Abstract: A device is disclosed for removing the information bearing surface and the data carried thereby from the substrate layer of a compact disc. The device includes a housing having an upper portion defining a top surface and a central cavity and a lower portion having interior and exterior surfaces. The lower portion is selectively attachable to the upper portion to enclose the lower portion interior surface within the cavity, the interior surface being sized and shaped for selectively carrying a compact disc. A mechanism is disposed within the cavity for physically removing the information bearing surface of a compact disc positioned on the lower portion interior surface. A member is provided for continuously biasing the physical removal mechanism against the information bearing surface of a compact disc positioned on the interior surface as the information bearing surface is being removed. Finally, an element is provided for actuating the physical removal mechanism.

Abstract: A system (99) and a method decodes digital audio data (126) by identifying circuits (112) on peripheral devices (119) attached to a computer (113) or peripheral interfaces (107), such circuits capable of performing digital to analog conversions, and sending to these circuits during an interrupt (133), digital audio data (126) for conversion to analog form (128) and outputting to conventional audio stages (139, 141). Because the system and method employs existing circuitry to perform the digital decoding they do not require the use of additional processing hardware to be implemented solely for the decoding process.