Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A system for transferring 3D video information has a transmitter (100) to broadcast a signal (104) to a receiver (110). The 3D video information includes auxiliary data for display in an overlay area on the 3D video data, like subtitles. The 3D video data has a left view and a right view arranged in a 2D frame in a main arrangement, e.g. side-by-side. An auxiliary left and right view of the auxiliary data are arranged in an auxiliary data stream according to a 2D transmission format in an auxiliary arrangement that corresponds to the main arrangement, e.g. also side-by-side. In addition, a 2D version of the auxiliary data and auxiliary disparity data indicative of the disparity to be applied to the 2D version of auxiliary data when overlayed on the left view and the right view is included in the transport stream. Advantageously the receiver may use a suitable version of the auxiliary data based on the receiver processing architecture.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus generates an audiovisual content item data stream (e.g. transport stream) comprising a plurality of individual audiovisual data streams with audiovisual components for the content item. A generator (301-307) generates a first stream comprising both mandatory audio data and replaceable audio data for the audio representation where the replaceable audio data being data can be replaced by alternative audio data. A combiner (309) includes the resulting stream into the content item data stream. A receiving apparatus includes an extractor (403) which extracts the mandatory audio data from the received stream. A replacer (415) may replace the replaceable audio data by alternative audio data and an output (415) can generate an audio signal from the mandatory and alternative audio data. The approach may specifically provide an improved and more flexible data stream for audiovisual content.

Abstract: A medium access device includes a writer configured to write information in a logical storage space of a storage medium which has a physical storage space comprising two or more layers of physical storage locations. Each physical storage location has a physical address. The logical storage space includes storage locations within a first layer of the layers and within a subsequent layer of the layers. The storage locations in the logical storage space have contiguously numbered logical addresses. The access device further includes an address limit memory containing at least a value for a parameter indicating maximum value of the logical addresses of the storage locations in the first layer; and a processor configured to change the maximum value in the address limit memory and to provide an output when the maximum value cannot be changed to avoid attempting changing the maximum value.

Abstract: A device for recording information on a storage medium is arranged for formatting the storage medium. The device has a medium interface for interfacing with the storage medium for recording data on the medium and retrieving data from the medium, and a host interface for receiving commands according to a protocol (ATA/ATAPI) from a host. The commands include a format command. The device has a formatter for formatting the storage medium according to a format process indicated by the format command. The formatting includes interrupting the format process until a point in time defined by a further command from the host so that no formatting in the background is performed, and therefore real-time performance of the device is not deteriorated by the formatting.

Abstract: A system for transferring 3D video information has a transmitter (100) to broadcast a signal (104) to a receiver (110). The 3D video information includes auxiliary data for display in an overlay area on the 3D video data, like subtitles. The 3D video data has a left view and a right view arranged in a 2D frame in a main arrangement, e.g. side-by-side. An auxiliary left and right view of the auxiliary data are arranged in an auxiliary data stream according to a 2D transmission format in an auxiliary arrangement that corresponds to the main arrangement, e.g. also side-by-side. In addition, a 2D version of the auxiliary data and auxiliary disparity data indicative of the disparity to be applied to the 2D version of auxiliary data when overlayed on the left view and the right view is included in the transport stream. Advantageously the receiver may use a suitable version of the auxiliary data based on the receiver processing architecture.

Abstract: A device for recording information on a record carrier (11) is arranged for formatting a multilayer record carrier. The device has formatting means (16) for formatting the record carrier according which formatting includes de-icing by, in the event that locations in the user data area have not yet been recorded, writing dummy data (60) on the locations. The formatting means (16) determine a first radial position (50) and a first layer (40), which first radial position is indicative of a location on the first layer on which user data will be recorded first according to a predefined recording format. Subsequently said de-icing is started by writing of dummy data on a second layer (41) of the record carrier at the first radial position, opposite the location of the first user data (55). Hence a de-iced area (58) is created opposite the user data (55).

Abstract: A device for recording information on a storage medium (11) is arranged for formatting the storage medium. The device has receives a format command according to a protocol (ATA/ATAPI). The device has formatting means for formatting a multilayer storage medium according to the format command. The formatting includes recording, on each layer (L0, L1) of the multilayer storage medium, a first control zone (71, 72) at a first radial position on the layer and a second control zone (73, 74) at a second radial position on the layer for forming an annular data zone of a selected size between the control zones. If the format size is smaller than a maximum available size on the storage medium, the control zones are positioned on substantially equal radial positions for forming radially corresponding annular data zones (75, 76). The required format size equals the sum of the selected sizes of each annular data zone.

Abstract: When writing on a recordable medium the recorder can encounter write errors. When a write error occurrs the record carrier is discarded. By ignoring write errors in sections of the record carrier comprising unused information, for instance sections of the lead-in or lead-out the record carrier no longer needs to be discarded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording information on a multi-layer record carrier includes recording control information in a control information zone before recording user information after a layer jump. This ensures that all user information can be read and recorded reliably, while the storage capacity of the record carrier for storing user information is not reduced.

Abstract: The continuous update of the Recorded Area Indicator on a DVD+R disc leads to a loss in performance of the recorder. If the update is not continuous, the Recorded Area Indicator on the disc may not accurately reflect the status. In order to ensure that the Recorded Area Indicator accurately reflects the status but avoids loss of performance, the update of the Recorded Area Indicator is performed when a close track session command is issued to the drive signaling the end of the recording, regardless of whether the track or session on the disc remains open. During the recording the Recorded Area Indicator is kept and updated in the memory of the recorder.

Abstract: A disc recording device has a mode control unit for switching the device either to a read mode or to a write mode. Reading and writing can be alternated for simultaneous recording and reproducing of video. A rotation speed control unit sets the rotation speed of the record carrier, and has a speed selector for selecting one of at least two speed settings for the read mode in dependence on an actual rotation speed of the record carrier during the write mode when switching from write mode to read mode. By setting the read speed to one of a limited number of settings the difference in rotation speed between said actual rotation speed and the speed in the read mode is limited. Due to the limited differences power dissipation is limited, while the performance of access time and playability of real-life discs is at a high level.

Abstract: A data storage system (1) comprises: an optical disc (2), preferably a CD, a DVD, or a BD, having a storage space (3) for data; a disc drive (10) suitable for writing/reading information to/from the disc (2); and a host device (20) capable of cooperating with the disc drive. The disc drive (10) is designed to receive (5) from the host device (20) a write command (WRITE(10); WRITE (12) {SB=0}; WRITE (12) {SB=I}) or a read command (READ(10); READ (12) {SB=0}; READ (12) {SB=1}). The disc drive is capable of operating in a normal mode and in at least one enhanced mode, the disc drive being responsive to a mode select command received from the host (20) to set its operative mode to a corresponding one of said modes; wherein, at least when an error occurs during writing, the medium access device acts differently in the enhanced mode as compared to the normal mode.

Abstract: A method for writing data to an optical storage medium which includes a storage space with blocks having hardware addresses (HA). The storage space includes a pre-embossed area, and the data to be written includes data addresses (DA). Data having data addresses DA=X are stored in storage space blocks having hardware addresses HA=X?, wherein ? is an integer equal to 1 or more.

Abstract: When writing on a recordable medium the recorder can encounter write errors. When a write error occurrs the record carrier is discarded. By ignoring write errors in sections of the record carrier comprising unused information, for instance sections of the lead-in or lead-out the record carrier no longer needs to be discarded.

Abstract: A modified read-ahead (i.e., jump) command, contains a sequential access parameter SAP, JUMPm(X,Y:SAP), for instructing a disc drive to jump to block Y after having read block X. If the SAP parameter has a value indicating that a host, such as a PC, designed to recognize the SAP parameter, deliberately signals a disc drive to jump to a lower address (e.g., Y<X), a disc drive designed in accordance with the present invention will comply. A disc drive not designed to recognize the modified read-ahead command may ignore the SAP parameter. A host not designed to recognize the modified read-ahead command is not capable of setting the SAP parameter.