Patent ID: 6827276
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
A data recording and reproducing method, comprising:recording data blocks in a storage unit; setting and storing a priority level for each of said data blocks; determining whether a vacant area of said storage unit is expected to be short; and recompressing said data blocks recorded in said storage unit in accordance with said stored priority levels when the vacant area of said storage unit is expected to be short, wherein each of said priority levels is represented by a recompression permitting flag and a recompression prohibiting flag, said recompressing comprising: recompressing a first group of said data blocks having said recompression permitting flag and no recompression prohibiting flag so that a compression bit rate of the first group of said data blocks is decreased to a predetermined value; and recompressing a second group of said data blocks having no recompression permitting flag and no recompression prohibiting flag so that a compression bit rate of the second group of said data blocks is decreased to said predetermined value after the first group of said data blocks are decreased to said predetermined value.