Recording Device and Recording Control Method, Reproduction Device and Reproduction Control Method, Output Device and Output Control Method, and Programs

1. A recording system comprising: a recording device including circuitry configured to select a method of compressing a color gamut of content data based on a user-specified condition indicating a target color gamut, the selected method being a regular compression method requiring no further compression by a reproduction device or an output device when the user-specified condition is entered and the selected method being a preliminary compression method requiring further compression by the reproduction or the output device when the user-specified condition is not entered; compress the color gamut of the content data in accordance with the selected method of compressing the color gamut to generate a compressed color gamut; and record, on a recording medium, the content data and the compressed color gamut as color gamut metadata, the color gamut metadata indicating whether the color gamut of the content data was compressed with the regular compression method or the preliminary compression method, wherein the recording device is separate from and connected to at least one of the reproduction device and the output device, and the user-specified condition is a standard target color gamut; and the reproduction device including circuitry configured to read the content data and the color gamut metadata recorded on the recording medium, the color gamut metadata indicating whether the color gamut of the content data was compressed by the recording device with the regular compression method requiring no further compression by the reproduction device or the output device or the preliminary compression method requiring further compression by the reproduction device or the output device; determine whether the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, and, when the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, determine whether bidirectional communication with the output device is possible and, when the bidirectional communication is possible, use the bidirectional communication to determine a compression capability of the output device; select a method of further compressing the color gamut of the content data based on the color gamut metadata and the compression capability of the output device, the selected method being one of further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device and further compressing the color gamut in the output device; and if the selected method is further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device, compress the color gamut of the content data using the regular compression method, wherein the reproduction device is separate from and connected to the output device.

2. The recording system according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry of the recording device performs the control such that the color gamut of the content data is compressed into a color gamut specified by the user.

3. The recording system according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry of the recording device performs the control such that the color gamut of the content data is compressed into a color gamut corresponding to a file format specified by the user.

4. A reproduction device comprising: circuitry configured to read content data and color gamut metadata recorded on a recording medium, the color gamut metadata indicating whether a color gamut of the content data was compressed by a recording device with a regular compression method requiring no further compression by the reproduction device or an output device or a preliminary compression method requiring further compression by the reproduction device or the output device; determine whether the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, and, when the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, determine whether bidirectional communication with an output device is possible and, when the bidirectional communication is possible, use the bidirectional communication to determine a compression capability of the output device; select a method of further compressing the color gamut of the content data based on the color gamut metadata and the compression capability of the output device, the selected method being one of further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device and further compressing the color gamut in the output device; and if the selected method is further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device, compress the color gamut of the content data using the regular compression method, wherein the reproduction device is separate from and connected to the output device.

5. The reproduction device according to claim 4 , wherein the circuitry selects the method of compressing the color gamut of the content data, in accordance with whether or not a manufacturer of the output device matches a manufacturer of the reproduction device.

6. The reproduction device according to claim 4 , wherein the circuitry selects the method of compressing the color gamut of the content data, in accordance with whether or not a color gamut compressing algorithm version of the output device is superior to a color gamut compression algorithm version of the reproduction device.

7. A reproduction control method comprising: reading content data and color gamut metadata recorded on a recording medium, the color gamut metadata indicating whether a color gamut of the content data was compressed by a recording device with a regular compression method requiring no further compression by a reproduction device or an output device or a preliminary compression method requiring further compression by the reproduction device or the output device; determining whether the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, and, when the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, determining whether bidirectional communication with an output device is possible and, when the bidirectional communication is possible, using the bidirectional communication to determine a compression capability of the output device; selecting a method of further compressing the color gamut of the content data based on the color gamut metadata and the compression capability of the output device, the selected method being one of further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device and further compressing the color gamut in the output device; and if the selected method is further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device, further compressing the color gamut of the content data using the regular compression method, wherein the reproduction device is separate from and connected to the output device.

8. The reproduction control method according to claim 7 , wherein the selecting is performed in accordance with whether or not a manufacturer of the output device matches a manufacturer of the reproduction device.

9. The reproduction control method according to claim 7 , wherein the selecting is performed in accordance with whether or not a color gamut compressing algorithm version of the output device is superior to a color gamut compression algorithm version of the reproduction device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer readable instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a reproduction control method comprising: reading content data and color gamut metadata recorded on a recording medium, the color gamut metadata indicating whether a color gamut of the content data was compressed by a recording device with a regular compression method requiring no further compression by a reproduction device or an output device or a preliminary compression method requiring further compression by the reproduction device or the output device; determining whether the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, and, when the content data was compressed with the preliminary compression method, determining whether bidirectional communication with an output device is possible and, when the bidirectional communication is possible, using the bidirectional communication to determine a compression capability of the output device; selecting a method of further compressing the color gamut of the content data based on the color gamut metadata and the compression capability of the output device, the selected method being one of further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device and further compressing the color gamut in the output device; and if the selected method is further compressing the color gamut in the reproduction device, further compressing the color gamut of the content data using the regular compression method, wherein the reproduction device is separate from and connected to the output device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the selecting is performed in accordance with whether or not a manufacturer of the output device matches a manufacturer of the reproduction device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the selecting is performed in accordance with whether or not a color gamut compressing algorithm version of the output device is superior to a color gamut compression algorithm version of the reproduction device.