Abstract: A skew adjustment mechanism for an optical pick-up used in an optical disc drive is disclosed, in which the optical pick-up is freely movable in a radial direction of an optical disc along a guide rod for playing back or recording and playing back information recorded on the optical disc. The optical pick-up includes a pick-up base having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end being slidably connected to the guide rod. The tangential skew adjustment mechanism includes a pick-up base displacement mechanism provided on the second end of the pick-up base for rotationally displacing the pick-up base about an axis of the guide rod.

Abstract: Two pairs of, i.e., four, centering shafts are provided so as to move in synchronism with each other in opposite directions that are perpendicular to the pull-in direction of a disc and parallel with the recording surface of the disc. The centering shafts butt the outer periphery of the disc and thereby center it.

Abstract: An optical information medium comprises a pair of discs which are bonded to each other, an optical recording layer provided on at least one of the discs, and a reflecting layer formed on an upper side of the optical recording layer. The optical information medium further includes an adhesive for bonding the pair of discs provided on the reflecting layer, wherein the adhesive has a thickness ranging from 10 to 80 &mgr;m. A protecting layer is provided on the upper side of the reflecting layer wherein the pair of discs may be bonded by the protecting layer. The optical recording layer, reflecting layer and protecting layer may be directly sequentially provided on the disc but another substrate layer may be inserted between these layers. There is employed, as the adhesive, those including a reactive curing resin or a hot melt material, and it is preferable that the shrinkage rate of the adhesive be less than 15%.

Abstract: A data storage library features a dual purpose data/control path between a host computer and one or more media drives. The dual purpose path conveys data exchange control signals and related data between the host and drive, and also conveys robotic device management signals from the host to the drive, for ultimate conveyance to a robotic device coupled to the drive. In one embodiment, the drives may comprise relay drives, each directly coupled to the robotic device by a communications path such as a bus or loop. Alternatively, the drives may include a master drive and a number of relay drives, each relay drive coupled to the master drive to relay robotic device management signals from its host to the robotic device through the master drive. The master media drive's connection to other drives, for example, may be direct or through a communications loop interconnecting all drives.

Abstract: A postal article consisting of a postcard provided with a device for making an audio recording of a message and a device for playing back said recording, wherein the postal article is secured to a housing (4) containing a disk (43), a disk rotating assembly (28) and a disk rotation control assembly (45). One side of the housing is secured to a membrane (14) connected to a pivotable pick-up arm (17) supporting a pair of angularly offset styli (24, 25); i.e., a first, cutting stylus (24) and a second, playing stylus, said styli being designed to engage a spirally out groove (50) in the surface of the disk (43). A soft material at the bottom of the groove is protected by a mask separating it from the environment. The mask is removed before recording and the soft material, once exposed, hardens after a given time interval.

Abstract: A system for remote management of private networks having duplicate network addresses is provided which consists of a plurality of managed customer networks (16) within a customer domain (12). The managed customer networks (16) within the customer domain (12) are linked to a level one manager (34) and have unique network addresses. The managed customer networks (16) within the customer domain (12) which have duplicate network addresses are assigned to different level one managers. Errors occurring in the managed customer networks are sent to a level one manager (34) which generates an error message uniquely identifying the node or interface link experiencing the error. This error message is forwarded to a level two manager (40) which then routes the error message to an appropriate operator console (42) where the error is diagnosed and corrected.

Abstract: A miniaturized optical disc memory is receivable in a slot, of about 17 mm height, normally accommodating a floppy disc drive. A base includes a base plate with integral, peripheral sidewalls and an internal lateral partition wall which define a cartridge receiving slot on the upper surface of the base plate. First and second support plates extend from the partition wall to the rear peripheral sidewall of the base and define respective, first and second upper mounting surfaces and lower first and second cavities respectively receiving an ejection motor and a fixed optical system, individual optical components being mounted and aligned on integral, precision machined blocks in the second cavity for transmitting a laser beam and receiving a reflected beam along a central, longitudinal optical axis beneath the bass plate.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing device adapted to a cartridge accommodating a recordable optical disc includes a holder arranged to a device main body and having an opening formed on the front side of the device main body and for holding the cartridge inserted from the opening thereof. A recording and reproducing part is arranged to record and reproduce information on the disc, and a carrier is movably arranged between the holder and the recording and reproducing part for transferring the cartridge from the holder to the part. A locking unit arranged to lock the cartridge held by the holder includes a lock lever including a first protrusion engaged with the cartridge normally inserted from the opening of the holder and a second protrusion for preventing error insertion of the cartridge therefrom.

Abstract: A changer apparatus for information discs comprises a stacking unit for stacking at least two holder compartments, adapted to hold one information disc each, in at least two stacking positions, the holder compartments being coupled to at least one spindle having a screwthread and the holder compartments being movable in a vertical direction by rotation of the spindles, an upper stacking zone and a lower stacking zone of the stacking unit being provided for stacking the holder compartments, and the changer apparatus having a play position for reading information stored on the information discs and/or writing information on the information discs.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus in which grounding can be achieved between a casing of the main body portion of the apparatus and a slide tray mounted on the casing for being extracted forwards via an opening surface of the casing. To this end, the electronic apparatus includes a slide tray 3 mounted on the casing 2 of the main body portion of the apparatus for being extracted forwards via an opening surface 7 of the casing and carrying electrical components in need of electrical conduction with respect to the main body portion, and an electrically conductive ejection plate 9 electrically conductively connected with an electrically conductive main body portion of a tray 6 and supported on the slide tray for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. The electronic apparatus also includes an electrically conductive roll 17 supported via an electrically conductive spring plate 15 on the ejection plate 9 and adapted for rolling on an electrically conductive bottom plate 18 of the casing of the main body portion.

Abstract: A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus, employing a disc cartridge housing a disc with a diameter of approximately 64 mm, small enough to be placed in a user's pocket for easy transportation. The disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus has a spindle motor and optical pickup device mounted such that a surface of the spindle motor and the pickup is fitted into the base to reduce the thickness of the apparatus.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of scheduling an appointment at a plurality of facilities providing a plurality of services, comprising receiving a packet of client information from a client, the client information including personal data, service data, client appointment preference data, and payment data; comparing the service data to a set of service constraints in order to determine any limitations on the scheduling of the appointment; inputting the client information into a scheduling server; verifying the client information; generating a predetermined number of appointment candidates based upon an analysis of the client information and the appointment scheduling limitations; communicating the appointment candidates to the client; generating an appointment based upon the client's selection of one of the appointment candidates; generating appointment information related to the appointment, the appointment information including the client information, the service constraints, an appointment date, an appo

Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: A positioning structure of a flexible printed circuit for a pick-up used in a disc drive is disclosed. The structure comprises a turntable driven by a motor for supporting a disc thereon, a pick-up movable in a radial direction of the disc for reproducing information recorded on the disc to be supported on the turntable, a chassis provided with the turntable and the pick-up and having an opening and positioning members provided at or near the opening, a printed circuit board arranged below the chassis and provided with electrical circuits for inputting and outputting electrical signals to and from the pick-up, and a flexing printed circuit for connecting the pick-up to the printed circuit board through the opening of the chassis, wherein the flexible printed circuit is formed with engaging members to be engaged with the positioning members, respectively. This structure is capable of positioning the flexible printed circuit with respect to the chassis easily and reliably.

Abstract: A network based platform uses face recognition, speech recognition, background change detection and key scene events to index multimedia communications. Before the multimedia communication begins, active participants register their speech and face models with a server. The process consists of creating a speech sample, capturing a sample image of the participant and storing the data in a database. The server provides an indexing function for the multimedia communication. During the multimedia communication, metadata including time stamping is retained along with the multimedia content. The time stamping information is used for synchronizing the multimedia elements. The multimedia communication is then processed through the server to identify the multimedia communication participants based on speaker and face recognition models. This allows the server to create an index table that becomes an index of the multimedia communication.

Abstract: The information management apparatus has a RAM for classifying and storing a plurality of data items in accordance with the attribute of data, a receiver for receiving a signal including data and an instruction code specifying the attribute, a decoder, a display portion for displaying received data together with the instruction code, a key input portion for causing data displayed on the display portion to be stored to the corresponding classified position in the RAM and a control unit for causing data to be stored in the corresponding classified position in the RAM in accordance with the instruction operation performed by the key input portion. As a result, the sender can arbitrarily select and transmit data having attribute and the receiver can store data of a type having attribute to a memory region corresponding to the attribute while requiring a simple operation.

Abstract: A chat system in which conversations by characters in plural channels are displayed, and of these conversations, a conversation in a main channel and conversations in other channels are displayed in individual regions 23, 24 on a display screen, and an inputted statement is displayed in an intermediate region 22 of the individual regions 23, 24. The chat system hence realizes a display method having a notice function for use while working in an office, and information extracting function enabled by electronic expression of conversations, along with a recording medium used for execution thereof.

Abstract: A disk driving apparatus includes: a head base unit which supports a head for recording data into and reproducing data from a storage medium, the head base unit being able to travel between a first position where the head is close to the storage medium for recording data thereto and reproducing data therefrom and a second position where the head is apart from the storage medium; a tray provided with a tray rack extending in a predetermined direction, the tray being slidable along the tray rack between a third position at which the head performs recording and reproduction on the storage medium and a fourth position at which an operator can place the storage medium; a driving power source; a tray gear which is driven by the driving power source; a rotation body gear which is driven by the driving power source; a partial gear which partially engages with the rotation body gear at a predetermined angle; and a rotation body which, in accordance with the rotation of the partial gear, reciprocally rotates so that th

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of establishing a connection via a communications network to a called terminal (TE) which is geographically located in the area (AREA) of two or more local line networks (LNA to LNC), as well as an exchange and a service control point for carrying out this establishment of a connection. A calling terminal requests a connection to the called terminal (TE) by means of a call request (CALL(N)) which is provided with a called number (N) assigned to the called terminal (TE). To establish the connection, that of the two or more local line networks (LNA to LNC) via which the called terminal (TE) can be reached, is determined by means of a learning procedure using the called number (N).

Abstract: A disk playback apparatus such as a CD player comprises a case and a lift unit which is supported to be movable in the vertical direction to the case. The lift unit comprises a playback unit, a turntable, a holder drawing member, and the like. A magazine which is adapted to be loaded in the case accommodates therein disk holders, each of which hold one of different-sized disks. A control link having a holder butting pin and a disk control pin is movably mounted on the playback unit which is urged in the direction of departing from the disk by means of a release spring. When the disk holder reaches its accommodation position, the disk holder butts against the holder butting pin and rotates the control link slightly, thereby the disk control pin compulsively corrects the position of the disk. Thus the disk is certainly transported to the normal chucking position on the playback unit irrespective of the disk accommodated state in the disk holder.