Abstract: Features described herein relate to providing the capability to playback audiovisual content in a comprehensible manner at a rate adjustable by the viewer. For example, if a viewer wishes to watch a one hour news program, but the viewer only has thirty minutes to view the program, playback of the program at twice the rate, but in a comprehensible manner is provided. To provide the playback of the video at the adjustable rate, substitute audio is generated by adding or removing audio content without changing the playback rate of the audio. The video at the adjusted playback rate and the substitute audio at the normal playback rate may have the same duration and in some embodiments, may be presented synchronously.

Abstract: A multi-bit optical computing system includes an optical source module for generating multi-frequency optical signals. An optical information storage module receives each of the multi-frequency optical signals through an optical path module, and stores them as a plurality of optical information. An optical processing module receives each of the optical information in the optical information storage module via the optical path module according to an external command, generates a plurality of output information, and stores the output information through the optical path module to the optical information storage module.

Abstract: A method for writing data onto a medium on which data are stored in tracks includes encoding the data into at least one codeword, and writing a respective portion of each of the at least one codeword onto respective different tracks on the medium. The writing may include writing a respective portion of each of the at least one codeword onto respective different adjacent tracks on the medium. Another method for reading data includes positioning a plurality of read heads to read codewords that have been written across multiple tracks of a medium. Each read head in the plurality of read heads reads a different portion of the first group of the multiple tracks, and where each different portion of the multiple tracks overlaps at least one other different portion of the multiple tracks. Signals are detected from the plurality of read heads, and the detected signals are decoded.

Abstract: An optical recording device for recording to a disk having a guide layer and a plurality of recording layers includes a controller which obtains, by calculation, logical addresses of data areas of all recording layers on the basis of physical addresses of a guide layer and recording layer information. Specifically, in treating the maximum value (last physical address) of physical addresses in the guide layer as PSN_max, recording layer information of recording layer Lx as x (x=0, 1, 2, . . . ), physical addresses corresponding to recording destination positions in the data area of recording layer Lx as PSN, and logical addresses imparted to data units recorded at recording destination positions in the data area of recording layer Lx as LSN, calculation for LSN=(PSN_max*x)+PSN . . . (1) is performed.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.

Abstract: A testing device in communication with a disc player includes a storage device and a display device. The storage stores a start command, an end command, and a reference value range of each of several performance parameters of the disc player. The start command is sent to the disc player a predetermined numbers times to obtain performance readings as the disc player reads data. The value of each performance reading of the disc player obtained each time the start command is transmitted is compared with a range of values preset for several performance parameters and the display device shows information indicating whether or not the disc player is acceptable.

Abstract: A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification.

Abstract: A differential phase detector for an optical storage system is set forth. The differential phase detector includes a photodetector circuit arranged to detect light deviations associated with radial errors in the optical storage system. A non-linear equalizer is in communication with the photodetector circuit. The output of the non-linear equalizer is in communication with signal processing circuitry. The signal processing circuitry uses the equalized signals to generate one or more radial error signals.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes an optical pickup that directs light beams onto a recording surface of an optical disk and receives reflected light, a signal generating unit that generates playback signals based on reflected light received by the optical pickup, an equalizer adjustment unit that performs equalizer adjustment of the playback signals, and an adjustment control unit. The adjustment control unit controls the equalizer adjustment unit so as to perform equalizer adjustment of the playback signals according to the playback signals based on reflected light from a management information area on a recording surface of the optical disk, the management information area including predetermined management information recorded thereon.

Abstract: In a recording/reproducing device for recording and reproducing an optical disk, when performing verify processing of inspecting a quality of recorded data and compare processing of inspecting whether the recorded data can be read without errors, a time is taken because the same area needs to be reproduced two times. The verify processing and the compare processing are performed at one time reproduction. To perform the verify processing and the compare processing simultaneously, a recording quality storage part is provided in the recording/reproducing device, and reproduced data is transmitted to a host controller while storing quality information at the time of reproduction by an instruction of the host controller. The host controller performs the compare processing by comparing transmitted data and data at the time of recording and inspects the recording quality by acquiring the quality information of a reproduced area from the recording/reproducing device at intervals set in advance.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes: a medium information region on which medium identification information is recorded; a content region on which content information is recorded; and a blank region provided between the medium information region and the content region and in which at least two tracks are provided so as to connect a train of prepits in the medium information region and a train of prepits in the content region. No information is recorded on the blank region. Thus, an optical recording medium is provided in which a region on which medium identification information is recorded and a region on which content information is recorded are different in track pitch and in which a reproduction error hardly occurs when reproduction shifts from the region on which the medium identification information is recorded to the region on which the content information is recorded.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to controlling persisting of data to disk for use with a messaging system including an application operable for generating and sending a message to a destination. An aspect is an apparatus, which includes a comparator operable to determine whether the message includes common data, and an extractor, responsive to a determination that the message includes common data, configured to extract the common data and non-common data from the message. The apparatus also includes a persistor operable to determine whether the common data have already been persisted to disk. The persistor is operable, in response to a determination that the common data have not already been persisted to disk, to separately persist the common data and the non-common data to disk. The persistor is operable, in response to a determination that the common data have already been persisted to disk, to persist the non-common data to disk.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to protecting data of a scalable storage system. A scalable storage system includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes having directly-attached storage (DAS), such as one or more hard-disk drives and/or solid-state disk drives. The nodes are coupled via an inter-node communication network, and a substantial entirety of the DAS is globally accessible by each of the nodes. The DAS is protected utilizing intra-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible in presence of a failure within one of the nodes. The DAS is further protected utilizing inter-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible if at least one of the nodes fails.

Abstract: For generating a random number in a disk drive, a seed is generated from a respective sector number for each of at least one sector of the disk drive. The random number is calculated using the seed. The seed that is generated with enhanced unpredictability and complexity is used to generate the random number for secure data cryptography within the disk drive.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write-once type information storage medium comprises an organic dye based recording material having sensitivity at a 5 wavelength of 405 nm and at a recording wavelength in the range of 600 nm to 700 nm, wherein, when absorbance of a maximum absorption wavelength in the vicinity of 405 nm is defined as 1, the absorbance is 5% or more at any wavelength in the range of 600 nm to 700 nm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an improved-customizability digital sound relaxation system having a sound card receiving port and a collectable sound card are cooperative to play prerecorded natural or other sounds by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a sound card selector switch. The new sounds of each collectable sound card customize the library of available sounds to individual taste. In another embodiment, an improved-flexibility digital sound relaxation system having at least two (2) prerecorded sounds stored at first and second memory locations of internal or external/internal memory devices may be selected and combined for concurrent and/or individual replay by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a combine switch, or by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches, a sound card selector switch and a combine switch.

Abstract: Audio is adaptively associated with speakers, depending on the speaker configuration that is present. Each speaker it receives an audio assignment based on its individual spectral characteristics. As more speakers are added, content is adaptively associated with that you speaker, and taken away from the previous.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.

Abstract: Circuitry for controlling mode selection of a CD/DVD reader is described. In one embodiment, the CD/DVD reader has a first device having at least one analog output, a second device having at least one digital input and at least one analog input, and an interface circuit coupling the analog output of the first device to the digital input and the analog input in the second device. The interface circuit includes a circuitry to use a single control signal from the analog output of the first device to control the digital input and the analog input in the second device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for correctly controlling content recorded on an optical disc. An apparatus 600 for using content recorded on an optical disc 601, wherein the optical disc 601 includes a control information area 602 composed of partial areas 603a-603n, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted, the apparatus 600 comprises: a position information holding unit 612 holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas 603a-603n that is allocated for the apparatus 600 to record the control information; a reading unit 613 reading information within the control information area 602; a judgment unit 614 judging whether use of the content is permitted, with use of the information read by the reading unit 613 and the position information; and a usage control unit 615 using the content when use of the content is judged to be permitted.

Abstract: An optical head 12 reproduces information recorded on an optical disc 11, a BCA detector 21 and a medium discriminating circuit 22 acquire waveform distortion information for specifying a waveform distortion of a reproduction signal reproduced by the optical head 12, and a variable waveform equalizer 16 changes a parameter used in a distortion reduction processing for reducing the waveform distortion of the reproduction signal based on the waveform distortion information.

Abstract: This invention provides an information processing method and apparatus, which can set all extent sizes of data divisionally recorded on a disk to be equal to or larger than the minimum recording unit, and can guarantee continuous reproduction of the divisionally recorded data. Of data divisionally recorded on a recording medium (5), data which corresponds to an end portion of that data and cannot be recorded as a recording area equal to or larger than a minimum recording unit specified in the recording medium (5) due to the presence of a recording area (6) of another data, that has already been recorded on the recording medium (5), is re-recorded on a recording area equal to or larger than the minimum recording unit. At this time, new data is generated by combining data less than the minimum recording unit, and data recorded in another recording area, and the new data is re-recorded on a new recording area.

Abstract: An input frame data producing unit produces from data stored in an input buffer input frames each including a predetermined number of sub-frames of a first hopsize determined based on the first frame size and the overlapping rate. A frame processing unit executes a window function on the input frames and shifts the windowed input frames by the first hopsize and overlaps the shifted input frames, storing the overlapped frames in an output frame. An output buffer data producing frame unit stores data from the output frame to an output buffer including a predetermined number of sub-frames of a second hopsize. A CPU sets the first hopsize and overlapping rate in a slow-speed reproduction when the reproducing speed ratio is set lower than 1 different from in a high-speed reproduction when the reproducing speed ratio is set larger than 1.

Abstract: Recording and reading method for optical information recording medium comprising: recording layer having thickness not less than 2?/n, where ? is wavelength of recording beam and n is refractive index of the recording layer, and configured to undergo a change in the refractive index by irradiation with the recording beam; and adjacent layer adjacent to the recording layer at a side opposite to an incident side, comprises the steps of: recording a recording spot by irradiating with the recording beam, while shifting focal position by offset amount d, which satisfies ?0d3?0, where ?0 is radius of the recording spot, from interface between recording layer and adjacent layer toward the incident side at a time of recording, whereby the refractive index of recording layer changes at a recording position to record recording spot; and reading out the information by irradiating with reading beam, while bringing it into focus on the interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: This invention relates to an information providing system, a reproducing apparatus, a reproducing method, an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, a recording medium, and a program. If an instruction is given to download a Japanese language audio file, update files corresponding to the content recorded on an optical disc 11 are downloaded. After being downloaded as the update files, audio stream files in Japanese are recorded to a local storage 12 along with accompanying clip information files, play list files for controlling reproduction of the audio stream files, and an updated navigation program file. The updated navigation program is used illustratively to reproduce a clip 3 audio stream file in Japanese. This invention applies among others to players to which a recording medium that stores contents is removable.

Abstract: Recording and reading method for optical information recording medium comprising: recording layer having thickness not less than 2?/n, where ? is wavelength of recording beam and n is refractive index of the recording layer, and configured to undergo a change in the refractive index by irradiation with the recording beam; and adjacent layer adjacent to the recording layer at a side opposite to an incident side, comprises the steps of: recording a recording spot by irradiating with the recording beam, while shifting focal position by offset amount d, which satisfies ?0d3?0, where ?0 is radius of the recording spot, from interface between recording layer and adjacent layer toward the incident side at a time of recording, whereby the refractive index of recording layer changes at a recording position to record recording spot; and reading out the information by irradiating with reading beam, while bringing it into focus on the interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a qualification circuit that controls a read channel in a data storage device. The qualification circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit receives a first signal and generates a second signal based on a signal quality of the first signal. The second circuit receives the second signal, an envelope-derived error signal resulting from performing envelope derived error detection, and a decision-aided error signal resulting from performing decision aided error detection. The second circuit modifies the envelope-derived error signal and the decision aided error signal according to the second signal. The second circuit generates a control signal that controls the read channel according to the envelope-derived error signal and the decision-aided error signal having been modified.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a light source; a first diffractive element which diffracts light polarized in a particular direction; an objective lens; a lens actuator which shifts the objective lens so that the magnitude of shift from its initial position in a tracking direction has an upper limit of 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm; a wave plate; a second diffractive element which has two diffraction regions configured to diffract light polarized in a direction that intersects with the particular direction at right angles and which splits the write beam reflected from the optical storage medium through each diffraction region into a transmitted light beam and at least one diffracted light beam; and a photodetector which detects the transmitted light beam, the diffracted light beams that have left the two diffraction regions, and the read beam reflected from the optical storage medium.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a light source; a first diffractive element which diffracts light polarized in a particular direction; an objective lens; a lens actuator which shifts the objective lens so that the magnitude of shift from its initial position in a tracking direction has an upper limit of 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm; a wave plate; a second diffractive element which has two diffraction regions configured to diffract light polarized in a direction that intersects with the particular direction at right angles and which splits the write beam reflected from the optical storage medium through each diffraction region into a transmitted light beam and at least one diffracted light beam; and a photodetector which detects the transmitted light beam, the diffracted light beams that have left the two diffraction regions, and the read beam reflected from the optical storage medium.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium according to the present invention has at least one information storage layer. The optical information storage medium has a management area that stores at least one unit containing control information about the optical information storage medium. The control information includes a format number, which provides information about at least a write strategy type and a write pre-compensation type, and a write strategy parameter, which provides information about the magnitude of shift in an edge position, or variation in the pulse width, of a write pulse train to form a recording mark. And the value of the format number changes according to a combination of the write strategy type and the write pre-compensation type.

Abstract: A recording device includes: a rotation driving unit that rotates an optical medium having a reference face and a recording layer, at a constant velocity; a light irradiating unit that irradiates the optical recording medium with first and second light through a common object lens; an infocus position adjusting unit that performs adjustment to focus; a light receiving unit that receives reflection light from the reference face; a reproducing clock generating unit that generates a reproducing clock on the basis of a light reception signal; a radial position detecting unit that detects the radial positional information on the basis of the light reception signal and the reproducing clock positional information; a frequency adjusting unit that changes a frequency of an input reference signal; and a recording unit that performs mark recording on the recording layer using the signal obtained by the frequency adjusting unit as a recording clock.

Abstract: Audio is adaptively associated with speakers, depending on the speaker configuration that is present. Each speaker it receives an audio assignment based on its individual spectral characteristics. As more speakers are added, content is adaptively associated with that you speaker, and taken away from the previous.

Abstract: Provided are an optical disc drive and a method of driving the same. The optical disc drive may be connected to or become compatible with a host by providing device information and a file system supported by the host to the host that is not compatible with the optical disc drive. The optical disc drive and the method of driving the same become compatible with the host by transmitting information compatible with the host to the host and selecting a specific command set supported by the host.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for initialization of media asset modules for an improved execution sequence on a playback environment. The system includes a player application configured to segment media assets associated with a primary media content into a plurality of asset modules, assemble the plurality of asset modules into a media file, identify a first subset of asset modules from the plurality of asset modules for loading in a first loading process, determine a loading sequence for the first subset of asset modules, and load the first subset of asset modules according to the loading sequence before beginning playback of the primary media content. The player application may be further configured to identify, determine another loading sequence for, and load additional asset modules after playback of the primary media content has begun.

Abstract: Provided is an optical disk apparatus capable achieving stable focus control or tracking control. A first detector receives reflected light from an object lens optical system, a second detector receives reflected light from a prescribed information layer, a positional deviation determination unit determines positional deviation between a focal point of a light beam and a point where information on the prescribed information layer is recorded or reproduced, on the basis of a signal from the second detector, a stray light determination unit determines a surface stray light component which is reflected light from the surface of an optical disk and is included in the signal from the positional deviation determination unit, on the basis of the signal from the first detector, and a stray light correction unit corrects the signal output from the positional deviation determination unit on the basis of the surface stray light component thus determined.

Abstract: A signal generating unit of a formatter inputs a misalignment amount ? unique to an individual recording apparatus and record data into a record signal compensation unit, and in accordance with these the record signal compensation unit generates a compensated beam deflection signal and substrate velocity signal to a beam unit and rotation and movement drive unit. With this arrangement, it is possible to perform compensation which matches errors in individual unit, in response to the errors (mechanical errors) in assembly dimension precision of parts and control precision of control devices which can vary among individual unit of the recording apparatus.

Abstract: Noise generation in transferring data is suppressed or prevented by transferring data at a data transfer rate according to the amount of data to be transferred to a memory. In a reproducing apparatus, when a read unit or both reads data from a storage medium or both, a determination unit determines the type of the storage medium from which the data is read, then, according to the determined type of the storage medium, a transfer rate change unit orders a data transfer unit to use a preset transfer rate corresponding to the type of the storage medium. The data transfer unit transfers the read data to the temporary storage unit at the ordered transfer rate. This allows data to be transferred without a significant change in the amount of data transfer, which suppresses or prevents noise.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser producing light and having an active region, a first reflector position adjacent to a first side of the active region, an extended cavity positioned adjacent to a second side of the active region, and a second reflector reflecting a first portion of the light into the extended cavity and transmitting a second portion of the light, a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser, and a horizontal coupler structured to couple the second portion of light from the extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser into the waveguide.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk and control circuitry operable to sample a read signal emanating from the head to generate read samples. First vectors of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) are generated in response to the read samples, wherein each vector corresponds to a nonbinary symbol q in a set of symbols. The first vectors of LLRs are biased to generate biased vectors of LLRs, and the biased vectors of LLRs are decoded into a data sequence, wherein the biased vectors of LLRs increase an error rate of the data sequence.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup that emits light to an optical disc and receives reflection light reflected by the optical disc, a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the optical pickup, a temperature control processing portion that performs a process corresponding to temperature information obtained by the temperature sensor, and a filter portion that performs filtering of a signal about the temperature information during a period until the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor is input to the temperature control processing portion.

Abstract: An optical disc for recording information with a plurality of sorts of data recording densities. The optical disc has a plurality of data recording areas for recording information with mutually different data recording densities. Information about the data recording densities in the data recording areas is recorded in management information recording areas (BCA and PIC areas) with a specific format not depending on the data recording densities of the data recording areas. In this case, the data recording areas are located to be divided in the same plane of the disc or to be divided into a plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: An optical disc for recording information with a plurality of sorts of data recording densities. The optical disc has a plurality of data recording areas for recording information with mutually different data recording densities. Information about the data recording densities in the data recording areas is recorded in a BCA area with a specific format not depending on the data recording densities of the data recording areas. In this case, the data recording areas are located to be divided in the same plane of the disc or to be divided into a plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: To provide a simple configuration capable of recording data on an optical disc reliably at high speed even if recording errors occur. Data that is normally recorded on the optical disc is erased from a storing means, and when a recording error has occurred, a predetermined range subsequent to the address at which the recording error has occurred is selected as a skip area, and this skip area is skipped to record the data stored in the storing means from a recording resume address of the optical disc. This makes it possible to avoid repetition of recording errors in the vicinity of the error-occurring location where the possibility of repeating errors is high. Data retransmission at the time of resuming recording can also be omitted to eliminate the time loss for retransmitting the data, and to reduce the storage space of the host unit necessary for storing the data to be retransmitted.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for content assembly is provided by which an automation playlist of media events is created, a relationship is defined between the media events, the media events are merged into a composite media event and published.

Abstract: An optical-disc player having a reader and a controller. The reader derives out-of-band information from surface marks of an optical disc, where the controller controls operations of the reader based on the derived information. The controlled operations may involve the reading and rendering of embedded data of the optical disc. For example, a person writes the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” on the surface of a DVD with a marker and inserts the DVD in a DVD player. The DVD player scans the surface of the DVD and sends the resulting image data to an optical character recognition (OCR) module. The OCR module outputs a text file containing the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” to a controller (e.g., Microsoft HDi runtime). In response, the controller sets the playback language to Spanish and the screen format to widescreen.

Abstract: A disk has a plurality of recording layers in a laminated direction. When a defect occurs in any one of recording layers during disk manufacture, information about the defect is recorded in a read-only region in the recording layer. An optical disk apparatus determines which of the recording layers is usable based on the information about the defect read from the disk, and executes a recording/reproducing operation according to a determination result. Therefore, even when a disk with a defect in the recording layer is used, that disk may be offered to a user as an appropriately usable disk.

Abstract: When performing recording/reproduction of information for a given recording layer of an optical disc having three recording layers, influences of reflected light from other recording layers are reduced or removed, thus making it possible to obtain a more stable RF signal or focus error signal. An optical pickup device includes a light source, a collimator lens, an objective lens, a photodetector, and a light shielding member. Among the recording layers of the optical disc, a first layer and a second layer adjoining each other are disposed in the order of the first layer and second layer from near the objective lens.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording additional content on a medium on which a title including one or more files is already recorded, includes means for designating a title to be added on the medium; means for transmitting disc package information, the disc package information and unique IDs; means for receiving and additionally recording on the medium the title to be added generated in the content server, file names of files so as not to be the same as the file names of the files constituting the titles already recorded on the medium; means for receiving and additionally recording a new title for display of a menu screen on the medium, which is generated in the content server, so that the title to be added can be selected, on the basis of the disc package information; and means for receiving and additionally recording new disc package information on the medium.

Abstract: As a synchronization signal pattern to be added, a pattern is generated (second SYNC pattern), which has a pattern that breaks a maximum run inserted in a pattern excluding a minimum run is used so that intersymbol interference does not occur readily on a high-density disc, and addition processing of a conventional synchronization signal pattern (first SYNC pattern) is switched according to identification information indicating whether or not a high-density disc for generation.