Abstract: A microphone apparatus for processing and outputting an output signal of a microphone array including at least nine microphones includes a directivity function processing circuit that converts the output signal of the microphone array into a unidirectional signal and that outputs the unidirectional signal. The directivity function processing circuit expands a directivity function whose variable is an incident angle of an acoustic wave into a Fourier series up to at least third order. The variable in the expanded expression is produced from output signals of the microphones forming the microphone array.

Abstract: An echo canceller formed of an adaptive filter is designed such that even under a condition where a system transmission delay is undefined, an appropriate delay time can be set in a delay circuit that absorbs a system delay, and that an effective echo cancellation effect can always be achieved. A time difference of a transmission path until a reproduction audio signal input to the delay circuit is input as a processing target signal of an adaptive filter system through a space between a speaker and a microphone is determined, and the delay time corresponding to this time difference is set in the delay circuit. At this time, the speaker and the microphone are placed so that the distance therebetween is small, and the delay time of the delay circuit is set to 0. Thus, the determined time difference indicates a system transmission delay in the above transmission path. That is, an accurate delay time corresponding to the system transmission delay can be set in the delay circuit.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes an encrypting apparatus for encrypting data in units of an encryption block having a predetermined data length. A processing apparatus is also provided for performing predetermined processing on data in units of a processing block having a data length of a whole multiple of the predetermined length of the encryption block. A controller is also provided for writing the encrypted data in a storage medium so that the data positioned in the same encryption block is also positioned in the same processing block. The controller also reads the data from the storage means in units of the processing block when the data is to be read out.

Abstract: An editing apparatus and method for dividing or combining a data file(s) that is segmented into blocks of a predetermined data length and recorded in a non-volatile memory. An attribute file having a predetermined length is modified so as to reflect such dividing or combining. Such attribute file is recorded in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus has three reproducing modes that are a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, when a program that has been reproduction restricted is tried to be reproduced, the reproducing operation is paused and the user is asked whether he or she wants to reproduce the program. Corresponding to the user's reply, the reproducing operation is performed or prohibited. In the second mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is prohibited from being reproduced. In the third mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is unconditionally reproduced. When the power of the apparatus is turned on at step S31, a prompt that causes the user to select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is displayed. At step S33, a process for designating a mode is performed. Information of the designated mode is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining erasability of content data. The apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive content data to be stored in a first storage medium; a comparator configured to compare a remaining storable capacity of the first storage medium with an amount of the received content data; a determining unit configured to determine whether first data already stored in the first storage medium is re-recordable by determining whether a copy of the first data is retrievable from the second storage medium; and a controller configured to control an erase process for the first data according to the comparison made by the comparator and the determination made by the determining unit.

Abstract: An editing apparatus and method for dividing or combining a data file(s) that is segmented into blocks of a predetermined data length and recorded in a non-volatile memory. An attribute file having a predetermined length is modified so as to reflect such dividing or combining. Such attribute file is recorded in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An editing apparatus and method for dividing or combining a data file(s) that is segmented into blocks of a predetermined data length and recorded in a non-volatile memory. An attribute file having a predetermined length is modified so as to reflect such dividing or combining. Such attribute file is recorded in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus has three reproducing modes that are a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, when a program that has been reproduction restricted is tried to be reproduced, the reproducing operation is paused and the user is asked whether he or she wants to reproduce the program. Corresponding to the user's reply, the reproducing operation is performed or prohibited. In the second mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is prohibited from being reproduced. In the third mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is unconditionally reproduced. When the power of the apparatus is turned on at step S31, a prompt that causes the user to select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is displayed. At step S33, a process for designating a mode is performed. Information of the designated mode is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: An echo canceller used for hands-free communication systems in which hands-free communication is performed by using a speaker and a microphone is disclosed. The echo canceller includes a step size control unit calculating a step size value in an adaptive filter and an adaptive filter unit estimating an echo component of a feedback path from an input signal to the feedback path by adaptively identifying an impulse response of the feedback path formed by an acoustical coupling and the like of the speaker and the microphone, and subtracting the echo component from an output signal from the feedback path, in which the step size control unit calculates a step size value by using an echo reduction amount defined based on the ratio between the output signal from the feedback path and a residual signal and outputs the value to the adaptive filter unit.

Abstract: An audio processor of a loud speech communication system including a speaker and a microphone is provided. The audio processor includes: an adaptive filter wherein an amount of update in a learning event is set to an arbitrary value, and a filter coefficient is serially determined corresponding to the set amount of update; a semi-fixed filter adapted to an echo cancellation process of an audio input signal input from the microphone; adaptive filter assessment unit that calculates a length of an update vector based on the filter coefficient determined by the adaptive filter and a length of an update vector based on a filter coefficient set in the semi-fixed filter and that performs assessment of the filter coefficients in accordance with the update vectors; and coefficient specifying unit that sets an optimal filter coefficient among the filter coefficients into the semi-fixed filter in accordance with the result of the assessment of the filter coefficients performed by the adaptive filter assessment unit.

Abstract: An audio reproducing system includes a pair of speaker units, a mounting unit for mounting the pair of speaker units, without being attached to a baffle board, to the vicinity of a listener's ears in a manner such that sounds emitted from the front and back of a diaphragm of each speaker unit are mixed, and an audio signal output unit for virtual sound imaging an input audio signal and outputting the virtual sound imaged signal to the pair of speaker units in a manner such that the listener listens to a sound reproduced by the pair of speaker units feeling as if the sound is emitted from a different speaker device.

Abstract: A searching apparatus and a searching method are disclosed whereby a storage medium containing a plurality of data items and management data for managing these data items is subjected to a sort based on a sort condition and a search based on a search condition. The data retrieved through the search are displayed in accordance with a given condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus along with a method for displaying a list of data to be transferred from one storage area to another in conjunction with a progress status report of the data transfer, thereby allowing users to know at a glance how far the transfer of desired data has progressed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a processing method and a processing apparatus for processing a plurality of files stored on a storage medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reproducing apparatus compatible with a storage medium storing copyright-protected and copyright-unprotected files, the reproducing apparatus being capable of reproducing any one of the files stored on the medium, the reproducing apparatus comprising: demodulating means for demodulating any one of the copyright-protected files in one way and any one of the copyright-unprotected files in a different way; selective operation executing means operated to select either any one of the copyright-protected files or any one of the copyright-unprotected files as a file to be reproduced; and controlling means for causing the demodulating means to select one of the two different ways of demodulation depending on whether a copyright-protected file or a copyright-unprotected file has been selected by operation of the selective operation executing means.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for facilitating data erasure operations involving data recorded on a recording medium. Each piece of data recorded on the recording medium may be examined to determine whether it is re-recordable by determining whether the data is already stored in another storage medium. When data erasure is requested, erasure processing may be controlled in accordance with the result of the determination. For example, original data based on data captured by a microphone or a camera (namely, non-re-recordable data) may not be erased (without specific approval by the user). Conversely, re-recordable data copied from another recording medium such as a CD may be erased.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is disclosed, that comprises a compression process means for compressing an input digital signal corresponding to a predetermined compression process and segmenting the compressed digital signal into blocks, a fixed value generating means for generating a predetermined fixed value, an adding means for adding the fixed value generated by the fixed value generating means at a predetermined timing to the blocks of the digital signal compressed by the compression process means, an encrypting means for encrypting the fixed value and the compressed digital signal added by the adding means, and a recording means for recording the fixed value and the compressed digital signal encrypted by the encrypting means to a record medium.

Abstract: An editing apparatus wherein the editing of content is controlled according to its supply source. Identification information for identifying a content supply source is recorded in a recording medium in correspondence with the content supplied from the content supply source and recorded in the recording medium. When editing of the content is requested by a user, the identification information corresponding to that contend is checked. According to the content supply source identified by the identification information, the editing of the content is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: An editing apparatus wherein the editing of content is controlled according to its supply source. Identification information identifying a content supply source is recorded in a recording medium in correspondence with the content supplied from the content supply source and recorded in the recording medium. When editing of the content is requested by a user, the identification information corresponding to that content is checked. According to the content supply source identified by the identification information, the editing content is enabled or disabled.