Abstract: A controlling apparatus capable of synchronized power supply control over a plurality of electronic devices which are connected to the controlling apparatus via a bus pursuant to a predetermined communication format and which are fabricated by a plurality of venders including those different from the vender of the controlling apparatus. If any one of the electronic devices is selected regardless of its vender as an input by the controlling apparatus and is judged to have a link only with the controlling apparatus, the electronic device in question is switched on or off synchronously by the controlling apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to arrange so that the digital signal transmission between specific equipments connected with each other by the transmission line of a fixed standard can be performed securely and satisfactorily. When a digital signal destination is caused to receive a fixed digital signal sent out of a digital signal sender, the digital signal destination acquires at the request of the destination from the digital signal sender data on modes in which the digital signal sender is able to send out the digital signal, and a transmission mode of the digital signal is caused to be set by a command based on the acquired mode data from the digital signal destination. Moreover, when a digital signal destination is caused to receive a fixed digital signal sent out of a digital signal sender, a flag is added to the digital signal sent out of the digital signal sender, which indicates that the transmission rate is being adjusted based on the command from the digital signal destination.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting ATRAC data consisting of a plurality of sound groups or record elements (basic elements) in an MPEG stream is disclosed. The ATRAC data is placed in transport stream (TS) packets such that the basic elements of the ATRAC data are kept intact during transmission and errors in transmission are detected. The ATRAC data is transmitted in packetized elementary stream (PES) packets with an amount of ATRAC data (159 bytes) being placed in each TS packet such that an integer number (eight) of TS packets is placed in each PES packet. As a result, an integer number (three) of sound frames of ATRAC data is transmitted in each PES packet. A checksum code also is included in each TS packet to detect errors in the data's transmission.

Abstract: A transmitting and receiving system wherein a data file produced by a user can be uploaded into a server and the updated data file can be downloaded to another user. The transmitting and receiving system provides a place where general users can lay their works open and can sell the works.

Abstract: A reception apparatus or transmission and reception apparatus has a plurality of input terminals, and a plurality of apparatus are connected by a chain connection to a predetermined one of the input terminals. The input terminal at which the apparatus is to receive a signal is successively switched among the input terminals by selection operation of a user, and the apparatus connected to the predetermined input terminal are successively searched in response to the same selection operation of the user.

Abstract: A dubbing system is provided in which information including lyrics, title, image of a piece of music is printed while audio data representing the piece of music distributed from an information center or supplied from a mass storage device installed in the dubbing system is being recorded onto a recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a transmission apparatus, a recording apparatus, a transmission and reception apparatus, a transmission method, a recording method and a transmission and reception method by which data can be communicated between different apparatus over a single data bus in accordance with a first communication method wherein data can be transmitted and/or received periodically and a second communication method wherein data can be transmitted and/or received asynchronously.

Abstract: An equipment unit having an interactive user interface is controlled by means of a simple apparatus. Data reproduced by a DVD player is decoded. The decoded data is converted into a signal format such as DVC SD or MPEG2-TS along with information about such as a menu. The converted information is transmitted to a simple display device through the 1394 digital interface. When a predetermined item in the menu displayed on the screen of the simple display device is selected by operating a remote commander, a corresponding panel command such as “CURSOR UP” or “EXEC” is transmitted to the DVD player. The selected item is recognized by the DVD player and necessary processing is executed.

Abstract: A dubbing system is provided in which information including lyrics, title, image of a piece of music is printed while audio data representing the piece of music distributed from an information center or supplied from a mass storage device installed in the dubbing system is being recorded onto a recording medium.

Abstract: A dubbing system in which information including lyrics, title, image of a piece of music is printed while audio data representing the piece of music distributed from an information center or supplied from a mass storage device installed in the dubbing system is recorded onto a recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distribution system in which compressed audio data and relevant information ancillary to the compressed audio, such as data size data, picture information and the text information, are packeted and transmitted or received on the packet basis by time divisional multiplexing.

Abstract: A playback apparatus allowing one of a variety of playback modes to be selected when playing back main data and/or sub-data from a disc-shaped recording medium. The playback apparatus is capable of suppressing the mechanical noise generated during access to a sub data area of the disc-shaped recording medium when the sub data area is separate from a main data area. The apparatus suppresses mechanical noise by prohibiting synchronous playback of the sub data when the user desires high quality audio playback.

Abstract: A transmitting system consisting of a control apparatus and a target apparatus connected mutually via an IEEE1394 bus wherein unitary data having an isochronous gap for transmission of audio main data and an asynchronous gap for transfer of command data are transmitted between the control apparatus and the target apparatus via the bus. The control apparatus includes a unit for sending an identifier to identify the target apparatus by the use of the asynchronous gap, and also a command to request transfer of a signal level from the target apparatus. The target apparatus includes a unit for receiving the identifier from the sending unit of the control apparatus via the IEEE1394 bus and also the command to request transfer of the signal level of the target apparatus; and a unit for sending an audio signal level in response to the signal-level transfer request command received by the receiving unit. In this system, an output level can be set in and read out from the target apparatus by the control apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic device system of the invention has a controlling device and a controlled device interconnected via a data bus which complies with a predetermined communication format and which allows data to be exchanged between the devices. In a command transmission/reception transaction, the controlling device transmits a command to the controlled device. If an interim response is returned from the controlled device, the controlling device regards the transaction as complete and terminates the process without waiting for receipt of a final response from the controlled device.

Abstract: A controlling apparatus capable of synchronized power supply control over a plurality of electronic devices which are connected to the controlling apparatus via a bus pursuant to a predetermined communication format and which are fabricated by a plurality of venders including those different from the vender of the controlling apparatus. If any one of the electronic devices is selected regardless of its vender as an input by the controlling apparatus and is judged to have a link only with the controlling apparatus, the electronic device in question is switched on or off synchronously by the controlling apparatus.

Abstract: An distribution system in which compressed audio data and the relevant information ancillary to the compressed audio data, such as data size data, picture information or the text information, is packetized and transmitted or received on the packet basis by time divisional multiplexing.

Abstract: A communication controlling method and apparatus, a communication controlling system, and a transmission medium exchanges a plurality of media by using a simple command. In controlling exchanging of a plurality of media, a medium exchanging sub unit and a medium driving sub unit are defined, and in the OPC of a command which instructs the medium exchanging sub unit for movement of a medium, a code of a command for instruction for loading or unloading of a predetermined medium is placed: in the OPR1 a slot number of the medium exchanging sub unit (changer) in which the predetermined medium is accommodated is placed; and in the OPR2 a number of a port through which a medium is to be loaded into or unloaded from the medium driving sub unit by the medium exchanging sub unit is placed.

Abstract: A dubbing system in which a plurality of music programs are compressed in a predetermined manner and stored in a server and in which a client selects a desired one of the music programs which is transferred in a compressed state to the client for dubbing on a recording medium. The dubbing system is subservient to the selection of musical programs by the client since a portion of the compressed music program can be expanded and monitored on the client side so that the client can check to see that the music program is the desired one. Moreover, the audio program to be dubbed next can be monitored.

Abstract: In a home audio visual network including a plurality of devices coupled via an IEEE 1394 bus, a system for accessing a media drive mechanism of a multi-item-type media player. The multi-item-type media player can play any type of disc media item. A media drive mechanism is included within the mutli-item-type media player and is configured to play or record the media item stored within the multi-item-type media player. A computer system is built-in to the multi-item-type media player. A software based media player model executes on the computer system, and in turn, causes the computer system to implement a method of accessing the media drive mechanism. In so doing, the computer system interfaces with a plurality of devices coupled to the multi-item media player via an IEEE 1394 communications link of an IEEE 1394 based network and provides a standardized command set for the media drive mechanism.

Abstract: A recording apparatus where a dubbing operation is easily performed by merely manipulating an operation unit by a user.