Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device, comprising a memory array (10, 20) with a plurality of memory cells (100, 200) arranged in rows and columns, bit line conductors (12, 22) coupled to said rows of memory cells, an averaging circuit (11, 21) with inputs coupled to a plurality of said bit line conductors (12, 22) and being arranged to determine an average level on respective analog signal levels on said plurality of bit line conductors (12, 22), a monitoring circuit (13, 23) coupled to said averaging circuit (11, 21) and being arranged to monitor said average level and to output a refresh command when said average level shows a predetermined behaviour, and a refresh circuit (15, 25) coupled to said monitoring circuit (13, 23) and being arranged to refresh at least a selection of said plurality of memory cells (100, 200) in response to said refresh command.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method, device and computer program product for recording a set of data (52) having certain storage requirements on a storage medium. An application obtains information about the free available storage area of the storage medium from an operating system, identifies at least one available space of the storage medium that corresponds to requirements for the set of data, orders the operating system to reserve an area, if the operating system writes data in at least one other space before the identified available space, which area corresponds to said other space for dummy storage data (50), and thereafter, orders the operating system to store the set of data (52), such that the operating system places the set of data in the identified available space.

Abstract: A device for recording records a series of blocks (42) having continuous logical addresses, e.g. digitally encoded video, on a record carrier at a corresponding physical address range. Some physical addresses are assigned to defect management areas (43). The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of the defect management information. The device has contiguous recording means for detecting if the allocated physical address range is interrupted by a subset of physical addresses assigned to a defect management area. If so, the subset of physical addresses is reallocated to the user data area. The series of blocks (42) is contiguously recorded extending over the subset of physical addresses. The defect management area may be eliminated, shifted to a new location (51) after the end of the recorded file or shifted to the end of the medium.

Abstract: A device for recording records blocks of information on logical addresses on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence on defect management information that includes defect information on a defective status of physical addresses and remapping information on translating a logical address initially mapped to an initial physical address to an alternate physical address. The device has a real-time storage unit for writing real-time information blocks (77) to respective initial physical addresses irrespective of the defective status. When recording at a defective status location (76), the real-time information block is temporarily stored in a memory (80). In a separate period, when the writing of real-time information blocks is suspended, said temporarily stored real-time information blocks are additionally written to alternate physical addresses (81).

Abstract: A device for recording records information in blocks having logical addresses at a physical address (52) in a track on a record carrier. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, such as remapping tables, maintained in defect management areas. For avoiding remapping of real time information, such as video, a series of blocks (42) having a continuous logical address range is recorded in a corresponding allocated physical address range. In the event of a defect interrupting the allocated physical address range local offset information is generated for adding an offset to a local range of physical addresses in said address translation for skipping (61) the defect. The blocks logically following the last block before the defect are written at physical addresses following the defect, and an end portion (62) that extends beyond the allocated physical address range due to the defect, is accommodated elsewhere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive (2) for use in a computer or a reproduction device for accessing a record carrier. According to the invention via a specific action, supervised by the drive (2), the drive mimics the presence of a disc by sending a disc insertion message to the host (3). After that the drive (2) will give the host (3) (the virtual) file system contents of the virtual disc, which, for instance, contains a link to an auto-run file. This auto-run file tells the host (3) to perform certain actions, such as going to the specified internet site or executing a file from the virtual disc.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of storing first file system data and second file system data addressing user data in a user area (UA) on the medium. The control means (20) are adapted to store only one set of file entries shared by both file systems data. This reduces time and space necessary for handling file system data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a content item recorder (101) comprising storage means (109) for storing a plurality of content items. The content item recorder (101) may be a Personal Video Recorder comprising a hard disk. The content item recorder (109) comprises a back-up processor (115) generating reduced reference information associated with the plurality of content items; and a memory interface (117) for storing the reduced reference information to a back-up memory (119) separate from the storage means (109). The reduced reference information may be reduced user profile information of reference information allowing external copies of content items to be identified from external sources which may specifically be part of a peer-to-peer network. The reduced reference information may automatically be stored on recordable DVD disks when a content item is stored thereon. Following a hard disk malfunction or replacement, hard disk information may be restored in response to the reduced reference information.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of storing first file system data and second file system data addressing user data in a user area (UA) on the medium. The control means (20) are adapted to define partitions for both file systems such that the partitions start at the same location and to store the second file system directory entries outside the first file system partition. This reduces time and space necessary for handling the second file system data by allowing two file systems to share their file entries, while protecting the second file system directory entries from being erased when the medium is under control of the first file system.

Abstract: The present application relates to a rewritable record carrier of a predetermined format storing one or more directories of user data in a predetermined data format. In particular, its invention relates to the storage of DVD-Video data on a Mount Rainier formatted optical disc, such as a DVD+RW disc. In order to enable a consumer player to play back video data which has been written to the record carrier in said predetermined format it is proposed that the record carrier comprises a convergence directory (VIDEO TS) including a title set (VTS) for each directory of user data stored on said record carrier, each title set comprising a title set information file (vts xy.ifo) and one or more object files (vts xy.vob), said title set information file (vts xy.ifo) including content and address information of said one or more object files (vts xy.vob) which comprise address information of said user data, and management information (VMG) comprising a management information file (video ts.

Abstract: Portable devices for rendering multimedia data objects are widely known; mainly for reproducing audio, but also for reproducing video. These devices are powered by battery, which is known to have a limited amount of energy available. This carries the risk that no energy is available any more, while a multimedia data object that is rendered, is not rendered in full this leaves a user unsatisfied. Therefore, the amount of energy of the battery is checked and when a multimedia data object selected to be rendered can be rendered in full, it is rendered. When it cannot be rendered in full, it is not rendered. In an embodiment according to the invention, this check is made for a group of selected multimedia data objects.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and controls means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of performing initialization, formatting and defect management of a rewritable medium. Further, the apparatus is capable of storing first file system data in a user area (UA) and second file system data in a general application area (GAA) on the medium. The control means (20) are adapted to modify defect management data on the medium in order to block write access to UA under control of the first file system. This prevents systems unaware of the second file system data on the medium from modifying contents of UA.

Abstract: A device for recording records information in blocks having logical addresses at a physical address in a track on a record carrier. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, such as primary and secondary defect lists and remapping tables, maintained in defect management areas (61). The defect management information includes assignment information indicative of assignment of physical addresses in parts of the track to user data areas or to defect management areas. The device has assignment means for dynamically adapting the assignment information in dependence of detected defects (54) by assigning an additional physical address range to an additional defect management area (61). The additional physical address range starts near the detected defect (54). Hence the defect (54) is covered by a defect management area, which reduces the need for remapping.

Abstract: A device records information in blocks having logical addresses at a physical address in a track on a record carrier. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information (52,53,61,64), which includes defect entries indicating locations for replacing defective physical addresses. A read-only state of the record carrier is obtainable via a no-replacement state indicated by substantially none of the defect entries being free for use. The device has a read-only unit for setting the record carrier to the read-only state by reading original replacement information indicating a writable state, storing the original replacement information (60) in a hidden area, and writing defect management information (61) that is modified to the no-replacement state. The record carrier may be re-opened by retrieving the original replacement information (60) from the hidden area.

Abstract: A recording system (75) includes a broadcast receiver (210) for receiving broadcast programmes, and a download receiver (280) for requesting and receiving content parts of a broadcast programme from a server (90). A controller (250) determines whether an instruction for recording a broadcast programme would exceed a capacity for recording and playback of programmes during at least part of the corresponding broadcast period. If so, the controller instructs a recorder (290) to record content parts of the broadcast programme during a part of the broadcast period in which the capacity is not exceeded and stores an identification of a content part of the broadcast programme that could not be recorded. It determines a period in which the capacity of the recorder is not exceeded and ensures that the not recorded content parts are downloaded from the server in the determined period and recorded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording at least one data block on a disc-shaped record carrier (11). Said method comprises the steps of moving a write head towards a predetermined track comprising a first location (M) to which the at least one data block is planned to be written. It also comprises a step of determining a current location (I) of the write head on the track. It finally comprises a step of determining a second location (J), which is the nearest available location on the track of the current location of the write head in the rotational sense of the record carrier, and of writing said at least one data block to said second location.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of performing initialization, formatting and defect management of a rewritable medium. Further, the apparatus is capable of storing first file system data in a user area (UA) and second file system data in a general application area (GAA) on the medium. The control means (20) are adapted to enlarge GAA and to store the second file system data in it. This increases a number of files in UA, which can be addressed by the second file system data.

Abstract: A device for recording information records blocks having continuous logical addresses on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, which includes remapping information indicative for translating a logical address initially mapped to a physical address exhibiting a defect to an alternate physical address in a defect managemen area. The device has a continuous data detection unit (33) for detecting a logically continuous data, and a defect management reorganizing unit (34). The physical addresses of remapped logical addresses in the logically continuous data are determined, and the defect management information is reorganized (61,63,64,65,66) by remapping at least one of the remapped logical addresses to a different defect management area. During read-out the remapped logical addresses in the logically continuous address range are retrieved from a single defect management area.

Abstract: A device for recording information records blocks having continuous logical addresses on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, which includes assignment information indicative of assignment of physical addresses in first parts of the track to at least one user data area, assignment of physical addresses in second parts of the track to defect management areas and assignment of the defect management information to the defect management areas. A data type of recorded information is detected, in particular the type being streaming for real-time data like digitally encoded video, or nonstreaming for random data like computer data files. The device has defect management area reassignment means for changing said assignment information in dependence of the data type. For example a contiguous defect management layout 54 is converted into a distributed layout 55.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital audio/video signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of performing initialization, formatting and defect management of a rewritable medium. Further, the apparatus is capable of storing data in replacement areas instead of defect areas, which have been determined to be defective according to rules of the defect management. The control means (20) are adapted to re-record data from the replacement areas in the defect areas in order to improve playability of digital audio/video signals stored on the medium.