Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data storage section having a plurality of recording regions for storing data, and a region information storing section operable to store information about each recording region in the data storage section. The region information storing section stores information about a recording region (for example, a recording region has been accessed finally) which is set first as an accessible region when the information recording medium is initialized at the next time among a plurality of recording regions in the data storage section. A data processing apparatus refers to the information about the recording region and changes over a recording region to the recording region specified by the information about the recording region just after initialization of the recording medium.

Abstract: Areas in an information medium 507 having a plurality of information storing areas 506 which are managed by different file systems are switched by means of a display control part 502 and a medium control part 503, and information for clearly notifying the utilized information storing area 506 from the information medium 507 is displayed on a display part 501. In addition, a switched areas notifying part 508 is provided in order to notify to a user that the area has switched using a mode of display, sound, light or the like.

Abstract: A method of managing a file structure in a memory card comprises the steps of verifying whether or not a first management file exists in a general area of a memory card which is generally accessible, verifying whether or not available information on an encryption key stored in the first management file exists, when existence of the first management file is verified, and verifying whether or not a second management file exists in an authentication area which requires an authentication process for accessing a memory, when existence of the available information on said encryption key is verified.

Abstract: The card writer (101) detects whether the sliding member (1) constituting the slide switch of the SD memory card is in the first position or the second position. The device driver (60) of the host computer (100) sets the memory area within the SD memory card to the writable state when the sliding member is in the first position. On the other hand, when the sliding member is in the second position, the device driver sets the memory area to the non-writable state except a part of the memory area. This part is the protected area (25) that is writable even when the protected area (25) is set to the non-writable state.

Abstract: A content reading apparatus only permits the use of contents such as images, music, and the like within a permitted usage period. In a recording medium having an authentication function, secure data that includes a decryption key and a remaining usage period is recorded in a protected area, and an encrypted content corresponding to the secure data is recorded in a user area. A decrypting of the encrypted content by a decryption unit, and an outputting of the decrypted content by an output unit to a user is only permitted for the duration that the usage rights judgment unit judges the remaining usage period to be greater than zero. The remaining usage period is updated by the usage rights judgment unit in accordance with a usage period of the content by the user and rewritten back into the protected area.

Abstract: A countdown audio generation apparatus comprises a reproduction unit for reproducing a video signal and time information between which predetermined synchronization is maintained; a video output unit for outputting the video signal reproduced by the reproduction unit; a countdown audio generation unit for generating a countdown audio signal which informs that the time information reproduced by the reproduction unit reaches a predetermined countdown end time; and an audio output unit for outputting the countdown audio signal generated by the countdown audio generation unit. Therefore, the user of this apparatus can know the predetermined countdown end time by the countdown audio.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving data files from a storage medium are disclosed. A storage medium stores one or more data files and address information showing the path of each data file. The address information is characterized in that numerical values derived or converted from given parts of the path names are used as the address information, whereby a data configuration which occupies less memory space than storing the path names as character strings. A numerical value can be designated from the numerical values and a character string can be generated from the numerical value to retrieve a corresponding data file.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for an SD memory card that has a plurality of EPUBxxx.KEY files recorded thereon, each file having a plurality of Key&Rule Entry areas, and an SD_EPUB.MMG file being read from the recording medium prior to the writing of data. A bitmap in SD_EPUB.MMG shows for each EPUBxxx.KEY file whether the EPUBxxx.KEY file has at least one Key&Rule Entry area not in use, or whether all the Key&Rule Entry areas are in use. Based on the bitmap in the read SD_EPUB.MMG file, the recording apparatus opens EPUB#u.KEY having an unused Key&Rule Entry area and writes data into the unused Key&Rule Entry area in the file. If all the Key&Rule Entry areas in EPUB#u.KEY become in use as a result of the writing of the data, the recording apparatus updates the bitmap in SD_EPUB.MMG.

Abstract: The storage medium of the present invention, storing one or more data files and address information showing the path of each data file, is characterized in that numerical values derived from given parts of the path names are used as address information, a data configuration which occupies less memory space than storing the path names as character strings.

Abstract: A power control section 105, which turns ON or OFF a video/audio recording apparatus, outputs power control information. A video recording control section 107, which starts or stops video recording, outputs video recording control information. A signal input section 101 allows moving picture data to be input. Based on the power control information and the video recording control information, an attribute designation section 109 generates attribute information, which is supplied to a recording section 103. The attribute information contains a program number used for the classification of moving picture files. Any number of moving picture files which may be recorded after the power is turned ON and before the power is turned OFF are assigned with the same program number. The recording section 103 records on a recording medium the attribute information as well as moving picture files representing the moving picture data which has been input via the signal input section 101.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data playback apparatus which efficiently performs playback or erasure of a program composed of video or audio which is stored in a memory card. A decoding means for reading data from the memory to decode the same retrieves an ID which matches a program ID designated by the user from a program file management data file, reads a movie data file in the folder of the designated program and decodes the same, with referring to the relevant program information.

Abstract: A high definition graphic display apparatus comprises a polygon data inputting means for producing polygon data including coordinates to be displayed; an N times coordinate conversion means for expanding each coordinate value N times; an active list producing means for producing an active list which includes active cells each including information of an X coordinate which has N-times expanded coordinates which represent inclination of a side, and a number of Y coordinate lines which intersect the side, a scan list producing unit for producing a scan list by finding a line scan list of every scan line with a point on a side corresponding to the active cell which is present on the scan line; a scan line information extracting means for deciding whether an unit N lines is directly convertible into compressed display data, the unit N lines which includes a Y coordinate line; a compressed data producing means for producing compressed display data in accordance with an output of the scan line information extracting