Data transfer apparatus and data transfer method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus along with a method for displaying a list of data to be transferred from one storage area to another in conjunction with a progress status report of the data transfer, thereby allowing users to know at a glance how far the transfer of desired data has progressed.

1. A data transfer apparatus for transferring data from a first storage area to a second storage area, said data transfer apparatus comprising:
 inputting means through which to input selected data and management data with which to manage data that may be input from said first storage area;   outputting means for outputting data to said second storage area;   display controlling means for controlling output of display data to a connected display device for display on the display device;   storing means for storing the input management data and at least part of data associated with said display data displayed on said display device;   operation data inputting means through which to input operation data entered by a user from an input device; and   controlling means for causing said display controlling means to display on said display device a list of data that may be input in accordance with said input management data and a list of data already stored in the second storage area, said controlling means further causing the data which has been input through said operation data inputting means and which is designated to be transferred from said first storage area to said second storage area to be transferred, said controlling means further causing said display controlling means to give a predetermined indication to a region associated with currently transferred data in said list displayed on said display device, said indication reflecting progress of the data transfer, said controlling means further causing said display controlling means to display overall transfer progress status regarding all data that is designated to be transferred.   
     
     
       2. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, based on said operation data input through said operation data inputting means, said controlling means further causes said display controlling means to put markings on the data designated to be transferred from said first storage area to said second storage area. 
     
     
       3. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said indication reflecting the progress of said data transfer involves one data-associated area indication being replaced progressively by another indication. 
     
     
       4. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the progressive replacement of one indication by another indication is based on a ratio of all data to be transferred to data having been transferred at a certain point in time. 
     
     
       5. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first storage area is a hard disc. 
     
     
       6. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second storage area is an optical storage medium. 
     
     
       7. A data transfer apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first storage area is a data transmission device connected to a network. 
     
     
       8. A data transfer method for transferring data from a first storage area to a second storage area, said data transfer method comprising steps of:
 receiving management data with which to manage data that may be input from said first storage area;   storing the received management data in memory;   displaying on a display device a list of data that may be transferred in accordance with said management data and a list of data already stored in the second storage area;   transferring designated data from said first storage area to said second storage area in accordance with input information indicative of said designated data;   giving a predetermined indication to a region which shows information about currently transferred data in said list displayed on said display device, said indication reflecting progress of the data transfer; and   separately displaying transfer progress status based on a ratio of all data to be transferred to data having been transferred at a certain point in time.   
     
     
       9. A data transfer method according to  claim 8 , further comprising a step of putting markings on said list of data in a manner reflecting said designated data for transfer from said first storage area to said second storage area. 
     
     
       10. A data transfer method according to  claim 8 , wherein said indication reflecting the progress of said data transfer involves one data-associated area indication being replaced progressively by another indication. 
     
     
       11. A data transfer method according to  claim 8 , wherein the progressive replacement of one indication by another indication is based on said ratio of all data to be transferred to the data having been transferred at a certain point in time. 
     
     
       12. A display control apparatus controlling a display screen including at least a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area, said display screen displaying information about content data to be recorded from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, said display control apparatus comprising:
 a display control unit that:
 displays, in said first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium; 
 displays, in said second display area, an indicator of a progress of a recording being made to said second recording medium of one or more selected content units; and 
 displays, in said third display area and in a distinguishable manner, content names of selected content units for which individual recording from said first recording medium to said second recording medium has been completed, 
 wherein the display control unit displays the content names of the selected content units for which the individual recording has been completed in the distinguishable manner by displaying the content names in the third display area upon completion of the individual recording. 
   
     
     
       13. The display control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
 said display control unit displays, in said third display area, information regarding data size of the content units for which content names are displayed in said third display area.   
     
     
       14. The display control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
 said first recording medium is a removable recording medium; and   said second recording medium is incorporated in an enclosure of said apparatus.   
     
     
       15. The display control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
 said content data is audio data; and   said content names are song titles.   
     
     
       16. The display control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said display control unit displays, as part of said list in said first display area, information about a length of reproduction time of each content unit recorded on said first recording medium. 
     
     
       17. The display control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said display control unit further displays, outside of said first display area and said third display area, a content name of a selected content unit currently being recorded to said second recording medium. 
     
     
       18. The display control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the display control unit displays the content names of the selected content units for which the individual recording has been completed in the distinguishable manner by changing a color of the content names upon completion of the individual recording. 
     
     
       19. The display control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the third display area further comprises a listing of content units previously stored on the second recording medium. 
     
     
       20. A display method for giving displays on a display screen including at least a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area, said display screen displaying information about content data to be recorded from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, said display method comprising:
 displaying, in said first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium;   starting to record to said second recording medium content data selected to be recorded from said first recording medium; and   displaying, in said second display area, an indicator of a progress of a recording being made to said second recording medium of one or more selected content units; and   displaying, in said third display area and in a distinguishable manner, content names of selected content units for which individual recording from said first recording medium to said second recording medium has been completed,   wherein the displaying the content names of the selected content units for which the individual recording has been completed in the distinguishable manner comprises displaying the content names in the third display area upon completion of the individual recording.   
     
     
       21. The display method according to claim 20, further comprising displaying, in said third display area, information regarding data size of the content units for which content names are displayed in said third display area. 
     
     
       22. The display method according to claim 20, further comprising displaying in said third display area additional information about the selected content units for which the recording from said first recording medium to said second recording medium has been completed. 
     
     
       23. The display method according to claim 20, wherein:
 said first recording medium is a removable recording medium; and   said second recording medium is incorporated in an enclosure of an apparatus carrying out the display method.   
     
     
       24. The display method according to claim 20, wherein said content data is audio data and said content names are song titles. 
     
     
       25. The display method according to claim 20, wherein said act of displaying in said first display area further displays, as part of said list in said first display area, information about the length of reproduction time of each content unit recorded on said first recording medium. 
     
     
       26. The display method according to claim 20, wherein the act of displaying in the second display area the indicator of the progress further comprises displaying in the second display area a content name of a selected content unit currently being recorded to said second recording medium. 
     
     
       27. The display method of claim 20, wherein the displaying the content names of the selected content units for which the individual recording has been completed in the distinguishable manner comprises changing a color of the content names upon completion of the individual recording. 
     
     
       28. The display method of claim 20, wherein the third display area further comprises a listing of content units previously stored on the second recording medium. 
     
     
       29. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct a computer to perform a display method for giving displays on a display screen including at least a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area, said display screen displaying information about content data to be recorded from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, said display method comprising:
 displaying, in said first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium;   starting to record to said second recording medium content data selected to be recorded from said first recording medium; and   displaying, in said second display area, an indicator of a progress of a recording being made to said second recording medium of one or more selected content units; and   displaying, in said third display area and in a distinguishable manner, content names of selected content units for which individual recording from said first recording medium to said second recording medium has been completed,   wherein the displaying the content names of the selected content units for which the individual recording has been completed in the distinguishable manner comprises displaying the content names in the third display area upon completion of the individual recording.   
     
     
       30. A display control apparatus for displaying information about a recording of selected content data from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, said display control apparatus comprising:
 a display control unit that:
 displays, in a first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium; 
 during recording of said selected content data to said second recording medium, alters a display of the list of content data recorded on said first recording medium such that content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable in the list; and 
 alters the display of the list such that the content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable based on the display of a first graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording has been completed, the display of a second graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording is currently processing, and the absence of the display in the first display area of the first and second graphical representations for each content unit for which the recording has not been started. 
   
     
     
       31. The display control apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said display control unit displays an indicator of progress status of the recording being made to said second recording medium in such a manner that said indicator changes in size a predetermined color part of the display. 
     
     
       32. The display control apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said content data is audio data and said content names are song titles. 
     
     
       33. The display control apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said display control unit displays, as part of said list, additional information about a length of reproduction time of said content data recorded on said first recording medium. 
     
     
       34. A display method comprising:
 displaying, in a first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium;   receiving instructions selecting content units to said second recording medium from said first recording medium;   recording to said second recording medium from said first recording medium the selected content units;   during recording of said selected content units to said second recording medium, altering a display of the list such that content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable in the list; and   altering the display of the list such that the content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable based on the display of a first graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording has been completed, the display of a second graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording is currently processing, and the absence of the display in the first display area of the first and second graphical representations for each content unit for which the recording has not been started.   
     
     
       35. The display method according to claim 34, wherein during an individual recording of a particular selected content unit to said second recording medium, said act of altering displays in the list an indicator of a progress status of the individual recording being made to said second recording medium, wherein the indicator comprises a progressive coloring of a display element. 
     
     
       36. The display method according to claim 34, wherein said content data is audio data and said content names are song titles. 
     
     
       37. The display method according to claim 34, further comprising displaying, as part of said list, additional information about a length of reproduction time of said content units recorded on said first recording medium. 
     
     
       38. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct a computer to perform a display method comprising:
 displaying, in a first display area, a list of content data recorded on said first recording medium, wherein each entry in the list is associated with a particular content unit and comprises, for each content unit, a content name for the content unit and a selection status indicating whether the content unit is a selected content unit to be recorded to the second recording medium;   receiving instructions selecting content units to be recorded to said second recording medium from said first recording medium;   recording to said second recording medium from said first recording medium the selected content units;   during recording of said selected content units to said second recording medium, altering a display of the list such that content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable in the list; and   altering the display of the list such that the content units for which the recording has been completed, for which the recording is currently processing, and for which the recording has not been started are distinguishable based on the display of a first graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording has been completed, the display of a second graphical representation in the first display area for each content unit for which the recording is currently processing, and the absence of the display in the first display area of the first and second graphical representations for each content unit for which the recording has not been started.   
     
     
       39. A display control apparatus for displaying information about a recording of selected content data from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, said display control apparatus comprising:
 a display control unit that displays a progress of recording on a display screen, the display control unit:
 displays, on said display screen, a first indicator of a fixed size including a first graphical representation of the progress of recording a first content unit from a first recording medium to a second recording medium and a second indicator of the fixed size including a second graphical representation of the progress of recording a second content unit from a third recording medium to a fourth recording medium, 
 wherein a first content name of said first content unit is displayed within an area defined by said first indicator and a second content name of said second content unit is displayed within an area defined by said second indicator, and 
 wherein said first and second indicators are displayed simultaneously on said display screen. 
   
     
     
       40. The display control apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first recording medium and the third recording medium are the same recording medium, and the second recording medium and the fourth recording medium are the same recording medium. 
     
     
       41. The display control apparatus of claim 39, wherein said first and second indicators are displayed alongside one another. 
     
     
       42. The display control apparatus of claim 41, wherein said first and second indicators are in a form of bar graph. 
     
     
       43. The display control apparatus of claim 39, wherein the display control apparatus is further adapted to display an expected remaining time of recording at least one of the first content unit and the second content unit. 
     
     
       44. The display control apparatus of claim 39, wherein the display control apparatus is further adapted to display a speed of recording at least one of the first content unit and the second content unit. 
     
     
       45. The display control apparatus of claim 39, wherein the display control unit displays at least the first and second indicators in a list. 
     
     
       46. A method for displaying a progress of recording on a display screen, said method comprising:
 displaying, on said display screen, a first indicator of a fixed size including a first graphical representation of the progress of recording a first content unit from a first recording medium to a second recording medium and a second indicator of the fixed size including a second graphical representation of the progress of recording a second content unit from a third recording medium to a fourth recording medium,   wherein a first content name of said first content unit is displayed within an area defined by said first indicator and a second content name of said second content unit is displayed within an area defined by said second indicator, and   wherein said first and second indicators are displayed simultaneously on said display screen.   
     
     
       47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first recording medium and the third recording medium are the same recording medium, and the second recording medium and the fourth recording medium are the same recording medium. 
     
     
       48. The method according to claim 46, wherein said first and second indicators are displayed alongside one another. 
     
     
       49. The method according to claim 48, wherein said first and second indicators are in a form of a bar graph. 
     
     
       50. The method according to claim 46, further comprising displaying an expected remaining time of recording at least one of the first content unit and the second content unit. 
     
     
       51. The method according to claim 46, further comprising displaying a speed of recording at least one of the first content unit and the second content unit. 
     
     
       52. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, instruct a computer to perform a method for displaying a progress of recording on a display screen, said method comprising:
 displaying, on said display screen, a first indicator of a fixed size and including a first graphical representation of the progress of recording a first content unit from a first recording medium to a second recording medium and a second indicator of the fixed size and including a second graphical representation of the progress of recording a second content unit from a third recording medium to a fourth recording medium,   wherein a first content name of said first content unit is displayed within an area defined by said first indicator and a second content name of said second content unit is displayed within an area defined by said second indicator, and   wherein said first and second indicators are displayed simultaneously on said display screen.