Recording/reproduction apparatus capable of exchanging information with storage apparatus mounted on recording medium assembly

Abstract

To read out an index to data recorded in a recording medium such as a cassette without mounting the recording medium on a reproduction apparatus to reproduce the data. When a cassette is inserted into a compartment in a VTR, a switch in the VTR is pushed by the case of the cassette, detecting the insertion of the cassette into the compartment. At that time, a signal indicating the insertion of the cassette into the compartment is supplied to a microcomputer from the switch. Notified by the signal, the microcomputer issues a command to a reader/writer, requesting the reader/writer to read out information on data from a memory card mounted on the cassette for recording the data through an antenna. With the cassette located outside the compartment, on the other hand, the microcomputer issues a command to a reader/writer, requesting the reader/writer to read out the information from the memory card through another antenna.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A recording/reproduction apparatus for recording or reproducing data into and from a recording-medium assembly having a storage apparatus mounted thereon for storing predetermined information, said recording/reproduction apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of information transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving said information to and from said storage apparatus;    a switching means for switching said information transmitting/receiving means from one to another;    a reading means for reading out said information stored in said storage apparatus through one of said information transmitting/receiving means selected by said switching means; and    an information supplying means for supplying update information for updating said information stored in said storage apparatus through one of said information transmitting/receiving means selected by said switching means.    
     
     
         2 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said information is information on data recorded in said recording-medium assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1  further having a medium accommodating means for accommodating said recording-medium assembly wherein said switching means switches said information transmitting/receiving means from one to another in accordance with whether or not said recording-medium assembly exists in said medium accommodating means.  
     
     
         4 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein one of said information transmitting g/receiving means is used for exchanging said information between said storage apparatus and said reading means when said recording-medium assembly exists inside said medium accommodating means while another one of said information transmitting/receiving means is used for exchanging said information between said storage apparatus and said reading means when said recording-medium assembly exists outside said medium accommodating means.  
     
     
         5 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1  further having a power supplying means for supplying power to said storage apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said information is preset information.  
     
     
         7 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said information includes identification data for identifying said data recorded in said recording medium assembly.  
     
     
         8 . A recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said storage apparatus comprises: 
 a storage means for storing said information;  
 a power inputting means for inputting power from a power supplying means;  
 an information providing means for providing said information stored in said storage means to said reading means through one of said information transmitting/receiving means; and  
 an information updating means for updating said information stored in said storage means with said update information supplied by said information supplying means through one of said information transmitting/receiving means.  
 
     
     
         9 . A recording/reproduction method for recording or reproducing data into and from a recording-medium assembly having a storage apparatus for storing predetermined information mounted thereon, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one of a plurality of information transmitting/receiving means for use in an operation to read out or write said information from or into said storage apparatus through a selected one of said information transmitting/receiving means; and    reading out said information from said storage apparatus through said selected information transmitting/receiving means and updating said information stored in said storage apparatus through said selected information transmitting/receiving means.    
     
     
         10 . An input/output apparatus for reading out and writing information on data from and into a storage apparatus mounted on a recording-medium assembly for recording said data, said input/output apparatus comprising: 
 an information transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving said information to and from said storage apparatus;    an information reading means for reading out said information received through said information transmitting/receiving means and stored in the storage apparatus; and    an information outputting means for outputting said information read out by said information reading means.    
     
     
         11 . An input/output apparatus according to  claim 10  comprising an information updating means for updating said information received through said information transmitting/receiving means and stored in said storage apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . An input/output apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said information transmitting/receiving means transmits said information to said storage apparatus intermittently at a predetermined period.  
     
     
         13 . An input/output apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said information transmitting/receiving means shortens said period at which said information is transmitted to said storage apparatus when information is received from said storage apparatus.  
     
     
         14 . An input/output method for reading out and writing information on data from and into a storage apparatus mounted on a recording-medium assembly for recording said data, said method comprising the steps of: 
 reading out said information from said storage apparatus; and    outputting said information read out from said storage apparatus.    
     
     
         15 . A storage apparatus for storing information as well as transmitting and receiving information to and from an external apparatus, said storage apparatus comprising: 
 a storage means for storing said information;    a power inputting means for inputting power supplied by said external apparatus;    an information supplying means for providing said information stored in said storage means to said external apparatus; and    an information updating means for updating said information stored in said storage means with said information received from said external apparatus.    
     
     
         16 . A storage apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein: 
 said storage apparatus is attached to a recording medium assembly for recording data;  
 said storage apparatus is used for storing information to be added to said data recorded in said recording-medium assembly and/or to be used for updating said data.  
 
     
     
         17 . An information processing apparatus for reproducing data recorded in a recording-medium assembly from said recording-medium assembly on which a storage apparatus for storing predetermined information is mounted and for processing said reproduced data, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a data reproducing means for reproducing data from said recording-medium assembly;    an information receiving means for receiving information stored in said storage apparatus from said storage apparatus; and    an information adding/updating means for adding information received by said information receiving means to said data reproduced by said data reproducing means and/or using said information for updating said data.    
     
     
         18 . An information processing method for reproducing data recorded in a recording-medium assembly from said recording-medium assembly on which a storage apparatus for storing predetermined information is mounted and for processing said reproduced data, said information processing method comprising: 
 a data reproducing step of reproducing data from said recording-medium assembly;    an information receiving step of receiving information stored in said storage apparatus from said storage apparatus; and    an information adding/updating step of adding information received at said information receiving setp to said data reproduced at said data reproducing step and/or using said information for updating said data.    
     
     
         19 . An information transmitting apparatus for transmitting data and predetermined information to a recording/reproduction apparatus for recording or reproducing said data into and from a recording-medium assembly, on which a storage apparatus for storing said predetermined information is mounted, said information transmitting apparatus comprising: 
 an information superposing means for superposing said information to be stored in said storage apparatus on said data to be recorded into said recording-medium assembly; and    an information transmitting means for transmitting said data with said information superposed thereon by said information superposing means.    
     
     
         20 . An information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said information is information on said data.  
     
     
         21 . An information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said storage apparatus comprises: 
 a storage means for storing said information;  
 a power inputting means for inputting power supplied by a predetermined external apparatus;  
 an information supplying means for providing said information stored in said storage means to said external apparatus; and  
 an information updating means for updating said information stored in said storage means with said information received from said external apparatus.  
 
     
     
         22 . An information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said information superposing means inserts said information into an interval of a vertical-synchronization signal of a broadcasted signal conveying said data.