Recording device, access device, recording system, and recording method

An access device for accessing a recording device including a nonvolatile memory to store data, the access device comprising:

• a recording controller that manages an area in the nonvolatile memory with the area divided into predetermined block length units, searches an unrecorded area in the nonvolatile memory in the predetermined block length units, and records data into an unrecorded block;
• and
• a communication unit that transmits/receives data to/from the recording device,
• wherein
• the recording controller transmits to the recording device a recording instruction for recording data into the nonvolatile memory, when recording data into the unrecorded block, and
• the recording controller transmits to the recording device a suspension instruction for instructing suspension of the recording of data, when suspending the recording of data in the middle of the unrecorded block.

A recording system comprising:

• a recording device that includes a nonvolatile memory for storing data;
• and
• an access device that accesses the nonvolatile memory,
• wherein
• the access device includes
• a recording controller that manages an area in the nonvolatile memory with the area divided into predetermined block length units, searches an unrecorded area in the nonvolatile memory in the predetermined block length units, and records data into the unrecorded block, and
• a first communication unit that transmits/receives data to/from the recording device,
• the recording device includes
• a second communication unit that receives an instruction issued by the access device, and
• a memory controller that controls the nonvolatile memory,
• the recording controller of the access device transmits to the recording device a recording instruction for recording data into the nonvolatile memory, when recording data into the unrecorded block,
• the recording controller of the access device transmits to the recording device a suspension instruction for instructing suspension of the recording of data, when suspending the recording of data in the middle of the unrecorded block,
• when the memory controller of the recording device receives the recording instruction from the access device, the memory controller of the recording device starts recording of data into the nonvolatile memory, and
• when the suspension instruction is received from the access device, the memory controller of the recording device stores suspension information into the nonvolatile memory, the suspension information indicating a suspended position as a position in a recording area of the nonvolatile memory at which the data is being recorded upon reception of the suspension instruction.

A recording method where, in a recording system having a recording device that includes a nonvolatile memory for storing data and an access device that accesses the nonvolatile memory, the access device records data into the nonvolatile memory, the method comprising:

• in the access device,
• a step of managing an area in the nonvolatile memory with the area divided into predetermined block length units, searching an unrecorded area in the nonvolatile memory in the predetermined block length units, and recording data into the unrecorded block, and
• a step of transmitting/receiving data from/to the recording device,
• in the recording device,
• a step of receiving an instruction issued by the access device, and
• a step of controlling the nonvolatile memory,
• further in the access device,
• a step of transmitting to the recording device a recording instruction for recording data into the nonvolatile memory, when recording data into the unrecorded block, and
• a step of transmitting to the recording device a suspension instruction for instructing suspension of the recording of data, when suspending the recording of data in the middle of the unrecorded block, and
• in the memory controller,
• a step of starting recording of data into the nonvolatile memory when receiving the recording instruction from the access device, and
• a step of storing suspension information into the nonvolatile memory when the suspension instruction from the access device is received, the suspension information indicating a suspended position as a position in a recording area of the nonvolatile memory at which the data is being recorded upon reception of the suspension instruction.