Patent ID: 7027978

Claim:
An information processing apparatus for which a plurality of external data recording and reproducing apparatuses for digitizing, and recording inputted signals in a recording medium are connectable, comprising: connection number allocation means for, after connecting the external data recording and reproducing apparatuses to the information processing apparatus, allocating a connection number to each of the connected external data recording and reproducing apparatuses; identification code acquisition means for acquiring an identification code of the external data recording and reproducing apparatuses connected to the information processing apparatus; storage means for storing each connection number allocated by the connection number allocation means and the identification code acquired by the identification code acquisition means; display means for displaying at least one of the connection number and the identification code stored in the storage means; first selection means for selecting at least one of a desired connection number and a desired identification code, from at least one of the connection number and the identification code displayed by the display means; second selection means for selecting a desired external data recording and reproducing apparatus from the connected plurality of external data recording and reproducing apparatuses based on the selection by the first selection means; and control means for carrying out controls so that at least one of a control program and control data of said external data recording and reproducing apparatus selected by the second selection means may be changed.