Recording/reproduction system of music data, and music data storage medium

Abstract

An information medium configured to record, as a file, music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system. In the system, music data obtained by transcoding the audio-compressed music data, and the original compressed audio data, can be stored in a single file. The system can store information for applying a usage rule having the same contents as a contents usage rule appended to the music contents to the transcoded music data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information medium configured to record, as a file, music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, 
 wherein music data obtained by transcoding the audio-compressed music data, and the original compressed audio data, can be stored in a single file, and    information for applying a usage rule having the same contents as a contents usage rule appended to the music contents to the transcoded music data can be stored.    
     
     
         2 . An information medium configured to record, as a file, music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, 
 wherein music data obtained by transcoding the audio-compressed music data, and the original compressed audio data, can be stored in a single file,    information for applying a usage rule having the same contents as a contents usage rule appended to the music contents to the transcoded music data can be stored,    program chain reproduction control information as management information used to reproduce the music contents can be stored, and    link information used to access the transcoded music data can be stored in the program chain reproduction control information.    
     
     
         3 . A medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the link information is recorded as a file name.  
     
     
         4 . A medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the program chain reproduction control information contains one or more pieces of program information, and the link information is stored in each program information.  
     
     
         5 . A medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the program chain reproduction control information contains one or more pieces of cell information each serving as a reproduction unit, and the link information is stored in each cell information.  
     
     
         6 . A method of reading/writing data from/to an information medium configured to record, as a file, music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, comprising: 
 transcoding the audio-compressed music data into non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data;    storing the transcoded non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data and the original compressed music data in a single file; and    copying a usage rule having the same contents as a contents usage rule appended to the music contents, and applying the copied usage rule to the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data.    
     
     
         7 . A method of reading/writing data from/to an information medium configured to record, as a file, music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, comprising: 
 transcoding the audio-compressed music data into non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data;    storing the transcoded non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data and the original compressed music data in a single file;    copying a usage rule having the same contents as a contents usage rule appended to the music contents, and applying the copied usage rule to the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data; and    generating program chain control information as management information used to reproduce the music contents.    
     
     
         8 . A reproduction method of reading out data from an information medium that records as a file music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, comprising: 
 reading out information of the audio-compressed music data, and non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data obtained by transcoding the compressed music data from the information medium;    checking if an audio compression scheme of the readout compressed music data is supported; and    reproducing one of the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data of the music contents read out from the information medium, and the compressed music data read out from the information medium, in accordance with the checking result.    
     
     
         9 . A reproduction method of reading out data from an information medium that records as a file music contents which contain audio-compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, and non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data obtained by transcoding the compressed music data, comprising: 
 reading out management information containing program chain reproduction control information used to reproduce the music contents;    accessing the music contents to be reproduced using link information which is contained in the program chain reproduction control information and is used to access the transcoded non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data;    reading out information of the audio-compressed music data and the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data obtained by transcoding the compressed music data from the information medium;    checking if an audio compression scheme of the readout compressed music data is supported; and    reproducing one of the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data of the music contents read out from the information medium, and the compressed music data read out from the information medium, in accordance with the checking result.    
     
     
         10 . A reproduction control method of reading/writing data from/to an information medium which records as a music contents file compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data generated by transcoding the compressed music data, and a usage rule of these music data, comprising: 
 reading out the usage rule of the music contents file from the information medium;    checking the usage rule to determine if reproduction is permitted;    interrupting, if it is determined that reproduction is inhibited, a reproduction process; and    deleting the music contents file together with the non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data generated by transcoding.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the usage rule includes at least one of a reproduction valid date and allowable reproduction count.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising 
 decrementing the allowable reproduction count by 1 if it is determined in the usage rule checking that reproduction is permitted.    
     
     
         13 . A copy control method of reading/writing data from/to an information medium which records as a music contents file compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data generated by transcoding the compressed music data, and a usage rule of these music data, comprising: 
 reading out the usage rule of the music contents file from the information medium;    checking the usage rule to determine if copy is permitted;    executing, if it is determined that copy is inhibited and if it is requested to move the music contents to another information medium, copy of the music contents, and then erasing the music contents file as a copy source; and    interrupting, if it is determined that copy is inhibited and if it is not requested to move the music contents to another information medium, a copy process.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the usage rule includes at least one of information of permission/inhibition of copy and an allowable copy count.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising 
 decrementing the allowable copy count by 1 if it is determined in the usage rule checking that copy is permitted, and if the allowable copy count is set other than zero.    
     
     
         16 . A move control method of reading/writing data from/to an information medium which records as a music contents file compressed music data distributed from a music distribution system, non-compressed music data or lossless-compressed music data generated by transcoding the compressed music data, and a usage rule of these music data, comprising: 
 upon moving the music contents to another information medium,    extracting only original music contents distributed from the music distribution system in the music contents file as an original file;    copying the extracted original file to the other information medium; and    erasing the music contents file from the information medium after the extracted original file copying.