Abstract: When sample data is played back, audio guide data G1 and G2 and subsequent frame data are played back based on usage license information L1 contained in the sample data. When high-quality data is generated, the audio guide data G1 and G2 and the usage license information L1 are overwritten based on usage license information L2 contained in additional data. When the high-quality data is played back, audio guide data G1′ and G2′ and subsequent frame data are played back based on usage license information L3. A user is then able to identify the playback status of the sample data or high-quality data by listening to an audio guide.

Abstract: A first audio signal is generated from a number of stereo input channels (such as a left and a right channel). A signal level that corresponds to one of the plurality of input channels and another signal level from another of the plurality of input channels are determined. A second audio signal is selected on the basis of the signal levels such that the second audio signal is selected from the group consisting of the one input channel, the other input channel, and a signal generated from the number of input channels that is different than the first audio signal. The first audio signal and the selected second audio signal are separately coded.

Abstract: Upon receiving a request to send responding additional data, an additional-data transmitting device generates responding additional data and sends it to the requestor. The header of the responding additional data contains a content ID and the number of sample zones. At the head of additional frames in each online sample zone, the sample-data start position and the sample zone length are indicated. Upon receiving the responding additional data, the requestor generates sample playback data by using sample data and the responding additional data. In the sample playback data, frames which are reconstructed into higher-quality data than the responding additional data are indicated in sample zones. In other zones, sample frames are contained. The invention can be applied to a coding device, an additional-data transmitting device, a data playback device, and a data recording device.

Abstract: An information processing method separates tone component information higher than a trial frequency band and quantization accuracy information and normalization coefficient information of non-tone components higher than the trial frequency band. The number of tone components and the number of quantization units are minimized (to zero), and the other data is arranged in an extended area that cannot be referred to by a known player. Trial time information is written in an area containing unreferenced spectral coefficient information, which may be replaced, where necessary, with dummy data. A player for playing trial data refers to the trial time information, selects a random portion(s) from a trial-permitted area(s), the total playback time being within the trial time, and rearranges data included in the extended area of each selected frame at a playable position, thus playing the trial data. The present invention is applicable to encoders, data players, and data recorders.

Abstract: It is intended to remove a risk of illegal high quality restoration while enabling trial viewing of contents such as music, to make it possible to reproduce contents with high quality by acquiring a relatively small amount of data, and to make it possible to implement hardware at a lower cost. To generate trial listening data containing dummy data, a pseudo random number R is generated first. A remainder r of R divided by 128 is calculated. The remainder r is coded and incorporated into high sound quality restoration data. A bandwidth limitation region of trial listening data is replaced by dummy data starting from its rth bit. As a result, the head position of the dummy data in the trial listening data varies frame by frame, whereby the safety of the trial listening data can be increased.

Abstract: A signal (801) of a first code string made through replacing a part of a code string of a predetermined format with dummy data is sent to code string rewriting means (1802) via code string resolution means (1801). A signal (806) of a second code string for complementing the dummy data part in the signal (801) is sent to the code string rewriting means (1802) via control means (1805) and the dummy data in the first code string is rewritten to the second code string. At the time of trial viewing/listening, a signal (802) from the code string resolution means (1801) is selected by a switch (1808), and when the second code string (806) is acquired through content purchase, a signal (803) from the code string rewriting means (1802) is selected by the switch (1808). Thus, trial viewing/listening of a content such as music is made possible while the possibility of decryption is eliminated. By acquiring a relatively small quantity of data, reproduction of a high-quality content is made possible.

Abstract: A center (content supply center) (1865) for storing and managing contents, and user terminals (1861 to 1864) used by respective users are connected via networks (861 to 867). The center (1865) sends signals of contents for trial viewing/listening to the user terminals for free or at a low price. The user terminals (1861 to 1864) can receive the signals of the contents for trial viewing/listening and select and purchase only the content that the user likes from the received contents so as to reproduce the content with high quality. This enables trial viewing/listening. It is not necessary to download a large quantity of data with high quality from the content supply center or the like and there will be more opportunities of content purchase.

Abstract: Efficiently encoded signals wherein the compression ration can be high without a corresponding degradation of signal quality. The range of values of subband-based signal components for quantization to zero, to which a short codelength is given, is set so as to be larger. Consequently the ratio of the subband-based signal components quantized to values of a shorter codelength will become higher than if the subband-based signal components are quantized in such a manner as to minimize the total quantization error energy in each frequency band.

Abstract: A signal of a first code string, in which a code string in a predetermined format is partially replaced with dummy data, is transferred to a code string rewriting unit via a code string decomposition unit. A signal of a second code string for replacing the dummy data in the signal of the first code string is transferred to a control unit, and the amount of dummy data in a mid-range spectrum is calculated in a mid-range spectrum dummy data amount calculation unit. The control unit transfers data for replacing the dummy data to the code string rewriting unit, where the dummy data in the first code string is rewritten therewith.

Abstract: A signal processing method and apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of reproducing a coded audio signal by decoding it while shifting its pitch, and reproducing, from an original sound, a sound having a sufficiently higher pitch than the original sound with few operations and less cost for the decoder used in the signal processing apparatus, and an information serving medium for serving a program which implements the signal decoding and pitch shifting. In one embodiment, the method of providing a signal processing method for decoding a coded signal for reading, includes setting a pitch for the coded signal, decoding only a low frequency portion of the coded signal according to the set pitch, and shifting the pitch of the decoded read signal based on the set pitch.

Abstract: An information record/reproduction device, method and supply medium thereof to speedily acquire information as well as prevent illegal copying. In the recording system of information record/reproduction device, encoded information recorded on a semiconductor memory is read out from an information provider device by an encoder/decoder section and decoded by utilizing an encoder key K[BA] and then output to an encoder section. In the encoder section, the information decoded by the encoder/decoder section is encrypted and output to a RAM device. The encrypted information input into the RAM is then recorded on an magneto-optic disk.

Abstract: A first codec-based warning message generator 151 generates a warning message by a first. A first codec-based silent fixed pattern generator 152 generates a first codec-based silent fixed pattern. A second codec encode block 154 encodes an input signal by a second codec. A code string generator 155 generates a synthetic code string by synthesizing outputs from the above components in an encoding frame having a predetermined length being a unit of encoding.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus which, while enabling reproduction by an old standard accommodating reproducing device, reduces the effect of the quantization error produced on decoding at the time of encoding and decoding which realizes a multiple channel system by new standard expansion. The apparatus includes an adaptive channel conversion circuit for multiplying signals of a L or R channel with a first coefficient, multiplying signals of the other channel with a second coefficient, mixing signals of the channel multiplied with the first coefficient with signals of the channel multiplied with the second coefficient for each of the L and R channels, and for generating (L+R)/2 and (L−R)/2 from the L and R channels existing after the channel mixing. The apparatus also includes a first encoding circuit for encoding (L+R)/2 with A-codec and a second encoding circuit for encoding (L−R)/2 signal with B-codec.

Abstract: A code transform apparatus performs fast data transform by enabling intercode data transform. The code transform apparatus includes a code-string decomposing unit for inputting a first code string obtained by coding a spectral signal which has been transformed with a first block length after a time-series information signal had been divided into a first band group. A signal-component decoding unit decodes the input first code string into a spectral signal. A spectral-signal transform unit transforms the decoded spectral signal into a spectral signal which is transformed with a second block length after being divided into a second band group. A signal-component coding unit and a code-string generating unit code the transformed spectral signal into a second code string.

Abstract: A signal processing device and a signal processing method can reduce the work area and realize a higher speed for arithmetic operations by reducing the number of multiplications and additions when performing MDCT operations, IMDCT operation and/or transforming code strings between different coding system.

Abstract: In case codes of old and new standards are recorded on the same recording medium, it is desirable that the signals of the old standard can be reproduced by an old standard accommodating reproducing device, while both signals can be reproduced by the new standard accommodating reproducing device such as to avoid lowering of the signal quality. To this end, if multi-channel signals are recorded in terms of a frame the size of which cannot be controlled, a second encoding circuit encodes signals of a channel reproduced by the old standard accommodating reproducing device, while a first encoding circuit encodes the signals of a channel reproduced by an old standard accommodating reproducing device with a number of bits smaller than the maximum number of bits that can be allocated to that frame. A codestring generating circuit arrays a codestring encoded by the second encoding circuit in a void area of a frame provided by encoding in the first encoding circuit.

Abstract: A first codec-based warning message generator 151 generates a warning message by a first. A first codec-based silent fixed pattern generator 152 generates a first codec-based silent fixed pattern. A second codec encode block 154 encodes an input signal by a second codec. A code string generator 155 generates a synthetic code string by synthesizing outputs from the above components in an encoding frame having a predetermined length being a unit of encoding.

Abstract: An information encoding method in which, if desired to reproduce an information recording medium recorded in accordance with an encoding method for a new standard by a reproducing device adapted for coping with the encoding method for an old standard, the user is apprised of the fact that part of the recorded signals cannot be reproduced by a reproducing device adapted for coping only with the encoding method for the old standard. For encoding the information in accordance with the encoding method for the new standard, the message information in addresses 200000 to 239999 is encoded simultaneously. The message information has been encoded in accordance with the encoding method for the old standard and which can be reproduced by the reproducing device adapted for coping with the encoding method for the old standard.

Abstract: A signal encoding method for encoding input digital data by high-efficiency encoding whereby acoustic signals can be encoded on a real-time basis with small-sized hardware. The spectral signal components of an input signal are divided into first band units as encoding units, that is units used for encoding, and second band units, for setting an initial value of quantization precision. An estimated value of the required number of bits for each encoding unit is computed. A total number of bits required to encode the spectral components of the input signal is adjusted based on an estimated value of the required number of bits as separated and extracted from one encoding unit.

Abstract: An information providing and collecting apparatus includes an information dividing circuit and an adding means. The information dividing circuit divides an input signal into information segments based on a break in information being carried by the input signal, or a marker in the input signal generated by a user indicating an end of an information segment. The adding means adds an information division signal in advance of each of the information segments.