, it is determined whether or not the output level of the signal output from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 to the output terminal 48 is below a certain value (step S1).

When the controller 47 determines that the output level of the signal output from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 to the output terminal 48 is below a certain value, the system controller 301 is connected via the cable 401. A control signal is supplied to the file management processing device 305 (step S2). Upon receiving this control signal, the file management processing device 305 changes the folder of the HDD 104 via the controller 302 and the controller 105 (step S3).

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the folders are switched by the above-mentioned processing, but the folder changing processing is not limited to this example. For example, the folder may be changed by the following process.

For example, the folder may be changed based on whether the TOC information is read. When reading the music data recorded on the CD 6, the CD changer 1 first reads the TOC information recorded on the lead-in track of the CD 6. Therefore, based on whether the TOC information has been read, the CD6
It is possible to judge whether or not has been exchanged. Specifically, the folder of the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is changed by the following processing.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the folder changing process based on whether TOC information has been read. First, the controller 47 provided in the CD changer 1 determines whether TOC information is newly read based on the signal supplied from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 (step S).
11).

When it is determined that the TOC information has been newly read, the file management processor 305 of the system controller 301 is connected via the cable 401.
To the control signal (step S12). Upon receiving this control signal, the file management processing device 305 receives the HD via the controller 302 and the controller 105.
The folder of D104 is changed (step S13).

Further, the folder may be changed based on the total storage time capacity of TOC information read from the CD 6. Specifically, the folder of the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is changed by the following processing.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the folder changing process based on the total storage time capacity of TOC information. First, the controller 302
Receives the TOC information read from the CD 6, and includes the PMIN portion (absolute time component portion) included in the TOC information
Information such as the PSEC portion (absolute time second component portion) is recorded (step S21).

Then, the controller 302 determines whether or not the recorded time information has elapsed (step S2).
2). When it is determined that the recorded time information has elapsed, the controller 302 transmits a control signal to the file management processing device 305 (step S23). Upon receiving this control signal, the file management processing device 305 receives the HD via the controller 302 and the controller 105.
The folder of D104 is changed (step S24).

Further, the system controller 301 is
When changing the playback CD of the D changer 1 and changing the folder of the HD recording / playback apparatus 101, the CD
The changer 1 and the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 may be sequentially controlled. Specifically, the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is executed by the following processing.
The 01 folder is changed.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the folder changing process under the sequential control of the system controller 301. First, the controller 302 determines whether or not the reproduction of the CD 6 is completed based on the signal supplied from the CD changer 1 to the system controller 301 (step S31).

When it is determined that the reproduction of the CD 6 is completed, the controller 302 determines that the file management processor 30
5 to the control signal (step S32),
Replace the playback CD 6 of the CD changer 1 (step S
33). File management processing device 30 that received the control signal
5 changes the folder of the HDD 104 via the controller 302 and the controller 105 (step 34).

As described above, the CD changers 1 to H
Dubbing an album to the D recording / reproducing device 101
It is performed by sequential operation. Therefore, the user is informed that the CD changer 1 is the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.
It seems that the dubbing operation of the album to is performed automatically.

FIG. 19 is an image diagram for explaining the file management structure of the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that in FIG. 19, C is used for convenience.
An example in which the 16 albums mounted on the D changer 1 are stored in 16 folders provided in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is shown.

FIG. 19A is a schematic view showing an image of the CD 6 loaded in the disc storage unit 3 of the CD changer 1. As shown in FIG. 19A, 16 albums are loaded in the slots 1 to 16 of the CD changer 1.

FIG. 19B is an image diagram showing a file management structure in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 in accordance with the album storage image of the CD changer 1 shown in FIG. 19A. In the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the file management processing apparatus 305 stores as many folders in the HDD 1 as the number of slots in the CD changer 1.
04, so that the user has
It can be imagined that there is a virtual box, that is, a virtual slot for housing D6. That is, the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a file management structure as if the disk storage unit 3 were present in the HDD 104.

As a result, the user can use the CD changer 1
Even after the audio data of the CD 6 loaded in the CD recorder 1 is stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, the storage image of the CD 6 loaded in the CD changer 1 can be maintained. Therefore, the user can operate the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 as if the user were operating the CD changer 1.

Next, as an example of a more specific file management structure, the file management processor 305 causes the HDD 1
04 shows an example in which 104 folders 100 to 104 are created. In this example, 100 folders from folders 1 to 100 are album storage folders, and four folders from folders 101 to 104 are playlist storage folders.

FIG. 20 shows a more concrete image diagram of the file management structure. As shown in FIG. 20, the user can imagine a virtual slot of 104 in the HDD 104. Specifically, from the first to 10
It is possible to imagine 100 virtual slots up to the 0th and virtual slots for accommodating the 4 playlists from the 101st to the 104th.

In FIG. 20, albums 1, 2 and 3 have already been stored in the virtual slots 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Where albums 1, 2 and 3
Have four tracks, three tracks and four tracks, respectively.

Also, virtual slots 101 and 102
Playlists 1 and 2 are respectively registered in. In the playlist 1, the track 1 of the album 1 stored in the virtual slot 1 and the virtual slot 2 are stored.
The tracks 1 and 3 of the album 2 stored in are registered. On the other hand, in the playlist 2, the tracks 2 and 3 of the album 1 stored in the virtual slot 1 and the album 3 stored in the virtual slot 3 are recorded.
Tracks 1 and 2 are registered.

21 and 22 show an example of the structure of the database according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The data managed by this database is divided into four parts: all album data, album data, track reproduction frequency data, and album reproduction frequency data. A database for each of these data is shown below.
The case where the file management structure shown in FIG. Note that, in the first embodiment of the present invention, each of these data is stored in the file management processing device 305, but it may be stored in the HDD 104.

FIG. 21A shows the structure of all album data. All album data is data regarding the entire album stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101. The total capacity is a capacity that can be stored in the HDD 104, for example, 20
For example, G or 40G. In addition, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the total capacity is 40G.

The number of folders is the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.
The total number of folders created in. Note that this number of folders includes both the number of folders that store albums and the number of folders that store playlists. This is because, in the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the playlist is placed under the same management as the album and is managed as one of the albums. Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
The number of folders is 104.

The playlist start number is a number indicating which folder of all folders the playlist folder starts. The folders from the playlist start number to the last number are used as the playlist folders. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the playlist start number is 1
01. That is, the folders 101 to 104 are used as folders for playlists.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, an example is shown in which folders from the play list start number folder to the play list start number folder are assigned as play list storage folders. Assignments are not limited to this. For example, a folder having a folder start number (folder 1) to a folder having a predetermined number may be assigned as a playlist storage folder. Also, a predetermined number of folders in the middle of all the folders may be assigned as a playlist folder. Furthermore, instead of assigning consecutively-numbered folders as playlist folders, randomly selected folders may be assigned as playlist folders. When a randomly selected folder is assigned as a playlist folder, it should be possible to identify which folder is the playlist folder.
Specifically, all the album data have the folder number for storing the playlist as data instead of the above-mentioned playlist start number.

The total used folder total time is time information relating to the total reproduction time of audio data stored in all folders (folders 1 to 100), and is composed of, for example, days, hours, minutes, seconds and frames. It is time information.

The total recordable time is information about the recordable time, that is, time information indicating how much audio data can be stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101. For example,% (the free space of the HDD 104),
It is time information including days, hours, minutes, seconds and frames.

The all folder vacancy information is information indicating whether or not each folder is vacant. Specifically, whether or not each folder is empty is indicated by 1-bit information. That is, 0 is set if the folder is empty, 1 if the folder is not empty.
Is set. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the entire folder empty information is information consisting of 104 bits, the bits of folders 1, 2, 3, 101 and 102 are set to 1 and the other bits are set to 0. Set.

The album pointer is a pointer indicating to which position on the HD of the HDD 104 each album data is assigned. In the first embodiment of the present invention, since 104 folders are provided, the album pointer is composed of the album 1 pointer, album 2 pointer, ... Album 104 pointer.

FIG. 21B shows the structure of each album data. Each album data is data regarding each album stored in each folder.

As the folder number, the number assigned to each folder is recorded. In the first embodiment of this invention, numbers 1 to 104 are used as folder numbers. The following data is related to the folder corresponding to this folder number and the albums stored in this folder.

The start track number is a number indicating from which track the album track starts.
Incidentally. This start track number is usually set to 1.

The last track number is a number indicating at which track the album track ends. In addition,
The number of tracks in the album stored in the folder is the number obtained by subtracting the start track number from the last track number and adding 1. However, when the last track number and the start track number are 0, the number of tracks is 0.

The total time is the total reproduction time required to reproduce the audio data stored in the album.
The total time is, for example, time information including days, hours, minutes, seconds and frames.

The recording date and time is time information regarding the date and time when the album was stored or time information regarding the date and time when the name described later was stored. This recording date and time is time information including, for example, year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.

As for the name, the name given to the folder is a record. The artist is the artist attached to the folder. For example, these names and artists are registered by the user. In particular,
From the CD changer 1 to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, before the audio data is stored, during the audio data is stored, or after the audio data is stored, the system controller 3
A name and an artist are registered using the operation device 304 provided in 01.

The highlight track is a representative track in the album tracks. The user can easily search for a desired album by playing the highlight track from the album stored in the folder.

The track pointer is a pointer indicating to which position on the HDD 106 each track data of the album is assigned. This track pointer is a track 1 pointer, a track 2 pointer, ...
Consists of.

FIG. 21C shows the structure of each track data. Each track data is data regarding each track of the album stored in each folder.

The belonging folder number is the folder number to which the track belongs. In the first embodiment of the present invention, this folder number is a number from 1 to 100.

The track number is the track number in the tracks of the album stored in the folder.

The total time is the total reproduction time of the audio data of the track, and is, for example, time information including days, hours, minutes, seconds and frames.

The recording date and time is the date and time when the audio data of the track is stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 from the CD changer 1, and includes, for example, year, month, day, hour, minute and second.

The name is the name given to the track. Artist is the artist name attached to the track. For example, these names and artists are registered by the user. Specifically, before the audio data is stored in the HD changer 101 from the CD changer 1, during the audio data storage, or after the audio data storage, the operating device 304 provided in the system controller 301 is used to display the name and the artist. Registration is done.

The access date and time is the date and time when this track was most recently accessed. For example, year, month, day,
Date and time information including hours, minutes and seconds. By using this information, the user can easily search for songs that have been frequently listened to recently. The access date and time is used when creating the above-mentioned reproduction history playlist.

The highlight point is position information of a highlight portion, and specifically, includes a start point and an end point. The highlight is
For example, when the content is a music source, it is a portion in which the characteristics of the entire song, such as the prelude portion, interlude portion, postlude portion, and climax portion, of the song are impressed. Also, when the content is a music source, the climax scene portion of the scene corresponds to the highlight. In addition,
Highlights are also defined by the synonyms synonyms digest, climax, and rust. Therefore, by using this highlight point to reproduce a representative portion of each track stored in the folder, the user can easily search for a desired song from a plurality of tracks.

ISRC (International-Standard-Recor
ding-Code) data is an international standard identification code attached to music software. The ISRC is a code unique to each music piece recorded on the optical disc.

FIG. 22A shows the structure of track reproduction frequency data. The track reproduction frequency data is data indicating the reproduction frequency of the tracks included in each album, that is, the data indicating the number of times of reproduction. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the track reproduction frequency data is composed of the belonging folder number, the track number and the reproduction frequency number. Here, the reproduction frequency data of each track is sorted and stored from 1 in order from the highest reproduction frequency. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the reproduction frequency of the track. The track reproduction frequency data is used when creating and managing the reproduction frequency playlist described above.

The belonging folder number is the number of the folder to which the track belongs. The track number is the track number in the album stored in the folder.
The number of times of reproduction is the number of times of reproduction of the track.

FIG. 22B shows the structure of album reproduction frequency data. The album reproduction frequency data is data indicating the reproduction frequency of the album stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101, that is, data indicating the number of times of reproduction. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the album reproduction frequency data is composed of the belonging folder number and the reproduction frequency number. Here, the reproduction frequency data of each album is sorted and stored from 1 in order from the highest reproduction frequency. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the reproduction frequency of the album.

The belonging folder number is the number of the folder in which the album is stored. The number of times of reproduction is the number of times of reproduction of the album.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the controller 302 when updating the track reproduction frequency data. First, the controller 302 determines, based on a signal supplied from the operation device 304 to the controller 302, whether or not reproduction of a predetermined track has been instructed (step 101). If it is determined that the reproduction is instructed for the predetermined track, the process proceeds to the next step, and if it is determined that the reproduction is not instructed, the process proceeds to step 104.

Next, the controller 302 sends a signal requesting reproduction of the reproduction-instructed track to the controller 1
The controller 105 that has transmitted this signal to 05 and received this signal
The track instructed to be reproduced is read from the HDD 104 and reproduced (step 102). Then, the controller 302 increments the reproduction frequency number of the track reproduction frequency data corresponding to the track instructed to be reproduced among the track reproduction frequency data stored in the file management processing device 305 (step 103).

Next, the controller 302 controls the operating device 3
Based on the signal supplied from 04, it is determined whether or not the power is turned off (step 104). If it is determined that the power has been turned off, the process is terminated, and if it is determined that the power has not been turned off, the process returns to step 101.

The processing of the controller 302 when updating the album reproduction frequency data is substantially the same as the above-mentioned processing of the controller 302 when updating the track reproduction frequency data, so a description thereof will be omitted here. In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the album is accessed, the number of times of reproduction for the album is incremented, but only when all the songs of the album are reproduced and reproduced. It is also possible to increment the number of times of reproduction with respect to. That is,
If the song is stopped in the middle of a song or the next song is selected in the middle of a song, the increment of the playback frequency count may be prohibited.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for explaining the process of the dubbing device when shuffle-reproducing a track whose reproduction frequency is a predetermined number or more. First, the controller 302 determines whether or not the FS key is pressed based on the signal supplied from the operation device 304 (step 111).

If it is determined that the FS key has not been pressed, the controller 302 performs normal processing (step 112). When it is determined that the FS key has been pressed, the controller 302 determines from the track reproduction frequency data stored in the file management processing device 305 that the track reproduction frequency data having the reproduction frequency number equal to or greater than the numerical value set in the initial setting. And sequentially assign numbers to these track reproduction frequency data from 1 (step 1
13).

Next, the controller 302 controls the random number generator 111 to generate a random number within the range of the numbers assigned to the track reproduction frequency data in step 113,
The controller 105 is instructed to reproduce the track having the track number included in the track reproduction frequency data to which the number corresponding to the random number is assigned (step 1).
14).

Next, the controller 105 reproduces the track having the track number included in the track reproduction frequency data to which the number corresponding to the generated random number is assigned, in response to the instruction from the controller 302 (step 115).

Next, the controller 105 controls the operating device 3
In 04, it is determined whether or not the end key is pressed (step 116). If it is determined that the end key has been pressed, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the end key has not been pressed, step 114
Return to.

The processing of the dubbing device when shuffle-playing an album whose number of reproduction frequencies is a predetermined number or more is the same as the processing of the dubbing device when shuffle-playing a track whose number of reproduction frequencies is a predetermined number or more. Since it is almost the same, the description is omitted here.

In the above-mentioned example, the case where the track reproduction frequency data having the reproduction frequency number equal to or larger than the numerical value set in the initial setting is extracted and the reproduction frequency data are sequentially numbered from 1 has been described. It is also possible to extract the track reproduction frequency data having the reproduction frequency number equal to or less than the numerical value set in the setting, and assign numbers to these reproduction frequency data in order from 1. Also,
The user is asked whether to extract the track reproduction frequency data having the number of reproduction frequencies greater than or equal to the value set in the initial setting or the track reproduction frequency data having the number of reproduction frequency less than or equal to the value set in the initial setting. It does not matter if you can select.

Further, in the above-mentioned example, the shuffle reproduction is ended by pressing the end key, but the shuffle reproduction may be ended by performing the shuffle reproduction a predetermined number of times. I don't care.

Further, the shuffle reproduction may be terminated when each track extracted in step 113 is reproduced at least once.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to shuffle-reproduce tracks whose reproduction frequency is a predetermined number or more based on the track reproduction frequency data. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a track that he or she frequently listens to.

In addition, based on the track reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to perform shuffle reproduction for a track having a reproduction frequency less than or equal to a predetermined number. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a track that he or she rarely listens to.

Further, based on the album reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to perform shuffle reproduction of an album having a reproduction frequency of a predetermined number or more. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play an album that he or she frequently listens to.

Further, based on the album reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to shuffle-play an album whose number of times of playback is a predetermined number of times or less. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play an album that he or she rarely listens to.

Further, based on the number of times of reproduction of tracks in the past, only tracks frequently reproduced by the user or only tracks which the user normally does not reproduce are extracted from a large number of tracks and shuffled. Can be played. Therefore, as compared with the case where a large number of tracks are all shuffled and reproduced, the time until the start of track reproduction can be significantly shortened.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment described above, an example in which the albums and tracks stored in the hard disk are shuffled based on the reproduction frequency is shown, but in the second embodiment of the present invention, the compact disk is used. An example of shuffle-playing the albums and tracks recorded in 1) will be described based on the playback frequency.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic structure of a CD changer 1'according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 25, the CD changer 1'according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a spindle motor 4
1. Optical head 42, RF (Radio Frequency) amplifier 43, servo circuit 44, sled 45, EFM (Eightt)
Fourteen Modulation) and CIRC (Cross Inter)
leave Reed-Solomon Code) decoding circuit 46, controller 47 ', storage unit 48, random number generation unit 49, display device 50, and operation device 51. Note that, in FIG. 25, the same parts as those of the CD changer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Although not shown, the CD changer 1'is the CD according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above.
Like the changer 1, it has 100 slots in which 100 CDs 6 can be loaded.

The controller 47 'controls each part provided in the CD changer 1'. For example, the operating device 5
When the FS key provided in 1 is pressed, track reproduction frequency data having a reproduction frequency greater than or equal to a numerical value set in the initial setting is extracted, and numbers are sequentially assigned to these track reproduction frequency data. . Then, the random number generator 49 is controlled to generate a random number within the range of the number assigned to the track reproduction frequency data, and the track having the track number included in the track reproduction frequency data to which the number corresponding to this random number is assigned is reproduced. .

The storage unit 48 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory or a magnetic hard disk. This storage unit 4
Reference numeral 8 stores album reproduction frequency data indicating the reproduction frequency of each CD 6 loaded in the CD changer 1 and track reproduction frequency data indicating the reproduction frequency of each track included in each CD 6. Note that the configurations of the album reproduction frequency data and the track reproduction frequency data of the second embodiment are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

The random number generator 49 generates a random number in response to a request from the controller 47 '. Specifically, when the controller 302 requests the controller 302 to generate a random number in the range of 1 to n (n: natural number),
Random numbers are generated in this range.

The display device 50 displays based on the signal supplied from the controller 47 '. Operating device 51
, Power key, Eject key, Play key, Pause key, Stop key, Music selection key, Record key, Numeric key, End key, Enter key, Cancel key, Frequency Sh
A uffle key, a JOG key, a menu key, and the like are provided, and when these keys are pressed, a signal corresponding to the pressed key is supplied to the controller 302.

Since the other points are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. Also in the second embodiment, the same advantages as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next explained is the third embodiment of the invention. In the above-described first embodiment, an example of shuffle-playing tracks having a predetermined playback frequency or more from all albums stored in the HD recording / playback apparatus 101 has been described, but in the second embodiment of the present invention, An example will be shown in which tracks of a predetermined reproduction frequency or more are extracted from the tracks included in a specific album and shuffle reproduction is performed on these tracks.

The structure of the dubbing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the dubbing apparatus according to the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the dubbing device when performing shuffle reproduction.
In step S201, the number of times of reproduction in units of folders (albums) and the number of times of reproduction in units of tracks (songs) are stored in a memory as shown in FIG. Next, it is determined in step S whether the mode selection key has been operated by the user.
The judgment is made at 202. In this case, the mode selection key uses the above-mentioned FS key to toggle the album shuffle mode and the track (song) shuffle mode.

Steps S203 to S206 are a flowchart of the track (song) shuffle mode, and steps S207 to S213 are a flowchart of the album shuffle mode.

In step S203, the number of reproduction frequencies of each song stored in the memory corresponding to the folder (album) number currently being reproduced or the folder (album) number in the stopped state is referred to, and the number of reproduction frequencies is a predetermined number or more. The track (song) of is extracted. A random number is generated based on the extracted track (song).

For example, the first song is 11 times, the second song is 5 times, 3
When the tune is played 12 times, the fourth tune is played 0 times, and the fifth tune is played 20 times, it is managed in the memory as the number of playback frequencies. Then, a random number is generated within these three songs.

The track (song) having the music number determined based on the random number generated in step S204 is reproduced.

In step S205, it is determined whether or not a mode switching operation has been performed during reproduction. As the mode switching operation, it is judged whether or not the mode is switched to the mode for returning to the normal reproduction or the stop key is operated.

When the mode switching operation is performed in step S205, the track (music) shuffle mode is ended.

If the mode switching operation is not performed in step S205, it is determined in step S206 whether or not all tracks (songs) have been shuffled.

The above-mentioned all tracks are the 1st, 3rd and 5th songs extracted in the above-mentioned example, and it is judged whether or not these 3 songs have been reproduced.

If it is determined in step S206 that all tracks (songs) have been shuffled, the track (songs) shuffle mode ends.

If it is determined in step S206 that all tracks (songs) have not been shuffled, the process returns to step S203 to generate random numbers again.

Next, the album shuffle mode will be described below. In step S207, the number of times the reproduction frequency of each folder (album) stored in the memory is greater than or equal to a predetermined value is selected, and a random number is generated for the folder (album) of a predetermined value or more.

For example, the reproduction frequency is 12 for the folder number 1, the reproduction frequency is 5 for the folder number 2, and the reproduction frequency is 20 for the folder number 3.
For folder number 4, the playback frequency is 3 times, and for folder number 5, the playback frequency is 30 times.
If the predetermined value is 10 times, the folder numbers selected in step S208 are 1, 3, and 5. Therefore, the random number is generated so as to select any one of 1, 3, and 5.

The reproduction frequency of each music piece belonging to the folder number generated in step S208 is referred to from the memory, and a track (song) having a predetermined reproduction frequency is extracted.
Step S20 based on the extracted track (song)
A random number is generated at 9. The above process is the same as step S203.

The music of the track (music) number corresponding to the random number generated in step S210 is reproduced.

[0209] In step S211, it is determined whether or not a mode switching operation is performed during reproduction. As the mode switching operation, it is judged whether or not the mode is switched to the mode for returning to the normal reproduction or the stop key is operated.

When the mode switching operation is performed in step S211, the folder (album) shuffle mode is ended.

If the mode switching operation is not performed in step S211, it is determined in step S212 whether or not all tracks (songs) have been shuffled.

If it is determined in step S212 that all tracks (songs) have been shuffled, step S2
At 13, it is determined whether shuffle reproduction is completed for all folders.

If it is determined in step S212 that all tracks (songs) have not been shuffled, processing returns to step S209.

If it is determined in step S213 that shuffle reproduction has been completed for all folders, the album shuffle mode ends.

If it is determined in step S213 that shuffle reproduction has not been completed for all folders, the process returns to step S207.

It should be noted that all the above folders correspond to the folders of folder numbers 1, 3, and 5 in the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the above embodiment, in the folder (album) shuffle mode, the folder (album) number is randomly generated and the track (song) number is also randomly generated.
Only the numbers may be randomly generated, and the track numbers may be sequentially reproduced starting from the first song.

[0218] Further, the increment of the reproduction frequency number for the folder (album) is incremented only when all the songs in the album are reproduced.
In the case where the song is stopped in the middle of a song or the next song is selected in the middle of a song, the increment of the reproduction frequency number may be prohibited.

In the above example, step S203.
In the above, the case where the number of times of reproduction frequency is equal to or more than the predetermined number is extracted, but the track of which number of reproduction frequencies is equal to or less than the predetermined number may be extracted in step S203.

In the above example, step S207.
In the above, a case is shown in which an album having a predetermined number of reproduction frequencies is extracted and a track having a predetermined number of reproduction frequencies is extracted in step S208. May be extracted, and in step S208, the track having the reproduction frequency number equal to or less than the predetermined number may be extracted.

Since the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to shuffle-reproduce tracks having a predetermined number of reproduction frequencies from a predetermined album based on the track reproduction frequency data. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a track that he or she frequently listens to from a predetermined album.

Further, based on the track reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to shuffle-play a track having a predetermined number of times of reproduction or less from a predetermined album. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a track that is rarely heard from a predetermined album.

Further, based on the album reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to shuffle an album having a predetermined number of reproduction frequencies or more, and shuffle-play a track having a predetermined number of reproduction frequencies or more from the album selected by the shuffle based on the track reproduction frequency data. Therefore, it is possible to shuffle and reproduce a track having a high reproduction frequency, among the tracks belonging to the album that is normally listened to frequently.

[0225] Also, based on the album reproduction frequency data,
It is possible to shuffle the album having the predetermined number of reproduction times or less, and shuffle the tracks having the predetermined reproduction frequency or less from the album selected by the shuffle based on the track reproduction frequency data. Therefore, it is possible to shuffle and reproduce a track having a low frequency of reproduction among the tracks belonging to an album that is not often listened to.

When a large number of tracks are shuffled and reproduced in order to shuffle the album based on the number of times of reproduction of the album in the past and to shuffle the tracks included in the album selected by this shuffle. Compared with, the time to start track playback can be greatly reduced. Therefore, the waiting time of the user when shuffle-playing a large number of tracks can be significantly reduced.

The embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described second embodiment, the example in which the album reproduction frequency data and the track reproduction frequency data are stored in the recording section provided in the reproducing device has been described. The data may be stored in a recording medium reproduced by the reproducing device.

Further, in the above-described third embodiment, an example in which the dubbing apparatus 101 performs the shuffle reproduction processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 26 has been shown, but the CD changer 1'is also shown in FIG. The shuffle reproduction processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Further, in the first, second and third embodiments, an example in which album reproduction frequency data or track reproduction frequency data is extracted based on a predetermined reproduction frequency number has been shown. The user may freely set the number of times. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the user is allowed to input the desired number of reproduction frequencies after it is determined in step 111 shown in FIG. 24 that the FS key has been pressed. Further, in the third embodiment, after the mode is selected in S202 shown in FIG. 26 and after a random number is generated based on the number of reproduction frequencies in album units in S207, the number of reproduction frequencies desired by the user is set. To be able to enter.

Further, in the above-mentioned second embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the CD changer 1'is shown, but the present invention is applied to a normal CD reproducing apparatus which reproduces only a single CD. It doesn't matter.

Further, in the above-described first and third embodiments, the CD changer 1 and the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 10 are used.
Although the example in which the present invention is applied to the dubbing apparatus including 1 and 1 has been described, the configuration of the dubbing apparatus is not limited to this example. For example, DVD (Digital Versatile D
isc) The present invention may be applied to a dubbing device including a changer player and an HD recording / reproducing device, a dubbing device including an MD (Mini Disc) changer player and an HD recording / reproducing device, and the like.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and third embodiments, the example in which the music data is stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101 has been shown, but the video data and the audio data are stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101. It doesn't matter if you do.

Further, in the above-mentioned first, second and third embodiments, the example in which the reproducing apparatus is the reproducing apparatus for reproducing the optical disk has been shown, but the reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recording medium other than this is shown. It doesn't matter. For example,
Playback device is music tape, video tape, DAT (Digi
It may be a reproducing device for reproducing a magnetic tape such as a tal audio tape) or a reproducing device for reproducing a magnetic disk such as Zip. Further, it may be a reproducing device for reproducing the nonvolatile memory.

Further, in the above-described first and third embodiments, the user uses the operating device 304 provided in the system controller 301 to specify the folder name and artist name of a folder, the track name and artist name of a track. I showed an example of registering by
These registration methods are not limited to this example.
That is, in the case of a recording medium that stores character information such as CD-TEXT, the folder name and artist name of the folder, the track name and artist name of the track are automatically registered according to the character information. I don't care.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and third embodiments, the HD provided in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.
Although the example of managing the file recorded in D104 by FAT is shown, NTFS (NT File System), H
FS (Hierarchical File System) and HFS Pl
Files may be managed by us or the like.

In the first and third embodiments described above, the system controller 301 causes the CD
Although an example of controlling the changer 1, the HD recording / reproducing device 101, and the audio input / output device 201 has been shown, these devices may be controlled by a personal computer. Specifically, by installing software for controlling the CD changer 1, the HD recording / reproducing device 101, and the audio input / output device 201 in a personal computer, and connecting these devices via a USB cable or the like, Control the dubbing device through the computer.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and third embodiments, the configuration in which the data transmission / reception between the devices is performed via the cable has been described, but the data transmission / reception between the devices may be performed wirelessly. But it doesn't matter.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and third embodiments, the CD changer 1 to the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 1 are used.
In 01, ISRC is also stored with music data,
This ISRC may be used to prevent duplicate recording of the same album. For example, the controller 302 of the system controller 301, the ISRC code of the album played on the CD changer 1,
ISR of album stored in HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101
By comparing with the C code, it is confirmed whether or not the album to be recorded is already stored in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

[0240] In the first and third embodiments described above, IEEE1 is used as an interface for connecting the system controller 301 and the CD changer 1.
394 (iLink) or the like may be used. Similarly, as an interface for connecting the system controller 301 and the HD recording / reproducing apparatus 101,
Alternatively, as an interface for connecting the system controller 301 and the audio input / output device 201, IEEE
1394 (iLink) or the like may be used. As a result, even if the system controller 301 and each device are not manufactured by the same manufacturer, the system controller 301 and each device can exchange commands.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and third embodiments, the example in which the file is generated for each album has been described, but the file may be generated for each track. When files are created for each track, files created from the same album are stored in one folder (virtual slot),
Be managed.

The present invention may be applied to a music distribution system or the like. For example, music distribution including a music distribution server that stores a large amount of audio data and transmits this audio data to a user terminal via a network, and a user terminal that downloads audio data from the music distribution server via the network. The present invention may be applied to the system. Specifically, a user uses a user terminal to download audio data from a music distribution server via a network and listen to the audio data. The reproduction frequency number of the track reproduction frequency data stored in the music distribution server is incremented every time the audio data is reproduced in the user terminal. The operating company that operates the music distribution server charges the user for the number of times the audio data is listened to, based on the number of times the track reproduction frequency data is reproduced.

[0243]

As described above, according to the present invention, shuffle reproduction can be performed in consideration of the reproduction frequency. Therefore, the user can play the program randomly, focusing on the programs that are usually not played very often. In addition, it is possible to randomly play a program centered on a program that the user frequently plays.

Also, based on the number of times the program has been played in the past, only programs that the user frequently plays or programs that the user does not normally play are extracted from a large number of programs and shuffled. Can be played. Therefore, compared to the case where a large amount of programs are all shuffled and played back, the time until the start of program playback can be significantly shortened.

Further, it is possible to shuffle-play a program having a predetermined number of times of reproduction or more from a predetermined group based on the number of times of reproduction of the program that has been reproduced in the past. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a program that is frequently played from a predetermined group.

Further, it is possible to shuffle-reproduce a program having a predetermined number of times of reproduction or less from a predetermined group based on the number of times of reproduction of the program that has been reproduced in the past. Therefore, the user can shuffle-play a program that is rarely played from a predetermined group.

Further, based on the number of times of reproduction of the group in the past and the number of times of reproduction of the program in the past, the group having the predetermined number of times of the reproduction frequency is shuffled, and the reproduction frequency is selected from the groups selected by this shuffle. It is possible to shuffle-play a program that is performed a predetermined number of times or more. Therefore, it is possible to shuffle and reproduce a program having a particularly high reproduction frequency among the programs belonging to the group that is normally reproduced.

Further, based on the number of times of reproduction of the group in the past and the number of times of reproduction of the program in the past, a group of which the number of times of reproduction is a predetermined number or less is shuffled, and the reproduction frequency is selected from the groups selected by this shuffle. It is possible to shuffle-play a program whose number of times is a predetermined number or less. Therefore, it is possible to shuffle and reproduce a program having a particularly low reproduction frequency among programs that belong to a group that is rarely reproduced.

Further, since a group is shuffled on the basis of the number of times the group has been played in the past and the number of times the program has been played in the past, a large number of programs are shuffled to shuffle the programs included in the group selected by this shuffle. Compared to shuffling the entire program, the time required to start playing the program can be greatly reduced. Therefore, the waiting time of the user when shuffle-playing a large amount of programs can be significantly shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a dubbing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the CD changer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the CD changer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a CD changer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a frame on a CD.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a format structure of a subcode on a CD.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a subcode frame in a CD.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a structure of Q data in a subcode.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of a data part in Q data.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an HD recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a hard disk included in the HD recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a directory entry according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a voice input / output device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a system controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a folder change process based on silence detection.

FIG. 16 is based on whether TOC information has been read,
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a folder change process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a folder changing process based on the total recording time capacity of TOC information.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of folder change processing by sequential control of the system controller.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing an image of a file management structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a file management structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a database according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows structures of track reproduction frequency data and album reproduction frequency data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining processing of the controller when changing track reproduction frequency data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the controller during shuffle reproduction according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a CD changer 1 ′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the dubbing device during shuffle reproduction according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1 '... CD changer, 101 ... HD recording / reproducing device, 201 ... Audio input / output device, 301 ...
System controller, 401, 402, 403, 40
4,405,406,407 ... Cable

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. Memory means for storing the number of reproduction frequencies of a program recorded on a recording medium in association with each program, and raising or lowering the number of reproduction frequencies of each program stored in the memory means. A reproducing apparatus comprising: a random number generating means for generating random numbers based on the order; and a reproducing means for reproducing a program corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means. 2. A program area in which a plurality of programs are recorded, and a plurality of programs recorded in the program area are grouped and managed, and the number of reproduction frequencies for each group and each program belonging to each group are managed. In a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program on a recording medium having a management area in which management information for managing the number of times of reproduction is recorded, the number of times of reproduction for each group reproduced from the above-mentioned management area and the group belonging to each of the above A memory means for storing the number of times of reproduction for each program, a first random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in group units, and a second random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in program units belonging to a predetermined group are selected. The operation means and the first random reproduction mode are selected by the operation means. When the second random reproduction mode is selected by the operating means, each program belonging to a predetermined group is generated when the random number is generated based on the number of reproduction frequencies stored in the memory means. A random number generating means for generating a random number based on the number of times of reproduction for each, and a program belonging to a group number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means or a program number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generating means. A reproducing apparatus comprising: reproducing means for reproducing. 3. When the first random reproduction mode is selected by the operation means, the reproduction frequency is further increased for each program belonging to the group number corresponding to the random number generated by the random number generation means. 3. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a random number is generated and a program number corresponding to the generated random number is reproduced. 4. The random number generation means randomly selects from a group having a reproduction frequency number of a predetermined value or more among the reproduction frequency numbers for each group stored in the memory means. The playback device described. 5. The random number generating means randomly selects a program having a reproduction frequency of a predetermined value or more from among the reproduction frequency of each program stored in the memory means. The playback device described. 6. A program area in which a plurality of programs are recorded, and a plurality of programs recorded in the program area are grouped and managed, and the number of reproduction frequencies for each group and each program belonging to each group are managed. In a reproducing method for reproducing a program on a recording medium, which comprises a management area in which management information for managing the number of times of reproduction is recorded, a first random reproduction mode for performing random reproduction in group units and a program belonging to a predetermined group A first step of selecting a second random reproduction mode in which random reproduction is performed in units, and when the first random reproduction mode is selected,
The second step of generating a random number based on the number of times of reproduction for each group, and the case where the second random reproduction mode is selected,
A third step of generating a random number based on the number of times of reproduction of each program belonging to a predetermined group;
And a fourth step of reproducing the program belonging to the group number corresponding to the random number generated in the step or the program number corresponding to the random number generated in the third step. 7. When the first random reproduction mode is selected, the random number is generated by further generating a random number based on the number of reproduction frequencies of each program belonging to the group number corresponding to the generated random number. 7. The reproducing method according to claim 6, wherein the reproducing program number is reproduced. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the second step, a group having a reproduction frequency of a predetermined value or more is randomly selected from the reproduction frequency of each group.
Reproduction method described in section. 9. The reproducing method according to claim 6, wherein in the third step, a program having a reproduction frequency of a predetermined value or more is randomly selected from the reproduction frequency of each program.