Abstract: A method, computer program product and hard disk drive for restricting a rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles for a spindle motor in a hard disk drive. The firmware in the hard disk drive determines a maximum rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles the spindle motor is designed to handle over a designated period of time based on the number of spin-up/spin-down cycles the spindle motor is designed to handle over its expected lifetime. The firmware disables the automatic standby mode of operation if a calculated rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles during the designated period of time is greater than the maximum rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles the spindle motor is designed to handle over the designated period of time. By disabling the automatic standby mode of operation, the rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles will be reduced as the spindle motor will not incur a spin-up/spin-down cycle until the automatic standby mode of operation is enabled.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed for connecting to a host, the host comprising loopback circuitry operable to loop a pattern received from the disk drive back to the disk drive. The disk drive comprises interface circuitry including a transmitter driver operable to transmit transmission signals at a transmission amplitude, and a receiver driver operable to receive reception signals. The transmitter driver is configured to transmit at an initial transmission amplitude, and a calibration pattern is transmitted to the host through the transmitter driver. The reception signals received by the receiver driver are monitored to detect a loopback pattern representing a loopback of the calibration pattern. The loopback pattern is processed to detect an error, and the transmission amplitude is adjusted in response to the error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which can provide a temperature estimate in a hard disk drive or other electronic device is provided. Output from the sensor, which may be indicative of a location spaced from the target temperature location, is sampled and integrated over an interval of time to form an estimate of average input sensor voltage. During the time interval, history of the HDD pre-amplifier operating modes is accumulated. The results are combined to form an estimate of HDA ambient temperature. Sensor offsets associated with each power mode, and weighted to the corresponding mode duty, can be subtracted from the average input sensor voltage.

Abstract: A system for precisely determining a position with resolution on the order of nanometers or sub-nanometers is described. In particular, a system is described that utilizes a first and a second sensor assembly to determine a position of a movable element over a distance many times the capable range of operation of either of the individual sensor assemblies. The two sensor assemblies leap-frog one another in an incremental fashion to ensure that at least one of the sensor assemblies is always within it operational range. Positional signals generated by one of the sensor assemblies can be used to calibrate the other sensor assembly, following an adjustment of the other sensor assembly. The described invention may be implemented in an optical storage disk mastering system to determine the position of mastering optics as the mastering optics translate over the surface of a storage master disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of monitoring a hard disk drive (HDD) include a HDD motor state detector for detecting the state of the motor of the HDD. Because the control information on the HDD is not acquired while the motor of the HDD is stopped, the HDD is not accessed and the motor is not operated. This structure can provide a HDD monitoring apparatus that prevents troubles induced during the motor is running.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a tape cartridge having a magnetic tape medium and a tape drive for reading and writing data to the magnetic tape medium of the tape cartridge. Performance data associated with specific operating loci (e.g., bands, directions, tracks, segments, etc.) of the tape drive and tape medium are collected, analyzed, and stored, allowing for analysis and detection of trends over time. In one example, tape usage events are monitored and when they cross a threshold the system may remove particular tapes in a preventative maintenance approach to reduce system outage. Performance data is collected and analyzed with a portion of the performance data being saved to emulated medium auxiliary memory (EMAM) on the magnetic tape, and a portion of the of the performance data saved in non-volatile storage in the drive.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes an enclosure enclosing at least a storage cabinet. A sound sensor is located within the enclosure. The sound sensor is designed to detect sound within the enclosure. The library apparatus enables detection of sound inside the enclosure of the library apparatus. A fall of the cartridge can immediately be determined based on the detected sound, for example. If the directivity of the sound sensor has a wider range, the sound sensor is capable of reliably detecting sound caused within the entire enclosure. The sound sensor contributes to a reliable detection of a fall of the cartridge with a simplified structure as compared with an image sensor having a narrower coverage.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information processing system which makes it impossible for a malicious third person to intrude thereinto from the outside through an external network for altering information recorded on a storage device of the server system or surreptitiously reading mails in the mailbox. This information processing system comprises a writable storage device (21), first and second input/output channels (18 and 19) connected to the storage device (21), a first computer (22) connected to the first input/output channel (18) and a second computer (23) connected to the second input/output channel (19). The first computer (22) is connected to an external network (24) such as the Internet and an intranet. The first input/output channel (18) is arranged as a channel exclusively for performing reading from the storage device (21) or a channel exclusively for performing writing into an empty area of the storage device (21) in dependence on the application of this information processing system.

Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises at least one housing A in which a storage device and a controller are provided, at least one housing B in which a storage device and a peripheral device are provided, and a transmission path for connecting the storage device and the controller of the housing A, and the storage device of the housing B to enable communication therebetween. The storage apparatus is capable of controlling operation of the storage device of the housing B according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing A through communication via the transmission path; and controlling operation of the peripheral device according to an operating state of the storage device of the housing B.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using dual bounding boxes as dynamic templates for cartridge rack identification and tracking is disclosed. An imaging tape cartridge picker system includes a picker assembly, illumination sources disposed at the front of the picker assembly for illuminating an object, an imager disposed on the front of the picker assembly for gathering image data of the object and a processor, coupled to the imager and illumination sources, for thresholding the image data obtained from the imager and for controlling the illumination sources, wherein the processor uses bounding boxes to identify the location of a desired physical feature in the thresholded image.

Abstract: Methods of controlling an I/O operation of a disk drive include determining a temperature associated with the disk drive, comparing the determined temperature to a temperature threshold, setting a duty cycle limit for the I/O operation in response to the determined temperature exceeding the temperature threshold, and performing the I/O operation subject to the duty cycle limit. The I/O operation may include a data write and/or a data read operation. Disk drives configured to control I/O operations based on temperatures are also disclosed.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge is equipped with write-once-read-many (WORM) write-protection. The cartridge is compatible with an existing cartridge docking station with a modification to the control logic of the docking station's control module. Specifically, the control logic is altered to recognize that sensing magnets with both sensors requires the docking station to allow data to be written to, but not erased or altered on the cartridge. In this manner, a third possibility of write-protection status is added to the two existing possibilities of full write-protection and no write-protection. Some embodiments of the invention also provide redundant indications of the WORM write-protection status of the cartridge. For example, embodiments of the invention may incorporate a radio-frequency identification (RF) tag within the cartridge and/or a status bit written into a designated WORM register within a media information header during pre-format of the cartridge media.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a variable media tape based storage system for storing, retrieving, and communicating data. The system includes at least one media element having a compatible relationship with one of a plurality of drives for storing and receiving data. The at least one media element configured to operate with the at least one drive as a functional pair is considered a loaded drive. The storage system also includes switch and mapping system, which in one embodiment could be an interface bridge processor, operatively linked to each of the plurality of drives. Finally, the storage system adapted to alter at least one received and accepted tape library command from positioning a target storage tape article for use with a target tape drive to selecting one of the loaded drives via the interface bridge processor.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a tape wrap angle is described comprising the steps of operating the tape system to generate or regenerate an electrical signal in the head from the tape, either increasing or reducing the tape wrap angle as appropriate until a signal from the tape head reappears or goes to zero, then increasing the wrap angle until the desired angle is achieved as measured by the signal from the head or by moving the tape support a fixed amount. A tape recording and/or reading system with adjustable wrap angles is described which can be used with a method of the invention. The system includes one or more rollers mounted on an adjustable shaft with an eccentric or axially offset portion supporting the roller. Preferably for a magnetic head, an adjustable shaft and roller are located on the tape-in and tape-out side of the tape head. The angular orientation of the eccentric shaft is adjustable, thereby, allowing precise adjustment of the position of the roller with respect to the tape head.

Abstract: A portable hard disc device which is read by a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, including: a disc for recording and/or reproducing; a head slider for recording and/or reproducing the disc; an arm mechanism for moving the head slider to a predetermined position; a voice coil motor type coil for driving the arm mechanism by being driven by an external magnetic field generated by magnets provided in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus and a current supplied from a power circuit; a spindle for rotating the disc after the disc is fixed; and a power circuit for supplying a current to the voice coil motor type coil.

Abstract: Data transfer apparatus may include a housing substantially conforming to a dimensional standard for a specified type of data cartridge. A reader mounted to the housing interrogates and receives data from a memory system provided on a data cartridge when the data transfer apparatus is positioned adjacent the data cartridge. A data transmission system mounted to the housing and operatively associated with the reader transfers data received by the reader to a data receiving system external to the data transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A disk control apparatus includes a shock sensor detecting a shock applied to a disk portion performing data reading and writing on a hard disk, and a shock log data generation manager creating shock log data concerning the detected shock, based on a predetermined shock determination threshold value relating to the level of the shock.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes a cartridge type sensor and a robot. The cartridge type sensor includes a cartridge having the same shape as that of each recording medium stored in a cell, an optical reader for reading a medium identification code, and a medium detector for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium in a target cell. The optical reader and the medium detector are disposed in the cartridge of the cartridge type sensor. The robot picks up the cartridge type sensor from a cell which stores the cartridge type sensor and positions the cartridge type sensor at a predetermined location in the library apparatus while holding the cartridge type sensor.

Abstract: Method operating hard disk drive (HDD) by receiving temperature and pressure readings from sensors, determining condensation danger from reading and asserting heat-up control to stimulate a thermoelectric device to move heat from exterior to interior thermal zone of HDD. Apparatus implementing method including embedded circuit, embedded processor in embedded circuit, thermal controller, thermal processor in thermal controller, and HDD. Manufacturing methods for apparatus and apparatus as products of these processes.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes a main chassis on which a head drum is mounted and a cassette holder to support a tape cassette. The cassette holder is mounted slidably on the main chassis. A pivoting lever is mounted pivotably on the main chassis and if operated in association with the cassette holder. A sensing switch provides information on insertion or ejection of the tape cassette, wherein the sensing switch is connected or separated according to the position on which the pivoting lever is pivoted.

Abstract: A media cartridge autoloader is disclosed which includes a media cartridge picker having a turntable capable of supporting a media cartridge and rotating to change the orientation of the media cartridge. A turntable rotating mechanism configured to rotate the turntable and a media cartridge transport mechanism configured to transport the media cartridge onto and off of the turntable are provided on the turntable. A mail slot through which the media cartridge is inserted or ejected, a media drive into which the media cartridge is loaded, and a media cartridge storage section configured to store the media cartridge are provided. The mail slot, the media drive, and the media cartridge storage section are arranged around the media cartridge picker. The media cartridge picker includes a turntable lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the turntable.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus recording data of a CD on an HDD in a manner such that the content of record in the CD is faithfully accounted for and shortening an operation time for a synchronized ripping operation. When the data recording apparatus reads, from the CD, track data managed by track, according to TOC, and records the track data onto the HDD, the data recording apparatus recognizes data unrecorded on the HDD, from among the track data recorded on the CD. This recognition process is automatically performed based on the TOC read from the CD, and album information replayed using the TOC and held by the HDD. The recording apparatus reproduces and outputs only the unrecorded data from the CD based on the recognition result concerning the unrecorded data. In this way, the data already recorded on the HDD is not transferred from the CD to the HDD. The operation time for the synchronized ripping operation is reduced accordingly.

Abstract: After the power supply of a disk drive that uses a head to write data at any position on a disk or read data written at any position is turned on, the first initial conditions for the disk drive that are needed to receive a command from outside and execute the command are determined. The disk drive is then brought to a state in which it can receive the command but the spindle motor is not started. After the disk drive is brought to the state in which it can receive the command, the spindle motor is started and the second initial conditions including all initial conditions other than the first initial conditions are determined. Moreover, a control method for a disk drive that is implemented in the above disk drive is disclosed.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus having access to a disk-shaped recording medium includes: a temperature detecting mechanism configured to detect an internal temperature; and a temperature control mechanism configured to change the disk drive apparatus to either an operating state or a stop state based on a change in the internal temperature, wherein a first temperature and a second temperature are different from each other, the temperature control mechanism changes the disk drive apparatus to the stop state at the first temperature and to the operating state at the second temperature.

Abstract: A method for preventing data loss in a hard disk drive by projecting reduction in gas concentration using insitu non-repeatable runout is disclosed. The method includes using servo tracking error to obtain a measured value of insitu non-repeatable runout (NRRO) for the hard disk drive, the hard disk drive having been filled with the gas and hermetically sealed. The measured value of NRRO is then deconvolved into a plurality of values for flow induced NRRO components. These values of NRRO and of flow induced NRRO components are compared to predetermined limiting values and a time when one of the predetermined limiting values will be reached is predicted. Action is then applied as appropriate.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: An electrical potential difference between a slider body and a hard disk of a hard disk drive is eliminated based on the flying-height spacing of the slider body between the slider body and the hard disk. A predetermined bias voltage is applied between the slider body and the hard disk that includes a DC component and an AC component and that is based on the detected flying-height spacing of the slider body. The flying-height spacing can be detected based a minimum slider-to-disk clearance change from a design flying height of the slider at a frequency of the AC component as the DC component of the predetermined bias voltage is varied. Alternatively, the flying-height spacing can be detected based on a minimum electrodynamic response of the slider to a first harmonic of the AC frequency of the AC component as the DC component is varied.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus mounting socket includes a socket portion which supports a disk drive apparatus, a lead portion which is connected to the disk drive apparatus supported by the socket portion, and a terminal unit which is electrically connected to the lead portion and to circuits on a board. A disk drive apparatus, which is connectable to an information processing unit, includes a connecting unit which connects the disk drive apparatus to the information processing unit, and an interface unit which controls the disk drive apparatus in response to a control signal, a data bus signal, and an address bus signal which are generated by the information processing unit and are inputted to the disk drive apparatus from the information processing unit via the connecting unit.

Abstract: When a disk device corresponding to a logical volume is started, a disk system determines and starts a disk device and a fan to be started, while comprehensively considering heat quantity generated by the disk device to be started, the cooling capacity of the fan, and the electric power consumption of the fan or the electric power consumption of the disk device.

Abstract: A method for driving a motor by imposing the current in the motor by means of power current mirrors is presented. This allows driving the motor in current with higher accuracy and lower electrical noise. The Hard Disk Drive application is an example where higher resolution is required for the VCM motor. Furthermore this method reduces the complexity of the system eliminating components and high performance circuits. Moreover this approach reduces the development and manufacturing cost by simplifying the testability and the analysis of the system. The intrinsic elimination of DC offset also takes out the need for the system offset calibration phase and significantly improves on the harmonic distortion of the transfer function. Furthermore this method offers the advantage of faster overall response of the system and higher efficiency.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, methods and systems for operating a magnetic storage media drive to perform read/write operations to magnetic storage media in an overwrite protected mode are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a write request and associated write data and determining if the magnetic storage medium is overwrite protected. If the storage medium is overwrite protected the method includes writing the write data to the storage medium followed by an EOD marker associated with the end of the write data, allowing write operations to the storage medium after previously written data, and preventing write operations to the storage medium prior to previous EOD markers.

Abstract: An on-screen calibration system for disc drives and the operating method thereof. The calibration system includes an autocollimator detecting the inclined angle of the stage of a disc drive. A control module is connected to the on-screen display module and a bar code scanner to receive the bar code of the pick-up module and compute a predetermined position data. A monitor displays a moving point according to the inclined angle and a target point according to the predetermined position data through an on-screen display module. The tilt-adjusting mechanism supporting the pick-up module is adjusted to shift the moving point overlapping the target point.

Abstract: The invention proposes the use of a piezoelectric crystal element as an actuator for data storage systems. In particular, the piezoelectric crystal element mechanically positions a head with respect to a data storage medium. More specifically, the invention may use a piezoelectric laminate crystal structure as a fine positioning actuator in a magnetic tape system in order to precisely position one or more heads with respect to tracks of the magnetic tape. Furthermore, in order to address hysteresis in the piezoelectric crystal element, the invention proposes the introduction of a high frequency periodic signal as part of the input to the piezoelectric crystal element.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed. The system includes one or more storage devices, a host bus adapter (HBA) and a bridging device coupled between the one or more storage device and the HBA. The bridging device includes a register having bits corresponding to each of the one or more storage devices. Each bit indicates whether staggered spin-up is enabled at a corresponding storage device.

Abstract: A method is presented for reducing time loss during manufacture and testing of a hard disk drive by predicting reduction in gas fill. The method includes using servo tracking error to obtain a measured value of insitu non-repeatable runout (NRRO) for the hard disk drive, the hard disk drive having been filled with the gas and semi-sealed. The measured value of NRRO is then deconvolved into a plurality of values for flow induced NRRO components. These values of NRRO and of flow induced NRRO components are compared to predetermined limiting values and a time when one of the predetermined limiting values will be reached is predicted. Action is then applied as appropriate.

Abstract: The thermal decay of data written to a magnetic mass storage medium is determined by measuring and analyzing the time-domain equalized-signal-to-noise ratio (ESNR) and equalized signal-to-total-distortion noise ratio (ESTDR) of written data. In some embodiments, a test track and a reference track are initialized from data. Subsequently, the reference track is re-initialized from the test data, and the time-domain ESNR and/or ESTDR measurements are made of the test track and the reference track, at predetermined time intervals. Later, the time-domain ESNR and ESTDR measurements are analyzed to determine the thermal decay of the data written. In another embodiment of the present invention, the ESNR and/or ESTDR measurements includes reading the data through a non-return-to-zero bus in phases, in which the phases are selected in sequence.

Abstract: A system using a tape cassette (1) with a memory (4) as a recording medium is provided. In the memory (4) provided in the tape cassette (1) used in the system, there is formed a storage area where instruction/object information in which an instruction to be executed by a required device is stated in addition to a storage area where management information for managing recording to or playback from the tape cassette (1) is stated. At an information processor (10, 40 or 50), instruction/object information is acquired from the memory (4) and processed to provide a control corresponding to the content of the instruction/object information. A device to make some action on the tape cassette (1) can thus have a higher operability and extensibility.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for adjusting the rate of data transfer between a high-speed multi-channel tape drive and a slower-capability network interface. The present invention allows for selectively enabling/disabling active channels to adjust the data throughput to match the data transfer capabilities of the network interface. Such an adjustment optimizes the rate of data transfer between the system and the tape drive by reducing the amount of stop and start operations normally present in an environment where the network interface cannot support the high-speed data transfer rates of a tape drive. Such an enablement/disablement adjustment system allows for a greater range of varying data rates within the transfer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of recording an error in a tape drive, comprises receiving, in a tape library controller, an internal identifier associated with a tape cartridge; recording, in a memory medium associated with the tape library controller, the internal identifier; associating, in the memory medium, the internal identifier with an external identifier associated with the tape cartridge; and providing information in the memory medium to identify the tape cartridge in a subsequent error analysis routine.

Abstract: A tape recording system is provided having an improved load/unload path, the system comprising a first pair of guides and a second pair of guides movable from an unloaded position to a loaded position. In the unloaded position, a gap between the first pair of guides and the second pair of guides provides a path for loading a tape from a supply reel to a take-up reel without contacting any of the first pair of guides, the second pair of guides and the head assembly to prevent contamination and damage of these components. The tape loader path is isolated from the head by the first pair of guides providing protection of the head from possible contact damage by the loader mechanism and tape leader.

Abstract: A slider (2?) with a reduced fly height is disclosed. The slider includes a small micropad (66) on the lower surface (22?) of the slider (2?). A sensor region (62) of a head (61) that is carried by the slider (2?) protrudes into the micropad (66). The fluid pressure acting on an air bearing surface system (26) on the lower surface (22?) of the slider (2?) is insufficient to dispose the entire lower surface (22?) of the slider (2?) in spaced relation to its corresponding disk (136) during the initial portion of the very first operation of the disk drive. The micropad (66) is thereby burnished, and continues to burnish until the air bearing surface system (26) assumes a position relative to the disk (136) that allows the fluid pressure acting on the air bearing surface system (26) to dispose the entire lower surface (22?) of the slider (2?) in spaced relation to the disk (136).

Abstract: A cartridge handling system and method initialize a data storage cartridge having rewritable media for tamper resistant write once recording. A write once flag is written to a lockable section of a cartridge memory; the lockable section is locked to read-only; and a write once flag is written to a required data set of the rewritable media. Thus, write once flags are provided both at the locked read-only section of the cartridge memory, and at the required data set of the rewritable media.

Abstract: A self-Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system using a hard disk drive having a backup head and a method of writing data to and reading data from the hard disk drive having the backup head are provided. A self-RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) system using a hard disk drive with at least one writable and readable disk medium includes a spindle motor, heads, an actuator arm, and a controller. The spindle motor rotates the disk medium. The heads face each other above and below the disk medium. The actuator arm drives the heads. The controller controls the heads to write data to and read data from the disk medium using a mode selection signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing flying height control using heated sliders is disclosed. A first heater is provided in a slider for implementing a first operating characteristic and a second heater is provided in the slider for implementing a second operating characteristic. A power source is provided for activating the first and second heaters. An activation controller is provided for allowing the first and second heaters to be selectively activated by the power source.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and combination for reducing acoustical noise at start-up of a device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining an internal temperature of the device, and unlatching an actuator of the device based on the determined internal temperature of the device, by steps for unlatching the actuator of the device. The apparatus includes a thermistor providing a resistance value to a controller that selects an unlatch process based on the resistance value of the thermistor, and an unlatch procedure programmed into the controller executing the selected unlatch process. The device combination includes a base deck supporting an actuator confined by a magnetic latch for periods of inactivity, and unlatched from the magnetic latch for periods of activity by steps for unlatching the actuator.

Abstract: Track anomalies are detected by measuring track impedance. A robotic device is moved along the track. A conductor on the track is contacted with a pair of pickups moved by the robotic device. Track health is determined based on impedance sensed between the pickups.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus system for aligning a multi-unit storage system. The alignment system for a storage apparatus includes a first and second storage unit which includes media support locations. The media support locations are capable of supporting at least one storage media element and at least one storage device adapted to store and retrieve data to and from the storage media element associated with at least one of the storage units. The storage apparatus further includes at least one robotic system, an alignment indication device and an alignment means capable of positioning the first and second storage unit substantially in alignment for the robotic system to access the media support locations and the storage device wherein the alignment means cooperates with the alignment indication device to confirm the positioning is in alignment.

Abstract: A recording medium and a method and apparatus for managing data are provided. The method includes recording additional data in a data file separate from a file containing main data and recording navigation information that links the main data and the additional data. The additional data are segmented into a plurality of predetermined units, each of the predetermined units including time information indicating a presentation start time of the corresponding unit.