Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A recording device, comprising: a plurality of recording sections for recording data; alternative recording units to be used in place of a recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and a maintenance diagnosis means for occasionally diagnosing, prior to determining a need to replace a recording section, said alternative recording units to decide whether any of said alternative recording units are usable to replace a recording section; wherein said alternative recording units are held in one of three conditions, a first condition being continuously available for use, a second condition being deenergized and disabled except for at a time of diagnosis or replacement, and a third condition wherein said alternative recording units are kept energized with physical operation of said recording section normally being stopped, and, while diagnosis is executed, said recording section is operated and then is stopped again after the diagnosis is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A recording device, comprising: a plurality of recording sections for recording data; alternative recording units to be used in place of a recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and a maintenance diagnosis means for occasionally diagnosing, prior to determining a need to replace a recording section, said alternative recording units to decide whether any of said alternative recording units are usable to replace a recording section; wherein said alternative recording units are held in one of three conditions, a first condition being continuously available for use, a second condition being deenergized and disabled except for at a time of diagnosis or replacement, and a third condition wherein said alternative recording units are kept energized with physical operation of said recording section normally being stopped, and, while diagnosis is executed, said recording section is operated and then is stopped again after the diagnosis is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for selecting and setting the number of said alternative recording units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conditions in which said alternative recording units are held are selectable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alternative recording units in the second condition are energized at the time of diagnosis and deenergized after the completion of diagnosis so as to be held in a power-off condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an error recording means for recording error information during recording data in and reproducing data from said recording section, wherein said maintenance diagnosis means is operable to decide whether said recording section should be replaced with said alternative recording unit in accordance with the error information recorded in said error recording means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said recording section includes means for replacing said alternative recording unit during the operation of the system and includes means for setting a replacement completion time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The recording device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a remote communication means for communicating information about a replacement or fault about said recording device to an external location such as a maintenance center.