Video recorder-player and playing method for the same

A recording/playback system in which video information sent through any one of broadcasting and communication is recorded on a recording device and the video information recorded in the recording device is played back, the system comprising:

• operating means that makes an instruction for either one of a recording operation and a playback operation of the recording/playback system;
• video recording means that records, upon an instruction for recording from the operating means, the video information on the recording device as a recording file;
• summary information generating means that generates, upon the instruction for recording from the operating means, summary information of the video information and causes the summary information to be recorded on the recording device in association with the recording file;
• playback mode storage means that stores a playback mode indicating either one of normal playback of the recording file upon a playback instruction from the operating means and playback of the recording file in accordance with the summary information;
• and
• video playback means that plays back the recording file according to the playback mode set in the playback mode storage means.

A recording/playback method for a recording/playback system in which video information sent through any one of broadcasting and communication is recorded on a recording device and the video information recorded in the recording device is played back, the method comprising the steps of:

• making an instruction for either one of a recording operation and a playback operation of the recording/playback system;
• recording, upon an instruction for recording, the video information on the recording device as a recording file;
• generating, upon the instruction for recording, summary information indicating, with a lapse of time, whether the video information is playback-enabled, and causing the summary information to be recorded on the recording device in association with the recording file;
• changing a playback mode indicating whether the recording file is to be normally played back or is to be played back in accordance with the summary information;
• and
• playing back the recording file in accordance with the playback mode.