Abstract: The state of a label at an optional time point, such as a past time point, can be recognized, while the label can be regenerated even when the label has been deleted. When a label on which can be pasted an object, such as text, picture or sound, is acted upon (yes at step S141) the difference of the label information is computed (step S142) and the computed difference information is stored (steps S144, S145). The label state is then regenerated based on the time information stored in association with the label and the difference information. Also, time is displayed, plural time intervals are displayed (step S201), a desired one of the plural time intervals is selected (step S202) and time display is controlled responsive to the selected time intervals (steps S203 to S206), to facilitate retrieval of the information corresponding to the specified time.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the present invention includes a management information processing portion for generating management information describing a reproducing procedure for reproducing a series of information data by designating positions of from a head to an end of the series of information data recorded during a period of from an instruction of a record start to an instruction of a record stop at the time of a recording operation of moving image data to a recording medium, a playlist processing portion for selecting a part of the series of information data in accordance with a predetermined condition at the time of the recording operation of the information data to generate the series of information data, and a recording portion for recording the management information and the playlist information on the recording medium.

Abstract: The data structure for managing reproduction of at least video data recorded on the recording medium may include, for example, path management information for managing reproduction of the multiple reproduction path video data recorded on the recording medium. The path management information indicates at least one playlist belonging to each reproduction path. The data structure further includes at least one playlist file identified by the path management information recorded in a playlist area of the recording medium. The playlist file identifies at least one playitem, and each playitem identifies a clip of the multiple reproduction path video data. The data structure may includes chapter management information for managing reproduction of the video data by chapters. In one example, the chapter management information is recorded in the playlist files.

Abstract: A method for managing the contents of a collection of media objects each having one or more identifying parameters. An image representative of a media object within the collection of media objects that is determined to have one or more specified identifying parameters is displayed. An image representative of a media object determined to be missing from the collection of media objects that is known to have the one or more specified identifying parameters is also displayed. In this manner, for example, a consumer may be informed of a need to add the media object determined to be missing from the collection of media object to the media object library.

Abstract: [Problem] There has been a problem that play list reproduction cannot be performed at a data processing level of a CD player and so on which cannot interpret a play list file in an HTML format.

Abstract: A digital audio recorder having a compact disk player for playing at least one compact disk having multiple tracks also has a hard drive and associated memory. The memory contains a database containing data relating to specific CD's such as album name, artist name, song title, and track, and may also contain playlists. The playlists can be loaded by the manufacturer or created by the user. There are correlations among the data. A central processor is connected to the compact disk player, the hard drive and associated memory, a second memory, display, audio output and buttons or knobs. Turning knobs or pushing buttons directs signals to the central processor and enables a user to operate the compact disk player, store in the second memory audio selections from a disk placed in the compact disk player, select and create playlists, and output audio selections contained in the second memory in an order according to a selected playlist. A keyboard communicates with the player through infrared signals.

Abstract: In a method for playing back a record medium storing at least a sequence of audio information partitioned into a plurality of segments, prescribed audio information (for alarm sound, silence, etc. for informing the user of the end of each segment) stored in a particular storage area is reproduced when the playback of each segment is finished. After the reproduction of the prescribed audio information, the next segment is played back. By the playback method, it becomes possible to let the user securely perform repeating operation and/or audio switching operation, while decreasing the size of information/data used for informing the user of the end of each segment.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform scan playback capable of being performed with finer settings. When a unit cycle B and a playback time A within the unit cycle B are specified and the start of the scan playback of playback data recorded in a DVD is specified, playback control data having address information and information of the playback order appended to each piece of data in the smallest basic units of the playback data is read out from the DVD, whereby the scan playback of the playback data is performed by managing the playback time A in every unit cycle B. Also, when access-inhibited data is present within the playback data, the scan playback of playback data is performed except the access-inhibited data.

Abstract: A device that controls background music interspersed with commercial messages by using an unmodified Compact Disc (CD) player loaded with custom discs. The custom discs provide the music and commercial content, and inform the device of the rate at which the commercial messages should interrupt the music. Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) signals are employed to provide control signals to the device to inform it of the disc type, track end, and rate of interspersion of commercial messages. The CD player is controlled by either a wired or wireless remote.

Abstract: A control system for a compact disc jukebox detects skips in the compact disc by reading an apparent elapsed time signal from the compact disc that is encoded on the compact disc. A timer is simultaneously started and outputs a real elapsed time signal. A comparison is made between the real elapsed time signal and the apparent elapsed time signal. If the difference between these two signals exceeds a predetermined amount of time, a skip is recorded. The detection of a skip may be recorded as to a particular selection on a particular CD, along with the time of the skip. Appropriate action may be taken in response to the recording of a skip, such as cancelling the selection or stopping the CD.

Abstract: An audio reproduction apparatus randomizes or shuffles the playback order of tracks from a prerecorded media such as a compact disc within a multiple-disc changer. Shuffle sequences are generated using a linear congruential random number generator (LCRNG). The shuffle sequence does not have to be stored since a next track in the sequence can always be generated from the LCRNG using a particular set of parameters. The parameters are determined in response to the number of track (or discs) in a sequence and include elements obtained from a lookup table and elements that are randomly selected so that the same sequence is not always generated for a certain sequence length.

Abstract: A multimedia player has a fast seek function for navigating between track selections contained within a large playlist. By holding down a seek-up or a seek-down button, a selection identifying display scrolls through the selections in a playlist in single steps until a multiple of 10 is reached. If a minimum number of single steps (e.g., 4) have been taken, then the display begins to jump by 10's. Otherwise, single steps are taken until the next multiple of 10. Single stepping is again used when the display nears the beginning or end of the playlist.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided with; an object data file for storing object data which constitutes a series of content information, such as picture information and audio information, and a play list information file for storing play list information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data by a unit of a play list. The information recording medium is further provided with a disc information file for storing a plurality of title play lists including, (i) play list specification information for specifying the play list information which defines the play list to be reproduced, (ii) Pre command information, and (iii) Post command information, which indicate a command to be executed before and after the reproduction, respectively, based on the play list information.

Abstract: A playback apparatus for a recording medium, in particular a compact disc player, a compact disc changer, a cassette or tape player, which permits naming of the recording medium is described. The playback apparatus includes a display device and an input unit. In addition, a memory unit in which the name of the recording media can be stored is provided. In addition, a memory access unit by means of which the contents of the memory unit can be read out directly and displayed on the display device is provided. The memory unit is designed as a read-write memory. The contents of the memory unit displayed on the display device can be revised and stored or deleted by using the input unit.

Abstract: Proposed is a playback device (1), especially a compact disc changer, which enables a random selection of data groups of recording media to be reproduced in succession. The playback device (1) comprises an input unit (5) and a random generator (10) for random selection of data groups which are stored on recording media, especially compact discs, that can be loaded into the playback device (1) from a magazine (15). The probability that a data group which is selected by the random generator (10) to be reproduced following a data group reproduced by the playback device (1) on a recording medium inserted in the drive (25) of the playback device (1) is stored on the same recording medium can be predetermined.

Abstract: An audio data distribution apparatus includes a central computer that disseminates specially formatted audio data to a local computer for transfer to and use on an audio data player. The invention includes a method for distributing audio data including a data collection process, a data distribution process, and a data selection and playing process. In the data collection process, a plurality of text articles are converted into audio data and formatted for storage on a plurality of additional data storage tracks. From this data, an audio table of contents is generated which describes the information within the audio data, the audio table of contents being formatted for storage on a first data storage track. In the data distribution process, the audio data and the audio table of contents are then downloaded to a digital storage disk. The user then plays the digital storage disk in an audio data player to listen first to the audio table of contents and then to selected audio data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing a plurality of main data recorded on an insertable recording medium in the desired sequence specified as a playlist by the user. Main data is recorded on a record region of the recording medium and the user can select a playlist that is recorded in a management region of the recording medium.

Abstract: In a preferably disc-like scannable record carrier (3) which contains at least one subcode channel, strange data not related to the disc-like record carrier (3) are stored in the at least one subcode channel. A playback device (1) for scanning such a disc-like record carrier (3) includes playback device data processing means (5, 10) which are arranged for processing strange data formed by update data, which update data are transferred to non-volatile memory means (13) for updating a routine of a function unit (12).

Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform scan playback capable of being performed with finer settings. When a unit cycle B and a playback time A within the unit cycle B are specified and the start of the scan playback of playback data recorded in a DVD is specified, playback control data having address information and information of the playback order appended to each piece of data in the smallest basic units of the playback data is read out from the DVD, whereby the scan playback of the playback data is performed by managing the playback time A in every unit cycle B. Also, when access-inhibited data is present within the playback data, the scan playback of playback data is performed except the access-inhibited data.

Abstract: A playback device for disk-shaped recording media is proposed, which makes it possible to skip over storage data groups on audio disks. The playback device includes a scanning device and a device for evaluating content data recorded in a start-up area on the recording medium. The recording medium inserted in the playback device is recognized as a storage disk or as an audio disk, depending on the evaluation of the content data. In the event that a storage disk is recognized, a playback process is terminated, and in the event an audio disk is recognized, the scanning device skips to a just addressed title of the audio disk. The scanning device, during the playback of a title of the audio disk, scans coded supplemental information data recorded with respect to this title. The evaluation device, on the basis of the supplemental information, recognizes whether the title just played is an audio data group or a storage data group.

Abstract: To determine whether a record medium loaded on a drive has character information in a management area of the record medium corresponding to data received from the drive and to obtain the character information when the record medium has the character information as the determined result. A system includes an optical disc drive and a host computer 53 connected through an interface 42, wherein the drive has a servo and signal processing portion 30, a system controller 41, and a CD-ROM signal processing portion 50. The servo and signal processing portion 30 reproduces data from a disc 21. The system controller 41 controls the entire operation of the drive. Return data is sent from the drive to the host computer 53 corresponding to a read table of contents (TOC) command received from the host computer 53. A code that represents the data length is contained in a header of the return data. With the code, it is determined whether or not the disc 21 is a CD-TEXT disc.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

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: A method and apparatus for updating a memory in a Compact Disc changer. Information identifying discs stored in a CD changer is stored in a memory. The memory is updated when a CD is loaded which does not have identifying features which are recognized by the CD changer. Updating is carried out via a modem connection to a remote database. The database can be stored locally in a local database residing in a personal computer where the database can be queried to locate desired tracks and can be used to facilitate control of the compact disc changer by providing a simplified interface for building a play list and the like.

Abstract: A recording method of information data which can prevent illegal copy of information data of a multilayer disc to a single-layer disc. A series of information data is divided into data blocks each having a predetermined data capacity, the data blocks are distributed and recorded to different recording layers of a recording medium, and a jump instruction to designate a next reading destination is recorded in at least one of the data blocks.

Abstract: The present invention is a reproducing apparatus that reproduces data from a record medium on which text information such as a title of a program is recorded in a plurality of languages and identifiers for identifying recorded languages are recorded as codes wherein a language that has been designated is used as a default language. Thus, without need to designate a language, text information in the default language is automatically read from a record medium and displayed.