Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus including: a reading unit which reads audio data recorded in an optical disc; a storage unit which stores the audio data read by the reading unit; an operation disc unit disposed turnably; a first detection unit which detects the turning speed and the turning direction of the operation disc unit and outputs a first signal indicating the turning speed and the turning direction; a second detection unit which detects that the outer circumference of the operation disc unit is pushed, and outputs a second signal indicating the pushing; and a controller which controls the reading speed and the reading sequence of the stored audio data from the storage unit, on the basis of the first signal when inputted the first signal and the second signal are outputted, and which controls the reading speed of the audio data stored in the storage unit, on the basis of the first signal when inputted only the first signal is outputted.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an optical disc controller and an optical disc drive system which reduce the proceeding time for supplementing data that is deficient at the time of writing to the optical disc. The present invention relates to an optical disc controller and a optical disc drive system. An optical disc controller includes an interface circuit, a buffer, a memory manager, an ECC circuit, a modulation circuit, and an operation processor. The memory manager has a control register part, a copy transfer controller, and a buffer controller. The control register part further includes a copy sector number setting register for taking out and holding information of plural sector numbers of deficient data from a control signal of the operation processor. The copy transfer controller successively conducts copy transfer process for plural sector numbers based on the sector number information.

Abstract: A method for performing blank detection on an optical storage disc includes buffering first information read by an optical storage device from the optical storage disc to generate buffered data, and checking corresponding data of an Error Correction Code (ECC) block in the buffered data to determine if the ECC block is a blank ECC block.

Abstract: A novel optical disc driving system and method for determining the rotation speed of an optical disc are provided, which allow to determine the highest rotation speed optimal for reading out audio and video data in the optical disc in accordance with the environmental conditions in the vicinity of the optical disc driving unit, in particular the time and temperature. The rotation speed is determined by reading out the data recorded in the optical disc under the permissible operation conditions, which result from both actually measured parameters for environmental conditions and predetermined upper and lower limits of the rotation speed for a disc spindle motor for the respective ranges of parameters. The parameters for environmental conditions and the upper and lower limits of the rotation speed can be manually changed by user's instruction.

Abstract: A record and reproduction apparatus includes: a CPU; a memory; a recording medium control unit configured to read out data from a recording medium; a reproduction buffer configured to temporarily store stream data such as an image and an audio out of the data read by the recording medium control unit; a reproduction processing unit configured to decode and reproduce the stream data temporarily stored in the reproduction buffer; and an access control unit configured to control the timing by which the access control unit switches between access to the memory and access to the reproduction buffer so that the reproduction processing does not break off during reproduction of the stream data while supervising the state of the reproduction buffer; and to manage the memory and the recording medium control unit in each transaction.

Abstract: When an optical storage drive executes a control procedure or operation, a method of handling an interrupt request includes utilizing the optical storage drive to receive an interrupt request from a control circuit; checking whether the interrupt request is a read command; if the interrupt request is a read command, checking whether data indicated by the read command is in a buffer; and if the indicated data in the buffer, transferring the corresponding data to the control circuit from the buffer to respond to the interrupt request.

Abstract: When halting reproduction of an optical disc, the work memory stores identification information of the optical disc and halt position information thereof, and a contents data memory section stores information of reproduction contents. When resuming reproduction, a disc ID recognition section recognizes the identification information of the optical disc, and reads out the halt position information from the work memory, and reproduction operation is carried out from a halt position with the use of the reproduction content stored in the contents data memory section. During this, an initial process of the disc recording/reproducing section is carried out. Thereafter, reproduction from the optical disc starts uninterruptedly. This allows next reproduction of the information storage medium to start from the halt position at which the reproduction is halted.

Abstract: In order to perform simultaneous recording and reproduction, a large capacity of buffer memories were required. In addition, it was difficult to record data while reproducing data which was recorded by a different apparatus. The present invention has an objective of providing an information recording medium, a simultaneous recording and reproduction method, and an information recording and reproduction apparatus which guarantee simultaneous recording and reproduction. The simultaneous recording and reproduction is guaranteed by reproducing data recorded in an area having at least a minimum size fulfilling the simultaneous recording and reproduction condition which allows for four access operations, recording data in an area having at least the same size, and performing reproduction and recording alternately by switching reproduction to recording when the data amount in the reproduction buffer becomes full and switching recording to reproduction when the data amount in the recording buffer becomes empty.

Abstract: A method (2) of controlling memory usage in a portable streaming device (100), a portable streaming device (100) and a computer readable medium (110). The portable streaming device (100) comprises at least one memory (102), at least one processing unit (101), and at least one storage device (103) being operatively connected with said memory (102) under control of said processing unit (101). The size of a disk scheduler buffer memory within said memory in said portable streaming device is adaptively maximised by said method (2) at all times. Free memory available within the portable streaming device is continuously allocated (50) and at least a portion of said allocated free memory is designated as disk scheduler buffer memory (60). Thus results improved solid state memory utilisation of the portable streaming device, and due to larger available disk buffer memory size, less start-stop-cycles of the storage device are initiated, which leads to a longer life-cycle of said portable streaming device.

Abstract: In order to perform simultaneous recording and reproduction, a large capacity of buffer memories were required. In addition, it was difficult to record data while reproducing data which was recorded by a different apparatus. The present invention has an objective of providing an information recording medium, a simultaneous recording and reproduction method, and an information recording and reproduction apparatus which guarantee simultaneous recording and reproduction. The simultaneous recording and reproduction is guaranteed by reproducing data recorded in an area having at least a minimum size fulfilling the simultaneous recording and reproduction condition which allows for four access operations, recording data in an area having at least the same size, and performing reproduction and recording alternately by switching reproduction to recording when the data amount in the reproduction buffer becomes full and switching recording to reproduction when the data amount in the recording buffer becomes empty.

Abstract: The rewriting counts in respective areas of a rewritable medium are uniformized. If empty areas are present on the rewritable medium rearward of a recording start position in terms of addresses, then data is recorded in those empty areas. When no empty areas become available rearward of the recording start position, data is then recorded in empty areas forward of the recording start position. The numbers of times that data is recorded in recording areas of the recording medium are thus averaged.

Abstract: The control section determines the rotational direction and the rotational speed of the operation discal unit based on the first pulse signal from the first optical sensor section. When determines that the operation discal unit starts rotating in the reference rotational direction after a pause of at least predetermined period of time, the control section controls the motor to rotate the discal unit temporarily at a speed higher than the reference rotational speed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control method of recording speed in an optical disc drive. Firstly it is determined whether the recording speed is higher than a data transfer rate from the host to the data buffer in the optical disc drive. If so, the recording speed is set to the data transfer rate and disc writing is continued with a constant linear velocity (CLV) mode.

Abstract: A disc recording device has a rule based extent allocation strategy. Real-time information like audio is to be reproduced continuously via a rendering system having predefined properties: a buffer, a minimal read-out speed Rdisc, and a maximal seek time Tseek. The information is arranged in files that have a maximal data rate Rfile, and a maximal size of header information Sheaders that precedes and/or follows the real-time information in the file. The information of the files is recorded in contiguous parts of the track at least having the size of Sextent. The device has an allocation unit (35) for determining a minimal size of an extent Sextent that is a continuous recording unit at least taking into account the properties Rdisc, Tseek, Rfile and Sheaders, in particular according to Sextent=((Tseek+Sheaders/Rdisc)*Rfile*Rdisc)/(Rdisc?Rfile).

Abstract: A controller for a data recorder for recording data that records data in a continuous manner regardless of interruptions. An encoder encodes data that is to be written to a recording medium. A synchronizing circuit synchronizes the data read from the recording medium with the encoded data when the writing of data to the recording medium is interrupted. A first retry determination circuit determines whether an address of the data read from the recording medium and an address of the data provided to the encoder match. A second retry determination circuit determines whether the timing for reading data from recording medium and the timing for encoding data match. A restart circuit restarts the writing of data to the recording medium based on the determinations of the first and second retry determination circuits.

Abstract: A method for decoding encoded data around a linking area on an optical storage medium includes: detecting at least one type of sync patterns within the encoded data; determining an offset value corresponding to the linking area according to the detected sync patterns; and decoding the encoded data according to the offset value for generating decoded data.

Abstract: A sub-code providing method that provides correct sub-code data when sub-code data is requested from a host when a reproduction mode is performed in an optical disc drive. In a method providing sub-code data to a host computer in an optical disc drive formed so that data from a pick-up is reproduced through a buffer, the method includes the operations of setting sub-code data whenever data of a predetermined unit is output from the buffer, and transmitting the set sub-code data to the host computer when the sub-code data is requested from the host computer during the reproduction mode. Therefore, it is possible to provide more accurate sub-code data to the host computer and to thus prevent the reproduction of unnatural screen during operations such as automatic reproduction or game CD reproduction.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having plural recording layers includes a first recording layer on which first data is to be recorded and a second recording layer on which second data is to be recorded. The first and second recording layers are layered, with the second data being recorded at a location in the second recording layer in the vicinity of a location in the first recording layer where the first data relevant to the second data is recorded. Replay signals of variable configurations can be obtained by suitably synthesizing data read out from the respective recording layers.

Abstract: A playback apparatus includes a data source (1) that provides a data stream signal (d0), and a device (2) responsive to the data stream signal. The device forms a first data stream (d1) in a first data format (F1), wherein the first data stream (d1) includes a data field (D1) that is encoded in a second data format (F2). A code converter (3) is responsive to the first data stream (d1), and converts selected parts of the first data stream (d1) to a second data stream (d2) that has data encoded in a third data format (F3). An output decoder (5) forms playback signals from the second data stream (d2). The playback signal may be audio and/or video signals that are presented to the appropriate audio transducer or display device for presentation to a playback apparatus user(s).

Abstract: A pickup control circuit (5) for performing a control operation of an optical pickup (3) and an error detection circuit (14) for detecting an error signal from a servo signal obtained from the pickup control circuit (5) are provided. During an operation to change to a faster recording speed, a playback operation for an already recorded signal is performed at the recording speed after the change, and an error detection level is set on the basis of characteristics of the servo signal in the playback operation state.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus and a data recording method for use with such apparatus are disclosed, wherein data can be recorded on an optical disc with safety and reliably by using the so-called overburn-based recording technique.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a pause circuit for pausing data encoders upon receiving a pause signal so that a write operation may be paused without writing dummy data, thereby maintaining data succession. The optical disc apparatus also includes a circuit for accurately determining a write start location by referring to previously written data. A processor generates a pause signal when the amount of data in the optical drive apparatus data buffer is low, and removes the pause signal when additional data from a host is received. The processor may also automatically reduce the write speed of the optical disc apparatus upon a pause condition, thereby preventing the necessity for excessive pausing.

Abstract: When an audio signal and music piece name information are recorded onto a CD-R, timing for inputting the music piece name information is not restricted to timing just before “finalize”. An ID is allocated to the CD-R inserted into a recorder and written into a PMA and a memory. The audio signal is recorded into a PGA on the CD-R. The music piece name information and the like are inputted by text data and stored into the memory in correspondence to the ID. Upon “finalize”, the text data is read out from the memory and written as TOC information into a lead-in on the CD-R. In case of ejecting the CD-R without finalizing, a track number, start time, and end time are recorded into the PMA. The ID and the text data are held in the memory. When this CD-R is subsequently inserted, they can be read out from the memory on the basis of the ID. Before “finalize”, the text data which is recorded as TOC information can be inputted anytime.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus includes an emission output information acquisition section for acquiring information about a drive current employed for controlling a beam output from an information recording section; a cooling determination section for determining whether to cool the information recording section in accordance with the information about the emission output acquired by the emission output information acquisition section; and a cooling execution section for cooling the information recording section when the cooling determination section has determined that cooling should be performed.

Abstract: In an optical disk apparatus, when the write-in process to the optical disk is interrupted, a data processing part and an encoder part are set to be in the waiting state after an access to a data storing part is completed, so as to stop accessing the data storing part and also to stop storing data that is to be written. Thus, the interleave can be managed and the DSV calculation can be properly conducted without any irregular calculation. Even in a case in which the write-in process to the optical disk is restarted after temporarily interrupted, it is possible to read data similar to a case in which data to be written is successively written without an interruption.

Abstract: The invention is an offset setting system for an optical reading/writing apparatus having an optical pickup head reading/writing digital data under a predetermined velocity on an optical storage media. The apparatus sets the offset including a plurality of buffer blocks when the pickup head crosses storage tracks each time on the media and stop on a target storage track. The offset is to steady the pickup head to read/write data on a target block of the target storage track. A buffer time estimating module estimates an average time for the pickup head crossing a buffer block under a predetermined velocity, defining as a buffer time. The buffer blocks setting module records a steady time for the pickup head steadying to read/write data on the target block, and sets the number of the buffer blocks by a predetermined setting process in the offset based on the buffer time and the steady time.

Abstract: When recording or reproduction of data is to be performed, initially, recording or reproduction of data is performed from a position on a disk where data recording or reproduction becomes possible with a command being issued, followed by recording or reproduction of data corresponding to the subsequent positions. Thereafter, recording or reproduction of data corresponding to each position of a part on the disk where data recording or reproduction has not been performed is performed. Thereby, deterioration of recording/reproduction execution time due to a rotation wait which is caused by a command over-head or a retrial due to an error is reduced, whereby the recording/reproduction execution time can be reduced.

Abstract: When an audio signal and music piece name information are recorded onto a CD-R, timing for inputting the music piece name information is not restricted to timing just before “finalize”. An ID is allocated to the CD-R inserted into a recorder and written into a PMA and a memory. The audio signal is recorded into a PGA on the CD-R. The music piece name information and the like are inputted by text data and stored into the memory in correspondence to the ID. Upon “finalize”, the text data is read out from the memory and written as TOC information into a lead-in on the CD-R. In case of ejecting the CD-R without finalizing, a track number, start time, and end time are recorded into the PMA. The ID and the text data are held in the memory. When this CD-R is subsequently inserted, they can be read out from the memory on the basis of the ID. Before “finalize”, the text data which is recorded as TOC information can be inputted anytime.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing compressed audio compact discs in a CD player is provided in which compressed audio data is cached in the local memory of the CD player. If a sufficient amount of compressed audio data is cached in the local memory of the CD player, the CD player can be placed in a reduced power state, reducing the consumption of power by the loader of the CD player. The determination of whether a sufficient amount of compressed audio data is present in the local memory of the CD player is made on the basis of a comparison of the playback time of the unaccessed cached audio and the restart time of the CD player.

Abstract: When during the operation of recording a signal onto a disk the amount of signal data stored in a buffer RAM for temporarily storing a recording signal falls below an interruption set value, the recording operation on the disk is interrupted. Subsequently, when the amount of signal data stored in the buffer RAM increases to a resumption set value, a signal recorded on the disk before the interruption is reproduced. On the basis of the reproduced signal, the recording operation is resumed from a position where the recording is interrupted. The operation of resuming recording that is interrupted due to a shock is permitted. The operation of resuming recording after the interruption of the recording is started from a position that is before the position where the recording is interrupted.

Abstract: A method for data reproducing from an optical storage device. The method is used to improve the usage efficiency of buffer memory of the storage device. Date that is already transferred to the host computer is considered as “cache hit”. Thus, when data near one address is read again, the storage device need not do tracking, reading and decoding. Data in buffer memory is directly transferred to the host computer. It significantly improves the reproducing efficiency of the optical storage device.

Abstract: An optical disc controller for controlling recording or reproduction of an optical disc includes: a rewritable memory for storing information necessary for recording or reproduction of the optical disc; a determination section for determining a class and type of the optical disc; a search section for searching for a region of the optical disc in which control information is recorded based on a determination result of the determination section; a reproduction section for reproducing the control information recorded in the region searched by the search section; and a memory control section for changing an arrangement of the memory based on at least one of the determination result and the control information reproduced by the reproduction section.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having plural recording layers includes a first recording layer on which first data is to be recorded and a second recording layer on which second data is to be recorded. The first and second recording layers are layered, with the second data being recorded at a location in the second recording layer in the vicinity of a location in the first recording layer where the first data relevant to the second data is recorded. Replay signals of variable configurations can be obtained by suitably synthesizing data read out from the respective recording layers.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of information data recorded on a recording medium in accordance with reproduction control data that indicates a reproduction procedure of the plurality of information data, wherein a reproduction order designated by the reproduction control data is changed in accordance with the recording positions of the plurality of information data on the recording medium, the plurality of information data are reproduced in accordance with the changed reproduction order to be written in a memory, the plurality of information data are read out from the memory in the order designated by the reproduction control data, and the content of the reproduction control data is changed in accordance with the changed reproduction order.

Abstract: In order to perform simultaneous recording and reproduction, a large capacity of buffer memories were required. In addition, it was difficult to record data while reproducing data which was recorded by a different apparatus. The present invention has an objective of providing an information recording medium, a simultaneous recording and reproduction method, and an information recording and reproduction apparatus which guarantee simultaneous recording and reproduction. The simultaneous recording and reproduction is guaranteed by reproducing data recorded in an area having at least a minimum size fulfilling the simultaneous recording and reproduction condition which allows for four access operations, recording data in an area having at least the same size, and performing reproduction and recording alternately by switching reproduction to recording when the data amount in the reproduction buffer becomes full and switching recording to reproduction when the data amount in the recording buffer becomes empty.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which can smoothly perform reproducing processing includes a detection unit, a fore-control unit, and a post-control unit. The detection unit detects information in VOBU unit which includes NV_PCK and contents information in a plurality of chapters. The fore-control unit obtains one VOBU according to a reproducing direction, and writes absence of an address in a reserve area of NV_PCK to store the absence of the address with the contents information in a buffer when an address according to a current reproducing magnification is absent in NV_PCK. The post-control unit reads out NV_PCK, and recognizes NV_PCK as an end position of the chapter to direct readout of the next chapter to the fore-control unit when the address is absent.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus and a data recording method for use with such apparatus are disclosed, wherein data can be recorded on an optical disc with safety and reliably by using the so-called overburn-based recording technique.

Abstract: An optical recording device records data on an optical storage medium. The device generates a data-interrupted address and reconnects the interrupted data from a data-reconnecting address so as to enable further correct reading of the interrupted data. The device comprises an addressing module for providing a reference address on the storage medium as a reference address; a recording-interrupted generator for detecting a recording-interrupted condition and generating a recording-interrupted signal; a data recording module for recording and suspending recording the data according to the recording-interrupted signal, and reconnecting the data according to a data-reconnecting address and the reference address; a data-interrupted address generator for generating the data-interrupted address; a data-reconnecting address generator for generating the data-reconnecting address.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus (100) for recording a received signal as digital data in a file format and for reproducing the digital data stored in the file format is disclosed. A control means (101) carries out such a control in the recording mode that the digital data continuously received and stored in a buffer memory (150) is stored in a storage means (160) at a writing speed which is higher than a speed at which the digital data was stored in the buffer memory (150), while being divided into files in response to a division command from a manual input means (110).

Abstract: Conventionally, as in the case of switching between a DVD-R and a DVD-RAM, when the method of record mark arrangement in a track is changed, the physical format of the disk is also changed. This makes it difficult to ensure compatibility between pieces of data recorded by a plurality of different methods of record mark arrangement. According to the present invention, sector address data and block address data are recorded in each sector by using wobbling or deformation of a recording groove. Then, depending on which address is used, sector data structure is modified, thereby making it possible to select an address data detection and a data structure on a disk in a single physical format depending on the purpose.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for caching media data to thereby enhance media data read and/or write functionality and performance. A multimedia apparatus, comprises a cache buffer configured to be coupled to a storage device, wherein the cache buffer stores multimedia data, including video and audio data, read from the storage device. A cache manager coupled to the cache buffer, wherein the cache buffer is configured to cause the storage device to enter into a reduced power consumption mode when the amount of data stored in the cache buffer reaches a first level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring device which extracts, from an inputted data signal, a clock signal in which there is little internal occurrence of absence or phase fluctuations, and correctly carries out measurement of an error ratio or jitter or wander accompanying transmission of the data signal by using the clock signal. A band-pass filter extracts, from the inputted data signal, a signal component having a same frequency as that of a clock signal to be regenerated. A binarizing circuit binarizes the extracted signal component at a predetermined threshold value, and outputs it as a regenerated clock signal. At this time, the binarizing circuit is configured such that, when there is a same code continuing period in the data signal, the binarizing circuit binarizes the signal outputted during the period by relaxation vibration at an interior of the band-pass filter, so as to compensate for absence of the clock signal during the period.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a reproducing method and apparatus capable of facilitating a processing operation for permitting a write into a temporal memory means by reading data from a recording medium driven at a variable driving speed, permitting the write into a temporal memory means according to a signal reproduced from the recording medium and if there is a permission for the write in a period generated at a predetermined cycle and allowing the write into the temporal memory means, writing the data read to the temporal memory means.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus includes an input device that receives an input digital audio signal sampled by a predetermined sampling rate, an external reference clock pulse generator that reproduces a first reference clock pulse on the basis of the input digital audio signal, an internal reference clock pulse generator that generates a second reference clock pulse, a buffer memory that stores the input digital audio signal therein in synchronism with the first reference clock pulses, and that reads out a stored input digital audio signal therefrom in shynchronism with the second reference clock pulses, an operator operable by a user to give an instruction as to whether an inter-music-piece blank signal is to be recorded or not, the inter-music piece blank signal being capable of recording onto an optical disk before recording of the input digital audio signal read from the buffer memory, and a controller that, on the basis of the instruction from the operator, when the inter-music piece blank signal i

Abstract: A system and method within a hard disk drive for transferring track sector information of a storage disk to a memory device. The system of the present invention includes a disk having multiple tracks, wherein each of the tracks includes at least one sector. The system further includes a memory device for storing sector identification data and user data. A drive data bus is utilized for transferring data between the storage disk and the memory. A controller is utilized to manages read and write operations to and from the storage disk, wherein the controller includes means for selecting either said user data or said sector identification data to be transferred to said memory device.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus and method for continuously reproducing data including a memory configured to store at least heading portions of respective data groups from one or more data groups recorded on a recording medium; a reproducing device configured to read at least the heading portions of one or more of the data groups from the recording medium; and a controller configured to control the memory and the reproducing device, and configured to execute a cross-fading operation, in which a portion of at least one of the data groups being reproduced from the memory are cross-faded with a portion of at least one of the data groups being reproduced from the recording medium by the reproducing device.

Abstract: An information reproducing device for reproducing digital signals with an optical head from an optical disk includes a first equalizer for waveform-equalizing a reproduction signal, an adaptive learning device for renewing the equalization properties of the first waveform equalizer with an adaptation algorithm, a memory for storing a reproduction signal, a second waveform equalizer that reads signals from the memory and performs waveform equalization after an adaptive learning operation for the first waveform equalizer has been terminated, and a demodulator for demodulating the output of the second waveform equalizer. Thus, adaptive equalization processing can be performed with constantly superior equalization properties and without sacrificing data capacity.

Abstract: An optical disk reproducing device, comprises a judgement circuit which, under an operating condition in which demodulated data amounting for one frame are being stored in a memory in synchronism with internally supplemented synchronous signals, and when an external first synchronous signal is detected from read-out signals, judges whether the external first synchronous signal appears in the first half or in the second half in the period of the internally supplemented synchronous signal, and when the judgement circuit judges that the external first synchronous signal appeared in the first half of the period of the internally supplemented synchronous signal, the demodulated data amounting for one frame are stored in the memory at a memory position for the immediately previous frame.

Abstract: A data recording speed control apparatus and method for recording a data on an optical recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A rotation control apparatus which can maintain an accurate rotating state even in a high density optical disk (DVD) having a structure such that parts of the sync signal are recorded at an interval different from that of the other sync signal parts. The apparatus has: a unit period signal generator for generating a period signal of a unit period; a pre-pit detector for detecting a pre-pit from the DVD; a phase difference detector for detecting a phase difference between the detection timing of the pre-pit and the unit period signal; and a holding circuit for holding the phase difference detected. The rotation of the DVD is controlled on the basis of the phase difference held at the holding circuit.