Abstract: The reverse direction reproduction of encoded data comprised of picture data compressed in accordance with the MPEG system is to be realized at a higher speed. To this end, plural frame memories are used for reverse direction reproduction. The respective pictures are sequentially decoded and the decoded pictures are sequentially held in the frame memories. If there is no vacant memory, the frame memories are sequentially overwritten beginning from the frame memory which stores the picture decoded first. If the decoding progresses up to the picture to be reproduced, and the decoding of the picture to be reproduced comes to a close, the decoding is transiently halted and the picture to be reproduced is read out from the frame memory and displayed. If the picture to be reproduced is displayed, the frame memory which has held the displayed picture is evacuated. The decoding is re-initiated for decoding the picture consecutive to the picture the data of which are as yet held in the frame memory.

Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a sequence of spatial samples generated in response to a hand drawn representation of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising a segment processor arranged in operation to determine from the spatial samples stroke data representative of strokes performed in drawing the hand drawn representation of the image, a stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to generate parameter data from the sequence of spatial samples and the determined stroke data of the hand drawn representation, and an image identifier coupled to the stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to identity the image from the parameter data. The image identification apparatus finds application in many fields, including identifying hand drawn images for generating a story board from pre-generated images.

Abstract: The video signal processor 10 includes a chain detector 16 which uses features extracted from visual and/or audio segments divided from an input stream of video data, and a criterion for determination of similarity between visual and/or audio segment pairs, calculated for each of the features using the similarity determination criterion, to detect similarity chains each composed of a plurality of visual and/or audio segments similar to each other from the visual and/or audio segments, and a chain analyzer 18 which analyzes the similarity chains to determine and output local and/or global video structures of the video data.

Abstract: A tree display is made in a tree display area of a play list display area as of the contents files were classified in a directory structure, but in reality the contents files are not classified in a directory structure. In the tree display area, the heading “All music pieces” is not located at the lowest hierarchical level of the tree structure but partway up the structure, and in the event that “All music pieces” is selected, the contents are searched with an item corresponding to the parent thereof as the search key, and data relating to the corresponding contents is displayed in a list display area, so in a case described herein, contents matching the genre of “Blues” and artist name of “4 hero” are displayed on the list display area. Thus, desired contents files can be easily searched for.

Abstract: The noise in a frequency demodulated audio signal is detected on the basis of the characteristics of the stereo-multiplex signal to obtain a very reliable information that can be used for the sliding stereo-mono transition, noise blanking and a de-noising of the stereo difference signal. A noise (vd,q(t)) is calculated by performing a coherent amplitude demodulation of the frequency demodulated stereo-multiplex signal with the second harmonic of the pilot carrier that is quadrature to the pilot carrier and as a direct measure for the quality of the signal generating the variance (&sgr;2vd,q) of the noise signal by squaring and thereafter averaging the noise signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coding apparatus for embedding second data into first data without deteriorating the first data and a decoding apparatus for decoding coded data into original first data and second data without deteriorating those data. The invention provides a coding apparatus which determines change subject data and change data based on a frequency distribution of at least partial data of the first data, and embeds second data into first data by causing a change from the change subject data to the change data according to the second data. The invention also provides a decoding apparatus which determines change subject data and change data based on a frequency distribution of at least partial data of coded data in which second data is embedded, and decodes the coded data into original first data and restores the second data that is embedded in the coded data by restoring the change subject data from the change data.

Abstract: A system for recording data to a disc shaped record medium. The data is recorded according to a universal disc format employing a hierarchical file system, and data within the hierarchical structure is referenced using pointer information. The pointer information includes a file identifier descriptor and a file entry and is recorded such that the pointer information and its corresponding substantive data are stored at successive addresses.

Abstract: A data processing circuit able to absorb jitter due to differences in operating frequencies between applications by a small-sized and inexpensive configuration when connecting a plurality of applications operating at various frequencies, including a DRAM and a memory controller which writes a digital audio signal input from a DSP into the DRAM on the basis of a clock signal from the DSP 5, then reads it out on the basis of a clock signal set for a D/A converter and outputs it to the D/A converter. Jitter absorption is achieved through a buffering scheme.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording data into a recording medium taking as recording unit a sector corresponding to a predetermined amount of information signal, comprises a file management unit (5) to classify an information signal for recording into the recording medium (101) into a number, two or more, of groups depending upon the importance of the information signal, and a write/read unit (6) to record the information signal into the recording medium (101) while dealing with a defective sector, if any, in the recording medium (101) in a manner designated for the group to which the information signal has been classified to belong at the above classifying step, and record a highly important information signal, when a defective sector is found by checking up the information signal recorded in the recording medium (101), into another sector.

Abstract: A video camera system capable of matching colors between configured video cameras by effectively reducing color differences therebetween. A red, a green and a blue signal from imaging devices are amplified by preamplifiers and video amplifiers before being fed to a color matching circuit. The color matching circuit performs color matching in accordance with the levels of the red, green and blue signals using variables of gains and DC offset values. The gains and DC offset values are determined by the color matching circuit executing predetermined operation expressions. With a plurality of colors imaged in advance by the video cameras to be matched in color with a reference video camera, necessary coefficients of the operation expressions are obtained by use of the level measurements (tristimulus values) of the red, green and blue signals from an integrating circuit of each camera.

Abstract: A cassette library (1) is provided with a driving apparatus (13), cassette housing shelves (14, 15) and a cassette carrier (16). A library controller (2) simulates as if driving apparatuses (13) having continuous address numbers were apparently used in the host computer (3) even when physically discontinuous address numbers are allocated to the driving apparatus (13), thereby making it possible to set occupancy for a driving apparatus with an arbitrary address number. The library controller (2) has the cassette carrier (16) automatically carry, at a preset timing, a cleaning cassette from the cassette housing shelf (14, 15) to the driving apparatus (13) to clean a recording reproduction head of the driving apparatus (13) using the cleaning cassette which is then carried back to the housing section in the original cassette housing shelf (14, 15) after the cleaning work.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data on or from an optical disc, in which the tracking error signal format for a recordable optical disc differs from that for a replay-only optical disc. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a read-out processing unit for reading out data from the optical disc, a write processing unit for writing data on the optical disc and a system controller for managing control to verify the recordable optical disc having data recorded by the write processing unit by a reproducing system conforming to the standard for the replay-only optical disc. The recordable optical disc is verified by the reproducing system for the replay-only optical disc.

Abstract: The invention provides an interpolation processing apparatus and method which can be applied, for example, to a personal computer such that it can prevent deterioration in picture quality arising from a conversion ratio by applying it, for example, to image processing. Weighting coefficients are varied based on phase information of output data with respect to input data and a ratio between the input sample number which forms the input data and an output sample number of corresponding output data.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical head, a photodetector, an optical recording and reproducing apparatus and a focus error detecting method, which can be adapted to a plurality of kinds of recording media and a land/groove recording system. A photoreceiving part for the main spot in a photodetector in an optical head is divided into a plurality of parts. An intermediate photoreceiving part consisting of four small photoreceiving parts is provided in a central area surrounded by four peripheral photoreceiving parts. Without using an output signal from the intermediate photoreceiving part positioning in an area where the intensity distribution is unstable in a converged light spot, a focus error signal is obtained only from output signals from the peripheral photoreceiving parts and a focusing control is performed by using the focus error signal.

Abstract: Digital video processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of render processors arranged in an operational sequence, each operable to render an output result relating to an image of a video signal from input data relating to that and/or other images received from a preceding render processor in the operational sequence; each render processor being operable to detect and communicate to other render processors whether its rendered output is constant between adjacent images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to devices (26, 27) for transmitting and receiving data in a code division multiple access telecommunication system. A random access time window (1) is provided, which comprises a plurality of random access slots for transmitting random access data from at least one first communication device (27) to a second communication device (26). A partition point is determined, which defines a number of contention based random access slots and a number of reservation based random access slots in the random access time window on the basis of statistical information generated in at least one first communication device (27). The random access time window (1) is partitioned in a first and a second section on the basis of said partition point, whereby the first section contains contention based random access slots and the second section contains reservation based random access slots.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and an information processing method are capable of preventing information from being copied illegally. To put it in detail, a hash function and a service key are stored in advance in an EEPROM of a DVD player serving as a source. In an EEPROM of a personal computer (PC) serving as a sink, on the other hand, its ID and a license key are stored beforehand. The DVD player requests the PC to transmit the ID. The DVD player then applies the hash function to data resulting from concatenation of the ID with the service key to generate a license key (=hash (ID ∥ service-key)). Subsequently, the DVD player generates a source side common session key and encrypts the session key by using the generated license key. Then, the DVD player transmits the encrypted source side common session key to the PC.

Abstract: A robot apparatus (1) includes leg blocks (3A to 3D), head block (4), etc. as a moving part (16), a motion controller (102), learning unit (103), prediction unit (104) and a drive unit (105). When the moving part (106), any of the blocks, is operated from outside, the learning unit (103) learns a time-series signal generated due to the external operation. The motion controller (102) and drive unit (105) control together the moving part (106) based on a signal generated at the moving part (106) due to an external force applied to the robot apparatus (1) and a signal having already been learned by the learning unit (103) to make an action taught by the user. The prediction unit (105) predicts whether the moving part (106) makes the taught action according to the initial signal generated at the moving part (106) due to the applied external force. Thus, the robot apparatus (1) can learn an action taught by the user and determine an external force-caused signal to make the taught action.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a command controller (101) for outputting an output command associated with an input command, management units (102), (103) and (104) for outputting data associated with the commands output by the command controller (101), a command transmitter (105) for controlling the transmission of the data output by the management units (102), (103) and (104) and controllers (106), (107) and (108) for controlling action units (109), (110) and (111), such as a motor, based on data output by the command transmitter (105). The command transmitter (105) sends the action control data for synchronization, output by the management units (102), (103) and (104), in synchroneity to the action units (109), (110) and (111).

Abstract: A signal reproducing apparatus for prohibiting copying or unauthorized use. The apparatus includes a copying management information decision circuit 19 for discriminating the state of the copying management information read out from each header of a data sector and within the TOC, a protect signal generating circuit 20 for generating a protect signal based on the discrimination signal and a mixing circuit 24 for mixing a protect signal in a vertical blanking period of an analog video signal D/A converted from digital video data reproduced from an optical disc D. The apparatus also includes a descrambling circuit 31 for descrambling the digital data based on the copying management information and a scrambling circuit 32 for descrambling the digital data. The apparatus enables prohibition of unauthorized analog copying and digital copying, inhibition of serial generational copying and prohibition of unauthorized analog and digital copying simultaneously.