Abstract: In a data library apparatus for managing plural pieces of record media, and performing record/reproduction of data into/from the record media, there are provided an information-memorizing memory unit and a device-controlling control unit. Having received a data record/reproduction processing request from a server, the control unit collects load information imposed on data record/reproduction devices, load information imposed on a record-media transportation device, and load information imposed on the record media. Moreover, the control unit memorizes the collected load information into the memory unit.

Abstract: A data recording and reproducing apparatus relative to a data library device includes a plurality of setup units for recording and reproducing data in a record and reproduction condition appropriate to a recording medium, and a storage unit for storing identification information and medium information of the recording medium, in this way, a setup processing is performed to reproduce the identification information from the recording medium when loading the recording medium, the medium information corresponding to the identification information is read out from the storage unit to perform the setup processing by a second setup unit when the medium information corresponding to the identification information is present in the storage unit, and the setup processing is performed by a third setup unit to reproduce the medium information from the recording medium and store in the storage unit together with the identification information, shortening a time period of the setup processing.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium accommodation table including recording medium accommodation portions each capable of accommodating a recording medium, a recording medium drive unit on which the recording medium is removably mounted and which is capable of performing recording and/or reproduction of an information signal onto and/or from it, a mechanical chassis that supports the recording medium accommodation table to freely rotate and also support the recording medium drive unit to be movable, a drive-moving unit that moves the recording medium drive unit closer to and away from the recording medium accommodation table, and a recording medium transport unit that transports the recording medium between a recording medium mounting and removing position of a recording medium-mounting portion and a recording medium accommodation position of the recording medium accommodation portions.

Abstract: A method for copy protection in which an audiovisual or audio data is divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions is at least partly scrambled and prepared so as to be stored on a record carrier in the scrambled order. This is done so that a physical position on the record carrier, e.g., a sector of the record carrier, where a respective portions of the divided data is stored depends on the scrambled order.

Abstract: A method for copy protection in which an audiovisual or audio data is divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions is at least partly scrambled and prepared so as to be stored on a record carrier in the scrambled order. This is done so that a physical position on the record carrier, e.g., a sector of the record carrier, where a respective portions of the divided data is stored depends on the scrambled order.

Abstract: A novel tolerance ring includes a hollow cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis that passes axially through its center. A circumferential gap divides the hollow cylindrical body so that the hollow cylindrical body includes first and second longitudinal edges that define the circumferential gap. A plurality of bumps protrude radially from the hollow cylindrical body, and consists of a plurality of gap-adjacent bumps and a plurality of non-gap-adjacent bumps. At least one of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the non-gap-adjacent bumps. None of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the gap-adjacent bumps. The tolerance ring includes a means for increasing an otherwise lower average radial compressive stiffness of the gap-adjacent bumps to become substantially equal to an average radial stiffness of the non-gap-adjacent bumps.

Abstract: A storage region providing device provides a physical storage region (a physical region) as a virtual storage region (a logical region). The device accepts a writing request including data and information for specifying a partial logical region that is part of the logical region. In a case that part of the physical region is not allocated yet to a partial logical region specified by a writing request, the device allocates at least part of an initial allocation region of the physical allocation region to the partial logical region. The device moves data stored in the partial physical region included in the initial allocation region, to a movement destination region that is at least part of a reallocation region other than the initial allocation region of the physical region, and reallocates the movement destination region to the partial logical region.

Abstract: An invention disclosed includes a layer number obtaining section (222) for determining which information storage layer (L1) has been accessed and a layer type identifying section (223) for identifying a type of the information storage layer (L1) determined by the layer number obtaining section (222). With the configuration, even in a case where an information recording and reproducing apparatus accesses an information storage layer different from an intended information storage layer by false operation or the like, it is still possible to dissolve mismatching between a recording or reproduction control scheme being set up and a recording or reproduction control scheme suitable for the information storage layer thus accessed.

Abstract: There are provided an optical disc device and its recording/reproducing method for managing the management information about plural optical discs efficiently. In the present invention, the management information about the plural optical discs is stored in a memory. Moreover, the management information about part or all of the optical discs stored in the memory is recorded in the optical disc.

Abstract: A controller for recovering disc management information is provided. The controller controls a pickup head unit to search the TDMAs for readable disc management information which is included in an in-use TDMA of the TDMAs; then determines whether a piece of information associated with an inconsistency flag of the readable disc management information is reliable. When the controller detects that the piece of information is unreliable, the controller determines at least a detection condition according to the information which is included in the readable disc management information and the in-use TDMA, and controls the pickup head unit to detect the recording medium to determine an update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag under at least a detection condition. The controller generates update disc management information according to the readable disc management information and the update on the piece of information associated with the inconsistency flag.

Abstract: The signal processing circuit in the present invention includes a tracking polarity determination unit configured to determine the polarity when tracking control is performed on an optical disc, on which a wobble is formed, the tracking polarity determination unit including: a binarized wobble signal generation unit configured to generate a wobble signal according to the shape of the wobble, and to generate a binarized wobble signal; a characteristic quantity measurement unit configured to measure the characteristic quantity of the binarized wobble signal generated by the binarized wobble signal generation unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the characteristic quantity of the binarized wobble signal measured by the characteristic quantity measurement unit indicates a predetermined characteristic; and a polarity determination unit configured to determine the polarity by the result of the determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for writing repeating patterns of features to a substrate, such as a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-dimensional pattern of discrete features of different sizes to be written to a substrate is divided into a plurality of contiguous regions. A unique set of compensation values is assigned to each region. A write beam of a write system is used to write the features to the substrate responsive to said unique sets of compensation values so that all of the features having a common size in at least one region are written using the same compensation values from the associated set.

Abstract: A tape storage device includes a head assembly having plural access head elements to access data on respective data tracks on a storage tape. A controller, responsive to information contained in at least one of the data tracks, is provided to individually adjust a lateral position of at least one of the access head elements independently of at least one other head element.

Abstract: A system and method to remotely access optical disc media over a network. The present invention provides the benefits of consolidated storage of media and remote access, while maintaining an exclusive playback policy and allowing access to optical multimedia stored on remotely stored optical discs in accordance with the playback policy. The present invention provides a solution to those seeking to remotely access multimedia stored on optical discs from remote locations, particularly in situations that require direct hardware access to properly read the data from optical disc drives.

Abstract: An optical disc drive according to the present invention writes information on an optical disc, which includes a substrate on which a number of pre-pits have been formed on its tracks and a recording film that is supported on the substrate. The optical disc drive includes a writing control section for instructing an optical pickup to record marks on the tracks by irradiating the recording film with a writing light beam. In accordance with information that defines, on the tracks, recordable areas Aa1 through Aa4 where the marks are recordable and pre-pit reading areas Ab1 through Ab4 where no marks are recordable, the writing control section controls the optical pickup so that the marks are recorded on at least some of the recordable areas. On the tracks on which the marks are recorded, each recordable area is shorter than any of the pre-pit reading areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus recording and/or reproducing data on/from a write-once disc, and a write-once disc therefor, the write-once disc having at least one recording layer including: a plurality of update areas in which predetermined updated information is recorded; and at least one access information area in which access information indicating an update area in which final recorded updated information is recorded. Reducing access time for reading the updated information using a location of predetermined updated information. Also, when a plurality of update areas for writing updated information required to use the write-once disc exist, a recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus can quickly and easily determine an update area in which final updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes a writing/reading unit writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which access control data is recorded, the access control data having common information set to allow the recording/reproducing apparatus that cannot recognize a predetermined function adapted to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit controlling the writing/reading unit to record access control data regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized.

Abstract: A library control device to controls a library device includes a designated-information acquisition section, a loading control section, a transfer control section and a medium storage control section. The transfer control section that orders, when a storage location indicated by the loading control section to a library device and a storage location designated by storage-location designating information are different from each other, the library device to transfer a storage medium from the storage location designated by the storage-location designating information to a storage location different from the storage location designated by the storage-location designating information.

Abstract: A method of recording data onto an optical storage medium includes: before starting recording data onto the optical storage medium from an expected link point on the optical storage medium, setting a current recording condition corresponding to the expected link point according to at least one previous recording condition corresponding to the expected link point; and controlling an operation of recording the data onto the optical storage medium according to the current recording condition.

Abstract: An address format for appropriately controlling the recording linear density and the number of information recording layers is provided in order to increase the recording capacity of an information recording medium such as an optical disc or the like in a range in which a necessary S/N ratio can be guaranteed. An optical disc includes an information recording layer having a concentric or spiral track, and has a format for describing a track address, which is pre-recorded on the track or is to be added to data that is to be recorded on the information recording layer. The format includes layer information regarding the information recording layer and address information regarding the track address.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method determining a data arrangement that guarantees seamless reproduction even in a case of occurrence of a jump in a browsable slide show. An allowable jump range between an image data clip and an audio data clip required for data reading in the browsable slide show in which a consecutive reproduction processing of a still image and an audio reproduction processing are performed in parallel is determined so as to determine arrangement conditions of data to be stored in an information recording medium on the basis of the determined allowable jump range. This configuration enables the browsable slide show to be carried out as a seamless reproduction processing without any data discontinuity. Furthermore, it becomes possible to provide a plurality of combinations of readout rates of the audio data and image data.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing method, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for performing the method. A recording unit block in which invalid data is partially padded is written on an information storage medium along with padding information indicating that the invalid data is included in the recording unit block. The padding information is useful in determining whether the recording unit block includes the padding data. Accordingly, unnecessary retrial processes of a drive system are reduced such that the performance of the drive system is improved and error correction capability is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content reproduction system that can continue reproduction of a plurality of content even if a part of content is unreproducible.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for managing songs available for selection for play by a user is provided. Songs are assigned to one or more categories and time periods are set during which songs assigned to a category may be selected for play or may be blocked from being selected for play by a user.

Abstract: Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a storage case storing disc-shaped recording media, disc trays holding the disc-shaped recording media and moved toward one and another sides to be inserted into and extracted from the storage case, and tray levers causing the disc trays to move toward the another side. First, second, and third direction are respectively defined as thickness direction of the disc-shaped recording media, moving direction of the disc trays, and direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. Each disc tray includes a tab which projects in the second direction. Each tray lever includes a pushing portion which pushes the tab toward the another side when the disc tray is to be extracted. The tabs of the disc trays disposed next to each other in the first direction are at different positions in the third direction. The tray levers are positioned near the respective tabs.

Abstract: An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a flexible circuit assembly and a sensor. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature and a turnaround feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable has a service loop portion, a mounting portion coupled to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion coupled to the turnaround feature of the stiffener. The turnaround portion is configured to couple the mounting portion to the service loop portion. The sensor is in contact with a surface of the arm and is electrically coupled to the flexible cable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive with a compact size that makes it possible to effectively utilize space within a disk drive and permits a straightforward layout of members. The disk drive comprises a disk holder 10 that has a plurality of holder plates 11 that individually hold disks D, a drive unit 62 that plays back disks D, disk selectors 41A and 41B that form a space above and below a desired disk D by raising and lowering the holder plates 11, and a drive base 60 that moves the drive unit 62 into the space that is formed by raising and lowering the holder plates 11. The opening amount of the disk holder 10 by the rise and fall of the holder plates 11 is fixed. The height of insertion of disk D into the disk holder 10 is on the upper side between the highest holder plate 11 and the lowest holder plate 11 when the disk holder 10 is open.

Abstract: A low power voice coil motor (VCM) with a guiding magnet shell comprises a magnetic device, a lens carrier, a base, a plurality of guide posts, an electromagnetic driving apparatus and a shell enclosing the lens carrier, the magnetic device and the electromagnetic driving apparatus. The shell and the magnetic device are arranged with a distance within a predetermined range and the attractive force between the magnetic device and the shell in lateral direction induces a shift of the lens carrier for added the friction force between the plurality of guide posts and walls of a plurality of holes. The added friction force is larger than a gravitational force from a total weight of the magnetic device, the lens carrier and a lens set held by the lens carrier, and/or an upward attractive force of the shell on the magnetic device, so the lens set can be fixed at a position even if power is turned off.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a solder reflow channel in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a first hard disk drive component having at least one solder reflow channel, the at least one solder reflow channel for retaining a predeposited solder material. The solder reflow channel is utilized to provide a solder location for coupling the first hard disk drive component and a second hard disk drive component to the predeposited solder material.

Abstract: Current BD specification prescribes that in an ADIP an address is expressed with 21 bits, 19 to indicate the corresponding RUB number, and 2 to be set to 00, 01 and 10 consecutively in the 3 successive ADIP corresponding to one RUB, the smallest addressable portion of data on a disc. From this it derives that at most 32.2 GB of storage space can be addressed. Due to recent developments however, a storage capacity of 35 GB per layer could be achieved. According to the invention, one or more bits are added to the 21 bits currently allocated to express an address. This additional bits however are not stored in the ADIP but left implicit, exempting from a heavy deviation from the current BD encoding rules. The additional bits are reconstructed by an apparatus on the basis of the position on the information carrier where the corresponding RUB is present.

Abstract: A disk changer device including a disk changer mechanism having a drive that can reproduce a disk, a holding mechanism including at least two holding sections, where each of the holding sections can hold the disk, and a picker configured to transfer a disk inserted into the drive to any of the holding sections, a memory configured to store information about the reproduced disk and information about the date and time when the disk is reproduced as reproduction history information when the disk existing in the drive is reproduced, and a control unit configured to determine the position of each of the holding sections where a plurality of the disks held in the holding mechanism is held based on the reproduction history information, and let the disks be held at the determined holding positions is provided.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to reproduce reproduction images without a break without having to use any additional identification information even when real-time recorded data is not completely continuous. A control circuit references a data identification flag (“Recording Type”) which is attached to each sector of reproduction data to indicate the type of recorded data, and counts the number of sectors to which the data identification flag representing real-time recorded data is attached. When the count is not smaller than a threshold value, the control circuit reproduces all the sectors of the target reproduction block in a real-time reproduction mode. In the real-time reproduction mode, the control circuit masks a portion of reproduction data that is found to be defective, changes the value of the defective data to 0 (zero), and transfers the resulting reproduction data to a host device.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (200) is provided with: a recording device (353) for recording data onto an information recording medium (100) being provided with a first recording layer (L0) and a second recording layer (L1); a first controlling device (354) for controlling the recording device to record the data into each of the first recording layer and the second recording layer; a forming device (354) for forming a compatibility area (106, 109, 116, 119) for realizing reproduction compatibility of the information recording medium on an information recording apparatus, following the data recorded in each of the first recording layer and the second recording layer; and a second controlling device (354) for controlling the recording device to record the data into the formed compatibility area if the data is recorded after the compatibility area is formed.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes: a support body; a media container rack rotatable around a horizontally extending rotation shaft and having cells radially arranged to respectively contain removable storage media in a horizontal direction; a media drive fixed to the support body and accessing a storage medium loaded therein; and a media delivery device that delivers the storage media between the media container rack and the media drive. The apparatus further includes: a guide member that guides the media delivery device; and a controller which controls the media drive and rotation of the media container. The controller causes the guide member to guide the media delivery device and rotates the media container rack so as to set the target cell at a position where the media delivery device guided by the guide member can take and put one of the storage media out of and back in a target cell.

Abstract: A disc transportation mechanism for a disc processing device holds and transports discs by gripping the center hole of the disc. The disc transportation mechanism has a hole position detector and a position adjustment mechanism. The hole position detector detects the position of the center hole in a disc discharged to a disc transfer position from a label printer. The position adjustment mechanism can change the position of the gripping mechanism on the arm. After moving the arm to the disc transfer position, the transportation mechanism control unit controls the arm moving mechanism and/or position adjustment mechanism based on the detected position of the center hole to move the gripping mechanism to a picking position where it can grip the disc. The gripping mechanism can therefore correctly grip the disc even when the disc is not correctly discharged to the disc transfer position, and label damage can therefore be prevented.

Abstract: A medium management method is disclosed. A removable medium is conveyed to a drive section when the removable medium is inserted into a medium accommodation section. The drive section reproduces and reads information from the medium and determines whether the medium is a first medium or a second medium on which data externally or internally created have been recorded according to the information read by the drive section. A partial reproduction operation is performed according to an edit list recorded on the first medium and the reproduced data are transferred to a pre-designated host system when the inserted medium is the first medium. The second medium is registered to a database when the determined result denotes that the inserted medium is the second medium. The medium is returned to the medium accommodation section after one of the partial reproduction operation and the database registration process has been completed.

Abstract: An optical disk medium includes a track groove thereon. On the optical disk medium, information is recorded along the track groove on a block unit basis. The block unit has a predetermined length. The block unit having the predetermined length includes a number of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove. A sub-block mark is provided within each of the sub-blocks and used to identify the sub-block.

Abstract: A disc storage apparatus includes a disc changer mechanism including a disc slot through which a disc is insertable, a storage section having storage locations that are capable of storing discs inserted through the disc slot, and a transport mechanism that transports the disc, inserted through the disc slot, to any of the storage locations in the storage section. The apparatus further includes an operation section having operations keys; a display section; and a controller that associates, when the disc is inserted and any of the operations keys is operated, the operated operation key with the storage location in which the disc is stored. In accordance with a predetermined operation on the operation section, the controller extracts all discs stored in the storage locations associated with the operated operation key and causes information regarding all the extracted discs to be displayed on the display section.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a first judging device (191) for judging whether or not a tracking error signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; a detecting device (192) for detecting, as a detection angle, a rotation angle of an information recording medium (100) when it is judged that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; and a second judging device (193) for judging whether or not the judgment that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value is performed in synchronization with rotation of the information recording medium and at the same detection angle in a row.

Abstract: A device for recording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium. The device has writing means for recording the data and the data structures and controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling the writing means. The data structures comprise space bit map and defect management structures. The controlling means are adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporary location on the write-once storage medium and to finalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storage medium.

Abstract: A device for recording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium. The device has writing means for recording the data and the data structures and controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling the writing means. The data structures comprise space bit map and defect management structures. The controlling means are adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporary location on the write-once storage medium and to finalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storage medium.

Abstract: A medium transporting mechanism for transporting one of stacked media each of which has a hole is provided. A holder is provided on a movable transporting arm and holds the one of the media. A guide is provided in the transporting arm, the guide has a tapered surface that is inclined with respect to an axis of the guide. The tapered surface is configured to be brought into contact with an inner surface of the hole of the one of the media when the guide is inserted into the hole of the one of the media. The tapered surface includes a first surface on a tip end portion of the guide and a second surface on a base end portion of the guide. An inclined angle of the first surface with respect to the axis of the guide is greater than an inclined angle of the second surface with respect to the axis of the guide.

Abstract: A transport arm device for carrying at least one disc comprising a driving means, a sway control member, and a swaying mechanism is disclosed. The sway control member comprises a hole in substantial middle of the sway control member for receiving a portion of the driving means and two leaf springs extending up from two sides of the sway control member respectively. The swaying mechanism is capable of grabbing the discs. The swaying mechanism comprises a rotating connection for engaging with a suspension of the transport arm device, wherein the two leaf springs are contacted with the swaying mechanism. The sway control member is moved by the driving means so as to rotate the swaying mechanism along a rotary axis on the rotating connection, and the two leaf springs provide elasticity for the swaying mechanism rotating back.

Abstract: A standard reproduction model for ensuring real time reproducing on a disk-shaped information recording medium, includes a pickup (102) that reads the real time data from the information recording medium, a buffer memory (103) that temporarily stores the real time data read by the pickup, and a decoding module (104) that reads the real time data from the buffer memory (103) and processes the read real time data. An access time Tacc of the standard reproduction model is expressed by the following formula, Tacc=A·dN+Trev+B where dN is a difference in rotational speed of the disk-shaped information recording medium, Trev is a rotation waiting time at a target access position, A and B are constants.

Abstract: The invention provides a disc changer including a plurality of trays which can be moved respectively in a horizontal direction, a tray driving gear unit capable of shuttling the trays between a standby position and a disc exchange position, a gear driving mechanism for driving the tray driving gear unit, a tray triggering unit capable of locking/unlocking the trays in the standby position, pushing all trays to engage with the tray driving gear unit after unlocking the trays, and driving the trays toward the disc exchange position, wherein the tray driving gear unit can be used for checking the discs by driving all trays to protrude outward from the mechanical chassis to the disc exchange position, and can drive the trays individually from the disc exchange position to the standby position from top to bottom, thereby each disc can be checked until its tray is closed.

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

Abstract: An automated data library system employing a plurality of cartridges, one or more cartridge storage slots and an inventory controller. Each cartridge includes a cartridge memory. The cartridge storage slot(s) is(are) physically configured to store the cartridges. The inventory controller is operable to generate an inventory of the cartridges as stored within the cartridge storage slot(s). A generation by the inventory controller of the inventory of the cartridges as stored within the cartridge storage slot(s) involves the inventory controller simultaneously accessing cartridge identification information on two or more cartridge memories, and generating the inventory including two or more cartridges corresponding to the cartridge identification information.

Abstract: A media processing device does not execute a media transportation process if the height of media stacked in a media storage unit is at an over capacity level, and reliably prevents problems such as damage to the media transportation mechanism caused by collision with the stacked media. If in the media processing device the height of media stacked in a media storage unit 121, 122 is at a full stack level or over capacity level (step S33 returns yes or step S35 returns yes), an appropriate warning is output (step S34 or step S36) and collision accidents of the media transportation mechanism 131 can be prevented.

Abstract: In a storage medium, an address space is defined which is divided into a first area and a second area. According to the invention, at least one file is stored on the medium which is split into small data packets and large data packets. All small data packets are stored on said first area, and all large data packets are stored on said second area. A single file allocation table (FAT) is used and is small by having one entry per data packet.