Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a computer bus to a network comprises a network interface capable of coupling to an external network and an emulator coupled to the network interface. The emulator comprises a processor control block that can emulate a host processor coupled to the computer bus and a device control block that can emulate a device coupled to the computer bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing of normalizing a bit count is provided. The method comprises counting bits for a first frame, and normalizing a target bit in a target frame using the bits of the frame. The method then comprises counting to the normalized target bit in the target frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring optical data from a DVD in response to a request from a host. When a data request is issued, a portion of the request containing the target ID for the target data block is used by a comparator circuit to locate the target data block. Another portion of the request containing the number of data blocks requested is used by a monitoring circuit to monitor data block transfer from a DVD to a data buffer once the target data block is located. The monitoring circuit stops data transfer when all of the requested data blocks have been transferred. Each data block is transferred into a data buffer containing areas separated by pointers. In a scratch area of the data buffer, the data block is error corrected, error checked and descrambled.

Abstract: An enhanced scan chain architecture includes scan cells capable of holding two sets of state data associated with the functional blocks, or “modules,” of a system (e.g., an integrated circuit, a multi-chip module, a printed circuit board, and the like), thereby rendering state data associated with a module accessible. The scan chains are employed, during normal operation, to manage (e.g., save, restore, swap, etc.) state data during multi-tasking and/or testing. Control logic redirects the input of the chain, or selected portions thereof, to a source of saved state when initiating or restoring a task; and/or redirects the output of the chain, or selected portions thereof, to a storage source when one task is interrupted and/or another task is resumed.

Abstract: In a media system that includes an emulator-enabled client media device, a server comprises a media directory, a control point, and a server application. The media directory contains a list of all available media content and at least a portion of the media content that can be accessed by the server. The control point is capable of communicating with the media directory using communication control actions that manage media system interactions. The server application is capable of communicating with the control point to select a content source and that communicates with an emulator-enabled client media device to manage processing of media content including emulation selection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of diffusing error caused by quantizing each pixel within an image formed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel representing a greyscale value of the image at a location (n, l) within the image, and having an original greyscale value associated therewith.

Abstract: An algorithm for controlling laser power in recording datum including a first recorded pulse and at least one second pulse uses measurements of the recorded datum including peak pulse value, plateau value and a bias value. Average value of the measurements are used with the programmed laser power peak value and a datum envelope value in the algorithm to determine if laser power is to be adjusted, and the sign of calculated values is used to determine positive or negative adjustments. Acquisition circuitry uses a write clock signal which must be delayed in accessing the written datum (WRF).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data read from a DVD media containing stored data is described. The apparatus includes a DVD media reader for reading data and error information stored on a DVD media, an error processor for determining the number of errors in the read data, and a display means for displaying the number of errors. The method includes reading actual data from a DVD media, computing a first correction code for the actual data, reading a second correction code from the DVD media, the second correction code pertaining directly to said stored data, and comparing the first and second correction codes to determine whether said actual data needs to be corrected. The method further includes determining whether the number of errors in the actual data exceeds the maximum number of errors that can be corrected, correcting the actual data if possible, counting the number of errors that are corrected, and indicating if errors in a given row or column cannot be corrected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to initialize a memory with random data, including a pseudo-random number generator to generate random data; a selection circuit to provide selected data in response to a fill signal during an initialization state. The present invention can be used to provide statistically unbiased random data for writing to the power calibration area (PCA) of an optical disc.

Abstract: An emulator is capable of connecting to an information interface that can communicate information from an information source to an information sink in a format native to the information sink. The emulator comprises an emulation controller capable of coupling to the information interface, a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network, and a storage. The storage holds an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and a code capable of converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the information sink.

Abstract: Method and system for determining varying widths of each of a sequence of signal components (marks and spaces) in an incoming digital signal stream and for indicating which mark widths and which space widths fall outside acceptable ranges. A pre-mark and pre-space are added to the front end of the recieved stream for alignment purposes. The width of each signal component (mark or space) is determined and compared with an acceptable range of mark widths or space widths. Each mark or space that lies outside an acceptable range has an indicium associated with this mark or space, indicating this non-compliance. The modified digital signal stream, including the indicia, is re-issued after a selected time delay for subsequent signal processing. A method for measurement or estimation of mark width and space width is presented.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a source media device, a sink media device communicatively coupled with the source media device over an out-of-band transfer protocol, a control point communicatively coupled to the source media device and the sink media device using communication control actions, and an emulator. The emulator can be contained in one or more of the source media device, the sink media device, and the control point. The emulator comprises a communication controller capable of coupling to an out-of-band communication link and an emulation controller capable of converting information between an out-of-band communication link format and a standard device internal format.

Abstract: An optical appliance that is capable of processing optical media can be used to modulate a laser. In some systems, the optical appliance includes an opto-electronic transducer, a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD) controller and front end. A a modulated laser can be used as an optical network with a terminal node in the form of a conventional optical detector such as a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD) pickup. A CD or DVD controller and front end can be used to modulate the laser. Accordingly, the controller and front end can modulate the laser to emulate reading of an optical disk medium.

Abstract: A digital versatile disc (DVD) playback apparatus is disclosed for searching program chain (PGC) objects within a DVD content source. The DVD playback apparatus includes a DVD reader for reading a DVD content source and a user input device for receiving user commands. The DVD content source comprises a plurality of PGC objects and the DVD playback apparatus is able to search among the PGC objects using the following mechanisms. A PGC object pointer allocating mechanism is provided that is configured to allocate a unique pointer to each PGC object on the DVD content source. Once the PGC object pointers are allocated, a PGC search mechanism, which is coupled to the PGC pointer allocating mechanism, performs searches for a requested PGC object using a pointer assigned to the desired PGC object. Selected of the PGC objects are allocated to at least one data block while the remaining are considered to be non-block objects. The PGC pointers are place within a linear array for searching.

Abstract: A method comprises writing data to a disk using a write laser, and halting recording at a stopping point, prior to an end of the disk. The method further comprises reading the data recorded on the disk and evaluating the data. The method further comprises adjusting the characteristics of the write laser, if appropriate, and restarting the writing using the adjusted characteristics for the write laser.

Abstract: A system and method for generating sample control signals for a sample and hold circuit used to control access to optical media is provided. The sample control signals are generated with sufficient duration (width) to adequately sample a reflected laser power signal. The sample control signals are defined relative to a laser power command signal generated in response to an internal data stream, rather than directly in response to the internal data stream, thereby allowing for more precise control of the sample control signals. As a result, substantial portions of each pulse of the reflected laser power signal can be sampled, without sampling transition noise that exists when the reflected laser power signal changes states. Generating the sample control signals from a laser power command signal, rather than the input data signal, more accurately time shifts the sampling command to the reflected laser power.

Abstract: A center error signal is used to control the sled during fine search operations. The center error signal is used to synchronize the motion of a tracking actuator and a sled. A head is mounted on a sled in a disk drive. The sled is positioned by a sled motor and the head is positionally mounted on the sled. The head includes a lens that is optically coupled to a photo-sensor on the head. A tracking actuator positions the lens with respect to a track on the disk. A center error signal indicates a position of the lens with respect to a track on a disk. A tracks-to-jump signal specifies a predetermined number of tracks on the disk that the sled motor is to move. A modified tracks-to-jump signal is produced in response to the center error signal. The sled motor is controlled with the modified tracks-to-jump signal.

Abstract: A controller for use in an optical storage device is provided. The controller includes a block decoder/encoder for processing data to and from a media of the optical storage device. An ATAPI interface is also provided and is configured to process data and control signals for selectively communicating data to and from the optical storage device during operation in an ATAPI mode. Universal serial bus (USB) logic is configured to process data and control signals for selectively communicating data to and from the optical storage device during operation in a USB mode. The USB logic is configured to utilize data transfer control logic implemented by the ATAPI interface. Accordingly, the one controller can be integrated into either an external peripheral device that communicates over a USB connection in the USB mode, or into an internal peripheral device that communicates over an IDE connection in the ATAPI mode.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a processor and an emulator coupled to the processor and having an external interface capable of communicating information to a network. The emulator emulates a bootable disc drive and supplies a bootable operating system to the processor from the network.

Abstract: A method for processing a digitized analog signal read from a DVD media and provided to a digital processing system is described herein. The method includes the steps of forming a first set of data from actual data read from a location on a DVD media, the location containing a known test data sequence, forming a second set of data comprising the known data bits making up the known test data sequence. The method proceeds with the steps of comparing the first set of data to the second set of data; and determining the magnitude of no more than two variables, the two variables representing at least three coefficients in an impulse response relationship which models the digital processing system, the magnitude of the no more than two variables being determined so that the error rate between the first and said second sets of data is minimized.