Abstract: A marker selection method includes: a marker generation step for generating a marker defining a position reference when recording data according to the modulation rule of the hologram recording/reproduction; a calculation step for calculating a correlation value indicating the correlation between a template image indicating a maker and each of a first verification image containing the marker shifted by a predetermined pixel and a second verification image containing data; and a selection step for selecting such a marker that the peak of the correlation value in the first verification image becomes greater than the peak of the correlation value in the second verification image. The selected marker is used as marker data in a marker generator in a recording processing circuit during recoding and as template data of the template matching processing circuit in the reproduction processing circuit during reproduction.

Abstract: A template matching processing device includes: first calculation means for calculating a plurality of correlation values indicating the correlation between an inputted detection image and a predetermined template image for each pixel unit while shifting the template image with respect to the detection image in pixel unit; and second calculation means for calculation coordinate position of the detection image according to the coordinate position of the center of gravity of the correlation values.

Abstract: A two-dimensional demodulation method for reproducing a data page by means of decision feedback Viterbi detection processing from a recording medium on which a data page has been recorded as a set of a plurality of two-dimensional modulation pattern symbols each of which comprises a plurality of pixels, and which have been modulated two-dimensionally, the method comprising: a step of determining a value of pixel deviation in a reproduction image obtained by receiving light from the recording medium on an image sensor; a step of splitting an output signal of the image sensor which indicates the reproduction image of the light received from the recording medium into signal symbol data by division into blocks in accordance with the two-dimensional modulation pattern symbols; and a step of carrying out decision feedback Viterbi detection for each signal symbol data in accordance with the pixel deviation value.

Abstract: To provide a two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording which is capable of preventing degradation of reconstructing performance when positional shift occurs and which enables information to be stably recorded or reproduced. The hologram recording carrier employs the two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording for generating coherent light containing therein page data through a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged therein, in which the pixels of the spatial light modulator are partitioned into a plurality of blocks consisting of m pixels adjacent to each other (where m=an integral number), and a boundary portion which has a width having at least the width of one pixel of the spatial light modulator or of one pixel of an image detecting sensor used to reproduce the recorded page data and the distance between the adjacent pixels in each of the blocks, and each of which shields light is provided between the adjacent blocks.

Abstract: A hologram reproduced image position detecting method used in a hologram apparatus which perfoming an image formation with light reproduced from a recording medium where a data page including a marker and a data area that have been displayed on a spatial light modulator is recorded, on an image sensor having a larger number of pixels than the spatial light modulator, thereby obtaining a reproduced image of the data page to reproduce the data page. The detecting method comprises the steps of storing a template image into which the marker has been interpolation-expanded, beforehand; oversampling the reproduced image of the data page in the image sensor to obtain a detected image; and performing a template matching process on the detected image using the template image, thereby detecting the position of the marker when recorded.

Abstract: An example hologram recording/reproduction device reproduces recorded information from a holographic recording medium where interference fringes formed by a reference light and an object light corresponding to the recording information are recorded. The example hologram recording/reproduction device irradiates the reference light to a holographic recording medium; generates detection information data (Ddet) according to the detection light generated by irradiation of the reference light; sets a target irradiation position of the reference light on the surface of the holographic recording medium according to the detection information data; and moves the irradiation means with respect to the holographic recording medium along its surface so that the reference light is irradiated to the target irradiation position.

Abstract: A demodulation method comprises the steps of performing branch metric computation on each of columns of a modulation symbol; calculating column path metrics that are respective path metrics of column state values of modulation symbols; and calculating symbol path metrics that are respective path metrics of symbol state values of the modulation symbols.

Abstract: A two-dimensional demodulation method for reproducing a data page by means of decision feedback Viterbi detection processing from a recording medium on which a data page has been recorded as a set of a plurality of two-dimensional modulation pattern symbols each of which comprises a plurality of pixels, and which have been modulated two-dimensionally, the method comprising: a step of determining a value of pixel deviation in a reproduction image obtained by receiving light from the recording medium on an image sensor; a step of splitting an output signal of the image sensor which indicates the reproduction image of the light received from the recording medium into signal symbol data by division into blocks in accordance with the two-dimensional modulation pattern symbols; and a step of carrying out decision feedback Viterbi detection for each signal symbol data in accordance with the pixel deviation value.

Abstract: A marker selection method includes: a marker generation step for generating a marker defining a position reference when recording data according to the modulation rule of the hologram recording/reproduction; a calculation step for calculating a correlation value indicating the correlation between a template image indicating a maker and each of a first verification image containing the marker shifted by a predetermined pixel and a second verification image containing data; and a selection step for selecting such a marker that the peak of the correlation value in the first verification image becomes greater than the peak of the correlation value in the second verification image. The selected marker is used as marker data in a marker generator in a recording processing circuit during recoding and as template data of the template matching processing circuit in the reproduction processing circuit during reproduction.

Abstract: An example hologram recording and reproducing apparatus includes a recording unit which records information on a holographic recording medium by recording interference fringes formed by irradiation of a reference light and an object light corresponding to recording information, a reproducing unit which generates detected information data and a focus error signal on the basis of detected light from the holographic recording medium, and a focus servo unit that carries out focus servo on the basis of the focus error signal. The focus servo unit has a servo target value setting unit which sets a target value for focus servo on the basis of the detected information data. The detected information data also includes information indicative of the position relationship between the recording medium and the reference light or the like.

Abstract: A hologram reproduction apparatus includes a light-receiving unit such as a two-dimensional sensor which obtains two-dimensionally modulated image data, and an A/D converter which A/D-converts analog data obtained by the light-receiving unit into digital data. In addition, the hologram reproduction apparatus detects a number of pixels having a digital value larger than a first defined value in the A/D-converted image data for one page, by a first pixel number detecting unit. The hologram reproduction apparatus controls a magnitude value of the image data at the time of the A/D conversion by the first control unit so that the number of detected pixels is within a predetermined range. Thereby, a dynamic range of the A/D conversion to the two-dimensional modulated image data can effectively be used. Therefore, a quantization noise due to the A/D conversion can be reduced, and also a reproduction S/N can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a television broadcast program digest which stores a broadcast signal indicative of contents of at least one television broadcast program and guide data of the at least one television broadcast program. The apparatus pre-stores a period of time and a weight point as data for at least one attribute concerning program contents every different television broadcast program. The apparatus reads the broadcast signal and guide data of the at least one television broadcast program when a digest reproduction is performed. In accordance with the guide data, the apparatus reads a period of time and a weight point for each attribute corresponding to a television broadcast program consistent in terms of content with or similar to the at least one television broadcast program. The apparatus reproduces a partial signal having a length of time based on the weight point and the period of time.

Abstract: To provide a two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording which is capable of preventing degradation of reconstructing performance when positional shift occurs and which enables information to be stably recorded or reproduced. The hologram recording carrier employs the two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording for generating coherent light containing therein page data through a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged therein, in which the pixels of the spatial light modulator are partitioned into a plurality of blocks consisting of m pixels adjacent to each other (where m=an integral number), and a boundary portion which has a width having at least the width of one pixel of the spatial light modulator or of one pixel of an image detecting sensor used to reproduce the recorded page data and the distance between the adjacent pixels in each of the blocks, and each of which shields light is provided between the adjacent blocks.

Abstract: A template matching processing device includes: first calculation means for calculating a plurality of correlation values indicating the correlation between an inputted detection image and a predetermined template image for each pixel unit while shifting the template image with respect to the detection image in pixel unit; and second calculation means for calculation coordinate position of the detection image according to the coordinate position of the center of gravity of the correlation values.

Abstract: An information serving system includes a broadcasting station module (TV), user module (RV), and advertising agency module (AD). The broadcasting station module (TV) broadcasts pieces of broadcast information including at least video information. The user module (RV) receives the broadcast information, selects an image component composing an image from the received broadcast information, and produces specification information indicative of the selected image component. The user module (RV) transmits the produced specification information, while receiving component information to represent the received component information. The advertising company module (AD) acquires the specification information, and transmits to the user module (RV) the component information indicating an image component specified by the acquired specification information.

Abstract: A hologram recording/reproduction device reproduces recording information from a holographic recording medium where interference fringes formed by a reference light and an object light corresponding to the recording information are recorded. The hologram recording/reproduction device includes: irradiation means for irradiating the reference light to a holographic recording medium; data generation means for generating detection information data (Ddet) according to the detection light generated by irradiation of the reference light; setting means for setting a target irradiation position of the reference light on the surface of the holographic recording medium according to the detection information data; and movement means for moving the irradiation means with respect to the holographic recording medium along its surface so that the reference light is irradiated to the target irradiation position.

Abstract: A hologram recording medium is a hologram recording medium which is irradiated with light for recording information therein or reproducing information therefrom. The hologram recording medium has a recording layer made of a photo-sensitive material capable of preserving an optical interference pattern, a reflective layer disposed on one side of the recording layer opposite to the side on which an light beam impinges, and a quarter wavelength plate interposed between the recording layer and the reflective layer.

Abstract: Provided is an image information summary device for reproducing the summary information, by which an operator is capable of grasping the image information appropriately by the use of the preliminary announcement information. A summary reproducing apparatus obtains the continuous voice image information which is provided in plural times and extracts a characteristic amount of each piece of voice image information. Simultaneously, upon carrying out the summary reproduction, the summary reproducing apparatus compares the object voice image information to be an object of the summary reproduction with the non-object voice image information having the preliminary announcement information in the object voice image information, detects the same shot from the object voice image information and decides the partial image information to be extracted on the basis of the same shot in this object voice image information.

Abstract: A hologram reproduction apparatus includes a light-receiving unit such as a two-dimensional sensor which obtains two-dimensionally modulated image data, and an A/D converter which A/D-converts analog data obtained by the light-receiving unit into digital data. In addition, the hologram reproduction apparatus detects a number of pixels having a digital value larger than a first defined value in the A/D-converted image data for one page, by a first pixel number detecting unit. The hologram reproduction apparatus controls a magnitude value of the image data at the time of the A/D conversion by the first control unit so that the number of detected pixels is within a predetermined range. Thereby, a dynamic range of the A/D conversion to the two-dimensional modulated image data can effectively be used. Therefore, a quantization noise due to the A/D conversion can be reduced, and also a reproduction S/N can be improved.

Abstract: A hologram recording medium is a hologram recording medium which is irradiated with light for recording information therein or reproducing information therefrom. The hologram recording medium has a recording layer made of a photo-sensitive material capable of preserving an optical interference pattern, a reflective layer disposed on one side of the recording layer opposite to the side on which an light beam impinges, and a quarter wavelength plate interposed between the recording layer and the reflective layer.