Abstract: In order to use video contents created according to DVD video in DVD audio, audio and video sub-directories are located under a root directory. The video sub-directory includes video contents and their management information. The audio sub-directory includes audio contents and their management information. The video management information can only access the video contents. However, the audio management information can access not only the audio contents but also the video contents.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus according to one aspect of this invention comprises a first acquisition unit configured to acquire first expansion information from an information storage medium, a first storage unit configured to store the first expansion information acquired by the first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire second expansion information from an external apparatus via a communication line, a second storage unit configured to store the second expansion information acquired by the second acquisition unit, a transfer control unit configured to transfer the second expansion information stored in the second storage unit to the first storage unit in response to a request that requires the second expansion information, and a playback unit configured to play back the first expansion information and the second expansion information stored in the first storage unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet accumulation processing device having a shielding mechanism of a sheet discharge opening which is simple in mechanism, low in cost and requires no complicated control. In the device, after an end of a sheet bunch sent via one end of a slit opening formed in a housing front face of the device is received by a sheet holding means disposed in the slit opening in a predetermined receiving position, the sheet holding means with the sheet bunch held therein is moved along the opening and, in a predetermined discharge position in the slit opening, discharges the sheet bunch onto a sheet accumulating tray in front of the housing. In the discharge position, a sheet holding section of the holding means is rotated forward and downward from its sheet-bunch holding condition and protruded forward from the housing front face, then releases the sheet bunch to place the sheet bunch onto the sheet accumulating tray.

Abstract: In order to use video contents created according to DVD video in DVD audio, audio and video sub-directories are located under a root directory. The video sub-directory includes video contents and their management information. The audio sub-directory includes audio contents and their management information. The video management information can only access the video contents. However, the audio management information can access not only the audio contents but also the video contents.

Abstract: An optical disk such as a DVD having recorded therein control information as well as the video objects of two types of contents including first contents and second contents is disclosed. This control information achieves proper reproduction for both an optical disk device intended only for the second contents and an optical disk device intended for the first contents.

Abstract: An information storage medium is provided which includes main image information compliant with a high-image-quality system, first subsidiary image information compliant with the high-image-quality system, and second subsidiary image information compliant with a standard system. The stored information is read from the information storage medium, the main image information is down-converted into image information of the standard system, and the second subsidiary image information is superposed on the image information.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming device main body having a discharge portion with a discharge opening for discharging a sheet from one side thereof, a loading tray provided at a top surface of the device main body and lower than the discharge opening for receiving the sheet discharged from the discharge opening, and a sheet finisher unit disposed above the loading tray. The sheet finisher unit includes a supporting device for supporting a conveying direction downstream side of the sheet discharged from the discharge opening, a finishing processing device disposed at one side of the supporting device for carrying out a finishing processing on the sheet supported on the supporting device, and a transfer device for transferring the sheet, which has been processed at the finishing processing means, to the loading tray. The supporting device constitutes the transfer device.

Abstract: In recording audio information, an information medium in a format obtained by expanding the RTR (recordable/reproducible DVD) standard is used. For management information about each piece of information recorded on the information medium, an “audio information cell” is defined as a playback unit even for audio information as in the RTR standard. To a PGC (program chain) higher in level than the cell, “playback sequence” information about the relationship between other video information (movie cells) and/or still picture information (still picture cells) is given.

Abstract: Audio information is recorded in units of tracks on an information storage medium on which audio information and management information that pertains to the audio information are recorded, and information indicating the playback sequence of the audio information is recorded in the management information. Furthermore, information indicating break positions of tracks with respect to the audio information is recorded in the information indicating the playback sequence.

Abstract: In order to use video contents created according to DVD video in DVD audio, audio and video sub-directories are located under a root directory. The video sub-directory includes video contents and their management information. The audio sub-directory includes audio contents and their management information. The video management information can only access the video contents. However, the audio management information can access not only the audio contents but also the video contents.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information storage medium in which music associated information including a data structure is recorded. The structure includes a recording region including a first recording region in which the audio information coded by a first coding mode is recorded and a second recording region in which the audio information coded by a second coding mode is recorded, and a management region in which management information concerning the recording region is recorded and which includes reproduction procedure information indicating a reproduction procedure of audio associated information. There are also disclosed an information reproduction apparatus, information recording apparatus, and methods in which the information storage medium is handled.

Abstract: A new navigation function is added to a legacy DVD-Video. A player unit plays back recorded contents, that include video contents or AV contents and ENAV contents associated with contents (menu, chapter) of the video contents, from a DVD-Video disc. The video contents of the DVD disc are played back by a video playback engine. The ENAV contents of the DVD disc are played back by an ENAV engine. The ENAV engine controls playback of the ENAV contents and that of the video contents in combination, connection, and/or synchronism with each other according to the played-back contents of the ENAV contents.

Abstract: In audio contents which have cells for defining an audio title playback unit and whose actual playback sequence is determined by defining the playback sequence of the cells, cell information to specify the cells is provided with identification information to identify the types of the cells according to the difference in the contents of the data included in the cells. One type of the contents of the data in the cells is for obtaining the length of the silent period of time. The identification information corresponding to the cell indicates a silent cell.

Abstract: An information recording method for recording information on a recording medium, including providing a recording medium having first and second areas, the first area for recording and reproducing video information, the second area for recording manager information, the manager information referred to when the video information is reproduced, the video information including an object file for storing movie and/or still video objects, the manager information including video manager information related to the movie and/or still video objects, the object file including manufacturer's information which includes manufacturer ID and manufacturer's data, recording the movie and/or still video objects in the object file, recording the video manager information in a third area in the second area, recording the manufacturer ID in a fourth area in the object file, and recording manufacturer's data of a specific manufacture corresponding to the manufacturer ID in a fifth area adjacent to the fourth area.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information recording medium on which stream information including images or sound and management information of the stream information are digitally recorded, the medium comprising a first recording region in which first management information of the management information for use in common in management of each stream information divided every predetermined data amount can be recorded, and a second recording region in which a reference unit of information obtained by adding second management information of the management information for use in management of divided individual stream information to the divided stream information can be recorded.

Abstract: When a portion of an audio object comprising a head pack having a system header is to be deleted, a copy of the system header of the pack is inserted in a pack which is the end boundary of deletion. This gives a new head pack after the deletion a system header having the same contents as the deleted pack. Even when audio data comprising a system header is partially deleted by editing or the like and the system header disappears, this system header can be reproduced.

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 signal processing method multiplexes/arranges digital data of a specific unit to form a predetermined unit, adds an error correction code to the predetermined unit to constitute an error correction coded block, replaces a part of the error correction coded block with specific data, and outputs the error correction coded block with the specific data being replaced to a transmission medium or a recording medium.

Abstract: If there are a plurality of angles or scenes that can be played back within an identical time band, the playback screen is divided into a plurality of areas, and some or all of a plurality of angles or scenes that can be played back are simultaneously displayed (digest-displayed) on the divided screen areas. The display contents of a plurality of angles or scenes that can be played back can be automatically changed.