Abstract: A top toy includes a trunk part having an insertion hole, first and second shafts, a locking part being configured on the trunk part to lock first and second locked parts and to hold the first and second shafts. The first and second shafts are interchangeable. When the first shaft is employed, the first shaft is inserted in the insertion hole. When the first shaft is employed, the locking part is configured to hold the first shaft elastically and radially inwardly. When the second shaft is employed, the second shaft is inserted in the insertion hole. When the second shaft is employed, the locking part is configured to hold the second shaft elastically and radially inwardly.

Abstract: A top part includes an upper trunk part, and a bottom part including a lower trunk part and first and second rod-shaped shafts. The lower trunk is attached to the upper trunk. The first and second rod-shaped shafts are interchangeable. The first rod-shaped shaft is inserted in an insertion through hole and being attached to the lower trunk. The second rod-shaped shaft is inserted in the insertion through hole and being attached to the lower trunk. When the upper trunk part is rotated and reaches a joint release position, the upper trunk part and the lower trunk part are detached. The bottom part includes first and second engagement part. The first rod-shaped shaft has a first shape to create a first engagement state between the first and second engagement parts. The second rod-shaped shaft has a second shape to create a second engagement state.

Abstract: A recording device performs recording on a recording medium such as a DVD, and playback compatibility of the recording medium is increased. In circumstances such as when a standard is established after the manufacture of a playback apparatus, there are playback devices that physically cannot read information for decrypting encrypted data from a predetermined area of the recording medium due to the specifications of the playback apparatus, and therefore the playback apparatus cannot use the recording medium. In order for the recording medium to be able to be used in such a playback apparatus, the recording device reads data recorded in the predetermined area of the recording medium, and records the read data in another area that is readable by the playback apparatus.

Abstract: A recording apparatus which executes copy control utilizing copy control information which is indicative of plural types of copy control includes an electronic watermark detection device, which detects a predetermined copy control information portion of the copy control information out of a content over which an electronic watermark expressing the copy control information is superimposed, and a recording device which records a content in accordance with a detection result obtained by the electronic watermark detection device.

Abstract: In an apparatus that carries out reproduction control on the basis of digital watermark information embedded in a content, for the purpose of providing a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method in which reproduction stoppage in the middle of reproduction according to the detection result of the digital watermark information does not occur, the reproducing apparatus and the reproducing method are configured so that before reproduction the detection section thereof detects attached information embedded in a content that is recorded on a recording medium, so that the content and the attached information that is detected using the detection section are stored in the storage section thereof so as to be related to each other, and so that the reproduction of the content corresponding to the attached information stored in the storage section is controlled according to the attached information.

Abstract: A recording device performs recording on a recording medium such as a DVD, and playback compatibility of the recording medium is increased. In circumstances such as when a standard is established after the manufacture of a playback apparatus, there are playback devices that physically cannot read information for decrypting encrypted data from a predetermined area of the recording medium due to the specifications of the playback apparatus, and therefore cannot use the recording medium. In order for the recording medium to be able to be used in such a playback apparatus, the recording device reads data recorded in the predetermined area of the recording medium, and records the read data in another area that is readable by the playback apparatus.

Abstract: To prevent the user from moving a content on a bound recording medium to another storage medium more than the maximum number of times permitted by its copyright holder. A recorder includes: a bound recording section for bound-recording at least one data file and at least one management information file for a content; a control section for giving an instruction to move the content to a storage medium; and a drive for recording the content's data on the storage medium. The management information file includes access information for accessing the data file. In response to the instruction to move, the bound recording section reads the data file of the content in accordance with the access information and outputs the content's data, the drive records the content's data on the storage medium, and the control section makes the access information unavailable.

Abstract: A data processor includes: a first medium on which a content's data has been bound-recorded; a memory having stored thereon the content's access control information; and a read/write section for reading and writing data from/on a second medium. In response to a request to back up the content, the read/write section writes the content's data on the second medium and the memory retains the access control information without modifying the information. If a request to restore the content has been received and if the access control information that makes the content accessible is stored in the memory and if the content's data has been written on the second medium, then the read/write section reads the content's data from the second medium and writes the data on the first medium.

Abstract: In an apparatus that carries out reproduction control on the basis of digital watermark information embedded in a content, for the purpose of providing a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method in which reproduction stoppage in the middle of reproduction according to the detection result of the digital watermark information does not occur, the reproducing apparatus and the reproducing method are configured so that before reproduction the detection section thereof detects attached information embedded in a content that is recorded on a recording medium, so that the content and the attached information that is detected using the detection section are stored in the storage section thereof so as to be related to each other, and so that the reproduction of the content corresponding to the attached information stored in the storage section is controlled according to the attached information.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a stream getting section for getting a data stream representing a content and a recording processing section for generating output control information and writing the data stream and the output control information on a medium. The output control information defines an appropriate output method, which is compatible with the output format of the content, following a rule that defines what type of processing should be done according to the type of input source of the content and the output format of the content and in accordance with source related information on the input source of the content. By reference to the output control information, a device that is going to play back the content from this medium can output the content without considering its input source.

Abstract: A recording apparatus which executes copy control utilizing copy control information which is indicative of plural types of copy control includes an electronic watermark detection device, which detects a predetermined copy control information portion of the copy control information out of a content over which an electronic watermark expressing the copy control information is superimposed, and a recording device which records a content in accordance with a detection result obtained by the electronic watermark detection device.

Abstract: In transmission of digital audio data usingIEEE1394, for example, when the audio data is changed from linear PCM to nonlinear PCM, identifier adding means of the transmitting apparatus inserts a silent identifier and nearly zero data for a specific time, and first identifier distinguishing means of the receiving apparatus changes over the output of data processing selecting means from linear PCM processing side to nonlinear processing side when detecting the silent identifier, thereby preventing generation of noise when changing over the data.

Abstract: A controlled device (103) containing a plurality of controlled objects (functional units) includes selection means (109) that allows a user to select a functional unit to be controlled. If a command including no information specifying which functional unit in the controlled device is to be controlled is received, the controlled device (103) uses the selection means (109) to allow the user to select the functional unit to be controlled and determines the selected functional unit as an object to be controlled in the controlled device (103) so that the unit intended by the user is selected as the unit to be controlled.

Abstract: A signal data receiving device for receiving data via a digital interface. The signal data receiving device has a receiving terminal data holding device for holding data concerning a state of a terminal via which data is received, and wherein the terminal state data includes terminal operating mode information. Suspend reasons concerning suspend in the operating mode information are classified using a receiving data state and a device operation state as classification criteria. These classifications and each classified suspend reason are capable of being displayed on another device connected to the digital interface.

Abstract: In a data transmission apparatus, a list generator produces a list of auxiliary information by appending a corresponding ID code to each item of the auxiliary information, based on a table of the ID codes previously assigned to the items of the auxiliary information, to thereby access a desired auxiliary information content in the list with reference to the ID code appended thereto.

Abstract: In a data transmission apparatus, a list generator (109) produces a list of auxiliary information by appending a corresponding ID code to each item of the auxiliary information (FIGS. 2B, 3A, 6A), based on a table of the ID codes previously assigned to the items of the auxiliary information, to thereby access to a desired auxiliary information content in the list with reference to the ID code appended thereto.

Abstract: In a command processing system for processing a command sent from an external controller (111) to an equipment (100, 200) via a digital interface (112), a status/command storage unit (103) stores the last executed commands to inform the external controller (111) of contents thereof in response to the command. Meanwhile, a management information storage unit stores the management information just before and just after execution of the received command, wherein upon receipt of a command (Z) for inquiring contents of the previously executed commands, the commands (X, Y) stored in the status/command storage unit (103) are read out to produce a response data to the inquiring command. Thus, the user can easily know the content of the last control command provided for controlling equipment.

Abstract: A data transmission and receiving apparatus and method capable of synchronized playback of plural content and reading descriptors with little processing when accessing from an external device AV data recorded to a recording medium and a descriptor for associated data thereof. An audio list can include a pointer to a title and a pointer to text file information. Link information to a first object of the title list is written to the pointer to the title. Link information to the first object of a second text file list is written to the pointer to the text file information. Access from an external device can be simplified by using such a list structure.

Abstract: A vocal training apparatus accomplishes reproduction of a music signal recorded on an information medium, where the music signal includes a model vocal signal and an accompaniment signal. A model vocal signal is extracted from the music signal and a singer's vocal signal is received. The model vocal characteristics are measured from the model vocal signal and the singer's vocal characteristics are measured from the singer's vocal signal. The singer's vocal characteristics and the model vocal characteristics can then be compared to evaluate the singer's vocal characteristics relative to the model vocal characteristics.

Abstract: A vocal training apparatus accomplishes reproduction of a music signal recorded on an information medium, where the music signal includes a model vocal signal and an accompaniment signal. A model vocal signal is extracted from the music signal and a singer's vocal signal is received. The model vocal characteristics are measured from the model vocal signal and the singer's vocal characteristics are measured from the singer's vocal signal. The singer's vocal characteristics and the model vocal characteristics can then be compared to evaluate the singer's vocal characteristics relative to the model vocal characteristics.