Abstract: A sample of an information signal is periodically generated in response to a sampling clock signal. A level relation between successive ones of the information-signal samples is detected. A peak-corresponding sample is detected among the information-signal samples in response to the detected level relation and in response to a prescribed level range containing a “0” level. A level represented by the detected peak-corresponding sample is outside the prescribed level range. Calculation is made regarding a level difference between information-signal samples immediately preceding and immediately following the detected peak-corresponding sample. A phase error signal is generated in response to the calculated level difference. The sampling clock signal is controlled in response to the phase error signal to lock the sampling clock signal in phase with the information signal.

Abstract: There is provided a recording medium reproducing apparatus in which a digital signal immediately before being inputted to a D/A converting LSI is prevented from being taken out and unfairly copied. A digital signal processing LSI and the D/A converting LSI are connected to each other through an external bus. A scrambling processing circuit for scrambling a digital signal outputted from a digital signal processing circuit is provided inside the digital signal processing LSI. A descrambling processing circuit for descrambling the scrambled digital signal transmitted through the external bus is provided inside the D/A converting LSI.

Abstract: An optical disc drive includes an optical head, a read signal processor, and a controller. The optical head outputs a first read signal representing light reflected from an optical disc and detected at a photodetector. The read signal processor receives the first read signal and outputs the second read signal responsive to a first or second control signal. The second read signal has a predetermined level when output responsive to the first control signal but a level corresponding to that of the first read signal when output responsive to the second control signal. The controller outputs the first and second control signals during first and second periods, respectively. The first period begins before marks are formed on the disc and ends while the marks are formed, and the second period follows the first period. The optical disc drive controls the data write operation in accordance with the second read signal.

Abstract: When, through a multi-speaker of a DVD audio system, signals are recorded/reproduced using a sampling frequency different for every channel, the quantity of calculation of a filter circuit is reduced. Up-sampling information about whether or not the sampling is carried out before the up-sampling by up-sampling means (2a, 2b) is acquired by up-sampling information detecting means (6). The signal up-sampled is filtered by a halfband filter circuit (3), subjected to loss-less compression, and recorded on a recording medium (8).

Abstract: A method for performing audible fast-forward or reverse of audio content represented in a compressed format, such as, but not limited to, MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) or MPEG-2 Advance Audio Coding (AAC) employs a fast-forward controller which performs fast-forward or reverse by repeatedly skipping forward or reverse in the compressed audio data stream, retrieving a block of data, and then splicing these data blocks back together. A decoder is then used to decode each of these blocks, to detect when a block switch has occurred (a splice in the data stream), and to quickly resynchronize at each transition. Hierarchical or multiplexed data streams may be decoded using a cascade of decoders each employing this technique. The decoder uses a robust sync search for performing resynchronization and error recovery.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a reference level of an analog signal from a plurality of periodically sampled points includes the following steps. Firstly, a first level shift from an preliminary reference level to the last second sampled point within a specified period and a second level shift from the preliminary reference level to the last sampled point within the specified period is determined when one of a first level of the last second sampled point and a second level of the last sampled point is higher than the preliminary reference level and the other is lower than the preliminary reference level. Then, the preliminary reference level is moved toward the first level when an absolute value of the first level shift is greater than an absolute value of the second level shift, and the preliminary reference level is moved toward the second level when the absolute value of the first level shift is less than the absolute value of the second level shift, thereby defining an adjusted reference level.

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: A next generation of high speed CD-RW discs for high speed recording (4×-10×) need a new write strategy, which is not suited for recording at lower speeds (1×4×). Existing CD-RW recorders may accept these discs and make recordings according to existing write strategies. This will result in unreadable discs. To prevent this, a Power Calibration Area (PCA) and a Program Memory Area (PMA), both needed for recording, are hidden for the existing recorders. As a result the disc will be rejected. In a method wherein an absolute time reference (ATIP) is applied on the disc, the start locations of said areas being determined by a fixed time offset relative to a subsequent Lead-in area, an embodiment of the invention is obtained by making the PCA and PMA untraceable by introducing and Absolute Time in Pre-Groove (ATIP) time code jump of for instance one minute just before the Start time of the Lead-in area.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a record carrier according to the invention comprises a transducer for generating a read signal in response to patterns recorded at the record carrier and displacement means for displacing the transducer and the record carrier with respect to each other. Out of the read signal an auxiliary signal having a relatively low frequency content is generated. The apparatus comprises binary signal generating means for generating a binary signal out of the auxiliary signal including first hold means for generating a first hold signal, second hold means for generating a second hold signal, signal combination means for generating a slicing signal out of the first hold signal and the second hold signal, and comparing means for comparing the auxiliary signal with the slicing signal and outputting a binary output signal. The first hold means are adapted for temporarily maintaining the first hold signal at a value substantially corresponding to a top value of the auxiliary signal.

Abstract: A phase adjusting circuit (128) detects an amount of phase shift of a reproduction signal RFn sampled in synchronization with clock CLKn−1 from a waveform equalizing circuit (108), and corrects clock CLKn−1 in accordance with the amount of phase shift to produce a corrected clock RCLKn. A clock setting circuit (127) arithmetically determines a moving average of the clock CLKn−1 and the corrected clock RCLKn to produce a clock CLKn used for sampling reproduction signal RFn. The clock setting circuit (127) arithmetically determines the average of n phases of n clocks CLKn, and sets the clock having the average phase as the reproduction clock. Consequently, it is possible to produce the clock allowing accurate sampling of the reproduction signal reproduced from the optical disk.

Abstract: In a PLL circuit, a phase error of a reproduced signal is extracted in either a way based on a zero-cross timing or a way based on a self-running timing. A decision is made as to whether the reproduced signal is in a continuous-wave interval where an inversion period of the reproduced signal remains constant or in a random-wave interval where the inversion period of the reproduced signal varies at random. When the reproduced signal is in a continuous-wave interval, a phase error is extracted on the self-running-timing basis. When the reproduced signal is in a random-wave interval, a phase error is extracted on the zero-cross-timing basis. A continuous-wave interval may be replaced by a specified-pattern repetition interval where the inversion period of the reproduced signal changes in accordance with a repetition of a specified pattern.

Abstract: A signal of a run-length-limited code is reproduced from a recording medium. A transversal filter subjects the reproduced signal to a partial-response waveform equalization responsive to tap coefficients. Detection is made as to whether or not the reproduced signal corresponds to a peak point. Peak-point information is generated in response to a result of the detection. A delay circuit outputs at least three successive samples of the peak-point information. A temporary decision device operates for calculating a temporary decision value of the equalization-resultant signal on the basis of the successive samples of the peak-point information. A difference between the temporary decision value of the equalization-resultant signal and an actual value thereof is calculated, and an error signal is generated in response to the calculated difference. The tap coefficients of the transversal filter are controlled in response to the error signal so as to minimize the error signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for servo control in an optical drive. The method includes initiating an execution of a multiplier and accumulator controller (MAC) by a processor; and automatically calculating a transfer function by the MAC based upon a sample servo data. The present invention provides a servo control system which utilizes a MAC which is directly linked to the sample servo data. When a processor commands the MAC to execute, the MAC receives the sample servo directly from an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC); retrieves the corresponding accumulated sample servo data from a memory; calculates the transfer function; and stores the results back into the memory. The processor then accesses the memory to retrieve the result. Because the MAC is able to calculate the transfer function with minimal intervention from the processor, significant processing resources and time are saved.

Abstract: On an information recording medium (1), digital information is multi-level-recorded by changing a shape of an information pit in correspondence with the digital information by multiple steps.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: Described is a modulation encoder having a finite state machine for converting input bits into output bits in which the number of alternating output bits is limited to j+1 where j is a predefined maximum number of transitions in the output bits, and in which the number of like output bits is limited to k+1 where k is a predefined maximum number of non-transitions in the output bits. The modulation encoder may be employed in encoding apparatus for converting an input bit stream into an output bit stream. Such apparatus may comprise partitioning logic for partitioning the input bit stream into a first group of bits and a second group of bits. A plurality of the aforementioned modulation encoders may be connected to the partitioning logic for converting the first group of bits into coded output bits. Combining logic may be connected to the or each modulation encoder and the partitioning logic for combining the coded output bits and the second group of bits to generate the output bit stream.

Abstract: For mapping sampled digital audio information onto a linear physical mapping space that is partitioned in a string of uniform-sized blocks, in particular for variable-rate coded audio information that is distributed over successive audio units which are each composed from one or more audio packets, each block is supplemented with a block header for indicating an actual content of the block in question with respect to any constituent packet of the audio information.

Abstract: A resampling DPLL estimates a signal outputted from a pickup through an AGC and outputs a signal of the estimation result. A transversal filter in an adaptive equalizing circuit equalizes in waveform the signal outputted from the resampling DPLL. An error signal is detected from the equalized waveform outputted from the transversal filter. The error signal is fed back to the transversal filter so as to control the transversal filter such that the error signal becomes minimum.

Abstract: A high recording-density and highly reliable optical disc according to the two-dimensional PRML system is provided in which periodic signal fluctuations in the readout signal caused by an overall positional displacement of pits between adjacent tracks can be detected at each sampling clock timing and can be tracked and compensated. Two-dimensional inter-symbol interference is compensated during the production and recording of the pattern of the medium. The readout signal is compensated by a process of multi-value tracking before symbols are extracted from the signal.

Abstract: A method for locating an electric level distribution range of sampled signals is provided. The electric level distribution range includes a plurality of reference levels. Firstly, a plurality of initial values are provided. Then, each of the sampled signals is corresponded to one of the plurality of initial values, which is closest thereto. Then, the initial values corresponded are and adjusted by the sampled signals according to a predetermined operation, thereby realizing the reference levels. A method for recovering data from an optical storage medium is also provided. The signals associated with data from an optical storage medium are firstly sampled. Then, an electric level distribution range of the sampled signals is located. Afterwards, the sampled signals are decoded to recover data according to the electric level distribution range.

Abstract: When the optical disk is at a high density, the presence of a defect of the same size can produce a great effect on data in the user data area and ID in the address area. The ID detector 23 detects the address data ID following the address marks AM stored in the address area of the optical disk 10, samples the ID following the address marks AM by using the data clock corresponding to the frequency of the wobble signals detected by the signal detector 22 to obtain ID information.

Abstract: An optical disc drive equipped with a TLN signal generating apparatus is disclosed. The TLN signal generating apparatus includes a TLN signal generating circuit for generating a TLN signal (track loss signal) based on signals obtained from an optical pick-up; a digitizing circuit for digitizing the TLN signal by comparing it with a reference level; and a correction circuit for correcting the TLN signal so that it is accurately digitized by the digitizing circuit irrespective of an offset component which is a direct current component contained in the TLN signal.

Abstract: A data reproduction system, which determines reproduced data based on comparison results of path metrics calculated in accordance with a Viterbi algorithm based on branch metrics calculated from expected values and a sampled value of a readout signal, includes an expected value setting unit for variably setting the expected values used for a calculation of the branch metrics in order to perform a Viterbi detection process without being easily affected by the transient response, offset variation, phase error and nonlinear torsion component of the readout signal. The readout signal is obtained from a recording medium on which data is recorded in accordance with a recording signal of a partial response waveform, the expected values are determined by the partial response waveform, and the sampled value is obtained by sampling the readout signal at a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A DVD audio data structure following high-sound-quality specifications is realized, making the best use of the audio data structure standard in DVD video. A first sample data string created by digitizing a first channel audio signal at a first sampling frequency in a first number of quantization bits, a second sample data string created by digitizing a second channel audio signal at a second sampling frequency in a second number of quantization bits, and header data including timing data to synchronize the first sample data string with the second sample data string are recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: A DVD audio data structure following high-sound-quality specifications is realized, making the best use of the audio data structure standard in DVD video. A first sample data string created by digitizing a first channel audio signal at a first sampling frequency in a first number of quantization bits, a second sample data string created by digitizing a second channel audio signal at a second sampling frequency in a second number of quantization bits, and header data including timing data to synchronize the first sample data string with the second sample data string are recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording on DVD-like recording media in which audio content is stored in a high-capacity multi-channel (e.g., six-channel) format are provided. Various channels may use various resolutions. A two-channel audio output may be derived from the multi-channel audio data stream during playback. To facilitate an accurate derivation, the mixing coefficients to be used in generating the derivation can be supplied along with the six-channel audio data.

Abstract: A bi-phase mark reproduction apparatus which reduces an error rate of demodulated data by half and improves demodulation ability of ATIP and an optical disk drive device are provided. The bi-phase mark reproduction apparatus includes a data conversion unit which takes out a synchronous code portion, a data portion and an error detection code portion from a bi-phase mark input signal by means of a data separating signal and demodulates data of the data portion and the error detection code portion. The data conversion unit includes a pattern retrieval unit which detects a predetermined error pattern contained in the data portion and a conversion table which decodes the error pattern in accordance with a replacement rule based on bi-phase mark modulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for analyzing the read-out signal of an optical storage media and is especially suitable for the HF signal read from the digital video disk (DVD), wherein the HF signal comprises many different signals whose periods are integer times of the system period. The present apparatus can be used to record the maximum or minimum values of specific period of signals for further statistical analyses. Furthermore, the AC and DC components of the HF signal can be processed independently and the results will be combined together for further processes. Therefore, it only takes moderate memory capacity and acquisition time to obtain accurate maximum or minimum values of the specific period of signals.

Abstract: A wobble-signal detecting device detects a wobble signal based on a signal which is the difference between outputs of two divisions of a light receiving device. These two divisions are located on both sides of a line parallel to a target portion of an information recording track. This light receiving device receives light reflected by a recording medium as a result of an optical beam being incident on the recording medium. This recording medium contains the information recording track, which wobbles at a predetermined frequency, and has pre-pits formed at predetermined intervals in areas between the information recording tracks.

Abstract: An optical system of an optical disk recording apparatus irradiates a disk with a main beam for use in writing a data signal onto a disk and a sub-beam succeeding the main beam. When writing a data signal onto the disk, a site on the disk at which a data signal is written by the main beam is subsequently irradiated with the succeeding sub-beam. Light of the succeeding sub-beam reflected from the disk is received by a succeeding light receiving sub-region. A sampling circuit samples a signal at periods when the emission power of the main beam is at the recording level, among output signals from the succeeding light receiving sub-region. Based on the sampled signal at the recording level, a &bgr; value detection circuit and a jitter amount detection circuit obtain a &bgr; value and a jitter amount indicative of the recording state of the data signal recorded on the disk, respectively.

Abstract: A method of pre-processing sampled data prior to estimating the peak amplitude of a pulse includes averaging of two adjacent sample values. Pre-processing makes the peak amplitude estimation less sensitive to the sampling phase relative to the peak position and consequently allows for the use of a lower sampling period relative to the full-width-half-maximum pulse width for a given peak estimation accuracy. The method incorporates a step in which a base line offset signal is subtracted from an estimated peak value, and multiplying the consequent pulse peak amplitude estimate by a predetermined constant in order to compensate for a systematic change in a final peak amplitude estimate. The multiplying constant may have a value derived from estimated peak values of other detected pulses in order to compensate for a systematic change in the peak amplitude estimate.

Abstract: An edge detection system for detecting pre-formatted marks on a disk surface using reflected beams of optical signals. The detector include at least two separate sensing areas to analyze the energy distribution of the reflected beam to generate an edge detecting signal.

Abstract: There is provided a DVD-audio reproducing apparatus in which a digital signal immediately before being inputted to a D/A converting LSI is prevented from being taken out and unfairly copied. A digital signal processing LSI and the D/A converting LSI are connected to each other through an external bus. A scrambling processing circuit for scrambling a digital signal outputted from a digital signal processing circuit is provided inside the digital signal processing LSI. A descrambling processing circuit for descrambling the scrambled digital signal transmitted through the external bus is provided inside the D/A converting LSI.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a user area defined by a logical address and a physical address, a secret area defined only by a physical address, and an address area which stores the physical address that indicates the position of the secret area.

Abstract: A method for controlling the position of an optical beam incident on a track of a rotationally mobile carrier of information, such as a disc, includes picking up a beam reflected by the disc using an optical pick-up and determining a positioning error of the beam with respect to the track. The pick-up may include several photodetectors each providing an elementary signal, and the positioning error may be determined from the elementary signals. More precisely, from the elementary signals two sampled secondary signals whose mutual time gap is representative of the positioning error of the beam with respect to the track may be formulated. Furthermore, successive current values of the mutual time gap may be determined at the sampling frequency by searching at the sampling frequency for a successive current maximum of the cross-correlation function between the two sampled secondary signals. The present invention may be particularly applicable to multifunction digital disc (e.g., DVD) readers, for example.

Abstract: Apparatus for reproducing information from a record carrier include a read head for reading marks representing the information, from a track on the disc shaped record carrier so as to provide an analog read signal. An A/D converter converts the analog read signal to a digital read signal with a specific clock frequency, in response to a control signal. A bit recovery unit retrieves a sequence of bits from the digital read signal, with a specific bit frequency. A generator unit derives the control signal, and includes a generator for deriving the specific bit frequency, and a velocity deriving unit for deriving from the digital read signal, the control signal which indicates the relative velocity of the read head with respect to the marks, so as to generate the specific clock frequency such that approximately N samples per bit are supplied by the A/D converter, irrespective of the relative velocity of the read head with respect to the marks.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus includes a first device for reproducing a signal of a run-length-limited code from a recording medium. A transversal filter subjects the signal reproduced by the first device to a partial-response waveform equalization to generate an equalization-resultant signal. The partial-response waveform equalization depends on tap coefficients. A second device operates for detecting whether or not the signal reproduced by the first device corresponds to a zero-cross point, and generating 0-point information in response to a result thereof. A delay circuit responsive to the 0-point information generated by the second device operates for outputting at least three successive samples of the 0-point information.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk reproducing device includes a clock producing circuit, which, on the basis of a reproducing signal from recorded marks recorded in a magneto-optical disk, produces a timing offset from peak positions of the reproducing signal; an A/D converter, which samples the reproducing signal in accordance with the timing, and outputs a reproducing signal quantity; and a short mark signal quantity averaging circuit and a long mark signal quantity averaging circuit, each of which averages a plurality of reproducing signal quantities. When projecting a light beam onto a magneto-optical disk, the magneto-optical disk reproducing device controls light quantity of the light beam on the basis of a ratio between the respective values outputted by the foregoing averaging circuits.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: A portable audio player stores a large amount of compressed audio data on an internal disk drive, and loads a portion of this into an internal random access memory (RAM) which requires less power and less time to access. The audio player plays the data stored in RAM and monitors the amount of unplayed data. When the amount of unplayed data falls below a threshold, additional data is copied from the disk drive into RAM. When the portable audio player is turned off, a predetermined amount of audio data is stored in a fast-access non-volatile flash memory unit. When the audio player is turned back on, and play is resumed, a suitable portion of this data can be played while data is being loaded from the disk drive into RAM, thus reducing the amount of time a user must wait before receiving data in response to a play request.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: An output device digitally stores data on a data carrier. The output device includes a reading unit, a data converter unit, and an output unit, provided with data reconstruction elements. Data to be reproduced can be processed by control data components contained in a start block. The control data components can be stored in a control data storage unit connected to the data reconstruction elements by way of a start block detector unit. This enables fast reproduction of large amounts of data, particularly digitized audio data.

Abstract: An optical record carrier (10) comprises a recording layer for recording information in a pattern of optically detectable marks in substantially parallel tracks (11-15). Neighboring tracks are separated by edges (16-20). Control information is encoded in a modulation of the transverse position of the even-numbered edges (16, 18, 20). The modulation of neighboring even-numbered edges have a mutual fixed phase shift. The modulation of the odd-numbered edges (17, 19) is such as to enhance the amplitude of a push-pull signal when scanning the tracks (11, 12) neighboring such an odd-numbered edge (17).

Abstract: A resampling DPLL estimates a signal outputted from a pickup through an AGC and outputs a signal of the estimation result. A transversal filter in an adaptive equalizing circuit equalizes in waveform the signal outputted from the resampling DPLL. An error signal is detected from the equalized waveform outputted from the transversal filter. The error signal is fed back to the transversal filter so as to control the transversal filter such that the error signal becomes minimum.

Abstract: A DVD-Audio which includes a data zone for storing data to be reproduced and an information zone for storing information on the data to be reproduced. The information zone includes directories of a video title set (VIDEO_TS) and an audio title set (AUDIO_TS). The AUDIO_TS directory includes information on an audio manager (AMG) having information on audio titles. The data zone includes the audio titles each having an audio title set information (ATSI) followed by a plurality of contiguous audio objects (AOBs). The ATSI includes a plurality of audio stream attributes each having an audio coding mode, first to third quantization bit numbers, first to third sampling frequencies and decoding algorithm information relating to the number of audio channels. Each of the AOBs includes a plurality of audio packs recorded with audio data corresponding to the decoding algorithm stored in the audio stream attribute.

Abstract: A decoding circuit inputs a data stream D3 which has been multiplexed at different sampling frequencies, and separates it into two audio data D1 and D2 at different sampling frequencies, which it supplies to buffers. The output of the buffer is inputted to an up-sampling circuit, which, along with performing up-sampling at a frequency which corresponds to a processing unit of data of which the time delay amount is predetermined, also suppresses aliasing distortion. On the other hand, the output of the buffer is inputted to a delay buffer, which delays it by a time delay amount the same as that due to the up-sampling circuit. By doing this, the reproducing phases of the two streams of audio signals are coincided.

Abstract: A method for encoding and recording non-audio data on a compact disc medium. The non-audio data is encoded as a non-audio data track having an audio format compatible with a standard format which calls for digital audio encoding utilizing a predefined number of bits per sample. The non-audio data is encoded using less than the predefined number of bits per sample, and preferably no more than one-half the predefined number of bits per sample. The non-audio data is preferably encoded such that the audio signal resulting from the non-audio data track is substantially equally distributed across an audible spectrum and is an approximation of white noise. The non-audio data track, once encoded, is recorded along with a plurality of audio tracks on the compact disc. Additional non-audio data may be encoded as a watermark within the non-audio data track. A compact disc recorded thusly is compatible with existing CD players.

Abstract: The invention relates to an audio appliance, such as a CD or DVD player. To read and reproduce both compressed and uncompressed audio data on such an audio appliance in real time without buffer-storage, the audio appliance is designed such that the rotation speed of the storage medium may be set on the basis of the type of audio data which are to be read.