Recording apparatus

A recording method used in a recording apparatus, comprising:

• a storing step of storing one or more recorded data pieces, each of which is created by encoding a video data piece, and one or more encoding information sets, each of which is information extracted when a different one of the video data pieces is encoded and represents characteristics of the video data piece, the recorded data pieces being stored in one-to-one correspondence with the encoding information sets;
• a selecting step of selecting a recorded data piece based on the stored encoding information sets;
• and
• an encoding step of (i) creating a re-encoded data piece by re-encoding the selected recorded data piece using a predetermined encoding method, (ii) extracting a corresponding re-encoding information set in a course of creating the re-encoded data piece, and (iii) storing, in the storing step, (a) the re-encoded data piece which replaces the selected recorded data piece and (b) the re-encoding information set which replaces an encoding information set corresponding to the selected recorded data piece, wherein
• the predetermined encoding method allows a size of the re-encoded data piece to be smaller than a size of the selected recorded data piece.

A computer program for causing a recording apparatus to execute recording processing, comprising:

• a storing step of storing one or more recorded data pieces, each of which is created by encoding a video data piece, and one or more encoding information sets, each of which is information extracted when a different one of the video data pieces is encoded and represents characteristics of the video data piece, the recorded data pieces being stored in one-to-one correspondence with the encoding information sets;
• a selecting step of selecting a recorded data piece based on the stored encoding information sets;
• and
• an encoding step of (i) creating a re-encoded data piece by re-encoding the selected recorded data piece using a predetermined encoding method, (ii) extracting a corresponding re-encoding information set in a course of creating the re-encoded data piece, and (iii) storing, in the storing step, (a) the re-encoded data piece which replaces the selected recorded data piece and (b) the re-encoding information set which replaces an encoding information set corresponding to the selected recorded data piece, wherein
• the predetermined encoding method allows a size of the re-encoded data piece to be smaller than a size of the selected recorded data piece.

An integrated circuit of a recording apparatus, comprising:

• an obtaining unit operable to obtain a recorded data piece which is created by encoding a video data piece;
• and
• an encoding unit operable to (i) create a re-encoded data piece by re-encoding the recorded data piece using a predetermined encoding method, (ii) extract a re-encoding information set representing characteristics of the video data piece in a course of creating the re-encoded data piece, and (iii) transmit the re-encoded data piece and the re-encoding information set, wherein
• the predetermined encoding method causes a size of the re-encoded data piece to be smaller than a size of the recorded data piece.