Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing a digital information signal which is recorded on a first and a second layer of a record carrier, the digital information signal being divided into cells, each cell being recorded in at least one sector, the digital information signal comprising a first cell recorded on the first layer and a second cell recorded on the second layer, while in addition control data indicating that the first and the second cell have to be presented in a non-seamless manner one after the other is recorded on said record carrier. The apparatus is arranged to detect that the first cell is read from the first layer and the second cell is read from the second layer and generates a control signal indicating that the first and the second cell have to be presented seamlessly in dependence on said detection. In this way the control data indicating that the cells have to be presented with a seam is replaced with a control signal indicating that the cells have to presented seamlessly.

Abstract: A method and a device generate a DVD-Video compatible data structure from still pictures so as to create a slide show, where the data structure is compatible with the DVD+RW and DVD+R specifications. In one embodiment, a set of Ni video object units (VOBUs) is generated for each still picture, where each of the VOBUs include one video picture derived from the original still picture and a video gap. The video pictures of the Ni VOBUs only differ by their time stamps. Consequently, the DVD-Video compatible data structure is easy and fast to author. The DVD-Video compatible data structure has a low bitrate, and the presentation time of each picture can be adapted by setting the number Ni and/or the length of the video gap.

Abstract: A method is described for recording information on a multi-layered optical disc (2), the disc comprising two storage spaces (LO, L1) in adjacent storage layers (40, 41). Data to be recorded are received from a source. On recording, the data are organized to form cells (35), each cell corresponding to a certain amount of data. The cells are first recorded in the first storage space (LO) until the last storage address (N) of the first storage space, and then the recording process makes a transition to the first storage address (N+1) of the second storage space. The size of the last cell to be recorded in the first storage space is determined in relationship to the size of the remainder part (R) of the first storage space, such that the transition from the first storage space to the second storage space corresponds to a cell boundary (34).

Abstract: A method for copying information from a multi-layered optical source disc (2S) to on a multi-layered optical target disc (2T) is described. A first portion (67) of the source data is located in a first source storage space (LsO), and a second portion (68) of the source data is located in a second source storage space (LsI). The first source data portion has a logical end address (M) smaller than the physical end address (Nt) of the first target storage space (LtO). All source cells from the first source storage space are recorded into a first target data portion (77) of the first target storage space. The remainder portion (74) of the first target storage space is defined as a dummy data portion. Then, the cells from the second source data portion (68) are recorded into a second target data portion (78) of the second target storage space (LtI).

Abstract: A method of decoding MPEG coded digital data, received in a forward reproduction order in least one Group Of Pictures (GOP) according to the MPEG standard, for producing decoded pictures for display in reverse playback order. Tho this purpose a limited number of decoded frames is temporarily stored while repeatedly same coded picture data is retrieved in a forward reproduction order to produce decoded picture data, employing the decoded temporarily stored picture data. This has as an advantage that the amount of temporarily storage capacity required, approximately equals the amount required for forward playback. In a specific embodiment, wherein the MPEG data cotains either NTSC GOPs or PAL GOPs, only temporarily storage capacity of four picture frames is required in case of reverse playback, compared with three in case of forward playback.