Abstract: When a storage unit whose function is enabled is controlled to execute a write process, the storage unit executes the write process using the function. When the storage unit whose function is enabled is controlled to execute an erasure process, the storage unit executes the erasure process without using the function.

Abstract: A method for generating a two-dimensional barcode, including: obtaining a protection-encoding pattern based on a mask pattern reference, the mask pattern reference being a reference for identifying a mask pattern that is applied to a module group, the module group being composed of a plurality of modules, each module being a unit cell constituting the two-dimensional barcode; obtaining a protection-encoded code block by protection-encoding a code block with the protection-encoding pattern, the code block having at least a data codeword; generating the module group based on the protection-encoded code block; and generating the two-dimensional barcode having the module group to which the mask pattern is applied.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.

Abstract: Zeotropic effects are created while an observer experiments with video data and speed controls of a rotary motor. A system facilitates user creation of a customized zoetrope animation disc by enabling a user to take a video of a repetitive motion (e.g., a person doing a jumping jack, a hand opening and closing, a person swinging back and forth on a swing, etc.). The system prompts a user to select a start point and end point to the video. The system further prompts the user to specify a number of frames desired for the animation disc. The animation disc is then printed for use on a rotary motor based on the user input.

Abstract: A device having an air bearing surface and a method of forming the device are disclosed. The device can include a writer portion including a surface at the air bearing surface of the device, a magnetic adhesion layer disposed proximate at least a portion of the surface of the writer portion, and an overcoat disposed proximate at least a portion of the magnetic adhesion layer such that the magnetic adhesion layer is between the at least a portion of the surface of the writer portion and the overcoat.

Abstract: Optical devices and systems including a polarization maintaining interconnect are disclosed. An optical assembly can include an optical component, a low-birefringence optical fiber and a polarization transformer. The polarization transformer is coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber. The polarization transformer is configured to transform between a substantially circularly-polarized light at the low-birefringence optical fiber and a substantially linearly-polarized light at the optical component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a content addressable memory. A system includes a common memory module configured to store a plurality of entries, ones of the entries being defined by a string of bits. A first parallel compare logic unit is configured to compare a first lookup key against a plurality of entries stored in the memory module in a first memory operation cycle and to output a match indication indicating a match between the first lookup key and the string of bits of an entry from among the plurality of entries. A second parallel compare logic unit is configured to compare, in the first memory operation cycle, a second lookup key against the plurality of entries stored in the memory module and to output a match indication indicating a match between the second lookup key and the string of bits of an entry from among the plurality of entries.

Abstract: A recording medium comprises an IC chip including circuitry configured to record data of one or more kinds of software, transmit and receive information to and from an external apparatus without contacting the external apparatus, and communicate with the external apparatus and execute mutual authentication processing for permitting access to the recorded information. The data recorded on the circuitry includes identification information for respective kinds of software recorded on a recording surface of the recording medium, key information necessary for installation of the respective kinds of software, and usage control information indicating a number of installations available for installation of the respective kinds of software. The key information is readout to the external apparatus and the usage information is rewritten by the external apparatus only when mutual authentication is correctly performed between the IC chip and the external apparatus.

Abstract: Monochromatic or multichromatic images may be created on surfaces. The surface is moved to first, second and third stations. The surface is electrically biased, and powder is transferred to the surface electrostatically at the first station. The powder is fused or sintered selectively on the surface at the second station. Unfused or unsintered portions of the powder are removed from the surface at the third station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a playback apparatus, a method, and a program which can appropriately perform jump playback when content transmitted through a network is played back in real time. A terminal 3 receives stream data transmitted from a server 1, buffers the stream data, and plays back the buffered data. The terminal 3 has multiple buffers to allow content data of the positions of jump destinations that can be specified as a jump destination during jump playback to be pre-buffered in the multiple buffers. As a result, upon receiving a request for jump playback, the terminal 3 can start playback from a jump destination without delay, since the data of the jump destination has already been buffered. The present invention is applied to, for example, television receivers.

Abstract: An optical disc discriminating method and an optical disc discriminating apparatus which can discriminate a type of optical disc with a simple configuration, causes a drive means to vary an incident angle of a laser light beam with respect to an optical disc while irradiating the optical disc with the laser light beam from a light beam generating section, causes a photodetector to detect a diffraction light of the laser light beam from a recording track of the optical disc, detects a value corresponding to the incident angle when the diffraction light is detected, and discriminates the type of the optical disc on the basis of the detected value.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an IC chip of a recording medium, an authentication processing unit that executes mutual authentication processing with the IC chip, a list-display-screen outputting unit that reads identification information and usage control information and causes a display to display a list display screen, a selection input unit that receives a selection input from a user, a software reading unit that reads data of software selected according to selection input from the data area, an installation processing unit that causes the authentication processing unit to execute the authentication processing, reads key information necessary for installing the software, and executes installation processing for the software, and a usage-control-information updating unit that accesses the IC chip and updates the usage control information corresponding to the software.

Abstract: A data storage medium such as an optical disc with separate image and data tracks, and a method and apparatus for forming the same. The medium has a user data storage area with a data track to store user data, and a non-user data image track to store human readable information to form a watermark interspersed with the user data. Preferably, the data track forms a portion of a first spiral and the image track forms a portion of a distinct second spiral nested within the first spiral. Alternatively, the data and image tracks are nested concentric circles. An increased track pitch is preferably provided for the data tracks in the data storage area adjacent the watermark to accommodate the intervening image tracks, and a reduced track pitch between data tracks is provided elsewhere. The medium can be pre-recorded or recordable.

Abstract: For programs selected as those whose label is to be created, a list of available templates is displayed on a arrangement processing screen 200 together with contents of EPG information acquired from an EPG information DB. The EPG information is displayed on a left screen 210 and the templates list is displayed on a right screen 220, so that one template desired to be applied is selected on the right screen 220, according to which template, one or a plurality of the EPG information pieces whose label is desired to be created is selected on the left screen 210. Templates 230, 240, 250, and 260 constitute a label set comprised of a plurality of labels, thus enabling creating labels by incorporating information pieces of specified items.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus having a function of communicating with a noncontact IC. The apparatus includes a chassis, an external antenna arranged for communication with a noncontact IC outside the chassis, an internal antenna arranged for communication with a noncontact IC included in an optical disc loaded in the chassis, a control section performing a search operation of searching for the noncontact IC outside the chassis and the noncontact IC in the optical disc, and a switching section changing conduction state between the external antenna and the control section and that between the internal antenna and the control section under the control of the control section.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes an I/O port that connects to a port of a drive apparatus, and a storage unit that prestores manufacturing information in correspondence with device drivers. The optical disk apparatus further includes a controller that transmits a command indicating to return manufacturing information, to the drive apparatus via the I/O port. When manufacturing information is returned from the drive apparatus via the I/O port, the controller extracts a device driver corresponding to the returned manufacturing information from the device drivers in the storage unit. The controller then controls a reading operation or a recording operation of the drive apparatus on the optical disk, based on the extracted device driver.

Abstract: An optical disc according to the present invention includes a plurality of recording layers; a receiving section for receiving, from outside an optical disc, a switching instruction for switching a target layer to be targeted for recording or reproducing information among the plurality of the recording layers; and a switching section for switching the target layer among the plurality of recording layers, based on the switching instruction received.

Abstract: In a recording/reproducing apparatus, a pair of detection sliders, in which pins coming into contact with an outer peripheral edge of a storage medium being inserted are formed and which approach and are separated from each other, are disposed in the vicinity of a storage medium insert port, and a detection lever coupled with one of the pins is rotatably and slidably attached to a frame. Further, the recording/reproducing apparatus has a support member, which is slid by being pressed by the outer peripheral edge of the storage medium being inserted, and an intermediate guide lever rotated in association with a sliding operation of the support member. Two select grooves are formed in the detection lever, and a first projecting piece, which is selectively fit into the select grooves, is disposed in the intermediate guide lever.

Abstract: A system and method in which read information is calculated with additional information as a coefficient and has superior in quality to basic information. The read information contains a larger amount of information than the basic information. So, even if an attempt is made to record the read information as it is to any other recording medium, the recording medium having a sufficiently large capacity for storage of the read information. Thus, copy of recorded data in the recording medium to any other recording medium is difficult.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-channel PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) apparatuses and methods for modulating PCM-based multi-channel audio signals read from an optical medium into PWM-based multi-channel audio signals. A multi-channel PWM apparatus and method can reduce noise from amplifying PCM-based audio signals having adjacent signal processing paths. The multi-channel PWM apparatus and method selectively vary only gains of some channels in a plurality of channels in order to allow an audio signal applied to a pulse width modulator to have a different level in individual channels in a prescribed system condition (e.g., overload). The multi-channel PWM apparatus can selectively enable a subset among a plurality of pulse width modulators to reduce unnecessary driving and noise. Thus, preferred embodiments can reduce or prevent deterioration of output audio signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for suitable for obtaining an image of a dental structure has an illuminator member placed proximate the area to be imaged. The illuminator member has a support structure (30) for retaining the illuminator member in position proximate the area to be imaged. A reference (22) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member and disposed within the area to be imaged. At least one light source (24) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member for directing imaging illumination toward the area to be imaged. A camera (12) records an image from within the area to be imaged using the imaging illumination from the illuminator member, wherein the image comprises the reference (22).

Abstract: Low-complexity synthesis filter bank for MPEG audio decoding uses a factoring of the 64×32 matrixing for the inverse-quantized subband coefficients. Factoring into non-standard 4-point discrete cosine and sine transforms, point-wise multiplications and combinations, and non-standard 8-point discrete cosine and sine transforms limits memory requirements and computational complexity.

Abstract: Information carrier, comprising a disc (101) which is provided with at least one data layer (102) for optically reading and/or writing information, wherein the disc comprises an annular clamping part (C), to be held by a clamper (121) during use, wherein the disc comprises at least one integrated circuit (103), wherein said integrated circuit comprises a first communicator (104) for communication with at least a second, external, communicator (111) during use, wherein the first communicator extends in a centre area (T) which is enclosed by said annular clamping part.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a base having a signal reading surface at a first surface; a reflective layer provided on the signal reading surface of the base; a cover layer provided on the reflective layer; and a small memory device having a communication function provided at a side opposing the signal reading surface of the base.

Abstract: A computer-executable information tracking method, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a program to adequately track the information flow of a paper document are disclosed. The method includes a first detecting step of, whenever an input or output of information is performed using a paper as a medium, detecting paper identification information that uniquely identifies the paper from other paper; a storing step of associating and storing the paper identification information with information regarding the input or output of information in a recording device; a second detecting step of detecting the paper identification information of a designated paper; an information searching step of searching for the information regarding the input or output of information on the designated paper by comparing the paper identification information of the designated paper with the paper identification information stored in the recording device.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined and displayed. Management classes embedded in the file name may augment the media bit and device bit for determining the write capability.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.

Abstract: An optical disk, a recording apparatus and playing apparatus which can record various kinds of identification information in the form of a pit train and a bar code without decreasing the data recording area for main information. Both a first data block including a pit train indicating first identification information and a second data block including a bar code indicating second identification information are formed in the recording part at the same radius.

Abstract: A parameter setting section sets a parameter stored beforehand in a parameter storage section as a parameter in an operation in an image pick-up section or an image processing section until an image pick-up start detection section detects an image pick-up start of a code. Moreover, when the image pick-up start detection section detects the image pick-up start of the code, the parameter setting section changes the parameter extracted from image information output from the image pick-up section or image information subjected to predetermined image processing in the image processing section from the parameter stored in the parameter storage section.

Abstract: A plurality of redundant sets of servo data are recorded on a magnetic hard disk. The set meeting a predetermine criteria is employed when the hard disk is assembled into a hard disk drive. The determination of which set has the criteria may be conducted by the disk drive itself. The criteria may include a determination the set of servo data having meeting a minimum quality criteria or the fewest errors. The criteria may include a selection of a set of servo data having a specific pattern where the prerecorded sets may comprise a differing servo patterns that may be used by disk drives requiring specific servo patterns. The servo data are printed onto the hard disk by means of a stamper or mask having all the sets of servo data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control method of a rotary storage medium having an electronic circuit that controls connection between an electronic circuit block and an external apparatus to enhance the performance of the entire system, and a system thereof. The system is an intelligent disk system including an intelligent disk having double-surface structure that stores information and is detachable from a drive unit, wherein an electronic circuit is mounted on at least one surface or between both surfaces of the intelligent disk and the electronic circuit is provided with a CPU, and wherein the system controls the intelligent disk so that contents of the disk surfaces of the intelligent disk may be transferred to or loaded in an external apparatus at the time of the intelligent disk rotating or mechanically operating (S36-S37) and the CPU may control the external apparatus when the intelligent disk is not operating.

Abstract: Magnetic patterned media comprise topographical features readable with a slider-mounted non-magnetic transducer sensitive primarily to a local aerodynamic boundary condition, in addition to a magnetic recording layer substantially conforming to the topographical features. Passage of a transducer over the features generates effects that can be detected in, and separated from, the magnetic recording signal.

Abstract: An optical storage drive having a content-based drive-speed variation capability. The optical storage drive contains a drive speed lookup table that stores drive speeds corresponding to file types or groups of file types. For a given file type, a corresponding coded drive speed is provided to the motor control hardware registers. Based upon the coded drive speed provided the drive voltage is limited to produce a desired drive speed. In one embodiment, the optical storage drive may reduce energy consumption by ascertaining the file type to be read and rotating the optical disk at a reduced speed based upon the file type.

Abstract: Tracks are automatically selected from plural tracks recorded on a CD and are recorded on a MD so that a total reproducing time of the tracks thus selected is within a recordable time of the MD. Upon receiving a notification of the recordable time of the MD 29, a system controller 14 of a CD player 10 selects and reproduces tracks recorded on the CD 19 in accordance with a predetermined priority order so that the total reproducing time of the tracks thus selected does not exceed the recordable time, and has an MD recorder 20 record these tracks.

Abstract: A recording medium manufacturing method comprises a process for forming a thermosensitive material layer 12 on a substrate comprising a recording medium or a recording medium manufacturing master, a process for forming a denatured portion 12s of a pattern corresponding to target very small concavities and convexities on the thermosensitive material layer by irradiating laser light on the thermosensitive material layer with patterns corresponding to target very small concavities and convexities and a process for forming target very small concavities and convexities by patterning the thermosensitive material layer by developing the thermosensitive material layer 12. In particular, in the laser light irradiation, there can be formed patterns independent of the length of the very small concavities and convexities by irradiation of laser light modulated by a frequency higher than a period of very small concavities and convexities.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.

Abstract: An optical data carrier has a memory member having a radiation-transparent layer and an information recording layer adjoining it. The information recording layer has a surface with memory areas for digital information. The data carrier has a through opening for receiving a read/write device and has a thickness equal to that of a chip card or magnetic strip card. The memory member is 0.5-0.6 mm thick. An adapter for the read/write device has a base member with a rectangular recess of inner dimensions slightly greater than the outer dimensions of the plate-shaped data carrier to be received therein. The base member has a central opening coaxial to the through opening of the data carrier. The adapter/data carrier unit can rotate without balance error about a central axis of through opening and central opening. The combined thickness of the data carrier and of the base member measured at the recess corresponds to that of a standard DVD data carrier.

Abstract: An insertable device, for use with electronic data processing equipment storage units, e.g., disk drives or cassette units. The device includes a housing for insertion at least partially into the storage unit of a size and shape designed to fit the storage unit, an interface disposed in the housing for facilitating the transfer of data between the device and the electronic data processing equipment, and a processor disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the interface, for performing processing of data.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, defining disk tracks in magnetic recording media. The track-writing apparatus (20) is capable of forming tracks (340) with a track width (TW) and track spaces (350) with a space width (SW) on a magnetic media disk (70) having an upper surface (70S), wherein the disk comprises a magnetic medium with a thermal diffusion length (X). The apparatus comprises, in order along an optical axis (A1), a laser light source (30) capable of providing a pulsed laser light beam (B1), a light pipe (32), and illumination shaping optical system (40) that provides substantially uniform illumination over an exposure region (ER), and a phase plate (60) having a phase grating (210) with a grating period (p), arranged proximate and substantially parallel to the upper surface of the disk so as to form an periodic irradiance distribution (380) at the surface of the disk when the phase plate is illuminated with the exposure region.

Abstract: A digital versatile disc (DVD) includes a read-only ROM area in which video is previously recorded, and a readable/writable RAM area. A lender DVD apparatus writes a playback/recording control program in the RAM area of the DVD to be rented. A user DVD apparatus reads the playback/recording control program from the RAM area of the rented DVD. Following the playback/recording control program, the user DVD apparatus receives digital broadcasting, extracts commercial messages therefrom, and writes the extracted commercial messages in the RAM area. Then, the user DVD apparatus reads the video from the ROM area and the commercial messages from the RAM area for playback. Then, the user DVD apparatus generates history data indicating how many times and which commercial message has been played-back, and writes the generated history data in the RAM area.

Abstract: A recording layer 6 records and stores information and comprises a plurality of layers, namely a first layer 6a and a second layer 6b. The first layer 6a is made from a recording material which gives parallel directions to saturation magnetization and sublattice magnetization. The second layer 6b is made from a recording material which gives antiparallel directions to saturation magnetization and sublattice magnetization at room temperature. The recording material for the second layer 6b gives parallel directions to saturation magnetization and sublattice magnetization at around a read temperature.

Abstract: A system for reading data from recording media having topographical features readable with a slider-mounted non-magnetic transducer sensitive primarily to changes in local aerodynamic boundary conditions.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-caled multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving, while using a multimode diode laser and polarization-maintaining fibers, high signal-to-noise ratio in a magneto optical storage system. In particular, the system splits an incoming main light signal into two orthogonal polarization states, which then propagate over different distances before recombining. By pulsing the laser on and off at a high frequency and choosing an appropriate path difference for the polarization states, which is dependent upon the modulation frequency of the laser, the system eliminates first-order spectral polarization noise arising from a potential error in a key optical component.

Abstract: A thermomagnetic recording medium includes a thermal change layer whose thermal conductivity is induced to change by a metal-to-insulator transition, is greater on a lower temperature side of a transition temperature and is smaller on a higher temperature side thereof. A thermomagnetic recording method includes setting a recording or reproducing temperature higher than the temperature of the recording medium at the circumference of a light spot and higher than a threshold temperature for change of the thermal conductivity of the thermal change layer. A thermomagnetic recording and reproducing device is provided with the above-mentioned thermomagnetic recording medium, an optical pickup and a magnetic head and conducts recording and reproduction by the above-mentioned thermomagnetic recording and reproducing device.

Abstract: A data cartridge and method for providing a write-securable storage medium that inhibits writing. The medium comprises a write-secure-type indicator in a predefined location that indicates the medium is of a type that is susceptible to write securing. Additionally, the medium comprises a write-secure-complete indicator in a predetermined zone of the disk that is not accessible to a user. When the write-secure-complete indicator is set by a host device, the setting is irreversible and consequently the data on the medium is protected, and additional writing onto any part of the medium is permanently prevented.

Abstract: A data carrier and a method of making the data carrier. The data carrier includes a plastic body, at least one metal layer arranged in or on the plastic body for carrying information encoded in one of CD and DVD format, a semiconductor chip arranged in the plastic body, a communication device for connecting the semiconductor chip with an external apparatus, and a mechanism for balancing an unbalance caused by the semiconductor chip. The method includes providing a matrix carrying the encoded information in a relief, the matrix including at least one projection, casting a first part of the plastic body against the matrix, forming the metal layer on a side of the first part of the plastic body disposed adjacent the matrix, forming at least one recess in the plastic body with the projection, and coating the metal layer with a second part of the plastic body, wherein the recess in the plastic body is capable of receiving the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical disc recording apparatus, an optical disc recording method, and an optical disc, and the present invention is applied to, for example, apparatus for recording on a compact disc, compact discs, and compact disc players, and sub-data strings are recorded so that the main data strings is reproducible by an optical pickup for reproducing the main data string and the main data strings. are protected from being copied illegally without any adverse effect on reproduction of the pit-and-land main data strings The sub-data string ED is recorded by locally changing the reflectance of the reflection film in the form of irregularity such as pit or mark at the timing which does not affect the position information of the edge.

Abstract: An optical disc according to the present invention includes a plurality of recording layers; a receiving section for receiving, from outside an optical disc, a switching instruction for switching a target layer to be targeted for recording or reproducing information among the plurality of the recording layers; and a switching section for switching the target layer among the plurality of recording layers, based on the switching instruction received.