Abstract: The data processor of the present invention can play back video and audio synchronously from an optical disk, on which video and audio data are stored in different areas. Each area consists of one or more unit areas. The data processor includes: a playback control section for giving instructions on how to read the video and audio data and how to play back the video and audio based on the read data; a head for reading the data from one of the unit areas after another in accordance with the instructions; and audio and video buffers for retaining the audio and video data read. The playback control section instructs that the audio data be read from a predetermined one of the unit areas to the audio buffer memory, and then instructs that the video data, which is to be played back over first and second periods of time, be read from a number n (where n is an integer equal to or greater than two) of unit areas to the video buffer.

Abstract: A data processor includes a stream assembling section which divides video and audio data into a plurality of packets, and makes a plurality of data units, in each of which a video packet representing a fraction of the video data and an audio packet representing a fraction of the audio data are multiplexed together to generate a data stream composed of a plurality of data units; and a writing section for writing the data stream on a storage medium. The stream assembling section determines what video packets and audio packets are included in each data unit, and if a portion of audio data, which is associated with the video data stored in a predetermined data unit, is missing from the predetermined data unit, then copied data, obtained by copying partial audio data including at least that missing portion of the audio data, is put into the data stream.

Abstract: A data processor records an audio frame corresponding to an audio gap interval at a connection point, as well as the audio playback control information, in a post recording area. The audio is reproduced so as to include the audio frame at the connection point. The audio is also reproduced while being faded in and faded out in accordance with the audio playback control information. As a result, when an MPEG program stream stored on a disk is played back by making a play list with the connection point re-encoded, seamless playback is guaranteed without discontinuing the audio at all.

Abstract: A data processor includes: a first receiving section for receiving a first signal to acquire a first data file including a first data and a first piece of related information showing contents thereof; a second receiving section for receiving a second signal; a data generating section for generating a second data based on the second signal; a processing section for generating link information showing a location of the first piece of related information, in response to the first signal and for generating a second piece of related information, showing contents thereof, in response to the second signal; a decision section for generating a different piece of decision information according to a type of the signal received; a management file generating section for generating a management file, including the decision information and the link information, for the first data; and a writing section for writing the management file and either the first data file or a second data file on the storage medium.

Abstract: A data processor transfers a data stream, which is stored on a storage medium, to a connected device. The data stream includes attribute information that specifies the format of the data stream. The data processor includes: an interface section, which communicates with the device to acquire format information about a format that is compatible with the device; a reading section for reading the attribute information and the data stream from the storage medium; a reading control section for determining, by the attribute information and the format information, whether or not the format of the data stream needs to be converted; and a converting section for outputting the data stream either after having converted the format of the data stream into the one specified by the format information or without converting the format of the data stream as determined by the reading control section. The interface section transmits the data stream, which has been output from the converting section, to the device.

Abstract: A data processor includes: a signal input section to which video and audio signals are input; a compressing section for compressing/coding the video and audio signals to generate video and audio data; a stream assembling section, which divides the video and the audio data into a plurality of packets, and makes a plurality of data units, in each of which a video packet representing a fraction of the video data and an audio packet representing a fraction of the audio data are multiplexed together to generate a data stream composed of a plurality of data units; and a writing section for writing the data stream on a storage medium.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device includes a drive device 303 for recording and reproducing information on and from a disc medium 100 and a recording/reproducing control circuit 305 for controlling operations of the drive device 303. The recording/reproducing control circuit 305 controls the drive device 303 such that medium identification information that enables the disc medium 100 to be distinguished from another disc medium is recorded repeatedly in a plurality of locations in an area where structural characteristic information of the disc medium is recorded within a management data area on the disc medium 100.

Abstract: Each of a first data stream in a first format and a second data stream in a second format is an arrangement of a plurality of data units, each including compressed and encoded video data. In the first and second formats, first and second time ranges are respectively set to define a permissible variation in the video playback duration of the respective data units. The method includes the steps of: receiving a content representing the video; generating the compressed and encoded video data of the content; making the data units out of the video data such that the playback duration of each said data unit falls within both of the first and second time ranges; and recording the first data stream, including the data units, on the storage medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided that includes a recording section for recording information onto a recording medium, a file system processing section for managing the information as a file using file system information having a directory hierarchy structure capable of being referenced using a path name, a contents management information processing section for managing the directory and the file using contents management information, and an extension information processing section for managing extension information with respect to the directory and the file. The contents management information includes media object management information for referencing the directory and the file using object reference information obtained by converting the path name, and extended object management information for managing the extension information. The directory and the file are associated with the extension information via the object reference information.

Abstract: A data processor (10) according to the present invention includes: a video signal receiving section (100) for receiving a video signal representing video and aspect information to control aspect ratio of the video; an audio signal receiving section (102) for receiving an audio signal representing audio; a detecting section (104) for detecting the aspect information from the video signal; a stream generating section (101) for generating encoded data by encoding the video and audio signals by a predetermined encoding technique and also generating an encoded stream as a set of the encoded data; management information generating section (106) for generating management information to manage the encoded stream being processed, the management information including the aspect information for each set of the encoded data; and a writing section (120) for storing the management information and the encoded stream as at least one file on a storage medium.

Abstract: The data processor of the present invention can play back video and audio synchronously from an optical disk, on which video and audio data are stored in different areas. Each area consists of one or more unit areas. The data processor includes: a playback control section for giving instructions on how to read the video and audio data and how to play back the video and audio based on the read data; a head for reading the data from one of the unit areas after another in accordance with the instructions; and audio and video buffers for retaining the audio and video data read. The playback control section instructs that the audio data be read from a predetermined one of the unit areas to the audio buffer memory, and then instructs that the video data, which is to be played back over first and second periods of time, be read from a number n (where n is an integer equal to or greater than two) of unit areas to the video buffer.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus can write a video stream related to video on a recording medium. The data processing apparatus includes: a signal acquisition section for acquiring a video signal related to the video; a type identification section for identifying a type of the video based on the video signal, the type of the video being determined in accordance with picture counts of the video displayed per unit time; a stream generator for generating a video stream based on the video signal; a controller for determining, based on the type of the video, whether to disable the writing of the video stream or to enable the writing of the video stream with lowered video quality; and a writing section for controlling, based on the decision of the controller, the writing of the video stream to the recording medium.