PATENT ABSTRACT
In an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus is configured to include a function identification file creation unit adapted to, in accordance with a button operation by a user, create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function, and a file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file in a storage unit, and the information processing apparatus is configured to include a detector adapted to detect a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and a controller adapted to, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, start an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file in the storage unit.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications JP 2005-376516 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 27, 2005 and JP 2006-189365 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jul. 10, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an information processing system, a content output apparatus, and a method and program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus, and more particularly, to an information processing system, a content output apparatus, and a method and program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus, which are advantageously applicable to, for example, a system including a disk drive and a personal computer. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In a technique of using a disk drive as an audio data recording/playing back apparatus and also as a storage device of a personal computer or the like, it is known to control the operation mode thereof such that when the disk drive is connected to the personal computer, the disk drive is automatically set to operate as the audio data recording/playing back apparatus or as the storage device depending on whether a particular application is running on the personal computer (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-94815). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In the disk drive configured so as to operate in the above-described manner, when the disk drive is connected to the personal computer, the personal computer operates as a master device and the disk drive operates as a slave device. In this state, in general, the disk drive is treated as a simple storage device and the disk drive operating as the slave device is not allowed to control the personal computer operating as the master device. 
         [0007]    To allow the disk drive operating as the slave device to control the personal computer operating as the master device, a special driver and a complicated configuration are necessary. 
         [0008]    In view of the above, the present invention provides an information processing system, a content output apparatus, and a method and a program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus, configured in a simple form and capable of allowing the content output apparatus serving as a slave device to control the information processing apparatus serving as a master device to execute a particular function. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, in which the content output apparatus includes function identification file creation means for, in accordance with a button operation by a user, creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function, and file storage means for storing the function identification file in storage means, and the information processing apparatus includes detection means for detecting a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and control means for, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, starting an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means. 
         [0010]    This configuration of the system makes it possible for the information processing apparatus to start the application program to execute the particular function specified by the function identification file simply by checking whether there is the function identification file created by the content output apparatus. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, in which the content output apparatus includes function identification file creation means for creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus, type identification file creation means for, if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, creating a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described, and file storage means for storing the function identification file and the type identification file in storage means, and the information processing apparatus includes detection means for detecting a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and control means for, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, starting an application program to record the content data on the recording medium depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means, and recording on the recording medium the content data stored in the content output apparatus in accordance with the type information described in the type information file. 
         [0012]    In this information processing system, the information processing apparatus determines whether there is the function identification file created by the content output apparatus and records content data output by the content output apparatus on a recording medium of a type corresponding to the content type indicated by the type information described in the type information file. 
         [0013]    As can be seen from the above-description, the present invention provides great advantages. That is, the information processing apparatus is capable of starting the application program to execute the particular function corresponding to the function identification file simply by determining whether there is the function identification file created by the content output apparatus. Thus, the present invention allows it to realize the information processing system, the content output apparatus, and the method and the program of controlling the information processing apparatus by the content output apparatus, which are configured in a simple form so as to allow the content output apparatus to control the information processing apparatus to execute the particular function. 
         [0014]    The present invention also allows it to realize the information processing system, the content output apparatus, and the method and the program of controlling the information processing apparatus by the content output apparatus, in which the information processing apparatus determines whether there is the function identification file created by the content output apparatus, and records content data output from the content output apparatus on a recording medium of a type corresponding to the content type indicated by the type information described in the type identification file. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a general configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera on a DVD disk; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen of an HDD video camera; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a file system of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a launcher menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view schematically showing a general configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing a various kinds contents recorded on an HDD; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart showing a pre-process performed by an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing a content type selection screen; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a flow chart showing a part of a processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera in an optimum manner depending on the content type according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a flow chart showing a following part of the processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera in an optimum manner depending on the content type according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen of an HDD video camera; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram showing an example of content of a camera identification file; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing a file system of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram showing a launcher menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The present invention is described in detail below with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
     General Configuration of Information Processing System 
       [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an information processing system  1  according to a first embodiment of the invention includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) video camera  2  configured to take an image and store the image in the form of a moving image file or a still image file on a built-in hard disk drive, and a personal computer  4  connected to the HDD video camera  2  via a communication interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable  3  or the like. 
         [0035]    When the HDD video camera  2  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , the personal computer  4  operates as a master device, and the HDD video camera  2  is simply treated as a storage device. In this state, by using an application program installed on the personal computer  4 , the personal computer  4  is capable of capturing the moving image file or the still image file from the HDD video camera  2  and storing it for backup in the personal computer  4  or printing an image according to the captured moving image file or the still image file. 
         [0036]    That is, when the HDD video camera  2  and the personal computer  4  are connected to each other via the USB cable  3 , the personal computer  4  operates as the master device and the HDD video camera  2  operates the slave device, and thus, in general, the HDD video camera  2  is not allowed to directly control the personal computer  4 . 
         [0037]    However, in the information processing system  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention, the HDD video camera  2  operating as the slave device is allowed to indirectly control the personal computer  4  operating as the master device to store a moving image file or a still image file output from the HDD video camera  2  in the personal computer  4  or on a DVD disk or the like by using the personal computer  4 . 
         [0038]    In the information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the HDD video camera  2  is connected to the personal computer  4  via a communication interface using a cable such as a USB cable  3 . Alternatively, the HDD video camera  2  may be connected to the personal computer  4  via a wireless communication interface such as a Bluetooth (trademark) module or an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11g wireless communication module. 
       Circuit Configuration of the HDD Video Camera 
       [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the HDD video camera  2  operates with electric power supplied by a battery (not shown). A CPU (Central Processing Unit)  10  loads a basic program and various kinds of application programs from a ROM (Read Only Memory)  11  into a RAM (Random Access Memory)  12  and controls the whole HDD video camera  2  in accordance with the basic program and various kinds of application programs loaded in the RAM  12 . In response to pressing of one of a set of operation buttons  13  by a user, the CPU  10  performs various processes such as capturing of an image, a playback process, an editing process, etc. depending on which one of the set of buttons is pressed. 
         [0040]    More specifically, when a particular one of the set of operation buttons  13  is pressed by a user to take an image, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  performs particular image processing, using an image processor  15 , on image data S 1  output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera  14 , and image data S 2  is obtained as a result. 
         [0041]    Concurrently, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  converts audio data S 3  detected by the microphone  17  into audio data S 4  by performing audio processing using the audio processor  18 . 
         [0042]    The CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  produces a moving image file DF including SD image data S 2  and associated audio data S 4  and the stores the generated moving image file DF in the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0043]    In the HDD video camera  2 , when still image data S 5  is captured via the CCD camera  14 , the CPU  10  performs image processing on the still image data S 5  using the image processor  15 . Still image data S 6  obtained as a result of the image processing is stored as a still image file SF in the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0044]    When a user presses a particular one of the set of buttons  13 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  reads the moving image file DF or the still image file SF, depending on the pressed button, from the HDD  16  and displays a moving image or a still image on a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  19  in accordance with the moving image file DF or the still image file SF. 
         [0045]    The CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB interface  20  and the USB cable  3  ( FIG. 1 ) so that the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF can be transferred from the HDD video camera  2  to the personal computer  4  and saved therein or the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF can be recorded on a removable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) via the personal computer  4 . Note that the recording medium is not limited to the DVD disk but other types of recording media such as a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) disk or a flash memory may also be used. 
       Circuit Configuration of the Personal Computer 
       [0046]    In the personal computer  4 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the CPU  30  loads a basic program and various kinds of application programs from a ROM  31  or a hard disk drive  34  into a RAM  32  and controls the whole personal computer  4  in accordance with the basic program and the various kinds of application program loaded in the RAM  32 . For example, the CPU  30  performs various processes in response to inputting operations, performed by a user, on a keyboard  35  and displays a result on a monitor  36  connected via a bus  33 . 
         [0047]    The personal computer  4  has a DVD drive  37  and is capable of reading data from a DVD disk mounted on the DVD drive  37  and displaying the data on the monitor  36 . The personal computer  4  is also capable of capturing a moving image file DF or a still image file SF from the HDD video camera  2  connected via the USB interface  38  and the USB cable  3  ( FIG. 1 ) and writing the captured moving image file DF or still image file SF on the hard disk drive  34  or on a DVD disk mounted on the DVD drive  37 . 
       Sequence of Processes of Writing Data on DVD Disk under Indirect Control of HDD Video Camera 
       [0048]    In the information processing system  1 , when the HDD video camera  2  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , the HDD video camera  2  serving as the slave device is allowed to indirectly control the personal computer  4  serving as the master slave to write a moving image file DF or a still image file SF captured via the HDD video camera  2  on a DVD disk mounted on the DVD drive  37  of the personal computer  4 , as described in detail below. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in step SP 1  if the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  determines that the HDD video camera  2  is electrically (physically) connected with the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  displays a pop-up window PW 1  such as that shown in  FIG. 5  on a LCD  19  ( FIG. 2 ). Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to a next step SP 2 . 
         [0050]    In the present example, a text message “Camera is going to be connected to personal computer” is displayed in the pop-up window PW 1  to indicate that although the HDD video camera  2  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , the HDD video camera  2  is in a state in which the HDD video camera  2  is not yet logically connected to the personal computer  4 , and thus the HDD video camera  2  is not yet set to operate as a slave device of the personal computer  4  and the HDD video camera  2  is allowed to operate independently of the personal computer  4 . 
         [0051]    In the pop-up window PW 1 , a “Copy to PC” button P 1  and a “Write on DVD” button P 2 , which are operable in response to touching, are disposed in an area below the text message “Camera is going to be connected to personal computer”. A user of the HDD video camera  2  is allowed to press one of these buttons to specify whether the moving image file DF or the still image file SF captured by the HDD video camera  2  is to be simply transferred to the personal computer  4  and stored therein, or the moving image file DF or the still image file SF is to be transferred to the personal computer  4  and written on a DVD disk. 
         [0052]    In step SP 2 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  determines whether the “Write on DVD” button P 2  in the pop-up window PW 1  has been touched by the user. If the answer to step SP 2  is affirmative, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 3 . 
         [0053]    In step SP 3 , in response to the touching of the “Write on DVD” button P 2  by the user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  creates a function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” to be read by the personal computer  4  and stores it on the hard disk drive  16 . Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 4 . 
         [0054]    In step SP 3  described above, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  creates the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” and places it directly under a root directory of a file system FS 1 , that is, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” is placed in parallel to a folder “MP_ROOT” and a folder “DCIM”. In the specific example shown in  FIG. 6 , moving image files DF and content information management files IF (index files such as “INDEX0001.ANP”, INDEX0001.ANT”, and INDEX0001.ANM”) are stored in the folder “MP_ROOT”, and still image files SF (“DSC00001.JPG”, DSC00002.JPG”, DSC00003.JPG”, etc.) are stored in the folder DCIM. 
         [0055]    In the content information management file IF, for example, information necessary to manage content data, such as a play list, thumbnail images, meta data, etc., is described. Moving image data are stored as files with an extension of ”.MPG” (such as “M2U00001.MPG”, “M2U00002.MPG”, “M2U00003.MPG” , etc.) in a folder “100PNV01” located in the folder “MP_ROOT”. 
         [0056]    Because the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” is placed directly under the root directory of the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  can directly access the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” from the root directory of the file system FS 1  without having to go into a deep hierarchical level. This allows it to easily and quickly determine whether or not the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” exists. 
         [0057]    On the other hand, when the answer to step SP 2  is negative, that is, when the “Write on DVD” button P 2  is not touched by the user, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 4  without producing the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”. 
         [0058]    In step SP 4 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  logically connects the HDD video camera  2  to the personal computer  4  such that the personal computer  4  serves as a master device and the HDD video camera  2  serves as a slave device. The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 5 . 
         [0059]    If the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects in step SP 5  that the HDD video camera  2  is logically connected to the personal computer  4 , then the processing flow proceeds to step SP 6 . 
         [0060]    In step SP 6 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  mounts a file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2  from the HDD video camera  2  connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 7 . 
         [0061]    In step SP 7 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  checks the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2  to determine whether the file system FS 1  includes the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”. If the answer to step SP 7  is affirmative, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 8 . 
         [0062]    In step SP 8 , because the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  has detected in the previous step that the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2  includes the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  automatically starts a DVD writing program stored on the hard disk drive  34  in accordance with an information processing apparatus control program resident in a RAM  22 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 9 . 
         [0063]    In step SP 9 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  requests the HDD video camera  2  to transfer the moving image file DF or the still image file SF according to the DVD writing program. In response to the request, the HDD video camera  2  transmits the moving image file DF or the still image file SF to the personal computer  4 . In the personal computer  4 , the received moving image file DF or the still image file SF is recorded on a DVD disk using the DVD drive  37 . Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 12 . 
         [0064]    In step SP 12 , because the DVD writing process corresponding to the “Write on DVD” button P 2  has been completed, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  and the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  release the logical connection between the HDD video camera  2  and the personal computer  4 . As a result, the state is released in which the personal computer  4  operates as the master device and the HDD video camera  2  serves as the slave device. The CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the process to step SP 13 , while the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  advances the process to step SP 14 . 
         [0065]    In step SP 14 , because the logical connection with the personal computer  4  has been released and thus the master-slave relationship has been released in the previous step, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  2  deletes the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” from the file system FS 1 . The processing flow proceeds to step SP 15 . In step SP 15 , the whole process is ended. Note that steps SP 12  and SP 14  do not necessarily be executed, but these steps may be executed as required. 
         [0066]    In a case in which the answer to step SP 7  is negative, that is, in a case in which the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2  does not include the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”, it is not necessary to start the DVD writing program, and thus the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the process to step SP 10 . 
         [0067]    In step SP 10 , because the file system FS 1  of HDD video camera  2  does not include the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  automatically starts a default launcher application program according to the information processing apparatus control program. The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 1 . 
         [0068]    In step SP 11 , according to the launcher application program, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays a launcher menu screen LMG 1  such as that shown in  FIG. 7  on the monitor  36 . 
         [0069]    On the launcher menu screen LMG 1 , there are provided a “One-Touch DVD Writing” button P 11 , a “Differential PC Backup” button P 12 , a “View Image” button P 13 , a “DVD Authoring” button P 14 , a “Play List” button P 15 , a “Settings” button P 16 , and a “Close” button P 17 . 
         [0070]    If the “One-Touch DVD Writing” button P 11  is pressed by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  automatically starts the DVD writing program to write a moving image file DF or a still image file SF supplied from the HDD video camera  2  on a DVD disk via the DVD drive  37 . That is, when the “One-Touch DVD Writing” button P 11  is pressed, a process is performed in a similar manner to the process performed in response to pressing of the “Write on DVD” button P 2  provided in the pop-up window PW 1  of the HDD video camera  2 . 
         [0071]    In this process, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines whether there is a moving image file DF or a still image file SF supplied from the HDD video camera which is not yet recorded on the DVD disk, and records detected unrecorded moving image file DF or still image file SF on the DVD disk. In a case in which no new moving image file DF or a still image file SF to be recorded is found, an error message is displayed to inform the user of that there is no file to be recorded. 
         [0072]    When the “Differential PC Backup” button P 12  is pressed, if the HDD video camera  2  has a moving image file DF or still image file SF which has not been captured by the personal computer  4 , only such an image file is stored on the hard disk drive  34  of the personal computer  4 . When there is no difference between the image files stored in the HDD video camera  2  and the image files stored in the personal computer  4 , an error message is displayed to inform a user of this fact. 
         [0073]    The “View Image” button P 13  is used to display a specified moving or still image using a particular browser. More specifically, when the “View Image” button P 13  is pressed, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays an image according to a moving image file DF or a still image file SF captured via the HDD video camera  2  or according to a video file downloaded from a site on the Internet. 
         [0074]    When the “DVD Authoring” button P 14  is pressed by a user, the user is allowed to edit a moving image file DF or a still image file SF to be recorded on a DVD disk using the DVD writing program. More specifically, for example, the user is allowed to select parts, which are to be recorded, from the moving image file DF or the still image file SF. That is, this button allows the user to write, on a DVD disk, the moving image file DF or the still image file SF stored in the HDD video camera  2  not directly but after editing the image file. 
         [0075]    The “Play List” button P 15  is used to record moving image files DF and/or still image files SF in the order specified by a play list stored in the HDD video camera  2 . When the HDD video camera  2  has a play list, still image files SF compressed according to the JPEG standard are converted into a form according to the MPEG2 standard and the resultant image files are recorded in the same manner as the manner in which moving image files DF are recorded. However, when the HDD video camera  2  has no play list, still image files SF according to the JPEG standard are directly recorded without being converted. 
         [0076]    That is, in this mode in which moving images file DF and still image files SF are recorded in accordance with the play list, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  converts the JPEG still image files SF according to the same MPEG2 format as that for the moving image files DF, and thus the still image files SF recorded on the DVD disk can be played back using a DVD player capable of handling only MPEG2 files. 
         [0077]    The “Settings” button P 16  allows a user to change detailed settings associated with conditions under which to record the moving image file DF or the still image file SF on a DVD disk. The “Close” button P 17  is used to close the launcher menu screen LMG 1 . 
       Operation and Advantages of the First Embodiment 
       [0078]    In the information processing system  1  configured in the above-described manner according to the first embodiment, when the “Write on DVD” button P 2  in the pop-up window PW 1  displayed on the LCD  19  of the HDD video camera  2  is touched by a user, the function indemnification file “DVDBURN.IND” is created and stored on the hard disk drive  16 . When the HDD video camera  2  is logically connected to the personal computer  4 , if the personal computer  4  detects this function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” of the HDD video camera  2 , the personal computer  4  automatically starts the DVD writing program in accordance with the information processing apparatus control program, reads the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF stored in the HDD video camera  2 , and writes the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF on a DVD disk. 
         [0079]    Thus, in the state in which the HDD video camera  2  is logically connected to the personal computer  4  such that the HDD video camera  2  operates as a slave device and the personal computer  4  operates as a master device and thus the HDD video camera  2  operating as the slave device is not allowed to directly issue a write-on-DVD command to the personal computer  4 , use of the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” makes it possible for the HDD video camera  2  to indirectly control the personal computer  4  to record content data on a DVD disk. That is, the same effect as that achieved by directly issuing the write-on-DVD command to the personal computer  4  can be achieved indirectly. 
         [0080]    Thus, the user of the HDD video camera  2  is allowed to transfer the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF to the personal computer  4  and write them on a DVD disk simply by touching the “Write on DVD” button P 2  without having to operate the personal computer  4  or install a special driver software program on the personal computer  4 . 
         [0081]    When the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” is not found in the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays the launcher menu screen LMG 1  on the monitor  36 . This provides an effect equivalent to that of supplying a command to display the launcher menu screen LMG 1  from the HDD video camera  2  to the personal computer  4 . 
         [0082]    When the “One-Touch DVD Writing” button P 11  on the launcher menu screen LMG 1  is pressed, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  also reads the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF from the HDD video camera  2  and records them on a DVD disk. That is, in the information processing system  1 , it is allowed to write image files on a DVD disk by operating either the video camera  2  or the personal computer  4 , and thus a great improvement in usability can be achieved. 
         [0083]    In the information processing system  1 , as described above, even in the state in which the personal computer  4  is set to serve as a master device and the HDD video camera  2  is set to serve as a slave device after they have been connected to each other. it is allowed to transfer a moving image file DF and/or a still image file SF from the HDD video camera  2  to the personal computer  4  and write them on a DVD disk simply by touching a button on the HDD video camera  2 . 
       Second Embodiment 
     General Configuration of Information Processing System 
       [0084]    In  FIG. 8 , similar parts to those in  FIG. 1  are denoted by similar reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 8 , an information processing system  101  according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes an HDD video camera  102  capable of taking a moving image according to the SD (Standard Definition) or HD (High Definition) standard, and a personal computer  4  connected to the HDD video camera  102  via a communication interface such as a USB cable  3 . 
         [0085]    When the SD recording mode is selected, the HDD video camera  102  is capable of creating a moving image file according to the SD standard (hereinafter, simply referred to as an SD moving image file) and storing the created SD moving image file in a hard disk drive disposed in the HDD video camera  102 . On the other hand, in the HD recording mode, the HDD video camera  102  is capable of storing a moving image file according to the HD standard (hereinafter referred to simply as an HD moving image file) in the hard disk drive disposed in the HDD video camera  102 . 
         [0086]    When the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , the personal computer  4  sets itself to serve as a master device and treats the HDD video camera  102  as a simple storage device. According to an application program installed on the personal computer  4 , the personal computer  4  is capable of reading an SD moving image file or an HD moving image file from the HDD video camera  102  and saving the read image file in the personal computer  4 . The personal computer  4  is also capable of printing an image according to the SD moving image file or the HD moving image file stored in the HDD video camera  102 . 
         [0087]    That is, in the state in which the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , the personal computer  4  serves as the master device and the HDD video camera  102  serves as the slave device, and the HDD video camera  102  is not allowed to directly control the personal computer  4 . 
         [0088]    However, in the information processing system  101  according to the present embodiment of the invention, the HDD video camera  102  serving as the slave device creates a function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” similar to the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”, which makes it possible for the HDD video camera  102  to indirectly control the personal computer  4  via the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” such that the personal computer  4  operates according to the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND”. 
         [0089]    Furthermore, in the information processing system  101 , when the SD moving image file or the HD moving image file read from the HDD video camera  102  serving as the slave device is stored on a recording medium by the personal computer  4 , a user is allowed to specify, by touching one of one-touch operation buttons, whether the SD moving image file or the HD moving image file is to be stored or both the SD moving image file and the HD moving image file are to be stored. 
         [0090]    In response to the selection made by the user, the HDD video camera  102  generates a camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” in which the type of content to be recorded is described, that is, information is described to indicate whether the file specified to be recorded is the SD moving image file or the HD moving image file or both the SD moving image file and the HD moving image file are specified to be recorded. This camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” is read by the personal computer  4  and the personal computer  4  performs a recording operation according to the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”. 
         [0091]    More specifically, in a case in which the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects that the type information described in the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” stored in the HDD video camera  102  indicates that the HD moving image file type has been specified as the type of a file to be recorded, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  extracts only HD moving image files from the HDD video camera  102  and records the extracted HD moving image files on a Blu-ray disk in a recordable format. 
         [0092]    On the other hand, when the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects that the type information described in the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” stored in the HDD video camera  102  indicates that the SD moving image file type has been specified as the type of a file to be recorded, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  extracts only SD moving image files from the HDD video camera  102  and records the extracted HD moving image files on a DVD disk in a format suitable for recording the SD moving image files. 
         [0093]    In a case in which the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects that the type information described in the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” stored in the HDD video camera  102  indicates that both the HD moving image file and the SD moving image file are specified to be recorded, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  first extracts HD moving image files from the HDD video camera  102  and records them on a Blu-ray disk and then extracts SD moving image files from the HDD video camera  102  and records them on a DVD disk which is mounted after the Blu-ray disk is removed. 
         [0094]    Note that the HDD video camera  102  serving as the slave device may record a SD moving image file or a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) still image on either a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk as required. 
         [0095]    In the information processing apparatus  101 , as described above, the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  via a cable communication interface such as the USB cable  3 . However, the connection does not necessarily need to be realized using a cable but the connection may be realized using a wireless communication interface such as a Bluetooh module (trademark) or IEEE802.11g wireless communication interface. 
       Circuit Configuration of the HDD Video Camera 
       [0096]    In  FIG. 9 , similar parts to those in  FIG. 2  are denoted by similar reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the HDD video camera  102  is similar in circuit configuration to the above-described HDD video camera  2  according to the first embodiment. The HDD video camera  102  operates with electric power supplied by a battery (not shown). The CPU  10  loads a basic program and various kinds of application programs from a ROM  11  into a RAM  12  and controls the whole HDD video camera  102  in accordance with the basic program and various kinds of application programs loaded in the RAM  12 . In response to pressing of one of a set of operation buttons  13  by a user, the CPU  10  performs various processes such as capturing of an image, a playback process, an editing process, etc. depending on which one of the set of buttons is pressed. 
         [0097]    More specifically, for example, when an image of a subject specified by a user is taken, in response to pressing of particular one of the set of buttons  13 , under the control of the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102 , it is allowed to select either the SD recording mode or the HD recording mode. Image data S 1  taken by the CCD camera  14  in the SD recording mode or image data S 11  in the HD recording mode is subjected to image processing performed by the image processor  15 . As a result, SD image data S 2  or HD image data S 12  is obtained. 
         [0098]    Concurrently, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  converts audio data S 3  detected by the microphone  17  into audio data S 4  by performing audio processing using the audio processor  18 . 
         [0099]    When the operation in the SD recording mode, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  produces an SD moving image file SDF including SD image data S 2  and associated audio data S 4  and stores the resultant SD moving image file SDF in the hard disk drive  16 . On the other hand, when the operation is in the HD recording mode, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  produces an HD moving image file HDF including HD image data S 12  and associated audio data S 4  and stores the resultant HD moving image file HDF in the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0100]    Thus, in the HDD video camera  102 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , a mixture of HD moving image files HDF and SD moving image files SDF is stored on a hard disk by the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0101]    When still image data S 5  is captured by the CCD camera  14 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  converts the still image data S 5  into still image data S 6  by performing image processing using the image processor  15  and stores the result as a still image file SF in the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0102]    When a user presses a particular one of the set of operation buttons  13  to select a particular SD moving file SDF, an HD moving image file HDF, or a still image file SF, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  reads the selected image file from the hard disk drive  16  and displays a moving image or a still image on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  19  according to the read SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF. 
         [0103]    The CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB interface  20  and the USB cable  3  ( FIG. 8 ) so that the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF can be transferred from the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4  and saved therein, or the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF is transferred from the HDD video camera  102  and recorded on a removable recording medium such as a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk via the personal computer  4 . 
         [0104]    The recording media on which to record the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF are not limited to the DVD disk and the Blu-ray disk, but other types of recording media such as a HD (High Definition)-DVD disk, a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) disk, or a flash memory may also be used. 
       Circuit Configuration of the Personal Computer 
       [0105]    In the second embodiment, the personal computer  4  in the information processing system  101  is similar in circuit configuration to the personal computer  4  according to the first embodiment described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and thus a duplicated explanation thereof is omitted here. 
       Processing Sequence of Writing Data on Disk Depending on the Type of Content Supplied from HDD Video Camera 
       [0106]    In the present embodiment, in the state in which the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  in the information processing system  101  via the USB cable  3 , the HDD video camera  102  set to operate as the slave device is allowed to indirectly control the personal computer  4  serving as the master device such that an SD moving image file SDF or an HD moving image file HDF is transmitted from the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4  and is recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk, depending on the type of the image file supplied from the HDD video camera  102 , using the DVD drive  37  of the personal computer  4 . In this processing sequence, a preprocessing is first performed by the HDD video camera  102  as described below with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
       Pre-processing Performed by HDD Video Camera 
       [0107]    If the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  has started a pre-processing routine at RT 1  in  FIG. 11 , the CPU  10  advances the processing flow to step SP 21 . In step SP 21 , if pressing on a “Write on Disk” button (not shown) in an OSD (On Screen Display) menu displayed on the LCD  19  is detected, a content type selection screen SG such as that shown in  FIG. 12  for allowing setting of disk writing conditions is displayed on the LCD  19 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 22 . 
         [0108]    In this content type selection screen SG, a message “Select Content Type To Be Written Using One-Touch Button” is displayed in a lower area, and an “All” button B 1 , an “HD” button B 2 , and an “SD” button B 3  are disposed in a central area. The “All” button B 1  is used to select all image files including SD moving image files SDF, HD moving image files HDF, and still image files SF stored in the HDD video camera  102  as image files to be written on a recording medium by the personal computer  4 . The “HD” button B 2  is used to select HD moving image files HDF and still image files SF as image files to be written on a recording medium by the personal computer  4 . The “SD” button B 3  is used to select SD moving image files SDF and still image files SF as image files to be written on a recording medium by the personal computer. The content type selection screen SG also has a “Back” button B 4 . 
         [0109]    The “All” button B 1 , the “HD” button B 2 , and the “SD” button B 3  each have a check box disposed to the right of an icon representing a still image file SF. When this check box is unchecked, still image files SF are not written on a recording medium. 
         [0110]    In step SP 22 , if the “All” button B 2  in the content type selection screen SG is selected by a user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  describes type information so as to indicate that all image files including SD moving image files SDF, HD moving image files HDF, and still image files SF are specified as image files to be written on a recording medium, and the CPU  10  temporarily stores the type information in the RAM  12 . In a case in which the “HD” button B 2  is selected by a user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  describes the type information so as to indicate that HD moving image files HDF and still image files SF are specified as image files to be written and the CPU  10  temporarily stores the type information in the RAM  12 . On the other hand, when the “SD” button B 3  is selected by a user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  describes the type information so as to indicate that SD moving image files SDF and still image files SF are specified as image files to be written and the CPU  10  temporarily stores the type information in the RAM  12 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 23  and the pre-processing is ended. 
       Processing Sequence of Writing Data on Disk Depending on the Type of Content 
       [0111]    After the completion of the pre-processing described above, if the HDD video camera  102  of the information processing system  101  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , it becomes possible for the HDD video camera  102  serving as a slave device to indirectly control the personal computer  4  serving as a master device such that a specified combination of SD moving image files SDF, HD moving image files HDF and/or still image files SF stored in the HDD video camera  102  is recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk by the DVD drive  37  of the personal computer  4 , depending on the types of contents included in the specified combination of image files, as described in detail below. 
         [0112]    As shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , in step SP 31 , if the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  detects that the HDD video camera  102  is electrically (physically) connected with the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 , displays a pop-up window PW 2  such as that shown in  FIG. 15  on the LCD  19  ( FIG. 9 ). Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to a next step SP 32 . 
         [0113]    In the present example, a text message “Camera is going to be connected to personal computer” is displayed in the pop-up window PW 2  to indicate that although the HDD video camera  102  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , the HDD video camera  102  is in a state in which the HDD video camera  102  is not yet logically connected to the personal computer  4 , and thus the HDD video camera  102  is not yet set to operate as a slave device of the personal computer  4  and the HDD video camera  102  is allowed to operate independently of the personal computer  4 . 
         [0114]    In the pop-up window PW 2 , a “Simply Connect to PC” button P 3  and a “Write on Disk” button P 4 , which are operable in response to touching, are disposed in an area below the text message “Camera is going to be connected to personal computer”. 
         [0115]    When the “Simply Connect to PC” button P 3  is selected by a user of the HDD video camera  102 , a SD moving image file SDF, an HD moving image file HDF, and/or a still image file SF taken by the HDD video camera  102  are transferred to the personal computer  4  and stored therein. When the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is selected, the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF are transferred to the personal computer  4  and recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. 
         [0116]    In step SP 32  the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  determines whether the “Write on Disk” button P 4  in the pop-up window PW 2  has been touched by the user. If the answer to step SP 32  is affirmative, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 33 . 
         [0117]    In step SP 33 , in response to the detection, in step SP 32 , of touching to the “Write on Disk” button P 4  by the user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  creates a function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” for causing the personal computer  4  to start the disk writing program and a camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” in which the type information produced in the pre-processing described above and temporarily stored in the RAM  12  is described, and the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  stores these two files in the hard disk drive  16 . Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 34 . 
         [0118]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” described above includes manufacturer information (in one byte) indicating an ID (identification) uniquely assigned to a camera manufacturer described in a filed area, model number information (in one byte indicating a model number uniquely assigned to the HDD video camera  102  described in a model name area, attribute information associated with the HDD video camera  102 , and the type information described in a one-touch button selection area and indicating which one of buttons (the “All” button B 1 , the “HD” button B 2 , and the “SD” button B 3 ) on the content type selection screen SG has been selected by a user. 
         [0119]    The CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  holds a file system FS 2  in which the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” are disposed. As shown in  FIG. 17 , this file system FS 2  is located direction below a root direction and in parallel to a “DCIM” folder in which an “AVCHD” folder in which various HD moving image content files are stored, an “MP_ROOT” folder in which various SD moving image content files are stored, and still image files (“DSC0001.JPG”, “DSC00002.JPG”, “DSC00003.JPG”, etc.) are stored. 
         [0120]    A “BDMV” folder for storing files associated with Blu-ray disks is formed under the “AVCHD” folder. In this “BDMV” folder, there are stored an index information file “INDEX.BDM” in which information associated with Blu-ray disk images is described, an attribute information file “MOVIEOBJ.BDM”, play list files (“00000.MPL”, “00001.MPL”) clip information files (“01000.CPI”, “02000.CPI”), and HD moving image files HDF (“01000.MTS”, “02000.MTS”). 
         [0121]    In an “MP_ROOT” folder for storing various files of SD moving image contents, there are stored content information management files SIF (“INDEX0001.ANP”, “INDEX0001.ANT”, “INDEX0001.ANM”) in which information needed to manage contents, such as a play list, thumbnail images, and meta data, and are described. In a “100PNV01” folder, SD moving image data are stored as SD moving image files SDF with an extension “.MPG” (“M2U00001.MPG”, “M2U00002.MPG”, “M2U00003.MPG”, etc.). 
         [0122]    Because the HDD video camera  102  stores the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” directly under the root directory, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  can directly access the file system FS 2  to read the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” without having to go into a deep hierarchical level. This allows it to easily and quickly determine whether or not the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” exists and read the content of the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”. 
         [0123]    When the answer to step SP 32  is negative, that is, when the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is not touched by the user, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  advances the process to step SP 34 . In step SP 34 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  creates the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” and advances the process to step SP 35  without producing the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND”. 
         [0124]    The step SP 34  performed in the above-described manner is necessary because even in the case in which the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is not pressed, it is necessary to request the personal computer  4  to treat the HDD video camera  102  not as a simple hard disk drive but as a video camera. Thus, when the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4 , if the personal computer  4  detects the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”, the personal computer  4  determines the type of the video camera in accordance with the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” and displays a launcher menu screen LMG 2  (described later) corresponding to the type of the video camera. 
         [0125]    In step SP 35 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  logically connects the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4 . such that the personal computer  4  operates as a master device and the HDD video camera  102  operates as a slave device. The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 36 . 
         [0126]    In step SP 36 , if the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects that the HDD video camera  102  has been logically connected to the personal computer  4 , then the processing flow proceeds to a next step SP 37 . 
         [0127]    In step SP 37 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  mounts a file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102  from the HDD video camera  102  connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable  3 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 38 . 
         [0128]    In step SP 38 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  checks the file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102  to determine whether the file system FS 2  includes the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND”. If the answer to step SP 38  is affirmative, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 39 . 
         [0129]    In step SP 39 , because the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  has detected in the previous step that the file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102  includes the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND”, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  automatically starts a DVD writing program stored in the hard disk drive  34  in accordance with an information processing apparatus control program resident in a RAM  22 . Thereafter, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 40 . 
         [0130]    In step SP 40 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  reads the content type information described in the one-touch button setting area of the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” stored in the RAM  12  of the HDD video camera  102 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 41 . 
         [0131]    In step SP 41 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines, from the content type information, which one of the image file types (the SD moving image files SDF or the HD moving image files HDF) of files stored in the HDD video camera  102  is specified as the image file type of files to be recorded, and the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  further determines whether to record image files on a Blu-ray disk, which is a disk for recording HD moving image files HDF, according to the specified image file type. 
         [0132]    More specifically, when the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines that HD moving image files HDF are specified to be recorded, the CPU  30  determines that the files should be recorded on a Blu-ray disk, which is a disk of the most suitable type for recording HD moving image files. On the other hand, when SD moving image files SDF are specified to be recorded, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines that the files should be recorded on a DVD disk, which is disk of the most suitable type for recording SD moving image files. 
         [0133]    In a case in which it is determined in step SP 41  that the image file to be recorded is not of the HD moving image file HDF but of the SD moving image file SDF, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the processing flow to step SP 43 . 
         [0134]    On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP 41  that the type of the image file to be recorded is the HD moving image file HDF, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines that the file should be recorded on a Blu-ray disk, and thus the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the process to step SP 42 . 
         [0135]    In step SP 42 , according to the disk writing program, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  requests the HDD video camera  102  to transfer the HD moving image file HDF and the still image file SF. If the HD moving image file HDF and the still image file SF are transmitted to the personal computer  4  from the HDD video camera  2  in response to the request, the received HD moving image file HDF and the still image file SF are recorded on a Blu-ray disk using the DVD drive  27 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 43 . 
         [0136]    In step SP 43 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines, on the basis of the content type information, whether the type of the image file to be recorded is the type of SD moving image file thereby determining whether the image file should be recorded on a DVD disk which is a disk of the most suitable type for recording SD moving image files SDF. 
         [0137]    If the answer to step SP 43  is negative, it is determined that the type of the file to be recorded is neither the HD moving image file HDF nor the SD moving image file SDF. In this case, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  returns the processing flow to step SP 41  to re-determine the content type. 
         [0138]    If the answer to step SP 43  is affirmative, that is, if the type of the image file to be recorded is the SD moving image file SDF, it is determined that the image file should be recorded on a DVD disk. In this case, the processing flow proceeds to step SP 44 . 
         [0139]    In step SP 44 , according to the disk writing program, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  requests the HDD video camera  102  to transfer the SD moving image file and the still image file SF, and records the SD moving image file and the still image file SF, transmitted from the HDD video camera  102  in response to the request, on a DVD disk in the DVD video format. The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 47 . 
         [0140]    In step SP 47 , because the process of writing image files on a disk depending on the content type in response to pressing on the “Write on Disk” button P 4  has been completed, the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  and the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  release the logical connection between the HDD video camera  102  and the personal computer  4 . As a result, the state is released in which the personal computer  4  operates as the master device and the HDD video camera  102  serves as the slave device. The CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the process to step SP 50 , while the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  advances the process to step SP 48 . 
         [0141]    If the logical connection between the personal computer  4  and the HDD video camera  102  has been released and the master-slave relation has been released, then in step SP  48 , the CPU  10  of the HDD video camera  102  deletes the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” from the file system FS 2 . The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 49  to end the process. Note that steps SP 47  and SP 48  do not necessarily be executed, but these steps may be executed as required. 
         [0142]    Thus, according to the present embodiment, when the HDD video camera  102  is connected to the personal computer  4  via the USB cable, recording is performed in a proper manner according to the intention of the user. 
         [0143]    In a case in which the answer to step SP 38  is negative, that is, when the file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102  does not include the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND”, it is not necessary to start the disk writing program, and thus the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  advances the process to step SP 45 . 
         [0144]    In step SP 45 , because the file system FS 2  of the. HDD video camera  102  does not include the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” but includes only the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  starts the default launcher application program according to the information processing apparatus control program. The processing flow then proceeds to step SP 46 . 
         [0145]    In step SP 46 , according to the launcher application program, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays the launcher menu screen LMG 2  such as that shown in  FIG. 18 , in which similar parts to those shown in  FIG. 7  are denoted by similar reference numeral, on the monitor  36 . This launcher menu screen LMG 2  is similar to the launcher menu screen LMG 1  except that the “One-Touch DVD Writing” button P 11  is replaced with a “One-Touch Disk Writing” button P 21 . 
         [0146]    On this launcher menu screen LMG 2 , if the “One-Touch Disk Writing” button P 21  is clicked by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  starts the disk writing program and performs the disk writing process depending on the content type ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ). More specifically, the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and the still image file SF supplied from the HDD video camera  102  are respectively recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk depending on the file type, thereby obtaining a DVD disk and/or a Blu-ray disk on which the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF are properly recorded. When the “Write on Disk” button P 4  in the pop-up window PW 2  of the HDD video camera  102  is touched, the step SP 33  and following steps are performed. 
         [0147]    Note that the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  records only SD moving image files SDF, HD moving image files HDF, and/or still image files SF which have not yet recorded on a recording medium. If no such image files are found in the HDD video camera  102 , an error message is displayed to inform the user of that there is no new file to be recorded. 
         [0148]    When the “Differential PC Backup” button P 12  is touched by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines whether the HDD video camera  102  includes new SD moving image files SDF, HD moving image files HDF, and/or still image files SF which have not yet been stored in the personal computer  4 . If such image files are detected, only the detected image files are stored on the hard disk drive  34  of the personal computer  4  or on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. If there is no difference between image files stored in the HDD video camera  102  and image files captured by the personal computer  4 , an error message is displayed to inform the user of this fact. 
         [0149]    When the “Vie Image” button P 13  on the launcher menu screen LMG 2  is clicked by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays an image of the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file. SF captured from the HDD video camera  102  or an image of an image file downloaded from a site on the Internet. 
         [0150]    When the “DVD Authoring” button P 14  is clicked by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  allows the user to edit the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF into a desired form in which to record the image file on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. In this case, the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF supplied from the HDD video camera  102  is not directly recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk but recorded after being edited. 
         [0151]    When the “Play List” button P 15  is clicked by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  records the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk in the order specified in the play list stored in the HDD video camera  102 . If the HDD video camera  102  has the play list, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  converts the still image file SF compressed in the PEG form into an MPEG2 form so that the still image file SF is allowed to be recorded in the same form as that of the SD moving image file SDF or the HD moving image file HDF, and then the specified image files are recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. When there is no play list, the still image file SF in the JPEG form is directly recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. 
         [0152]    That is, when there is a play list, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  records the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF in accordance with the play list on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk after converting the still image SF compressed in the JPEG form into the MPEG2 form so that all image files are in the MPEG2 form. This makes it possible even for an optical disk player capable of playing back only MPEG2 moving images to play back still images SF. 
         [0153]    In the case in which there is no play list and thus the JPEG still image is directly recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk by the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4 , if an optical disk player is capable of playing back still image files, it is possible to also read still image file SF and display an image on the monitor  36  according to the still image file SF. 
         [0154]    When the “Settings” button P 16  is clicked by a user, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  allows the user to modify the details of settings of conditions under which to record the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. When the “Close” button P 17  is clicked by a user, the launcher menu screen LGM 2  is closed. 
       Operation and Advantages of the Second Embodiment 
       [0155]    In the information processing system  101  configured in the above-described manner according to the second embodiment, when the “Write on Disk” button P 4  in the pop-up window PW 2  displayed on the LCD  19  of the HDD video camera  102  is touched by a user, the function indemnification file “OTDISCBN.IND” is created and stored on the hard disk drive  16 . Furthermore, the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” is created in which type information indicating the content type to be recorded by the personal computer  4 , and the created camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” is stored on the hard disk drive  16 . 
         [0156]    At this stage of the processing, the HDD video camera  102  has completed the pre-process necessary to indirectly control the personal computer  4 . When the HDD video camera  102  is logically connected to the personal computer  4 , if the personal computer  4  detects the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” stored in the HDD video camera  102 , then, according to the information processing apparatus control program, the personal computer  4  starts the disk writing program, captures the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, or the still image file SF according to the type information described in the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”, and records the captured image file on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk depending on the image file type. 
         [0157]    Thus, in the state in which the HDD video camera  102  is logically connected to the personal computer  4  such that the HDD video camera  102  operates as a slave device and the personal computer  4  operates as a master device and thus the HDD video camera  102  operating as the slave device is not allowed to directly issue a write-on-disk command to the personal computer  4 , use of the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” makes it possible for the HDD video camera  102  to indirectly control the personal computer  4  to record a specified content on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk depending on the content type. That is, the same effect as that achieved by directly issuing the write-on-disk command to the personal computer  4  can be achieved indirectly. 
         [0158]    Thus, the user of the HDD video camera  102  is allowed to transfer the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF to the personal computer  4  and write them on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk simply by touching a button on the HDD video camera  102  without having to operate the personal computer  4  or install a special driver software program on the personal computer  4 . 
         [0159]    When the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines that the file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102  does not include the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND”, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  displays on the display  36  the launcher menu screen LMG 2  corresponding to the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND”. Thus, it is possible to regard that a command to display the launcher menu screen LMG 2  is indirectly issued from the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4 . 
         [0160]    When the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects that the “One-Touch Disk Writing” button P 21  on the launcher menu screen LMG 2  has been clicked, the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  reads the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF from the HDD video camera  102  and records them on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk thereby obtaining the DVD disk or the Blu-ray disk on which the files have been recorded. Thus, in the information processing system  101 , the operation of writing files on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk can be initiated by either the video camera  102  or the personal computer  4 . This provides a great improvement in usability. 
         [0161]    When the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  determines that the HDD video camera  102  has an SD moving image file SDF, an HD moving image file HDF, and/or a still image file SF which have not yet been recorded by the personal computer  4 , the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  can additionally record only these files on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk. This prevents the same content as that already existing on the DVD disk or the Blu-ray disk from being recorded in a duplicated manner. Thus, it is possible to use recording media in an efficient manner. 
         [0162]    In the information processing system  101 , as described above, even in the state in which the personal computer  4  is set to serve as a master device and the HDD video camera  102  is set to serve as a slave device after they have been connected to each other, a user is allowed to, simply by touching a button on the HDD video camera  102 , transfer an SD moving image file SDF, an HD moving image file HDF, and/or a still image file SF from the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4  and write them on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk suitable for recording the files depending on the content type thereby easily obtaining a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk on which the files have been recorded. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0163]    In the information processing system  1  according to the first embodiment described above, it is assumed that the moving image file DF and/or the still image file SF to be recorded are supplied to the personal computer  4  from the hard disk drive  16  disposed in the inside of the of the HDD video camera  2 . Alternatively, image files to be recorded may be supplied to the personal computer  4  from another type of recording medium such as a removable video tape, a DVD disk, or a semiconductor memory mounted on a video camera. 
         [0164]    In the information processing system  101  according to the second embodiment described above, it is assumed that the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF to be recorded on a Blu-ray disk or a DVD disk are supplied to the personal computer  4  from the hard disk drive disposed in the inside of the HDD video camera  102 . Alternatively, the SD moving image file SDF, the HD moving image file HDF, and/or the still image file SF to be recorded may be supplied to the personal computer  4  from another type of recording medium such as a high-capacity storage disk or a high-capacity semiconductor memory mounted on a video camera. 
         [0165]    In the first and second embodiments described above, it is assumed that the hard disk drive  16  is firmly disposed in the inside of the HDD video camera  2  or  102 . Alternatively, the hard disk drive  16  may be removably attached to the video camera  2  or  102 . 
         [0166]    In the first embodiment described above, when the “Write on DVD” button P 2  in the pop-up window PW 1  is touched by a user, the HDD video camera  2  produces the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” which causes the personal computer  4  to start the process of writing files on a DVD disk. Alternatively, for example, a “Memory Stick (trademark of Sony Corp.) Writing” button may be disposed in the pop-up window PW 1  so that when the “Memory Stick Writing” button is pressed, a function identification file for causing the personal computer  4  to perform a process of writing files in a memory stick may be produced and stored. 
         [0167]    In the first embodiment described above, the “Write on DVD” button P 2  is displayed in the pop-up window PW 1  so that a user is allowed to operate it by touching it. Alternatively, the “Write on DVD” button P 2  may be formed by hardware on a case of the HDD video camera  2  so that a user is allowed to operate it by pressing it. 
         [0168]    In the second embodiment described above, the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is displayed in the pop-up window PW 2  so that a user is allowed to operate it by touching it. Alternatively, a “Write on Disk” button may be formed by hardware on a case of the HDD video camera  102  so that a user is allowed to operate it by pressing it. 
         [0169]    In the first and second embodiments described above, when the HDD video camera  2  or  102  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , the pop-up window PW 1  or PW 2  is displayed on the LCD  16  of the HDD video camera  2  or  102 . Alternatively, the pop-up window PW 1  or PW 2  may be displayed on the LCD  19  when a button in a menu is touched even in a state in which the HDD video camera  2  or  102  is not electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , and the HDD video camera  2  or  102  may produce the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” or “OTDISCBN.IND” when a button in the pop-up window PW 1  or PW 2  is touched. 
         [0170]    In the first and second embodiments described above, when the CPU  30  of the personal computer  4  detects the presence of the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” in the file system FS 1  of the HDD video camera  2  or the presence of the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” in the file system FS 2  of the HDD video camera  102 , the DVD writing program or the disk writing program stored in the hard disk drive  24  is started by the information processing apparatus control program resident in the RAM  22 . Alternatively, the information processing apparatus control program may be installed from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD disk or may be downloaded from a site on the Internet. 
         [0171]    In the first and second embodiments described above, the information processing system  1  or  101  is formed by connecting the personal computer  4  serving as the information processing apparatus to the HDD video camera  2  or  102  serving ass the slave device. Alternatively, an information processing system may be formed by connecting an information processing apparatus capable of executing various application programs to realize various functions, such as a portable telephone device or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) device, to an electronic apparatus serving as a content output apparatus capable of taking an image and outputting it such as a portable telephone device, a PDA device, or a notebook personal computer. 
         [0172]    In the first embodiment described above, a moving image file DF is transferred as content data from the HDD video camera  2  to the personal computer  4  and is recorded on a DVD disk. Alternatively, other types of data such as a still image file, an audio file, a gram program file, a text file, etc. may be transferred to the personal computer  4  and recorded on a DVD disk. 
         [0173]    In the second embodiment described above, an SD moving image file SDF, an HD moving image file HDF, and/or a still image file SF are transferred as content data from the HDD video camera  102  to the personal computer  4  and recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk depending on the content type. Alternatively, other types of data such as an audio file, a gram program file, a text file, etc. may be transferred to the personal computer  4  and recorded on a DVD disk and may be recorded on a DVD disk or a Blu-ray disk depending on the data size or the data format. 
         [0174]    In the first embodiment described above, after the HDD video camera  2  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , when the “Write on DVD” button P 2  is touched, the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” is created. Alternatively, when the “Write on DVD” button P 2  is touched at an arbitrary time before or after the HDD video camera  2  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , the function identification file “DVDBURN.IND” may be created. 
         [0175]    In the second embodiment described above, after the HDD video camera  102  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , when the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is touched, the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” are created. Alternatively, when the “Write on Disk” button P 4  is touched at an arbitrary time after or before the HDD video camera  102  is electrically (physically) connected to the personal computer  4 , the function identification file “OTDISCBN.IND” and the camera identification file “MODELCFG.IND” may be created. 
         [0176]    In the second embodiment described above, the determination is made in step SP 40  as to whether the content data should be recorded on a Blu-ray disk, which is a disk of the type suitable for recording an HD moving image file HDF, and the determination is further made in step SP 42  as to whether the content data should be recorded on a DVD disk, which a disk of the type suitable for recording an SD moving image file SDF. Alternatively, the determination in step SP 42  may be made first and then the determination in step SP 40  may be made. 
         [0177]    In the first and second embodiments described above, when the HDD video camera  2  or  102  has a play list, still image files SF compressed in the JPEG form are converted into the MPEG2 form and recorded together with other image files in the MPEG2 form, while JPEG still image files SF are directly recorded without being converted into the MPEG2 form when there is no play list. Alternatively, regardless of whether there is a play list, still image files SF compressed in the JPEG form may be converted into the MPEG2 form before being recorded or may be directly recorded without being converted. 
         [0178]    In the first and second embodiments described above, the HDD video camera  2  or  102  serving as the content output apparatus is assumed to be configured so as to include the CPU  10  serving as the function identification file creation means and the type identification file generation means and so as to include the RAM  12  serving as the file storage means, while the personal computer  4  serving as the information processing apparatus is assumed to be configured so as to include the USB interface  28  serving as the detection means and the CPU  30  serving as the control means. Alternatively, one or all of the function identification file creation means, the type identification file generation means, and the file storage means in the content output apparatus may be realized in another circuit configuration, and one or both of the detection means and the control means of the information processing apparatus may be realized in another circuit configuration. 
         [0179]    It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.