Content management system and associated methodology

Abstract

A communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus. The second apparatus has a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium, a communicator for communicating data with the first apparatus, an editor capable of editing the management information and a controller for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communicator based on the management information edited by the editor.

1 . A communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus configured to transmit data to said first apparatus, said second apparatus comprising: 
 a second storage medium configured to store management information of audio data to be transferred to said first storage medium;    a communication unit configured to communicate audio data with said first apparatus;    a comparison unit configured to compare management information of audio data stored in said first storage medium with management information stored in said second storage medium of said audio data stored in said first storage medium; and    a control unit configured to control transfer of audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication unit based on said management information,    wherein said first apparatus is portable and comprises a reproducing unit configured to reproduce audio data stored in said first storage medium, and said control unit controls transfer of said audio data from said second apparatus to said first apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparison unit.    
   
   
       2 . The communication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an edit unit configured to edit said management information.    
   
   
       3 . The communication system according to  claim 2 , wherein said edit unit is capable of editing said management information and said control unit controls to store said management information edited by said edit unit to said second storage medium even when communication is not established between said first apparatus and said second apparatus, 
 wherein said second storage medium is non-volatile.    
   
   
       4 . The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises: 
 a display configured to provide a first window for displaying audio data identification information based on said management information of said audio data to be transferred to said first storage medium, and a second window for displaying audio data identification information based on management information of said audio data stored in said second storage medium.    
   
   
       5 . The communication system according to  claim 4 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises: 
 an instruction unit configured to select said audio data stored in said second storage medium and assigning identification information indicating said first apparatus to said selected audio data, and    wherein said edit unit edits said selected audio data based on said assigned identification information.    
   
   
       6 . The communication system according to  claim 5 , wherein said first window corresponds to said identification information indicating said first apparatus; 
 said instruction unit assigns said identification information to said selected audio data by making an instruction to transfer said selected audio data to said first window; and    said edit unit controls said second storage medium so that said second storage medium stores said identification information assigned to said selected audio data, said identification information being displayed on said first window.    
   
   
       7 . The communication system according to  claim 6 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises: 
 a memory configured to store audio data temporarily;    wherein said edit unit controls said memory unit so that said memory stores said selected audio data and said identification information assigned to said selected audio data based on said instruction by said instruction unit.    
   
   
       8 . The communication system according to  claim 6 , wherein said display displays said identification information assigned to said selected audio data on said first window based on said instruction by said instruction unit.  
   
   
       9 . The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit controls said second apparatus so that said second apparatus receives identification of said first apparatus by way of said communication unit; and 
 said control unit controls transfer of said audio stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication unit based on said identification information received by said second apparatus.    
   
   
       10 . The communication system according to  claim 9 , wherein said second storage medium stores identification information of a plurality of apparatuses; and 
 when said identification information of said plurality of apparatuses stored in said second storage medium contains identification information received from said first storage medium, said control unit permits transmission of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium.    
   
   
       11 . The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises: 
 a transmission instructing unit configured to give a transmission instruction to said control unit so that said control unit controls transfer of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.    
   
   
       12 . The communication system according to  claim 10 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises: 
 a judging unit configured to make a judgment whether said first apparatus is mounted; and    wherein when said control unit receives a transmission instruction by said transmission instructing unit and it is judged by said judging unit that said first apparatus is mounted, said control means controls transfer of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication unit on said management information.    
   
   
       13 . A communication apparatus configured to transmit audio data to another apparatus having a first storage medium comprising: 
 a second storage medium configured to store management information of audio data stored in said first storage medium;    a communication unit configured to communicate audio data with said other apparatus;    a comparison unit configured to compare management information of audio data stored in said first storage medium with said management information stored in said second storage medium of said audio data stored in said first storage medium; and    a control unit configured to control transfer of audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication unit based on said management information,    wherein said control unit controls transfer of said audio data from said communication apparatus to said another apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparison unit.    
   
   
       14 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an edit unit configured to edit said management information.    
   
   
       15 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said edit unit is capable of editing said management information and said control unit controls to store said management information edited by said edit unit to said second storage medium even when communication is not established between said first apparatus and said other apparatus, 
 wherein said second storage medium is non-volatile.    
   
   
       16 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a display configured to provide a first window for displaying audio data identification information based on management information of audio data to be transferred to said first storage medium, and a second window for displaying audio data identification information based on management information of audio data stored in said second storage medium.    
   
   
       17 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 an instruction unit configured to select said audio data stored in said second storage medium and assigning identification information indicating said other apparatus to said selected audio data;    wherein said edit unit edits said selected audio data based on said assigned identification information.    
   
   
       18 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said first window corresponds to said identification information indicating said other apparatus; 
 said instruction unit assigns said identification information to said selected audio data by making an instruction to transfer said selected audio data to said first window; and    said edit unit controls said second storage medium so that said second storage medium stores said identification information assigned to said selected audio data,    said identification information being displayed on said first window.    
   
   
       19 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a memory configured to store audio data temporarily;    wherein said edit unit controls said memory so that said memory stores said selected audio data and said identification information assigned to said selected audio data based on said instruction by said instruction unit.    
   
   
       20 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said display displays said identification information assigned to said selected audio data on said first window based on said instruction by said instruction unit.  
   
   
       21 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said control unit controls said communication apparatus so that said communication apparatus receives identification information of said other apparatus by way of said communication unit; and 
 said control unit controls transfer of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said other storage medium by way of said communication means based on said identification information received by said communication apparatus.    
   
   
       22 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said second storage medium stores identification information of a plurality of apparatuses; and 
 when said identification information of said plurality of apparatuses stored in said second storage medium contains identification information received from said first storage medium, said control means permits transmission of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium.    
   
   
       23 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a transmission instructing unit configured to give a transmission instruction to said control unit so that said control unit controls transfer of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.    
   
   
       24 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a judging unit configured to make a judgment whether said other apparatus is mounted;    wherein when said control unit receives a transmission instruction by said transmission instructing unit and it is judged by said judging unit that said other apparatus is mounted, said control unit controls transfer of said audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication means based on said management information.    
   
   
       25 . A communication method configured to communicate a first apparatus having a first storage medium to a second apparatus for transmitting audio data to said first apparatus, said method comprising: 
 comparing management information of audio data stored in said first storage medium with management information stored in said second storage medium of said audio data stored in said first storage medium;    transmitting, when communication is established between said first apparatus and said second apparatus, audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium based on said edited management information; and    controlling transfer of audio data stored in said second storage medium to said first storage medium by way of said communication unit based on said management information,    wherein said controlling step controls transfer of said audio data from said second apparatus to said first apparatus based on a comparison result by said comparing step.