Audio data playback management system and method with editing apparatus adn recording medium

A management apparatus that stores a permitted number, performs a check-out operation by (a) writing a first audio object with a first piece of identification information into a recording medium and (b) decrementing the permitted number, and performs a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the management apparatus comprising:
• a holding unit operable to hold the first piece of identification information;
• a connecting unit operable to connect a target recording medium in which a second audio object has been recorded, the second audio object being an audio object to be checked in;
• a reading unit operable to read a second piece of identification information from the connected target recording medium, the second piece of identification information being not changed by editing;
• a judging unit operable to judge whether the second audio object has an equivalence relation with the first audio object by comparing the second piece of identification information with the first piece of identification information;
• and
• a check-in unit operable to, when a judgement result of the judging unit is positive, performs a check-in operation on the second audio object.

An editing apparatus that is used in an audio data playback management system, the audio data playback management system including a recording medium and a management apparatus, the management apparatus storing a permitted number, performing a check-out operation by (a) writing a first audio object with a first piece of identification information into the recording medium and (b) decrementing the permitted number, and performing a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the editing apparatus comprising:
• a reading unit operable to read the first piece of identification information from the recording medium;
• an editing unit operable to edit the first audio object to obtain a second audio object;
• and
• a writing unit operable to write the second audio object with a second piece of identification information into the recording medium, the second piece of identification information having an equivalence relation with the first piece of identification information.

A recording medium for use in an audio data playback management system, the audio data playback management system including a management apparatus and an editing apparatus, the management apparatus performing (1) a check-out operation by writing a first audio object into the recording medium and decrementing a permitted number and (2) a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• in the recording medium, a first piece of identification information, a second audio object, and a second piece of identification information having been recorded,
• the first piece of identification information distinguishing the first audio object from another audio object written into the recording medium by a different check-out operation,
• the second audio object having been obtained by editing the first audio object, and
• the second piece of identification information corresponding to the second audio object and having an equivalence relation with the first piece of identification information.

A recording medium for use in a system, the system including a management apparatus that performs check-out operations, each check-out operation being performed by (a) writing at least one audio object into a recording medium and (b) decrementing a permitted number,

• in the recording medium, a media ID is prestored and a first audio track has been recorded,
• the first audio track including a first audio object and a content ID, both of which have been written by one of the check-out operations;
• and
• the media ID being unique to the recording medium,
• wherein a pair of the media ID and the content ID uniquely specifies one of the check-out operations.

A management apparatus that performs check-out operations and check-in operations, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing a permitted number, and each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the management apparatus comprising:
• a storing unit operable to store a permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track;
• a connecting unit operable to connect a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging unit operable to, when the target recording medium is connected, judge whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in unit operable to, when a judgement result of the judging unit is positive, perform a check-in operation on the second audio track.

An editing apparatus that edits a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium recording a media ID,

• the editing apparatus including:
• an editing unit operable to edit the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning unit operable to assign a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new track ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track.

A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for having a computer perform check-out operations and check-in operations, the computer storing a permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing the permitted number, each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track,

• the program comprising:
• a connecting step for connecting a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging step for, when the target recording medium is connected, judging whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in step for, when a judgement result of the judging unit is positive, performing a check-in operation on the second audio track.

A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for having a computer edit a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium recording a media ID,

• the program comprising:
• an editing step for editing the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning step for assigning a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new track ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track.

A method for having a computer perform check-out operations and check-in operations, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing a permitted number, each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number, the computer storing the permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track,

• the method comprising:
• a connecting step for connecting a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging step for, when the target recording medium is connected, judging whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in step for, when a judgement result of the judging unit is positive, performing a check-in operation on the second audio track.

A method for having a computer edit a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium recording a media ID,

• the method comprising:
• an editing step for editing the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning step for assigning a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new track ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track.