Data storage/playback device and method

A method of storing data comprising the steps of:

• receiving time-series data containing at least one of audio data and image data, wherein the time-series data is received during both important intervals and other intervals;
• storing the time-series data in a storage;
• receiving user-input data from a user;
• determining an important interval based on at least the user-input data;
• correlating at least the important interval and the time-series data corresponding to the important interval;
• detecting a condition-matching interval in which the time-series data matches a predetermined condition unique to an event;
• and
• compressing the time-series data, wherein the time series data corresponding to the important interval is compressed differently than the time-series data corresponding to other intervals.

A data storage and playback apparatus comprising:

• a condition-matching interval detection means for detecting a condition-matching interval in which time-series data matches a predetermined condition unique to an event;
• at least one time-series data pickup device that detects time-series data containing at least one of audio data and image data during both important intervals and other intervals;
• a time-series data storage that stores the time-series data detected by the time-series data pickup device;
• at least one user-input detector that detects user-input data, wherein the user-input data designates important intervals of the time-series data;
• and
• a controller that controls storage and playback of the time-series, wherein the controller includes:
• a correspondence-relationship storing section that stores a correspondence relationship between an important interval and a location of the time-series data in the time-series data storage corresponding to the important interval, and
• a compression section that compresses the time-series data corresponding to the important interval differently from the time-series data corresponding to the other intervals.

A data storage device comprising:

• time-series data input means for inputting time-series data containing at least one of audio data and image data, wherein the time-series data is input during both condition-matching intervals and other intervals;
• time-series data storing means for storing time-series data input from the time-series data input means;
• condition-matching interval detection means for detecting a condition-matching interval in which the time-series data matches a predetermined condition unique to an event;
• correspondence relationship storing means for storing the correspondence relationship between a condition-matching interval and a position in the time-series data storing means where the time-series data corresponding to the condition-matching interval is stored;
• and
• compression means for compressing the time-series data stored in the time-series data storing means, wherein the time-series data corresponding to a condition-matching interval is compressed differently than the time-series data corresponding to the other intervals.