Audio data playback management system and method with editing apparatus and recording medium

A management apparatus for storing a permitted number, performing a check-out operation by (a) writing a first audio object with a first piece of identification information into a recording medium and (b) decrementing the permitted number, and performing a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the management apparatus comprising:
• a holding unit operable to hold the first piece of identification information;
• a connecting unit operable to connect to a target recording medium in which a second audio object has been recorded, the second audio object being an audio object having been obtained by editing the first audio object by dividing;
• a reading unit operable to read a second piece of identification information from the connected target recording medium, the second piece of identification information not having been changed by editing;
• a judging unit operable to judge whether the second audio object has an equivalence relation with the first audio object by comparing the second piece of identification information with the first piece of identification information;
• and
• a check-in unit operable to, when the judging unit judges that the equivalence relation exists, perform a check-in operation on the second audio object.

An editing apparatus for an audio data playback management system, the audio data playback management system including a recording medium and a management apparatus, the management apparatus for storing a permitted number, performing a check-out operation by (a) writing a first audio object with a first piece of identification information into the recording medium and (b) decrementing the permitted number, and performing a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the editing apparatus comprising:
• a reading unit operable to read the first piece of identification information from the recording medium;
• an editing unit operable to edit the first audio object by dividing to obtain a second audio object;
• and
• a writing unit operable to write the second audio object with a second piece of identification information into the recording medium, the second piece of identification information having an equivalence relation with the first piece of identification information for judging whether to perform a check-in operation on the second audio object.

A recording medium for an audio data playback management system, the audio data playback management system including a management apparatus and an editing apparatus, the management apparatus for performing (1) a check-out operation by writing a first audio object into the recording medium and decrementing a permitted number and (2) a check-in operation by setting the first audio object in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the recording medium having a first piece of identification information, a second audio object, and a second piece of identification information recorded therein,
• the first piece of identification information distinguishing the first audio object from another audio object written into the recording medium by a different check-out operation,
• the second audio object having been obtained by editing the first audio object by dividing, and
• the second piece of identification information corresponding to the second audio object and having an equivalence relation with the first piece of identification information for judging whether to perform a check-in operation on the second audio object.

A recording medium for a system, the system including a management apparatus operable to perform check-out operations, each check-out operation being performed by (a) writing at least one audio object into a recording medium and (b) decrementing a permitted number,

• the recording medium having a media ID prestored therein and a first audio track recorded therein,
• the first audio track including a first audio object and a content ID, both of the first audio object and the content ID having been written by one of the check-out operations;
• and
• the media ID being unique to the recording medium,
• wherein a pair of the media ID and the content ID uniquely specifies one of the check-out operations
• wherein the first audio track further includes a track ID,
• wherein the track ID distinguishes the first audio track from a second audio track obtained by dividing the first audio track, and
• the content ID shows that the first audio track and the second audio track correspond to the same check-out operation.

A management apparatus for performing check-out operations and check-in operations, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing a permitted number, and each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number,

• the management apparatus comprising:
• a storing unit operable to store a permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track;
• a connecting unit operable to connect to a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track having been obtained by dividing the first audio track and being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging unit operable to, when the target recording medium is connected, judge whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in unit operable to, when the judging unit judges that there is a match, perform a check-in operation on the second audio track.

An editing apparatus for editing a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium having a media ID,

• the editing apparatus comprising:
• an editing unit operable to edit the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning unit operable to assign a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new track ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track, wherein
• the editing unit is operable to edit by dividing the first audio track to obtain the second audio track.

A program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium for a computer to perform check-out operations and check-in operations, the computer storing a permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing the permitted number, each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track,

• the program comprising:
• a connecting operation of connecting to a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track having been obtained by dividing the first audio track and being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging operation of, when the target recording medium is connected, judging whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in operation of, when the judging operation judges that there is a match, performing a check-in operation on the second audio track.

A program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium for a computer to edit a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium having a media ID,

• the program comprising:
• an editing operation of editing the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning operation of assigning a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new tack ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track, wherein
• the editing operation is operable to edit by dividing the first audio track to obtain the second audio track.

A method for having a computer perform check-out operations and check-in operations, each check-out operation being performed by writing an audio track into a recording medium and decrementing a permitted number, each check-in operation being performed by setting the audio track in the recording medium in a non-playable state and incrementing the permitted number, the computer storing the permitted number and a piece of check-out history information, the piece of check-out history information including a media ID unique to a recording medium, in which a first audio track has been recorded, and a content ID included in the first audio track,

• the method comprising:
• a connecting operation of connecting to a target recording medium, in which a media ID and a second audio track have been recorded, the second audio track having been obtained by dividing the first audio track and being an audio track to be checked in;
• a judging operation of when the target recording medium is connected, judging whether the piece of check-out history information matches the media ID in the target recording medium and a content ID in the second audio track;
• and
• a check-in operation of, when the judging operation judge that there is a match, performing a check-in operation on the second audio track.

A method for having a computer edit a first audio track recorded in a recording medium, the first audio track being assigned a track ID and including a first audio object with a content ID, the recording medium having a media ID,

• the method comprising:
• an editing operation of editing the first audio track to obtain a second audio track;
• and
• an identification information assigning operation of assigning a new track ID and a content ID to the second audio track, the new track ID being unique to the second audio track and the assigned content ID having an equivalence relation with the content ID in the first audio track, wherein
• the editing comprises editing by dividing the first audio track to obtain the second audio track.