Abstract: A writing-system comprises a first and a second writing-device, and is connected to an information-processor-apparatus that obtains unwritten-data from the first and the second writing-devices when a notification is received, the notification indicating that the unwritten-data is generated while writing data on a recording-medium used by either of the writing-devices, wherein the first writing-device comprises a first writing-unit, when the unwritten-data is generated while writing data on a recording-medium, transmits to the information-processor-apparatus, dummy information for inhibiting the unwritten-data to be obtained by the information-processor-apparatus, and writes the unwritten-data to a memory-unit, the recording-medium and the memory-unit are included in a cartridge accommodated in the first writing-device, and the second writing-device comprises a second writing-unit that writes, on the recording-medium, the unwritten-data stored in the memory-unit when the cartridge is moved from the first writi

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of sectors each comprising a sector sync mark pattern and sector data preceding and following the sector sync mark pattern, and a head actuated over the disk for generating a read signal. A data sequence is detected from the read signal, and the data sequence is correlated with an extended sync mark comprising a target sync mark pattern and target data. The correlation of the target sync mark pattern with the data sequence is biased relative to the correlation of the target data with the data sequence.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a recording medium. The recording medium may include: a dedicated servo layer for providing servo information, wherein the dedicated servo layer comprises a plurality of tracks, wherein a first track comprises a first servo signal of a first frequency, wherein a second track comprises a second servo signal of a second frequency, and wherein the first servo signal and the second servo signal comprise a common single tone signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a recording medium. The recording medium may include a dedicated servo layer for providing servo information. The dedicated servo layer may include a plurality of tracks. A first track may include a first servo signal. A second track may include a second servo signal. The first servo signal and the second servo signal may include a plurality of common transitions. The transitions may be provided at a pre-determined frequency.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device (A) includes: a first device (31) for performing recording and/or reproduction of data with respect to a first detachable storage medium; a second device (35) for performing recording and/or reproduction of data with respect to a second detachable storage medium; a first display section (41) for notifying a working state of the first device (31); and a second display section (47) for notifying a working state of the second device (35). A relative positions of the first device (31) to the second device (35) is the same as a relative position of the first display section (41) to the second display section (47).

Abstract: An information storage medium is provided. The information storage medium includes a user data area on which user data is recorded, and a temporary disc management area on which a space bitmap representing a recording status of at least one recording/reproducing unit block of the user data area is recorded. The temporary disc management area including information about an additional space bitmap which is assigned to provide additional space to represent the recording status of the at least one recording/reproducing unit block of the user data area.

Abstract: Payload 0 as a header is recorded to a head of a UDI area. In the case of recording payload 0 and other payloads, each of them is quintuple-recorded in order to take a countermeasure against errors. Other payloads such as payload 1 and the like are recorded after payload 0. In the case of quintuple-recording, the payloads of the same payload number are collectively quintuple-recorded. AUDI is recorded from a position after one second from start time S. The payloads are arranged in positions at 12-frame intervals. Thus, the five data which is multiple-written are not arranged in the radial direction of a disc but widely distributed onto tracks. Error resistance is improved. An interval of data is set to an optimum value in accordance with the number of multiple-writing times, a linear velocity, a recording position on the disc, and the like.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc having preformed thereon a spiral wobbled track as a grove and/or land along with data is to be recorded. The track is wobbled for a series of predetermined signal units each composed of an FSK information bit part based on a waveform resulted from FSK modulation of information bit and a singe-frequency part based on a waveform of a single frequency. The FSK modulation uses two different frequencies of which the one is the same as the single frequency and the other is different from the single frequency. These different frequencies are in such a relation that each of them has an even number of wobbles and an odd number of wobbles alternately in a predetermined cycle.

Abstract: An information recording medium is at least composed of a substrate having a microscopic pattern constituted by a continuous substrate of grooves formed with a groove portion and a land portion alternately, a recording layer formed on the microscopic pattern for recording information, and a light transmitting layer formed on the recording layer. The microscopic pattern is formed with satisfying a relation of P??/NA, wherein P is a pitch of the land portion or the groove portion, ? is a wavelength of reproducing light for reproducing the recording layer, and NA is a numerical aperture of an objective lens. The land portion is formed with wobbling so as to be parallel with each other for both sidewalls of the land portion. An auxiliary information based on data used supplementally when recording the information and a reference clock based on a clock used for controlling a recording speed when recording the information is recorded alternately.

Abstract: A recording medium and having efficiency of a reading and a writing process. Audio annual ring data, video annual ring data, low-resolution annual ring data, and meta annual ring data extracted from data series of metadata, an audio file, a video file, and low resolution data are written to a free space on an optical disk in order of a body, a footer, and a header in order to improve the convenience of the recording medium by enabling a quick edit process. For example, the efficiency of the reading and writing process is improved by preventing occurrence of an unnecessary writing process.

Abstract: When data of image information is compressed and is recorded on a recording medium, additional information about the image information is recorded in a conveniently usable state. There is provided read/write unit information as a unit of reading and writing the compressed image information to the recording medium. The read/write unit information contains a plurality of units of decoding and reproducing unit information that comprises one frame (or one field) of the image information. At least one piece of decoding and reproducing unit information is subject to compression encoding through the use of only image information in the decoding and reproducing unit. In the read/write unit information, there is multiplexed and recorded additional information about the decoding and reproducing unit information for a plurality of units within the read/write unit in an extractable manner separately from the compressed image information.

Abstract: When a hybrid type next-generation DVD is loaded in the optical disc device, first, a red laser is turned on and parameter value and a lead-in information with respect to a DVD layer are acquired. The acquired information is stored in a memory. Next, a blue laser is turned on, parameter value and a lead-in information to a HDDVD layer are acquired, and the acquired information is stored in a memory. Then, the HDDVD layer is reproduced while lighting of the blue laser beam is maintained. Then, when a jump instruction to the DVD layer is inputted, the parameter value for the DVD layer is read from the memory and set to a process system. And the lighting laser is changed to the red laser and reproduction of the DVD layer is performed based on the lead-in information of the DVD layer stored in the memory.

Abstract: In a feedforward timing extractor for extracting timing information from a playback signal, a frequency ratio calculation section 2 calculates the ratio between the frequency of the playback signal and the frequency of the output clock of a frequency synthesizer 6 by utilizing a specific pattern and a specific pattern appearing interval in the playback signal. A control section 4 controls the frequency dividing rate of the frequency synthesizer 6 in such a manner that the frequency ratio calculated by the frequency ratio calculation section 2 has a set value. Thus, as compared with a case in which the output clock of the frequency synthesizer 6 is a high-frequency fixed-rate clock, it is not necessary to operate the digital circuits at high speeds. Consequently, even in cases where the playback frequency (the playback rate) of the signal changes with time, the decimation rate at which pulses of a fixed clock are eliminated is constant, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: In a feedforward timing extractor for extracting timing information from a playback signal, a frequency ratio calculation section 2 calculates the ratio between the frequency of the playback signal and the frequency of the output clock of a frequency synthesizer 6 by utilizing a specific pattern and a specific pattern appearing interval in the playback signal. A control section 4 controls the frequency dividing rate of the frequency synthesizer 6 in such a manner that the frequency ratio calculated by the frequency ratio calculation section 2 has a set value. Thus, as compared with a case in which the output clock of the frequency synthesizer 6 is a high-frequency fixed-rate clock, it is not necessary to operate the digital circuits at high speeds. Consequently, even in cases where the playback frequency (the playback rate) of the signal changes with time, the decimation rate at which pulses of a fixed clock are eliminated is constant, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A system and related methods for characterizing and improving optical drive read performance is presented. The system includes an innovative audio file stored on optical media (characterization file), and an optical drive characterization agent, implemented on a computing system. The optical drive characterization agent iteratively controls the optical drive to perform incremental reads of at least a subset of the characterization file, analyzes at least the subset of the characterization file read from the optical media, and generates one or more performance scores on an associated one or more performance attributes of the optical drive. In this regard, optical drive characterization agent quantifiably characterizes an optical drive's ability to accurately read individual sectors from optical media comprising audio content.

Abstract: For protecting the recording from shifting in the position, by conducting sync detection, correctly, from land pre pits, in an optical type recording disc, even if sync pattern errors, in more detail, synchronization is conducted on a recording circuit, with certainty, even if an even sync pattern erroneously changes into an odd sync pattern. When the even sync pattern is detected from an odd sync pattern detection window, a sync lock flag is turned into a condition of unlock. When the sync lock flag continues a lock condition for 16 sectors, the synchronization is carried out on a detection cycle counter and a recording cycle counter.

Abstract: An optical disc player such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) player and a play control method thereof can include setting a reproduction mode for a disc loaded in the digital versatile disc player, storing the set reproduction mode, and reading out and reproducing information recorded on the disc and subsequent discs in accordance with the stored reproduction mode. In accordance with this method, it is possible to carry out play operations of optical discs of different types in the DVD player in accordance with the set and stored reproduction modes. The reproduction modes can include subtitle languages, audio languages, audio formats and the like recorded on each optical disc. According to preferred embodiments it is unnecessary to set desired reproduction modes for each optical disc subsequently used in the DVD player.

Abstract: A method of recording drive information on an optical disc and an optical disc having drive information recorded using the method. The method of recording drive information comprises including a plurality of physical clusters in a drive region where disc drive information is recorded, recording the drive information in a set of a plurality of consecutive and available physical clusters, and recording an address of a reliable physical cluster, which is the first physical cluster of the plurality of consecutive and available physical clusters, in a separate region other than the drive region.

Abstract: Audio data of 20 bits is separated into first data of upper 16 bits and second data of lower 4 bits. EFM modulation data is formed from the first data. A laser beam is on/off controlled in correspondence to the logic level of channel data obtained by NRZI modulating a serial data train. The first data, therefore, is recorded in a manner similar to the case of a compact disc. Each pit is controlled so as to have a displacement in the right/left direction for the track center in accordance with the second data and the deviated pit is formed. When data is recorded by the displacement of the pit, since a high frequency component of a tracking error signal changes upon reproduction, the second data can be extracted from the tracking error signal.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus and method for recording information of a recording block including a plurality of sectors as one verifying unit into an optical information recording medium, a recording area of the optical information recording medium including a plurality of zones, and wherein each zone is different in a sector number per round of a track. A recorder records information of a plurality of recording blocks into the optical information recording medium and a verification conductor conducts a verify control. A number of the recording block included in the verifying unit is determined to be a minimal number in a rotation waiting sector number.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the time a host computer requires to recognize a recordable disc such as CD-R/CD-RW. The method includes the steps of determining whether or not an optical disc loaded in the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus is an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written (S46), and if the preceding step S46 determines the loaded disc as an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written, acquisition of disc information required for recording on the optical disc is performed by the host computer inter-relatedly with a spinup in the same step (S47). Thus, the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus returns the disc information to the host computer in step (S4E) without performing the step (S4D) for acquiring the disc information after the completion of the spinup (S4A) for the optical disc onto which data is likely to be written. Thus, the time required for recognizing a recordable disc can be reduced when the disc is loaded.

Abstract: When setting a recording power for use in recording optical information on a DVD-R, by using any one of sectors provided on the DVD-R as a PCA, whether a predetermined special detected signal is detected or not in the sectors is checked (Step S2), a non-used sector where no special detected signal is detected, of the sectors, is retrieved, based on the check result (Step S3), a mark signal for obtaining the special detected signal is recorded in the retrieved non-used sector (Step S5), a setting signal for setting a recording power is recorded in the non-used sector excluding the area where at least the mark signal is recorded (Step S6), and the recorded setting signal is optically detected to set the recording power (Step S13).

Abstract: An optical disc player such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) player and a play control method thereof can include setting a reproduction mode for a disc loaded in the digital versatile disc player, storing the set reproduction mode, and reading out and reproducing information recorded on the disc and subsequent discs in accordance with the stored reproduction mode. In accordance with this method, it is possible to carry out play operations of optical discs of different types in the DVD player in accordance with the set and stored reproduction modes. The reproduction modes can include subtitle languages, audio languages, audio formats and the like recorded on each optical disc. According to preferred embodiments it is unnecessary to set desired reproduction modes for each optical disc subsequently used in the DVD player.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a playback operation in an optical disc apparatus. According to a first embodiment of the invention, an optical disc apparatus has a database in which grades of a plurality of words is stored. The apparatus performs a counting operation to determine when the number of words read from the disk that exceed a predetermined word-grade exceeds a predetermined number. In this way the apparatus determines a viewer-grade of the disc according to the counted number. The apparatus then prevents the optical disc from being played when the viewer-grade of the disk is not appropriate, thereby preventing adolescents or children from being freely exposed to harmful programs. In another embodiment of the invention, an optical disc apparatus classifies words contained in subtitle/caption data read from an optical disc into groups on the basis of a difficulty grade of words.

Abstract: By packetizing main data to be recorded in a program area while providing each of the packets with a header (packet property) for managing the data length of individual packets, and further providing a management area (packet index) for batched management of a pack in managing the pack of a plurality of aggregated packets, reproduction of the header (packet property) included in the individual packs at the time of access and reproduction of the management area (packet index) on the inner circle in advance enable access to the individual packets included in the whole pack (that is, the aggregated packets).

Abstract: A system and related methods for characterizing and improving optical drive read performance is presented. The system includes an innovative audio file stored on optical media (characterization file), and an optical drive characterization agent, implemented on a computing system. The optical drive characterization agent iteratively controls the optical drive to perform incremental reads of at least a subset of the characterization file, analyzes at least the subset of the characterization file read from the optical media, and generates one or more performance scores on an associated one or more performance attributes of the optical drive. In this regard, optical drive characterization agent quantifiably characterizes an optical drive's ability to accurately read individual sectors from optical media comprising audio content.

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: Apparatus for reading and/or writing onto an information carrier includes the positioning system. The positioning system includes a drive member for moving a second part with respect to a first part and a fine-positioning member for moving a third part with respect to the second part. The positioning member also includes control means for continuously controlling the drive member in response to the orientation signal. The control means include control signal generating means for generating a control signal from the orientation signal. The control means further include a sensor for generating an auxiliary signal which is an indication for a current consumed by the drive member, and signal combination means for generating a drive voltage for the drive member in response to the control signal and the auxiliary signal.

Abstract: A DVD-RAM disk reproduction apparatus for reducing an error during detection of ID data, which includes a first operational amplifier for obtaining a sum signal resulting from the addition of four picked-up signals picked up by divided-by-four photodiodes from a DVD-RAM disk having a header region and a recording region, second and third operational amplifiers for respectively obtaining two sum signals corresponding to the upper and lower regions of the header region resulting from the addition of the first and second picked-up signals and the third and fourth picked-up signals, respectively, a fourth operational amplifier for obtaining a difference signal between the two sum signals, a header region detector for detecting upper and lower header region signals corresponding to the upper header region and the lower header region based on the difference signal, and detecting a header region signal corresponding to a header region by logically summing the two detected signals, a first multiplexer for selecting o

Abstract: Upon playback of stream data which is recorded while being appended with time stamp information in units of packets, time management is made using the time stamp information. A video playback time viewed from the user, which may be indicated by I-, B-, and P-picture display times, is different from the time of the time stamp information. For this reason, when time management for the stream data recorded on an information storage medium is made using only the time stamp information, display time control (video playback time control) for the user cannot be accurately done. In this invention, a time relationship table indicating the relationship between the time stamp information recorded in stream data at each I-picture start time position and display time information (PTS or field information) for the user is provided to a portion of management information.

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.

Abstract: There is generated a rhythm corresponding to a designated tempo and meter of a music piece to be recorded. Performance of a musical instrument is started at specific timing according to the generated rhythm, and the musical information resulting from the performance is recorded onto an MD (Mini Disk). The address on the MD read out when the performance of the music piece is started is retrieved as a start address of the music piece. After the recording, the retrieved start address is recorded onto the UTOC (User's-table-of-contents) area of the disk along with the designated tempo and meter. By reading out the start address, tempo and meter to calculate a measure number and start address of a desired measure on the basis of the read out information, display of a measure number being currently reproduced and quick access to the starting point of any desired measure can be achieved.