Abstract: An information processing apparatus for determining whether or not to transmit a predetermined content to a reception apparatus connected to a network, in accordance with a response time taken to respond to a predetermined command, including: reception means receiving a response to a command; measuring means measuring the response time to the command; authentication means authenticating the reception apparatus; generation means generating authentication data to be inserted into the command; transmission means transmitting the command including predetermined one of the authentication data; storage means storing the authentication data contained in the command and the response data contained in the response; request means requesting the reception apparatus for transmission of the authentication data and the response data; and determination means determining whether the authentication data and the response data transmitted from the reception apparatus, and determining transmission permission/inhibition of a cont

Abstract: In order to predictively time stamp isochronous data packets transmitted over an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network, an application, which is to send a stream of isochronous data packets to a receiving node, first transmits a number of dummy frames each consisting of a number of packets. Preferably, these isochronous data packets make up frames of video data. From these dummy packets, the application obtains the time stamp values within the common isochronous packet (CIP) header of each packet. Using these obtained time stamp values, the application calculates a presentation time value for each data frame to be transmitted. The obtained time stamp value from a transmitted video frame is used to calculate the presentation time for a video frame which is a number of frames ahead within the transmit queue.

Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.

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 recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transmitting an isochronous video stream of data at a desired frame rate from a source device to a receiving device. A video frame is part of an isochronous stream of video data which is transmitted over an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. The desired frame rate is determined by the receiving device. The source device preferably determines a proper ratio of data packets versus video frames in response to the particular frame rate required and a cycle time for isochronous data. This ratio of data packets versus video frames rarely computes to an integer result. Accordingly, the source device preferably generates two groups of frames. A first group contains an integer value of packets nearest to and above the desired overall average ratio of data packets versus video frames. The source device generates a second group of frames where each frame from this second group contains an integer value of packets nearest to and below the ratio of packets versus video frames.

Abstract: A method of maintaining communications in a bus bridge interconnect including a plurality of buses linked by at least one bus bridge. The method includes receiving a change indication signal from a talker node, performing an address resolution protocol in response to the change indication signal to find an updated node identification address(“nodeID”) for a listener node using a extended unique identifier (“EUI”) of the listener node, and storing the updated listener nodeID with the listener node EUI.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting and controlling target devices on a digital home network, in particular a network compliant with IEEE 1394. Various aspects of the process for connecting target devices are moved from the controller to the target devices. An input-select button is used to select a device (a source device) to provide an input signal to another device (a sink device) on the home network. An output-select button is used to specify which output plug is to be used by the source device.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, an applications programming interface (API) implements and manages isochronous and asychronous data transfer operations between an application and a bus structure. During an asynchronous transfer the API includes the ability to transfer any amount of data between one or more local data buffers within the application and a range of addresses over the bus structure using one or more asynchronous transactions. An automatic transaction generator may be used to automatically generate the transactions necessary to complete the data transfer. The API also includes the ability to transfer data between the application and another node on the bus structure isochronously over a dedicated channel. During an isochronous data transfer, a buffer management scheme is used to manage a linked list of data buffer descriptors.

Abstract: A system comprising at least two devices coupled to a bus wherein at least one device contains a descriptor hierarchy. A data structure has a descriptor specifier which specifies an entry by a list identifier and an object identifier.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, an applications programming interface (API) implements and manages isochronous and asynchronous data transfer operations between an application and a bus structure. During an synchronous transfer the API includes the ability to transfer any amount of data between one or more local data buffers within the application and a range of addresses over the bus structure using one or more asynchronous transactions. An automatic transaction generator may be used to automatically generate the transactions necessary to complete the data transfer. The API also includes the ability to transfer data between the application and another node on the bus structure isochronously over a dedicated channel. During an isochronous data transfer, a buffer management scheme is used to manage a linked list of data buffer descriptors.

Abstract: A communications system connected via a bus capable of transferring combinations of control signals and AV signals as packets while providing an environment which is the same as an environment where connections are made using analog signal lines. A register decided by an address is taken to be a virtual plug for each item of equipment. The plug enable for the input plug is set to 1 and a synchronous communication packet for the AV signal from the channel set by the channel number is received. The plug enable for the output plug is set to one and the synchronous communication packet for the information signal is sent to the channel set by the channel number at a transmission speed designated by the DR (Data Rate) at the bandwidth expressed by “Bandwidth”.

Abstract: A system comprising at least two devices coupled to a bus wherein at least one device contains a descriptor hierarchy. A data structure has a descriptor specifier which specifies an entry by a list identifier and an object identifier.

Abstract: In order to predictively time stamp isochronous data packets transmitted over an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network, an application, which is to send a stream of isochronous data packets to a receiving node, first transmits a number of dummy frames each consisting of a number of packets. Preferably, these isochronous data packets make up frames of video data. From these dummy packets, the application obtains the time stamp values within the common isochronous packet (CIP) header of each packet. Using these obtained time stamp values, the application calculates a presentation time value for each data frame to be transmitted. The obtained time stamp value from a transmitted video frame is used to calculate the presentation time for a video frame which is a number of frames ahead within the transmit queue.

Abstract: A method and system for a multi-phase net refresh on a bus bridge interconnect, the interconnect comprising a number of nodes, a bus bridge, and a number of buses, are described. In one embodiment, a primary bus is acquired by communicating with other bus bridges on the buses. A secondary bus is breached to acquire the secondary bus. In addition, the primary bus and the secondary bus are committed.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, an applications programming interface (API) implements and manages isochronous and asychronous data transfer operations between an application and a bus structure. During an asynchronous transfer the API includes the ability to transfer any amount of data between one or more local data buffers within the application and a range of addresses over the bus structure using one or more asynchronous transactions. An automatic transaction generator may e used to automatically generate the transactions necessary to complete the data transfer. The API also includes the ability to transfer data between the application and another node on the bus structure isochronously over a dedicated channel. During an isochronous data transfer, a buffer management scheme is used to manage an linked list of data buffer descriptors.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the bandwidth allocated for isochronous data traffic on an interconnected data bus is disclosed. The present system uses an isochronous resource manager (IRM) to sense a bandwidth change request from a talker. The IRM instigates a bandwidth adjustment associated with the bandwidth change request to one or more bus bridge portals.

Abstract: When a controller controls a target, a useless communication is eliminated, and control is made easier at the same time. When a personal computer sends a command demanding a VTR to execute ‘REWIND’, the VTR returns a response notifying of an OK for the demand and starts ‘REWIND’ in an inside recording/playback system at the same time. When the mechamode changes from ‘REWIND’ to ‘STOP’, the VTR generates an event and reports the change to the personal computer. Upon receipt of this event, the personal computer immediately sends a command demanding to set the mechamode to ‘PLAY’ to the VTR. Upon receipt of this command, the VTR returns a response notifying of an OK for the command and also sets the mode of the recording/playback system to ‘PLAY’.