Abstract: Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to provide a spiral data track format that is different from the underlying servo track format are described. The data storage device may include a storage medium configured with a plurality of tracks in at least one continuous spiral pattern and a head actuated over the storage medium. The data tracks may be written to the storage medium with track lengths that are different than a single revolution of the storage medium.

Abstract: Example techniques related to a sub-index of a media index. An example implementation may involve maintaining, on a mobile device, a first index of audio tracks associated with a particular user profile, the audio tracks indexed in the first index consisting of a particular subset of audio tracks that are indexed in a second index. Based on the receiving the input data indicating the search query, the mobile device searches, within the first index, for audio tracks corresponding to the search query. If the audio tracks corresponding to the search query are not found in the first index, the mobile device sends to one or more servers of the cloud service, a request to search the second index for audio tracks corresponding to the search query.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing media content to a media playback device that includes a media server. In response to the initiation by a user of the media playback device to provide media content in shuffle mode, the media server determines a set of media content items based on a context of the initiation. The media server then determines whether a preference profile exists for the user that includes one or more media content items from the set of media content items. If the preference profile exists, the media server orders the one or more media content items from the set of media content items for insertion into a queue according to the preference profile. Thereafter, a remainder of the set of media content items is ordered for insertion into the queue according to rules.

Abstract: A possible performance bottleneck associated with insufficient network bands is mitigated to allow improvement of access performance of a storage system. A storage system includes a first node with a storage medium of storage and a plurality of second nodes each with a controller function for the storage, and is communicatively connected to a host providing an access request to the storage. One of the plurality of second nodes is determined to be a node to which a controller function executing access processing on the storage is assigned on the basis of a first amount of data transfer between the second node and the host and a second amount of data transfer between the second node and the first node.

Abstract: A memory controller for controlling an operation of a device may include a command queue, a command queue controller, and a command information storage. The command queue may store a plurality of commands. The command queue controller may control an operation of the command queue using a pop signal and a push signal. The command information storage may store command information corresponding to each of the commands stored in the command queue. The command queue controller may control the command queue by checking the commands stored in the command queue based on the command information and converting the checked commands based on a result of the checking.

Abstract: Example techniques related to a sub-index of a media index. An example implementation may involve maintaining, on a mobile device, a first index of audio tracks associated with a particular user profile, the audio tracks indexed in the first index consisting of a particular subset of audio tracks that are indexed in a second index. Based on the receiving the input data indicating the search query, the mobile device searches, within the first index, for audio tracks corresponding to the search query. If the audio tracks corresponding to the search query are not found in the first index, the mobile device sends to one or more servers of the cloud service, a request to search the second index for audio tracks corresponding to the search query.

Abstract: A stepping motor includes a slit rotating plate that rotates together with a rotor and two photo interrupters. A motor control device includes a rotation phase detection unit that acquires an output of the photo interrupter and detects a rotation phase of the rotor, and a drive waveform generation unit that generates a drive waveform of the stepping motor. An advance angle control unit performs speed control of the stepping motor by detecting an advance angle corresponding to a phase difference between the rotation phase of the rotor and the drive waveform and setting an advance angle at which a relationship between an amplitude and an advance angle of the drive waveform changes abruptly as a target advance angle to control an amplitude of the drive waveform.

Abstract: A method of securely storing data including: providing, within a secure data storage system, a plurality of secret sharing methods for selection and identifying a striping policy for storage of the data, in accordance with input preferences. The data can be split into N secret shares according to a secret sharing method, the selection being determined by the striping policy, wherein a threshold number, T, of such shares is sufficient to recover the data, where T is less than N, generating metadata associated with the data, the metadata identifying the selected secret sharing method and storing the metadata within the secure data storage system and writing the secret shares to storage that includes storage outside the secure data storage system, such that, when at least T shares are retrieved, the metadata can be recalled to identify the selected secret sharing method for recovery of the data.

Abstract: A data storage device comprising a first actuator configured to actuate a first head over a first disk surface, and a second actuator configured to actuate a second head over a second disk surface. A plurality of access commands are received from a host, and a cost metric is computed for executing a seek to execute each access command of the plurality of access commands, wherein the cost metric is based on an access latency of the seek, a power consumption of the seek, and an estimated combined current draw of the first and second actuators during the seek. The access commands are sorted into an execution order based on the cost metrics computed for the access commands.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous playback of a sound file are described. The method includes: receiving a first playback instruction, where the first playback instruction is used for playing continuously a sample sound file; obtaining, according to the first playback instruction, a time point for ending continuous playback corresponding to the first playback instruction; searching, according to the time point for ending the continuous playback, for a playback time value of the sample sound file corresponding to the time point; and starting, at the time point for ending the continuous playback, to play sound data of the sample sound file after the playback time value.

Abstract: Media players and associated methods are described that may allow a user to initiate playback of content or other media assets based on information associated with content. A media player may receive information associated with content from a user selection of a song, movie, photo, or the like. Based on the information, the media player may procure other additional content to be added to a playlist. The media player may automatically add to a playlist or modify a playlist with content that matches a user's preferences for artists, albums, genres, or the like. The user may interact with the media player to determine what content is added and how a playlist should be mixed. The user may specify how much of any content procured by the media player should be present in the playlist without the need to specify each individual item that constitutes a playlist.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve generating and modifying a sub-index of a media index. An example method may involve receiving requests to play back media items in a media index, tracking the requests to play back the media items in the media index, determining a set of media items from among the media items in the media index based on the tracked requests to play back media items in the media index, and indexing the determined set of media items into a sub-index. The set of media items have been played at least a pre-determined threshold number of times within a pre-determined threshold period of time. The media items in the sub-index are a subset of the media items in the main index.

Abstract: A computer host comprises a first system control chip and a control unit. The file sharing circuit comprises a second system control chip, a bus switch, a power switch and a sharing button. The bus switch controlled by the control unit couples a storage apparatus to the first or the second system control chip. The power switch is controlled by the control unit to supply power to the storage apparatus, the second system control chip and the bus switch. The sharing button enables or disables a file sharing procedure and electrically connects to the first system control chip and the second system control chip. When the file sharing procedure is enabled, the control unit controls the bus switch to switch to a first state, such that the second system control chip accesses the storage apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a recording control device including a recording control section which controls data recording to a recording medium by irradiating laser light to the recording medium, and a division section which divides the sequential recording range of a prescribed recording layer, near a boundary of two mutually adjacent sequential recording ranges of the recording layer on a back side of the prescribed recording layer when viewed from a laser incident surface of the recording medium, in a case where data is not recorded to an area of one of the two sequential recording ranges, by setting, as a division position in the prescribed recording layer, a position separated by only a prescribed distance, from a position identical to a position of the boundary, on the other side of the two sequential recording ranges in a direction connecting a center and outer peripheral of the recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a lead-in area and a data area for storing contents information. The lead-in area includes a first lead-in information area and a second lead-in information area. The first lead-in information area corresponds to a first playback mode. The second lead-in information area corresponds to a second playback mode different from the first playback mode. The first lead-in information area has a first depth and is designed for storing lead-in information related to the contents information stored in the data area. The second lead-in information area includes pre-pits having a second depth greater than the first depth. The pre-pits represent predetermined information, such as information of copyright protection, related to the contents information stored in the data area.

Abstract: An optical disc having a region with pre-recorded data and a recordable region, a method of fabricating the disc, a stamper for forming a disc master, and a recording device for use with the disc are disclosed. Data recorded in the recordable region may be used for activation of the disc, providing unique identification or enhancing program content on the disc.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data reproducing apparatus includes a data recording medium, light source unit, light application unit, photodetector unit and control unit. An address mark string including address marks is formed on the data recording medium. The address marks are spaced from each other by a distance depending on address data. The light application unit is configured to split the light beam into a first branch light beam and a second branch light beam and apply the first and second branch light beams to the address mark string at different angles. The photodetector unit is configured to detect first reflected light beams and second reflected light beams from the address mark string to generate image data. The first and second reflected light beams result from the first and second branch light beams, respectively. The control unit is configured to reproduce address data based on the image data.

Abstract: A recording medium, an address generating method, an address detection method and a recording and reproduction apparatus capable of extending the wobble address without any considerable wobble restructuring are disclosed. Virtual bits not recorded in the disc and expressed by the difference of the rule or the presence or absence of the information embedded in a part or the whole of the wobble address are generated. Thus, the extended address can be obtained without changing the number of bits of the address embedded in the wobble.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information storage medium having a plurality of recording layers is provided. The information storage medium including a physical ADIP address (PAA) which corresponds to an address recorded on the information storage medium. In the case in which an address of a layer i to which a pickup will move corresponds to PAAi, an address of a layer j in which the pickup is currently located corresponds to PAAj, and n corresponds to the number of the recording layers, the PAAi and the PAAj satisfy the equation PAAi= PAAj+(7?(i+j))*40 00 00h+00 00 01h(i+j=odd and i,j=0,1,2, . . . ,n?1) in response to the pickup moving from an even layer to an odd layer or from an odd layer to an even layer, and satisfy the equation PAAi=PAAj+(i?j)*40 00 00h(i+j=even and i,j=0,1,2, . . . ,n?1) in response to the pickup moving from an even layer to another even layer or from an odd layer to another odd layer.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: The directory information on a file system recorded on an optical disc is cached onto a hard disk as a directory table. When accessing a file on the optical disc, a processor references the directory table so as to obtain information related to a position, on the disc medium, where the file to be accessed is located, without accessing the directory information on the optical disc. A disc I/O controller moves a pickup unit to the location indicated by the positional information on the file to be accessed and reads the data on the file. The pickup unit is used to detect signals from the optical disc.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a lead-in area and a data area for storing contents information. The lead-in area includes a first lead-in information area and a second lead-in information area. The first lead-in information area corresponds to a first playback mode. The second lead-in information area corresponds to a second playback mode different from the first playback mode. The first lead-in information area has a first depth and is designed for storing lead-in information related to the contents information stored in the data area. The second lead-in information area includes pre-pits having a second depth greater than the first depth. The pre-pits represent predetermined information, such as information of copyright protection, related to the contents information stored in the data area.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product discover relationships among items and recommend items based on the discovered relationships. The recommendations provided by the present invention are based on user profiles that take into account actual preferences of users, without requiring users to complete questionnaires. An improved binomial log likelihood ratio analysis technique is applied, to reduce adverse effects of overstatement of coincidence and predominance of best sellers. The invention may be used, for example, to generate track lists for a personalized radio station.

Abstract: Obtain an expanded address without altering the bit number of an address which is embedded in a wobble. Generate a virtual bit which is not recorded on a disc, and which is expressed by the disparity from the rules and the presence or absence of information embedded in part or all of the wobble address.

Abstract: Obtain an expanded address without altering the bit number of an address which is embedded in a wobble. Generate a virtual bit which is not recorded on a disc, and which is expressed by the disparity from the rules and the presence or absence of information embedded in part or all of the wobble address.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An optical disk device for recording or reproducing an optical disk has: an objective lens for irradiating a laser beam to the optical disk; an actuator for moving the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disk; and a spindle motor for rotating the optical disk. After the laser beam irradiated to the optical disk passed through a PID portion of the optical disk, the actuator moves the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disk at a timing corresponding to a rotational speed. Between signals to drive the actuator, an output time of a deceleration signal is set to a predetermined ratio of a time during which an acceleration signal is outputted. While the deceleration signal is outputted, a light spot passes through the PID portion.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc reproducing method capable of reproducing a non-finalized DVD+R. When a seek operation is performed from a present address on the non-finalized DVD+R to an outer circumferential side target address, the outer circumferential direction total jump number of tracks is calculated from a difference between the present address and the target address. When a first condition is satisfied in which the present address is in an inner circumferential zone, the target address is in a second outer circumferential zone, and the outer circumferential direction total jump number is 701 to 2500, the jump number of tracks is set to 340 smaller than the outer circumferential direction total jump number, and a traverse seek using a moving mechanism to move an optical pickup in a radius direction by 340 is performed.

Abstract: A recording device comprises a recording means (213, 214) for recording content data on a recordable recording medium (100) having a first recording layer (110) including a first data area (112) and a second recording layer (120) including a second data area (122), a first reading means (213, 214) for reading the address of the position corresponding to the maximum capacity of the first data area, a second reading means (221) for reading the address of the layer jump position of the content data, a calculating means for calculating the position at which the recording of the contents data is started such that the layer jump position of the content data is recorded at the position corresponding to the maximum capacity of the first data area, and a first controlling means (221); for controlling the recording means such that first padding data is recorded in an area from the start position of the first data area to the position at which the recording of the contents data is started.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: A reproduction system 100 includes a rotating body on which a rotary operation is conducted by a user, a rotary movement detector 810 that detects the rotation of the rotating body and outputs a detection signal in accordance with a rotary condition thereof, and a restricting unit that conducts a restriction processing for restricting the rotation of the rotating body based on the detection signal. Accordingly, different resistance feeling in accordance with the rotary operation on the rotating body is provided to a user, thereby exhibiting excellent operational feeling just like a rotation of a turntable of a record player.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for enabling to insert a multi-layered optical disk therein, which has plural numbers of recording layers, comprising: a spindle motor 42; an optical pickup 2; and a system controller 100 for controlling the optical pickup to move into a radial direction of the optical disk, as well as, for controlling the optical pickup so that a light-beam irradiated therefrom is focused upon either one of the plural numbers of recording layers of the optical disk, wherein when it is determined that the target layer to be accessed lies on a layer different from that, upon which the optical pickup focuses the light-beam at present, the light-beam irradiated from the optical pickup is shifted to the target layer, after being moved into a radial direction of said optical disk on the layer, upon which the light-beam irradiated therefrom is focused at present, up to an information recording area where the information of the target layer is recoded.

Abstract: The drive apparatus of the present invention includes a recording/reproduction section and a drive control section. The drive control section determines a physical address indicating a location at which data can be recorded next in the determined track of a write-once recording medium as a next writable address, based on the last recorded address in the track; compares the physical address corresponding to the logical address included in the recording instruction with the next writable address; when the physical address corresponding to the logical address is smaller than the next writable address, controls the recording/reproduction section to record the data at a specific location in the user data area other than the location indicated by the physical address corresponding to the logical address in the recording instruction; generates new disc management information; and controls the recording/reproduction section to record the new disc management information in the disc management information area.

Abstract: An optical disk playback device includes a first control means for holding difference information which the first control means generates by, during playback of an optical disk 10, performing a comparison between track start point position information detected and track start point position information acquired with reference to contents information recorded in the above-mentioned optical disk, and a second control means for, when receiving a search request from outside the device, correcting the above-mentioned track start point position information on the basis of the above-mentioned held difference information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multilayer optical disc and an optical disc drive which can identify recording layers without performing tracking servo control or changing the structure of the disc. In a multilayer optical disc 100, the recording layer includes a layer identification region 101 having a recording pattern for layer identification, the layer identification region 101 including a layer specific region 102 having a specific pattern and a common region 103 having a common pattern different from the specific pattern, the layer specific region 102 being provided at a different radial position in each of the recording layers. The optical disc drive detects the layer specific region 102 having the specific pattern from the layer identification region 101 of the multilayer optical disc 100, and identifies the current layer based on the radial position of the layer specific region.

Abstract: A sensorless motor drive device has: a first operation mode of generating current waveforms including non-energizing times based on a first rotor position signal generated by detecting zero crossings in windings of a motor as a signal indicating the rotor position of the motor, and supplying currents to the windings of the motor according to the current waveforms; and a second operation mode of generating current waveforms including no non-energizing time based on a second rotor position signal generated without use of zero crossings as the signal indicating the rotor position of the motor, and supplying currents to the windings of the motor according to the current waveforms. The first and second operation modes can be switched to each other.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium (1) includes, on a substrate (50), a ROM layer (20), a RE layer (40), an intermediate layer (30) separating the ROM layer (20) and the RE layer (40), and a cover layer (10) provided in a position farthest from the substrate (50). The RE layer (40) is an information recording layer provided in a position farthest from the light transmitting layer and also is a recording layer of disc type identification information and an individual identification number recorded in a format allowing easier determination as compared to an information recording format used in the layer allowing only readout of information by use of light irradiation. Therefore, it becomes easy to check a disc type in a recording/reproducing device and one recording/reproducing device can be shared with other types of optical disks. Further, disk production becomes easy.

Abstract: A controller for recovering disc management information is provided. The controller controls a pickup head unit to search the TDMAs for readable disc management information which is included in an in-use TDMA of the TDMAs; then determines whether a piece of information associated with an inconsistency flag of the readable disc management information is reliable. When the controller detects that the piece of information is unreliable, the controller determines at least a detection condition according to the information which is included in the readable disc management information and the in-use TDMA, and controls the pickup head unit to detect the recording medium to determine an update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag under at least a detection condition. The controller generates update disc management information according to the readable disc management information and the update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag.

Abstract: A movement device of a recording determination apparatus moves a pickup in a radial direction of an optical disc. The pickup irradiates laser light to the optical disc to output an electric signal, based on reflected light from a laser spot. A control device acquires address information relating to an arrangement position of the laser spot, based on the electric signal. The control device controls the movement device to move the laser spot from a data area to a recordable area. The control device determines whether or not data is recorded in the recordable area, based on the electric signal until a reference time has elapsed from a border potion between the data area and the recordable area, the border portion being specified based on the address information.

Abstract: A pick-up of a format determining apparatus irradiates light to an optical disk to generate a reproduction signal. A signal processing unit decodes the reproduction signal to generate main data. A CD-ROM decoder decodes the main data. A CD-ROM determining unit determines whether or not the main data is in a CD-ROM format, based on the decoded main data. A reproduction signal determining unit determines whether or not the reproduction signal is normal when the main data is not in the CD-ROM format. A system control unit determines that the main data is in a CD-DA format, when the main data is not in the CD-ROM format, and when the reproduction signal is normal.

Abstract: An optical disk device executes a seek operation to move an irradiation position of light beam on an optical disk to a track of a target address. During execution of a seek operation through a one-track jump operation in which the irradiation position of the light beam is moved along the radial direction of the optical disk by one track, it is determined whether or not off-track of the irradiation position of the light beam has occurred. When it is determined that the off-track has occurred, a seek operation through a multiple track jump operation is executed in which the irradiation position of the light beam is moved along the radial direction of the optical disk by an amount corresponding to a plurality of tracks.

Abstract: A method of recording, and an apparatus for recording, data on a write-once disc, and the write-once disc used with the method and the apparatus. The write-once disc includes a plurality of update areas in which to record a predetermined type of updated information, at least one main access information area (AIA) in which to record main access information (AI), the main AI indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded, among the plurality of update areas, and at least one sub AIA in which to record sub AI, the sub AI indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area.

Abstract: A recording device including: a recorder recording data onto a recording medium on which tracks as units of audio data are grouped and managed by management information; and a controller generating an image file in which image data associated with one of each track recorded on the recording medium and each group managed by the management information is collected, and recording the image file onto the recording medium by the recording means.

Abstract: When playback of a recording medium, which stores content data that is only allowed to be played back for a limited number of times, is forcibly terminated due to a scratch on the recording medium, the playback of the content data residing at a subsequent location that follows a location having the scratch is performed without the number of playbacks being counted, and without a particular operation such as skip. Upon the playback after the forced termination, an address of an optical disk at which the playback was performed at the time of the forced termination is stored in a RAM unit. The address stored in the RAM unit is read out, and the content data residing at a subsequent address that follows the read address in terms of a predetermined number of addresses is played back.

Abstract: In an optical pickup driving mechanism using a stepping motor, a feeding operation of an optical pickup can be stabilized even in a broad operating temperature environment. In executing an optical axis correction feeding operation in response to an amount of lens shift of an objective lens of an optical pickup, a stepping motor controlling portion drives a stepping motor in a microstep drive mode to move a base of the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disk.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.