Recording methods and recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein said second step comprises recording said second information unit signal on an end portion of said first information unit signal or a start portion of said first data unit signal and recording said second unit data signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal at the end of said second information unit signal.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 wherein said first step comprises recording said first information unit signal on a first track (AT) and recording said first data unit signal relating to said first information unit signal on a second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end of said first information unit signal, while said second step comprises recording said second information unit signal on said first track (AT) at the end of said first information unit signal, and recording said second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal on said second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end of the second information unit signal.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3 wherein said second step comprises recording said second information unit signal on said first track (AT) corresponding to an end portion of said first information unit signal or a start portion of said first data unit signal and recording said second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal on said second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end of said second information unit signal.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3 wherein said second step comprises recording said second information unit signal on said first track (AT) corresponding to the end portion of said first information unit signal or a start portion of said first data unit signal and recording said second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal on said second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end portion of said second information unit signal.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1 wherein said information unit signal is formed of an audio signal.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1 wherein said data unit signal is formed of a signal containing recording time data of said information unit signal.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1 wherein said data unit signal is formed of a signal containing priority data for said recorded information unit signals.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 1 wherein said data unit signal is a data signal indicative of a movable position of said recording medium and formed of a signal containing a data signal which indicates the start position or end position of said information unit signal.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 1 wherein a control signal for controlling the movement of said recording medium is recorded together with said information unit signal.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 10 wherein said control signal is a predetermined low frequency signal.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 1 wherein said recording medium is a magnetic tape.

Claim 14

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a plurality of information unit signals and a data unit signal relating to each of said information unit signals on and/or from a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: first recording and/or reproducing means (1) including a first recording and/or reproducing transducer head (1) for recording and/or reproducing said information unit signal on and/or from said recording medium; second recording and/or reproducing means (4) including a recording and/or reproducing transducer head (4) for recording and/or reproducing said data unit signal on and/or from said recording medium; drive means (30) for driving said recording medium in accordance with at least a recording mode, a reproducing mode and a stop mode; and control means (7) for controlling said first and second recording and/or reproducing means (1, 4) and said drive means (30); characterised by: first recording means for recording a first information unit signal and recording a first data unit signal relating to said first information unit signal at the end of said first information unit signal by said control means (7); and second recording means for recording a second information unit signal at the end of said first information unit signal and recording a second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal at the end of said second information unit signal by said control means (7).

Claim 15

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a plurality of information unit signals and a data unit signal relating to each of said information unit signals on and/or from a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: first recording and/or reproducing means (1) including a first recording and/or reproducing transducer head (1) for recording and/or reproducing said information unit signal on and/or from said recording medium; second recording and/or reproducing means (4) including a recording and/or reproducing transducer head (4) for recording and/or reproducing said data unit signal on and/or from said recording medium; drive means (30) for driving said recording medium in accordance with at least a recording mode, a reproducing mode and a stop mode; and control means (7) for controlling said first and second recording and/or reproducing means (1, 4) and said drive means (30); characterised by: first recording means for recording a first information unit signal and recording a first data unit signal relating to said first information unit signal at the end of said first information unit signal by said control means (7); and second recording means for recording a second information unit signal at the end of said first information unit signal and recording a second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first data unit signal at the end of said second information unit signal by said control means (7).

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second recording means records said second information unit signal on an end portion of said first information unit signal or a start portion of said first data unit signal, and records said second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first unit data signal at the end of said second information unit signal.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said first recording means records said first information unit signal on a first track (AT) and records said first data input signal relating to said first information unit signal on a second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end of said first information unit signal, while said second recording means records said second information unit signal on said first track (AT) from a position corresponding to the end of said first information unit signal and records said second data unit signal and said first data unit signal on said second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end of said second information unit signal.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said second recording means records said second information unit signal on said first recording track (AT) from a position corresponding to the end portion of said first information unit signal or the start portion of said first data unit signal, and records said second data unit signal relating to said second information unit signal and said first unit data signal on said second track (DT) from a position corresponding to the end portion of said second information unit signal.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said information unit signal is formed of an audio signal.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said data unit signal is formed of a signal containing a recording time data of said information unit signal.

Claim 21

Apparatus according claim 13 wherein said data unit signal is formed of a signal containing a priority number data for said recorded information unit signals.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said data unit signal is a data signal indicative of a movable position of said recording medium, and formed of a signal containing a data signal indicative of a start position or end position of said information unit signal.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a control signal for controlling the movement of said recording medium is recorded together with said information unit signal.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said control signal is a predetermined low frequency signal.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said recording medium is a magnetic tape.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising memory means (20) for storing all of contents of said data unit signal upon recording and/or reproducing and display means (21) for displaying the contents of said data unit signal derived from said memory means (20).

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising selective display means (21a, 21b, 21c) for selectively displaying the content of each data unit signal from said memory means (20).

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising searching means for searching a predetermined information unit signal corresponding to a predetermined data unit signal displayed by said selective display means (21a, 21b, 21c). -

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 25 further comprising means (92) through which an external user terminal apparatus (8) is connectable with said recording and/or reproducing apparatus, said external user terminal apparatus (8) including a microphone (84) to supply said information unit signal through said first recording and/or reproducing means to said recording medium, and operating means (91) capable of operating said control means, wherein said operating means (91) serves to record on said recording medium and to store in said memory means (20) a predetermined identification signal corresponding to said information unit signal as said data unit signal.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said identification signal includes a priority signal which indicates the priority order of a plurality of information unit signals recorded on said recording medium when they are reproduced.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising display means for displaying said identification signal.