Abstract: An information reading/recording method and system are provided for effecting data transmission among a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The method and the system include reading and transmitting information data recorded on a recording medium of one information processing apparatus, in accordance with a transmission request from another information processing apparatus. The method and system also includes rendering ineffective a predetermined unit amount of information data recorded on the recording medium of the one information processing apparatus, at a time a predetermined unit amount of information data has already been transmitted therefrom, and recording the predetermined unit amount of information data that has already been transmitted therefrom. In addition, the method and system include recording the predetermined unit amount of transmitted information data in the another information processing apparatus which has received the transmitted information data.

Abstract: An optical disc (1) has a plurality of sectors each including a header area and a recording area, in which a position where a predetermined amount of data is recorded provides an ID information (medium ID peculiar to the optical disc). The ID information in the optical disc (1) is used by a first encryption circuit (12) to encrypt a disc key to encrypt AV data as a whole, the encrypted disc key is used by a second encryption circuit (13) to encrypt a sector key to encrypt the AV data for each program, and the encrypted sector key is used by a third encryption circuit (14) to encrypt the AV data for each program. The AV data subjected to at least the first to third encryptions is recorded into the recording area of the optical disc (1).

Abstract: A recording medium storing a write protection information, and a write protection method for protecting data recorded on a recordable and/or rewritable disc from unwanted overwriting or erasing. In order for write protection of a disc in a bare state that is usually used in a cartridge having a recognition switch for write-protection, such as a DVD-RAM, write protection information is recorded in a Lead-in area, a Lead-out area or a recording information area other than a user data area of the disc, and the data is protected from unwanted overwriting or erasing using the write protection information. Also, even though the write protection information stored on a disc does not match the state of a recognition switch of a case for write-protection, the data can be prevented from unwanted overwriting or erasing. Thus, the write protection can be ensured when a recordable and/or rewritable recording medium, such as DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW, is used in a bare state.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus comprising a recording and reproduction section configured to record and reproduce information in and from one recording medium of a first group and at least one recording medium of a second group, which has a smaller recording capacity than the one recording medium of the first group, and a registering section configured to reserve, in the one recording medium of the first group, a recording region which corresponds to the recording capacity of the at least one recording medium of the second group.

Abstract: The present invention is a dubbing device for dubbing data from a portable first recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which dubbing to the second recording medium with a large capacity is automatically carried out when reproducing data from the first recording medium. When data is reproduced from the first recording medium, database means is searched on the basis of identification information for the first recording medium and execution control of dubbing is performed in accordance with the result of search for recording history information. For example, whether or not data to be reproduced from the first recording medium has been already recorded on the second recording medium is discriminated, and dubbing is carried out if the data to be reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium.

Abstract: According to a recording method for a conventional rewritable disc, the latest data is recorded by rewriting data in an identical area. In the case of a disc of which the number of times of data rewrite is limited, this causes a problem that a defect block is easily generated. The present invention has an objective of providing an information recording medium, an information recording and reproduction method, and an information recording and reproduction system apparatus, by which data is recorded sequentially from an unallocated area after an entry sector number, and data recording is sequentially repeated from an inner portion to an outer portion.

Abstract: A medical image filing system having a first recording device for recording a plurality of image data from a medical image pickup device; a second recording device for recording the plurality of image data from the medical image pickup device, the second recording device has a recording speed slower and a recording capacity greater than that of the first recording device; and at least one image reproducing device for reading and reproducing designated image data from the plurality of image data recorded in the first and second recording devices. The at least one image reproducing device has a third recording device for recording the designated image data, wherein the designated image data recorded in the third recording device can also be reproduced by the at least one reproducing device.

Abstract: A disk-shaped recording medium includes a transplant substrate, and an optical recording layer formed on the transparent substrate. A light source emits light. An optical head is operative for applying the light to the optical recording layer from the light source via the transparent substrate, for focusing the light on the optical recording layer, and for reproducing information from the optical recording layer. A position detecting device is operative for detecting at least one of a pit depth and a physical position of information which has a first given relation with a specified address and which is recorded on the recording medium, and for generating first positional information representing at least one of the pit depth and the physical position. A previously-recorded secret code is reproduced from the recording medium. The secret code represents second positional information. The secret code is decoded into the second positional information.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus has an HDD on which data is recorded and an interface for recording the data on the HDD. When recording the data on the HDD, the interface records on the HDD information on an RDI pack required for reproducing the data by a video recording method and information on a navi-pack required for reproducing the data by a video method.

Abstract: When the recording disk is in the partial recording condition in which the finalization is not completed, a control step (S63) to enter the inputted CD text data into the sub-code area of the program data and to record it in the program area, when the ejection command is received, is provided.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a recording unit for recording information regarding copyright by irradiating an optical disk with laser beams; and a controlling unit for controlling the recording unit so that, after the information regarding copyright has been recorded in a predetermined area on the optical disk, the level of recording of the information regarding copyright is deteriorated by irradiating the predetermined area with the laser beams, for example, by recording predetermined information overlapping the recording of the information regarding copyright.

Abstract: A data recording element includes a data recording medium and a recording medium support; data recorded on the data recording medium; and c) a unique ID corresponding to the data on the recording medium, recorded on the recording medium support.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format Information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3, 15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A method is designed for writing data originally recorded in a source disk medium with an original reproduction signal quality, into an object disk medium by means of an optical recording apparatus having a machine parameter settable to control a reproduction signal quality of data. The method is carried out by the steps of measuring the original reproduction signal quality of the data originally recorded in the source disk medium, setting a value of the machine parameter of the optical recording apparatus in accordance with the measured original reproduction signal quality, and writing the data into the object disk medium by means of the optical recording apparatus so as to secure the reproduction signal quality of the written data comparable to the original reproduction signal quality.

Abstract: A DVD-R 1 has a main information area 2 where data information is recorded in a track having a wobble, and first and second control data areas 3,15 each of which is disposed in an inner space closer to the disk center than the main information area 2. The information structure and physical structure of the first control area 3 are different from those of the second control area 15. In the second control area 15, predetermined physical format information and disk production information, for example, the last address of when data is written in the DVD-R 1, the maximum transfer rate or the like, are recorded. Thus, when the DVD-R 1 is reproduced by a DVD player etc., the physical format information and disk production information etc. recorded in the second control data area 15 are read.

Abstract: A system for managing the number of duplicates of digital data even when a variety of recording mediums capable of repeated recording are used. The statement of the values of the number of seconds of the recording time recorded in a UTOC sector 2 of a mini-disc is differentiated between a case of recording using a conventional duplication route duplicating the audio data from a CD block (4) and a case of recording using a new duplication route of duplicating audio data from a hard disc (3) through a host controller (2). The recording time the statement of which is differentiated depending on the routes of duplication or the discrimination information of the audio data is managed by the host controller (2) to perform duplication number management.

Abstract: According to the type of each of a plurality of external input interfaces, it is decided whether digital watermark information is to be detected from data entered via the external input interface. Digital watermark information is not detected from data entered via the external input interface and from which it has been decided not to detect any digital watermark information, but the data is recorded. Thus, there can be provided a data recording apparatus which is not applied with a any heavy load owing to the omission of any unnecessary detection of digital watermark information.

Abstract: Methods for processing and recording data files to an optical disc media are provided. In one example, a method includes the operations of processing data files selected to be recorded and generating a file system database. The file system database generates information about the source data files, and in response to a request for a number of sectors of data, reads the requested sectors of data one at a time into a system memory buffer. The file system database writes a subheader for each of the sectors of data after each sector is written into a memory location that is before each data sector. The sectors and subheaders are then written to an optical disc media. In another example, a computer readable media is provided having program instructions for recording data on an optical disc. The program instructions generate source data information from a file system database and request a number of sectors of data from the file system database.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information on a plurality of information recording mediums consecutively is provided. The record information is comprised of a plurality of information units and has an entire time length necessary for recording which is longer than a recordable time length of an information recording medium. A plurality of recording devices record each of the information units on each of a plurality of information recording mediums based on a control signal. The same information units are recorded on each of a plurality of information recording mediums concurrently. At least part of an area of one information recording medium where the same information units as those recorded on another information recording medium are recorded is set as a free space which can be overwritten with different information units. The free space is overwritten with rest of the information units which are not recorded on the one information recording medium because of no capacity.

Abstract: A method for protecting disc copy of the present invention includes the steps of detecting an identifier of a disc to be reproduced and determining if a disc copy is permitted or not using copy protection disc information and the identifier. A recording and reproducing apparatus having a disc copy-protection function of the present invention includes a reproducing drive for reading data from a disc, a recording drive for writing data on other disc, storage unit for storing a copy-protection disc information for judging whether a disc copy is permitted or not, and control unit for controlling a disc copy from the disc in the reproducing drive to the other disc in the recording drive.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus for recording a main information signal reproduced from a first optical disk on a second optical disk includes a first part which set an address of a start point of each of tracks of the first optical disk and an address of a position ahead of the start point by a predetermined period of time, a second part which searches a part between the start point and the position ahead of the start point of each of the tracks for an address within a range where each of index values included in subcodes reproduced with the main information signal is zero, and a third part which, with respect to each of the tracks, sets the index values within the range to zero and index values other than the index values within the range to a predetermined value other than zero, and records the index values on the second optical disk together with the main information signal.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device and a recording/reproducing method for recording a program reproduced from a first recording medium onto a second recording medium having at least two recording regions and onto a third recording medium in synchronism. The recording region may be changed over on the second recording medium. In this case, after the change-over of the recording region of the second recording medium has been completed, the head of the program reproduced from the first recording medium when the change-over of the recording region occurred is recorded onto the second recording medium and into the third recording medium, and the program that was incompletely recorded into the third recording medium is erased after the recording. Therefore, the program that had been recorded during the change-over of the recording region of the second recording medium is completely recorded, and the program is further completely recorded into the third recording medium.

Abstract: Coded information can be utilized by devices other than a device supplied with information while preventing a dishonest use of the information, mutual recognizing part 17 mutually recognizes the IC card 4. The coding part 15 codes a key for contents with a key for movement. The recording part 12 records coded contents and the key for contents coded by the coding part 15 on the optical disc 5.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to enable a user to easily make a search with respect to a large amount of music data copied and stored from CDs in a built-in recording medium. A music server is able to record a large amount of music data played back from CDs in a built-in hard disk drive (HDD). When recording the music data, table of contents (TOC) information of each CD is read out of the CD and recorded in the HDD, and simultaneously sent to a personal computer via a connecting line. A CD album information database is provided in the form of a CD-ROM to the personal computer. In the personal computer, which one of CDs recorded in the database on the CD-ROM corresponds to the relevant CD is searched based on the total playing time and the time information of each track which are contained in the TOC information sent to the personal computer. A search result is sent back to the music server.

Abstract: The present invention is a recording method for a record medium, comprising the steps of embedding a plurality of types of management information provided corresponding to a plurality of types of record mediums as additional information to data of a content that is recorded, performing a first encoding process for the data of the content to which the additional information has been embedded, performing a second encoding process for the plurality of types of management information; and modulating the data of the content of which the first encode process has been performed and the plurality of types of management information of which the second encode process has been performed. The present invention is also the record medium.

Abstract: Software is securely distributed with limited usage rights. The software may be an executable program and/or one or more data files such as image or multimedia data files. The software includes an access control object which prevents at least some usage of the software without use of a first access control code. The first access control code is produced based on selected information characteristic of the user's computer system. The access control code is produced in a server computer to which the user directs a request for the access control code. The user makes a payment to receive the access control code, which is then downloaded to the user's computer system.

Abstract: A dubbing system for inhibiting, for a predetermined length of time, a high-speed dubbing operation for a program for which a high-speed dubbing operation was executed within the predetermined length of time. When the power supply to a volatile memory in which high-speed dubbing permission and inhibition information for each program is stored is reset, the high-speed dubbing immediately after the restarting of the power supply to this volatile memory is forcibly inhibited for the predetermined length of time.

Abstract: The present invention is capable of dubbing again even when a data transfer error occurs, because the dubbing is tried again by sending a command to reproduce to the optical disc reproducing apparatus 1 from the magneto-optical disc recording/plying system 3 after completing the reproducing retry preparation and recording retry preparation.

Abstract: In a method of managing the copying of data representing contents, contents and a copyright number given from a copyright holder to the user regarding the contents are sent to a user as virtual contents files whose number is equal to the copyright number. In cases where the user copies the contents from a source recording medium to a destination recording medium, the virtual contents files are moved from the source recording medium and are erased therefrom.

Abstract: The ability of a data reader, such as a CD-ROM drive, to access, extract, or otherwise read the data on a digital audio compact disc provides a problem for the music industry. A user can use his CD-ROM drive to read the data from an audio disc into a computer file, and then that data can be copied. To provide copy protecton, errors are deliberately introduced into the data on a CD, but these errors are of a type which are generally transparent to an audio player but which will interfere with the reading of the audio data by a data reader. According to the standards, the data on a CD is encoded into frames by EFM (eight to fourteen modulation). Each frame has sync data, sub-code bits providing control and display symbols, data bits and parity bits, and includes 24 bytes of data, which is audio data for a CD-DA. The standard requires that 98 such frames are grouped into a sector. To provide copy protection, each is provided with a non-standard number of frames, for example, has 99 rather than 98 frames.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a file management method of prohibiting copy of a file and change of a file name or a directory of a file which is recorded in a disk recording medium such as a rewritable digital versatile disk (DVD). The present file management method for a recorded digital stream according writes, in a writable disk, file describing information comprising file attributes for informing whether to prohibit renaming of file, directory change, or file copy, and determines whether to conduct a requested renaming of file, directory change, or file copy based on the written file attributes contained in the file describing information, thereby basically preventing disk reproduction fail caused by file or directory change of files containing A/V digital data stream as well as copyright infringement caused by copying the digital stream files recorded in a rewritable disk.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for copy protecting an optical disk records test data, including modified first signals, on an optical disk such that, when reproduced, random ones of these modified first signals are reproduced as second signals. Both the first and second signals represent data having at least two zeros between successive ones. The method and apparatus for optical disk authentication and reproduction creates a statistical version of the test data through repeated reproduction of the test data. If the test data matches references data, possibly recorded on the optical disk as well, the optical disk is authenticated. Once authenticated, reproduction of the optical disk is permitted. If the test data forms part of the data for reproduction, then the statistical data is output as the reproduced data.

Abstract: A system for copying compact discs using read/write compact disc drives that have one or more copy buttons on their face and attached to a computer system is disclosed. In a one copy button read/write compact disc drive, pressing the copy button launches copy software that evaluates the computer system to determine the number of CD drives available, and evaluates any CDs inserted into any of the CD drives to determine their type and formatting. Based upon this information, the copy software then sends prompts to the user, guiding and directing the user to take the appropriate steps to complete the copy process. In a multiple copy button read/write compact disc drive, each of the copy buttons has a different function. One copy button could be used for copying music CDs. Another copy button could be used for copying data CDs. The copy software is launched by either copy button.

Abstract: A system control microcomputer 31 of a control section 3 controls to automatically make a temporary copy in a temporary area B of a recording/reproducing section 2, and reproduce by reading this temporary copy, when an optical disc 12 is inserted for reproduction, and invalidate or delete the previous temporary copy, when the optical disc 12 is ejected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to enable a user to easily make a search with respect to a large amount of music data copied and stored from CDs in a built-in recording medium. A music server is able to record a large amount of music data played back from CDs in a built-in hard disk drive (HDD). When recording the music data, table of contents (TOC) information of each CD is read out of the CD and recorded in the HDD, and simultaneously sent to a personal computer via a connecting line. A CD album information database is provided in the form of a CD-ROM to the personal computer. In the personal computer, which one of CDs recorded in the database on the CD-ROM corresponds to the relevant CD is searched based on the total playing time and the time information of each track which are contained in the TOC information sent to the personal computer. A search result is sent back to the music server.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compact disc comprising information sections in the sequence lead-in area, data block, lead-out area, said lead-in area comprising an organization information block with information about organization properties of the data block, and comprising a section disturbing a copying process. It is characterized in that the organization information block contains wrong organization information with regard to the immediately following data block and/or contains a non-evaluable blocking area and/or the compact disc contains a second organization information block with a non-evaluable blocking area behind the data block.

Abstract: Audio data are read out, via an ATAPI interface, from an audio CD set in a CD drive. Thus, even where an inexpensive low-speed CPU is used, high-speed copying can be performed. When audio data stored on a hard disk are to be reproduced, and if copying authorization/inhibiting information indicates that coping of the audio data should be inhibited, the audio data are output, via a digital audio interface, with a copying-inhibiting subcode imparted to the data. Further, when the audio data stored on the hard disk are written to a CDR media set in the CD drive, the audio data on the hard disk are erased in correspondence with the writing of the digital audio data to the CDR media. With such a copying restricting feature, it is possible to provide a digital-audio-signal recording apparatus that can be properly used as consumer equipment.

Abstract: In a dubbing apparatus capable of prohibiting next high-speed dubbing of a piece of data once completing high-speed dubbing for a predetermined period of time in a process of high-speed dubbing from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, such a piece of data cannot be dubbed at a high speed but can be dubbed at an ordinary speed during the predetermined period of time in response to a request for re-dubbing of the piece of data at the high speed. It is thus possible to achieve an object of the dubbing apparatus to protect a copyright for prohibiting an operation to copy data to a plurality of recording mediums at one time. When the user issues a command to again carry out high-speed dubbing of pieces of data, high-speed dubbing of pieces of data once subjected to high-speed dubbing during the predetermined period of time is deferred.

Abstract: A universal compact disc (CD) player having the ability to decode and play an encoded audio file residing on a CD, regardless of the particular encoding algorithm used to encode the audio file, consists of: a spindle motor and optical pickup adapted to read the signal recorded on the CD; an amplifier to amplify the signal read by the pickup; a programmable digital signal processor adapted to decode the amplified signal under the direction of a decoding software program; a nonvolatile memory containing the decoding software program directing the operation of the digital signal processor; a program adapted to read the decoding software program from a memory card into the nonvolatile memory; a digital-to-analog converter to convert the decoded signal into an analog audio signal; and a speaker or headphones to convert the analog audio signal into sound.

Abstract: A record carrier on which information is recorded in the form of first variations caused by the presence or absence of information marks along a recording track, such variations representing an information signal. The record carrier also exhibits second variations in the form of changes in the position of the information marks in a direction transversed to the track direction. The second variations having a frequency spectrum substantially entirely outside the frequency spectrum of the first variations. The second variations are detectable by the same playback transducer which detects the first variations, and the presence of the second variations may be necessary to enable the transducer to detect the first variations.

Abstract: A method for protecting disc copy of the present invention includes the steps of detecting an identifier of a disc to be reproduced and determining if a disc copy is permitted or not using copy protection disc information and the identifier. A recording and reproducing apparatus having a disc copy-protection function of the present invention includes a reproducing drive for reading data from a disc, a recording drive for writing data on other disc, storage means for storing a copy-protection disc information for judging whether a disc copy is permitted or not, and control means for controlling a disc copy from the disc in the reproducing drive to the other disc in the recording drive.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which it is possible to pre-warn the consumer who is trying to purchase contents that cannot be written on the PD that the contents cannot be written on the PD. Based on the PD writability information, the PD writability detector determines whether the contents distributed by the distribution system notified by the distribution system detector can be written on the PD. If it is determined that the contents cannot be written, the PD writability detector requests the controller to warn the consumer.

Abstract: Copying of digital data from a digital recording medium is controlled so as to prevent unauthorized copying. The digital data is transmitted from a transmitter-side apparatus to a receiver-side apparatus through interfaces thereof in a system of a plurality of digital apparatuses connected to each other through a bus and mutually authenticated. The interfaces permit transmission and receiving of the digital data only between the authenticated apparatuses. Copy control information indicating a copy restriction level is added to main data of the digital data recorded on the digital recording medium such that the main data contains a first portion containing at least one of picture information and voice information, and a second portion containing the copy control information. Electronic watermark information is added to the second portion of the main data. An error correction code is added to the main data, and then intentional error information having a particular pattern is added to the digital data.

Abstract: In a dubbing apparatus capable of prohibiting next high-speed dubbing of a piece of data once completing high-speed dubbing for a predetermined period of time in a process of high-speed dubbing from a first recording medium to a second recording medium, such a piece of data cannot be dubbed at a high speed but can be dubbed at an ordinary speed during the predetermined period of time in response to a request for re-dubbing of the piece of data at the high speed. It is thus possible to achieve an object of the dubbing apparatus to protect a copyright for prohibiting an operation to copy data to a plurality of recording mediums at one time.

Abstract: A disc-shaped recording medium and a reproducing apparatus for the disc-shaped recording medium in which the letter information, such as a title, pertinent to a program recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium, is recorded as subsidiary data in a management area or in a program area. In the subsidiary data, there is recorded an identified for specifying whether or not the subsidiary data is allowed to be duplicated on an other recording medium so that inhibition or permission of duplication of the subsidiary information may be controlled at the time of duplication of the program.