Abstract: A mutual recognition process is performed in step S1. When it is determined in step S2 that a request for sending a list of musical pieces has been received, the list of musical pieces is sent in step S3. When a request for sending audio data has been received in step S4, a transfer-rate measurement process is executed in step S5. When it is determined according to the transfer rate in step S6 that the audio can be transmitted, the corresponding compressed audio data is extracted in step S7, the compressed audio data is decoded to generate linear PCM data suited to the transfer rate in step S8, and transmitted in step S9. When the audio data cannot be transmitted, an error message is transmitted in step S10. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a server for distributing audio data and an audio player terminal for reproducing the distributed audio data.

Abstract: There is provided a content playback system in which a first playback device and a second playback device that can receive and play back content from a server device are connected through a network. When the first playback device, while receiving and playing back the content from the server device, receives a switching command for causing the content that is currently being played back to be played back on the second playback device, the first playback device transmits through the network to the second playback device playback information that includes attribute information and an elapsed playback time for the content that is currently being played back. When the second playback device receives the playback information from the first playback device, the second playback device, based on the playback information, receives from the server device and plays back data that starts from the elapsed playback time for the content.

Abstract: A data selection system includes a data transmission apparatus and a data playback apparatus. The data transmission apparatus transmits pieces of data to be continuously played back in at least one data format. The data playback apparatus refines the data format of the data transmitted from the data transmission apparatus on the basis of at least one playback condition for refining the data format of the data transmitted from the data transmission apparatus.

Abstract: In a playback apparatus, when a transmission finished notification for kth decompressed digital data is received via a communication portion, a control portion detects a silence start position in the kth decompressed digital data that is stored in the first buffer, transfers a section of the kth decompressed digital data that is before the silence start position to the second buffer, temporarily stores (k+1)th decompressed digital data that is received via the communication portion in the first buffer following the transfer of the section of the kth decompressed digital data, detects a silence end position in the (k+1)th decompressed digital data that is stored in the first buffer, and transfers a section of the (k+1)th decompressed digital data that is after the silence end position to the second buffer.

Abstract: A mutual recognition process is performed in step S1. When it is determined in step S2 that a request for sending a list of musical pieces has been received, the list of musical pieces is sent in step S3. When a request for sending audio data has been received in step S4, a transfer-rate measurement process is executed in step S5. When it is determined according to the transfer rate in step S6 that the audio can be transmitted, the corresponding compressed audio data is extracted in step S7, the compressed audio data is decoded to generate linear PCM data suited to the transfer rate in step S8, and transmitted in step S9. When the audio data cannot be transmitted, an error message is transmitted in step S10. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a server for distributing audio data and an audio player terminal for reproducing the distributed audio data.

Abstract: A playback apparatus can communicate with a second server, which temporarily stores in a first buffer compressed digital data that is received from a first server, and when the first buffer has stored a first data volume of the compressed digital data, which is a volume that is sufficient for a decoding of the compressed digital data, reads the compressed digital data out of the first buffer and decodes it into decompressed digital data. The playback apparatus includes a second buffer, which temporarily stores the decompressed digital data that is received from the second server; a D/A conversion portion (340), which converts into analog data the decompressed digital data that is temporarily stored in the second buffer; and a notification information generation portion (370), which generates notification information that conveys storage statuses of the first buffer and the second buffer.

Abstract: A transfer characteristics measuring device automatically measures the transfer characteristics of each channel of a multi-channel acoustic reproduction system in a multi-channel acoustic reproduction environment, while allowing normal multi-channel reproduction to proceed. The transfer characteristics measuring device (5) comprises an object of measurement selecting section (51) that selects one of the objects of measurement according to the levels of the input signals for five channels being supplied to the objects of measurement and a transfer characteristics computing and determining section (52) that computes and determines the transfer characteristics of the object of measurement selected by the object of measurement selecting section (51).

Abstract: A playing state presentation system has a contents server for supplying consecutive contents data, and a contents playing device for obtaining and playing the contents data. The contents playing device includes: a reception unit for receiving the contents data from the contents server by wireless communication; a supplying unit for supplying the contents data to a playing unit which successively plays the contents data received by the reception unit, with the contents data being supplied at a supply speed unique to the contents data; a playing state prediction unit for predicting whether or not the contents data can be continuously played at the playing unit, as a playing state; and a presentation unit for presenting the predicted playing state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying information, and a storage medium on which an information supplying program is stored are disclosed, in which backup files of Web pages which were laid open in the past and those which will be laid open in the future are stored in a WWW server so that any Web page can be presented to a client in response to a request issued by the client. WWW server creates a file name used as a key when being retrieved, by adding data representing updating date and time at the end of an original file name of a Web page stored in an open storage area of an HDD which is allowed to be freely accessed via the Internet. The created file name serving as a key in retrieval is assigned to a backup data created from update data, and the backup data is stored in a retrieval storage area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying information, and a storage medium on which an information supplying program is stored are disclosed, in which backup files of Web pages which were laid open in the past and those which will be laid open in the future are stored in a WWW server so that any Web page can be presented to a client in response to a request issued by the client. WWW server creates a file name used as a key when being retrieved, by adding data representing updating date and time at the end of an original file name of a Web page stored in an open storage area of an HDD which is allowed to be freely accessed via the Internet. The created file name serving as a key in retrieval is assigned to a backup data created from update data, and the backup data is stored in a retrieval storage area.

Abstract: A reproducing circuit includes an output circuit that selectively outputs serial two-channel pulse code modulation data and serial two-channel direct stream digital data; a digital-to-analog converter circuit that converts digital data into a first-channel analog signal and a second-channel analog signal; and a conversion circuit. The two-channel pulse code modulation data includes first-channel pulse code modulation data and second-channel pulse code modulation data that are arranged alternately word by word. The two-channel direct stream digital data includes first-channel direct stream digital data and second-channel direct stream digital data that are arranged alternately word by word.

Abstract: A data conversion method includes the steps of retrieving direct stream digital data one byte at a time from a direct stream digital file, the direct stream digital data being a one-bit data stream, the direct stream digital data being arranged in the direct stream digital file so that temporally first data is placed at a least significant bit of a given byte and temporally last data is placed at a most significant bit of the given byte; and outputting the retrieved direct stream digital data of one byte so that the least significant bit is temporally first and the most significant bit is temporally last.

Abstract: A content receiving apparatus has: a communicating unit connecting to a server; a reception buffer receiving and storing transmitted content data; a content reproducing unit reproducing the read-out content data; a controller controlling the communicating unit and the reception buffer; and an operating unit supplying an operation signal to the control unit. The data reception and the data output to the reproducing unit from the buffer are stopped by a reproduction temporary stop instruction. The data reception is restarted by a reproduction temporary stop cancellation instruction. The received content data is written into the buffer. The reception of a disconnection signal from the server is discriminated after the restart of the data reception. If the signal is not received, a predetermined amount of received data is written into the buffer, the reading is started, the data is outputted to the reproducing unit, and the reproduction is restarted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a content reproducing device and a content reproducing method capable of eliminating confusions in reproduction manipulations. The present invention provides a content reproducing device that requests desired content data from a server storing content data and reproduces a content thereof while receiving the content data requested, which includes a communication section that requests desired content data from the server and receives the content data, a receive buffer that buffers the content data received by the communication section, a reproduction section that reads the content data buffered in the receive buffer and reproduces a content thereof, and a control section that controls reproduction of the content, wherein when the desired content data is requested from the server, the control section requests content data of a specified range, and limits a reproduction function for the content, based on a response from the server to the request.

Abstract: Disclosed is a content reproducing device and a content reproducing method capable of quickly starting reproduction by making a pause state before starting the reproduction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content reproduction system that can continue reproduction of a plurality of content even if a part of content is unreproducible.

Abstract: In an information recording medium reproducing method, an information recording medium, a reproducing apparatus and an information recording medium managing method, a predetermined server is accessed on the basis of an address recorded in an information recording medium to issue key data from the server, and encrypted data recorded in the information recording medium are decrypted with the key data thus issued.

Abstract: In an information recording medium reproducing method, an information recording medium, a reproducing apparatus and an information recording medium managing method, a predetermined server is accessed on the basis of an address recorded in an information recording medium to issue key data from the server, and encrypted data recorded in the information recording medium are decrypted with the key data thus issued.

Abstract: A transfer characteristics measuring device automatically measures the transfer characteristics of each channel of a multi-channel acoustic reproduction system in a multi-channel acoustic reproduction environment, while allowing normal multi-channel reproduction to proceed. The transfer characteristics measuring device (5) comprises an object of measurement selecting section (51) that selects one of the objects of measurement according to the levels of the input signals for five channels being supplied to the objects of measurement and a transfer characteristics computing and determining section (52) that computes and determines the transfer characteristics of the object of measurement selected by the object of measurement selecting section (51).

Abstract: A recording system is constructed with at least first and second recording devices, both of which are connected to a network and have channel selection functions and functions of reserving the recording of broadcast program information forming a broadcast program. The first recording device includes a first memory for storing recording reservation information from a user, a judgement circuit for judging whether the recording reservation information is for a receivable broadcast channel, and a sending circuit for producing a recording reservation request containing the recording reservation information and for sending it to the network when it is judged that the recording reservation information is not for a receivable broadcast channel.