Recording/reproducing apparatus for compressed data

An integrated compressed data dubbing apparatus, comprising:

• a reproduction-only unit for reproducing bit-compressed digital data from a first recording medium, the reproduction-only unit including:
• a first optical head for reading the bit-compressed data from the first recording medium and producing a corresponding first output signal, and
• a decoder supplied with the first output signal for decoding, demodulating, and deinterleaving the bit-compressed data reproduced by the first optical head and producing a corresponding second output signal of bit compressed data;
• and
• a recording and reproducing unit for recording bit-compressed digital data onto a second recording medium and reproducing bit-compressed digital data from the second recording medium, the recording and reproducing unit including:
• a buffer memory,
• an encoder for reading out bit compressed data from the memory and error correction encoding, interleaving, and modulating the bit compressed data read out of the memory to produce a corresponding third output signal, and
• a magnetic head supplied with the third output signal for recording the third output signal on the second recording medium, whereby the compressed data from said reproducing only system can be transmitted to said recording and reproducing system for direct recording on said second recording medium without being expanded and recompressed;
• wherein said data dubbing apparatus is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said first optical head is configured continuously read said bit-compressed data from said first recording medium, and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed data are recorded on said second recording medium intermittently.

A method for recording and reproducing compressed data, comprising the steps of:

• reproducing bit-compressed digital data from a first recording medium, the step of reproducing includes the steps of:
• reading the bit-compressed data from the first recording medium and producing a corresponding first output signal, and
• receiving said first output signal for decoding, demodulating, and deinterleaving the bit-compressed data reproduced by the first optical head and producing a corresponding second output signal of bit compressed data;
• and
• recording and reproducing step for recording bit-compressed digital data onto a second recording medium and reproducing bit-compressed digital data from the second recording medium, the step of recording including the steps of:
• selectively storing the second output signal or encoded, bit compressed input data,
• reading out the stored bit compressed data and error correction encoding, interleaving, and modulating the bit compressed data read out to produce a corresponding third output signal, and
• photomagnetically recording the third output signal on the second recording medium such that the compressed data from said step of recording and reproducing is directly recorded on said second recording medium without being expanded and recompressed;
• wherein said method is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said step of reproducing bit-compressed digital data from said first recording medium includes the step of continuously reading said bit-compressed data from said first recording medium and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation said compressed data are recorded on said second recording medium intermittently.

A method of providing integrated compressed data dubbing, comprising the steps of:

• reproducing bit-compressed digital data from a first recording medium, the step of reproducing including the steps of:
• reading the bit-compressed data from the first recording medium and producing a corresponding first output signal, and
• for decoding, demodulating, and deinterleaving the bit-compressed data reproduced by the first optical head and producing a corresponding second output signal of bit compressed data;
• and
• recording and reproducing step for recording bit-compressed digital data onto a second recording medium and reproducing bit-compressed digital data from the second recording medium, the recording and reproducing step including the steps of:
• reading out bit compressed data from a buffer memory and error correction encoding, interleaving, and modulating the bit compressed data read out of the memory to produce a corresponding third output signal, and
• recording the third output signal on the second recording medium, whereby the compressed data from said reproducing only system can be transmitted to said recording and reproducing system for direct recording on said second recording medium without being expanded and recompressed;
• wherein said dubbing method is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said step of reading the bit-compressed data from said first recording medium includes the step of continuously reading said bit-compressed data from said first recording medium, and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed data are recorded on said second recording medium intermittently.

A single apparatus, comprising:

• reproduce-only means for selectively either reproducing compressed digital signals from a first medium to produce continuous audio signals for listening by a user or continuously reproducing the compressed digital signals from the first medium and outputting them;
• and
• recording and reproducing means for selectively recording compressed digital signals onto a second medium, reproducing compressed digital signals from the second medium and converting the reproduced signals into continuous audio signals for listening by a user, and, alternatively, recording onto the second medium the compressed digital signals output from the reproduce-only means without first decompressing them;
• wherein said single apparatus is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said reproduce-only means is configured continuously read said bit-compressed data from said first medium, and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed data are recorded on said second medium intermittently.

A method of providing an integrated apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• selectively either reproducing compressed digital signals from a first medium to produce continuous audio signals for listening by a user or continuously reproducing the compressed digital signals from the first medium and outputting them;
• and
• selectively recording compressed digital signals onto a second medium, reproducing compressed digital signals from the second medium and converting the reproduced signals into continuous audio signals for listening by a user, and, alternatively, recording onto the second medium the compressed digital signals output without first decompressing them;
• wherein said method is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed digital signals are continuously reproduced from said first medium, and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed digital signals are recorded on said second medium intermittently.

A method of digitally dubbing compressed data, comprising the steps of:

• selectively either reproducing compressed digital signals from a first medium to produce continuous audio signals for listening by a user or continuously reproducing the compressed digital signals from the first medium and outputting the compressed digital signals;
• receiving digital audio signals from a source, bit compressing the digital audio signals and recording the outputted compressed digital signals onto a second medium;
• after said step of receiving bit compressing and recording, recording onto the second medium the bit compressed digital signals without first decompressing them to thereby dub said digital signals;
• and
• after said step of recording onto the second medium, selectively reproducing bit compressed digital signals from the second medium and converting the reproduced bit compressed digital signals into continuous audio signals for listening by a user;
• wherein said dubbing method is configured to perform a high speed and a standard speed digital dubbing operations such that during the high speed digital dubbing operation, said compressed digital signals are continuously reproduced from said first medium, and during the standard speed digital dubbing operation, said bit compressed digital signals are recorded on said second medium intermittently.