Abstract: Improved techniques for controlling operation of a portable electronic device are disclosed. Portable electronic devices which interact with a host electronic device can have their operational settings (e.g., configurations or preferences) remotely controlled. As a result, a host electronic device can offer a more sophisticated user interface and portable electronic devices need less local user interface features because these operational settings can be remotely controlled. The remotely-controlled (i.e., host controlled) operational settings are transferred to the portable electronic devices, whereby the portable electronic devices can thereafter operate in accordance with such settings.

Abstract: A system for preparing a first multimedia stream, for use with an environment comprising a repository for storing a plurality of tracks. Each track may be associated with at least one second multimedia stream. A track may comprise a single type of data (e.g., audio, video, etc.). The method may comprise receiving a request comprising an associated parameter (e.g., a position parameter) and determining at least two of the plurality of tracks associated with the parameter. The at least two tracks may have associated information that matches the position parameter. Responsive to determining the at least two tracks, the determined at least two tracks may be collated in order to generate the first multimedia stream.

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: A recording system records data by retrieving it from a portable medium such as CD-ROM or the like. The recording system determines a data retrieval speed for a specific data track on the portable medium by calculating a retrieval time of the specific data track at an increased retrieval speed and a playback time of a preceding data track on the portable medium. When the retrieval time of the specific data track at the increased retrieval speed is smaller than the playback time of the preceding data track, the recording system reduces the retrieval speed for the specific data track.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method determining a data arrangement that guarantees seamless reproduction even in a case of occurrence of a jump in a browsable slide show. An allowable jump range between an image data clip and an audio data clip required for data reading in the browsable slide show in which a consecutive reproduction processing of a still image and an audio reproduction processing are performed in parallel is determined so as to determine arrangement conditions of data to be stored in an information recording medium on the basis of the determined allowable jump range. This configuration enables the browsable slide show to be carried out as a seamless reproduction processing without any data discontinuity. Furthermore, it becomes possible to provide a plurality of combinations of readout rates of the audio data and image data.

Abstract: A BD-ROM contains plurality of Titles which can be branched among and a Java application executable upon reproduction of each Title. Each Title has an AV Clip and an application management table. The application is a program described in a virtual-machine oriented programming language. The application management table correlates an application to an application run attribute in the corresponding Title. The run attribute may be a continuation attribute (Persistent) for continuing the application state in the branch origin or an AutoRun attribute for automatically running the application when the application is in a non-run state in the branch origin.

Abstract: A system includes a first manufacturing apparatus (510) for manufacturing a plurality of record carriers, such as DVDs, with a pre-recorded area storing the same content. A second manufacturing apparatus (520) stores an identifier in an identifier area of the record carriers. The identifier is unique for distinct groups of record carriers. Each group is associated with a distinct playlist. The playlists differ in at least a selection of content parts that can be accessed and/or a sequence in which content parts can be accessed. A reading device (530) includes means (532) for receiving a record carrier, means (536) for reading an identifier stored in the identifier area, means (537) for obtaining an associated playlist for the read identifier, and means (538) for providing access for rendering to content parts on the playlist.

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: The present invention relates to an interactive disk reproducing method using a network. The present method downloads various content-related information and the latest contents associated with A/V data pre-recorded on a placed interactive disk from a remote content-providing server connected through a network before reproduction of the placed interactive disk, and makes presentation of video or audio reproduced from the interactive disk along with contents already-received from the server while synchronizing presentation time of the A/V data and the contents with reference to the downloaded content-related information.

Abstract: There are provided a reproduction output control apparatus, a reproduction output control method, a reproduction output control processing program and so on which can quickly (in a short time) search a desirable program information out of program information such as a plurality of song data which are continuously recorded on a recording means. The reproduction output control apparatus according to the present application includes: a reproduction control means for reproducing a plurality of program information pieces recorded on a recording means; and an output control means for causing the plurality of program information pieces output at least two program information pieces out of the plurality of program information pieces thus reproduced respectively from different output means.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates operations of updating, altering and/or otherwise recomposing the reproduction list of contents data prepared according to the frequency of reproduction, the priority of reproduction, the preference of the user and so on.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive disk reproducing method using a network. The present method downloads various content-related information associated with A/V data pre-recorded on a placed interactive disk from a remote content-providing server connected through a network, and makes presentation of video or audio reproduced from the interactive disk along with contents received from the server while synchronizing presentation time of the A/V data and the contents with reference to the downloaded content-related information.

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: Circuits, methods, apparatus, and systems for recovering a clock from a spread spectrum signal having a periodic modulation profile. The circuits generally include an error detector circuit configured to compare the spread spectrum signal and a recovered clock signal, and to produce a first error signal corresponding to the periodic modulation profile and a second error signal corresponding to phase differences other than the spread spectrum modulation, a record and playback unit configured to record a value to a frequency memory, said value based on the first error signal and produce a third error signal corresponding to a predicted periodic modulation based at least in part on the recorded value, and a signal generator configured to produce the recovered clock signal in response to the second and third error signals.

Abstract: A digital contents playback and a method for playing the same are provided. The digital contents playback comprises an arrangement unit for re-arranging digital contents stored in a recording medium by selecting a “breath first arrangement mode”, a “depth first arrangements mode” and a “disk all arrangement mode”. The “disk all arrangement mode” consists of a “filename first arrangement mode” and a “physical address first arrangement mode”. The “physical address first arrangement mode” arranges digital contents stored in the recording medium in physical address sequence. The arrangement unit arranges the digital contents to be suitable for a determined mode by user's selection, and the digital contents are played in the arranged sequence.

Abstract: A data retrieval system provides data to a user of a client computer connected to multiple data stores and multiple other computers. A request for data is received at the client computer. The request is forwarded from the client computer to a server computer and intercepted at a reverse proxy caching connection. An attempt is made to locate the data at a data store at the reverse proxy caching connection. If the data is not found the request is forwarded to the server computer. In order to provide data to a user. A user interface is provided. Initially, data elements associated with a grouping of data elements are identified. Then, a subset of the selected data elements are selected based on weights associated with the data elements, without selecting more than a specified number of data elements that are associated with a same sub-category.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an audio playback apparatus which is capable of randomly reproducing music on an album basis or a folder basis. In a sound source in which a plurality of music files are hierarchically recorded, a unit of music file groups in each of which music files are reproduced in a batch is specified, music file groups are randomly selected in the specified unit, and all music files included in each of the selected music file groups are reproduced.

Abstract: An image browsing apparatus has: a display unit for displaying image data; a reproducing unit for reproducing audio data; a detector for detecting a feature of the audio data reproduced by the reproducing unit; and a controller for, when predetermined audio data is reproduced by the reproducing unit, controlling an updating interval of the image data displayed to the display unit on the basis of the feature of the predetermined audio data detected by the detector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing frame rates during multimedia playback are described herein. The ideal playback timing associated with video data is determined. If an actual playback timing of the video data lags the ideal playback timing, a frame rate associated with the video data is varied using a smoothing function to recover toward the ideal playback timing. An iterative frame-dropping algorithm is applied to vary the frame rate in accordance with the smoothing function. The smoothing function incorporates as a variable an average delay associated with playback of frames in the video data.

Abstract: In response to a user instruction to initiate media playback, which instruction may come from a dedicated media playback hardware button or from a user interface on a display screen, a computer operating system activates a predesignated media playback user account. The account may be limited to access of media playback applications and files located within shared directories. The operating system also launches a media playback application in response to the user instruction to initiate media playback. Instead of activating an account in response to a media playback instruction, the operating system can execute a media player application within a login screen.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides access to a large amount of content using a traditional interface. The system has many applications, one of which is for providing access to audio/visual content. Examples of audio/visual content includes compressed digital music data and video data. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication of a first mode, accesses a first playlist for the first mode, and plays tracks according to the first playlist. In this embodiment, each mode is associated with a different attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, and each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for the attribute associated with the particular mode. Examples of attributes include artist, album, genre, etc. Thus, there can be an artist mode, an album node, a genre mode, etc. For example, each playlist in the artist mode is associated with a particular artist. All tracks on a given playlist in the artist mode would be associated with the same artists.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus reproducing information of an information recording medium is disclosed. In the information recording medium, a record area is divided into a plurality of data areas. Also, data are recorded for each of the divided data areas. In addition, management information relating to the data recording is recorded in a predetermined management information area. Further, the management information is updated and recorded in a new management information area every time a predetermined data recording is completed. A receiving part receives, from an external device, an obtaining request for the management information. The obtaining request includes designation of a specific management information area. A management information obtaining part obtains the management information relating to the data recording from the specific management information area designated in the received obtaining request.

Abstract: Improved techniques and graphical user interfaces that enable users to shuffle a group of media items in accordance with categories associated with the media items are disclosed. According to one aspect, techniques can operate to categorically shuffle media items having categories associated therewith. According to another aspect, a user interface control can be graphically presented to a user to assist the user in selecting a shuffle setting. The shuffle setting provided by the user affects the nature of the shuffle. For example, the shuffle setting can impact the likelihood that two adjacent media items in the group of media items will be from the same one or more categories following the shuffle.

Abstract: A method for preparing a first multimedia stream, for use with an environment comprising a repository for storing a plurality of tracks. Each track may be associated with at least one second multimedia stream. A track may comprise a single type of data (e.g., audio, video, etc.). The method may comprise receiving a request comprising an associated parameter (e.g.,a position parameter)and determining at least two of the plurality of tracks associated with the parameter. The at least two tracks may have associated information that matches the position parameter. Responsive to the determining the at least two tracks, the determined at least two tracks may be collated in order to generate the first multimedia stream.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus reproducing information of an information recording medium is disclosed. In the information recording medium, a record area is divided into a plurality of data areas. Also, data are recorded for each of the divided data areas. In addition, management information relating to the data recording is recorded in a predetermined management information area. Further, the management information is updated and recorded in a new management information area every time a predetermined data recording is completed. A receiving part receives, from an external device, an obtaining request for the management information. The obtaining request includes designation of a specific management information area. A management information obtaining part obtains the management information relating to the data recording from the specific management information area designated in the received obtaining request.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer memory are provided for generating an audio fingerprint of an audio recording. A memory stores stable frequency family data corresponding to a plurality of stable frequency families. A processor curve fits audio recording data to at least one of the stable frequency families, extracts at least one variation from the curve fitted audio recording data, and creates the audio fingerprint of the audio recording from the at least one variation.

Abstract: An information storage medium according to an embodiment of this invention includes a management area for recording management information, and a data area for recording content data. The content data recorded in the data area contains a plurality of object data, each object data contains a plurality of data units, each data unit contains a plurality of packs, each pack contains at least one packet, the packet contains at least one transport stream packet, the management information recorded in the management area contains program chain information which manages the playback order of data contained in the object data, the program chain information contains cell information, and the cell information contains information that specifies an object to be played back.

Abstract: Creation of a music selection list is performed by a client terminal such as a personal computer, and music data specified by the music selection list is utilized by an electronic music instrument. The user can receive music data providing service based on a user's own music selection list even with the electronic music instrument having a simple user interface. Processing of selecting a music selection list for a user from a large number of music selection lists is performed by the personal computer, and the music data specified by the selected music selection list is delivered to the electronic music instrument. A desired music selection list can be selected easily from a large number of music selection lists even with the electronic music instrument having a simple user interface.

Abstract: Audiovisual content stored on an optical medium is searched for presentation of desired visual frames by indexing and analyzing subtitles associated with the visual frames. A subtitle index engine retrieves subtitles from the audiovisual content and maps the subtitles to associated visual frames. A subtitle search engine applies search queries to the subtitle index to identify frames having associated subtitles with a predetermined relationship. The subtitle index engine and subtitle search engine are present on an optical medium, such as a BD medium. The index and search engines are design for execution in an application framework associated with the optical medium, such as JAVA working with a JAVA application programming interface.

Abstract: The present invention lists and displays file information for each folder when reproducing video/audio files stored to a recording medium, performs a grouping for entire files on a folder for each folder according to a maximum number of files possibly displayed on one screen, performs a page numbering sequentially for the files for each group, then displays the files on a screen in a page unit for which a grouping has been performed upon a playlist display request. Therefore, a user can reach a desired file to manage in an easy and swift manner.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: An optical recording method and apparatus for recording data to optical recordable medium are present. The optical recording apparatus at least comprises a PUH module and a verifier. The PUH module is used for recording a first number of data units to the optical recordable medium and reading a third number of data units, which are recorded to the optical recordable medium. The verifier is used for verifying the second number of data units being recorded. After the verifier verifies the second number of the data units, the PUH module follows to an initial position to record a third number of data units without any seeking operation. The PUH module keeps recording and reading and the verifier keep verifying until the plurality of data units being recorded and verified.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, the number-of-reproduction-times data corresponding to the number of times the audio data has been reproduced, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc in accordance with the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: A random play system for processing a playlist having a plurality of play series numbers and media files to be played so as for the random play system to determine play states of the media files. The random play system includes a first register for storing a number of the media files; a second register having a plurality of bits respectively corresponding to the media files, the bits respectively marking current play states of the media files; a selecting module for randomly selecting one of media files while performing a play task; an analyzing module for analyzing a play state of the selected media file according to a value represented by the bits; and a playing module for playing the selected media file when the analyzing module analyzed that the play state of the selected media file indicates that the selected media file has not been played yet.

Abstract: The present invention includes a condition setting portion configured to set a condition used to select titles to be registered in a play list among a plurality of titles recorded on a recording medium, a retrieval portion configured to retrieve titles corresponding to a set condition by making reference to management information recorded on the recording medium, and a registration portion configured to register retrieved titles in the play list.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus reproducing information of an information recording medium is disclosed. In the information recording medium, a record area is divided into a plurality of data areas. Also, data are recorded for each of the divided data areas. In addition, management information relating to the data recording is recorded in a predetermined management information area. Further, the management information is updated and recorded in a new management information area every time a predetermined data recording is completed. A receiving part receives, from an external device, an obtaining request for the management information. The obtaining request includes designation of a specific management information area. A management information obtaining part obtains the management information relating to the data recording from the specific management information area designated in the received obtaining request.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media/data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media/data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

Abstract: When a detection device detects any kind of change regarding track recording after the start of the track recording, a grouping instruction is given to information attaching and generating device. Then, the information attaching and generating device attaches the same group name information to a group, in which a track where the recording has been started in an information recording medium to a track recorded at the point when the grouping instruction has been received are made to be the same group, and group control information is generated. Therefore, since the grouping is automatically performed by any kind of change regarding the track recording, a user can omit the operation that he/she performs the grouping by himself/herself, and thus the operation load of the user can be reduced.

Abstract: A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations.

Abstract: A DVD auto-changer includes a controller, and in the DVD auto-changer, an all-repeat-mode that a plurality of disks stocked are exchanged to be successively reproduced can be set. The controller determines whether the all-repeat-mode is set or not, and unconditionally reproduces a story portion upon exchanging the disks when the all-repeat-mode is set. In other words, the controller obtains a start address of the story portion, and reproduces it from the start address.

Abstract: A disc player for playing back a disc that includes a plurality of folders, each folder including music files, includes a folder specifying unit for selecting a folder playback mode and specifying one folder and a playback unit for reading the music files in the specified folder from the disc to sequentially play back the read music files in the folder playback mode. The playback unit reads and plays back the music files from the disc in an order determined by a playback order determining unit in a folder random playback mode. The playback unit repeatedly plays back at least one music file in the specified folder in a folder repeat playback mode. The playback unit scans and plays back the first few seconds of each music file in the folder in a folder scan playback mode.

Abstract: A portable information equipment of this invention has a jog switch for generating different events in correspondence with flip directions and times, and means for executing a process corresponding to a type of event generated by the jog switch.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a record medium. One of reproduce modes of reproducing information recorded on a record medium is selected. A reproduce program for selecting pieces of information recorded on the record medium on a random basis without duplication based on the selected reproduce mode and indicating the reproduce order of the selected pieces of information is prepared. The pieces of information recorded on the record medium are reproduced according to the reproduce order of the prepared reproduce program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording moving picture data encoded using a prediction encoding system, in which the playback control information is recorded along with moving picture data encoded using the MPEG system. The playback control information includes the information specifying a program decoding starting picture and a display starting picture and the information specifying the program decoding terminating picture and a display terminating picture. During reproduction, the playback control information is first read out and moving picture data are decoded based on this information. This enables seamless reproduction from a pre-skipping picture to a post-skipping picture.

Abstract: A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media/data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media/data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

Abstract: A plurality of users each selects desired listening broadcast programs that are recorded by a system in a memory and indexed to the specific user. The user may also select the desired playback schedule and playback format. Conveniently, the system retrieves recorded broadcast programs stored in memory, then plays them according to the specific user's desired format and schedule. Additionally, each user may select which broadcast programs are stored, which broadcast frequencies are scanned by the system for the desired broadcast programs, and how long each broadcast program is stored in memory.