Patent ID: 6618546
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
A recording/playing apparatus, comprising:obtaining means for obtaining contents; recording control means for controlling recording of a plurality of said contents obtained by said obtaining means; generating means for obtaining management information, including a status of said plurality of contents of which recording is controlled by said recording control means, and a time period in which viewing or listening to said contents has been provided to said contents, and for changing said management information as necessary; first extracting means for extracting, from said plurality of contents of which recording is controlled by said recording control means, contents which have been available for viewing or listening for a predetermined time period that have not been requested by a user for viewing or listening therein such that said contents have not been viewed or listened to within said predetermined time period, and in accordance with the management information obtained by said generating means; judging means for judging whether or not there are any contents in said plurality of contents of which recording is controlled by said recording control means regarding which deleting is necessary; and deletion control means for controlling deleting of said contents regarding which the status of said contents contained in said management information is â€œdeletion plannedâ€ , in the event that judgment is made by said judging means that deleting of said contents is necessary; wherein said generating means automatically changes the status of said contents contained in said management information corresponding to said contents extracted by said first extracting means, to â€œdeletion plannedâ€ .