Abstract: It is determined that an optical disc reproduced in a reproducing system has version-up data. In response to the determination, it is determined the necessity of updating firmware stored in the reproducing system. In response to the determination of existence of the version-up data and the necessity of updating, the firmware stored in the reproducing system is changed with the version-up data recorded on the optical disc.

Abstract: A digital audio signal recording and reproducing system employs a recording method which can function for a reproducing apparatus of a low price satisfying the performance of the conventional standard and also an expensive reproducing apparatus of a high sound quality which satisfy the standard of the Super CD featuring a wide band, a high sound quality, and multi channels. The recording apparatus divides recording audio signals into a plurality of frequency components and produces data for recording, respectively. Further, the recording apparatus adds identification data indicative of a frequency band of each of the data and records the resultant data. The reproducing apparatus selectively extracts each of the above data by means of the identification data and performs the reproduction of the extracted data.

Abstract: A disc playing apparatus which can access to a desired track at a high speed without losing an advantage of a large recording capacity of a non-CAV disc. A disc 1 on which a predetermined information signal is recorded is rotated at a constant rotational speed, the information signal is read out to thereby obtain a read signal, a reproduction clock signal CLK.sub.1 is extracted from the read signal, and the read signal is demodulated to thereby obtain demodulation data. A clock signal CLK.sub.2 of a predetermined frequency is generated, the demodulation data is stored in response to the reproduction clock signal CLK.sub.1, the stored demodulation data is sequentially read out in accordance with the storing order in response to the clock signal CLK.sub.2, and when it is detected that a residual data amount exceeds a predetermined amount, a read stop signal is generated, thereby stopping the reading operation of the information signal in response to the read stop signal.

Abstract: An information recording medium playing apparatus detects a preset memory command of every data unit of a graphics information signal of a subcode of a CD format signal which playing an information recording medium. During play operation, address data corresponding to the respective preset memory commands are constantly stored in a memory. In a search mode, the head of desired graphics information is searched on the basis of the address data stored in the memory.

Abstract: Method of recording and reproducing picture information and a recording medium on which the picture information is recorded by the method, and an apparatus for playing such a recording medium. In addition to video format signal and a coded information signal, graphic codes including picture information and instruction codes representing a mixing ratio on each position of a two-dimensional picture formed by the video format signal are recorded on the recording medium after being inserted as a subcode of the coded information signal. At the time of reproduction, signals according to the graphic codes are mixed at each position of the video format signal in accordance with the instruction codes. Preferably, in graphic codes are preferably codes representing the color of each position of the two-dimensional picture, and the instruction codes are codes respectively representing mixing ratios previously determined in accordance with colors represented by the graphics codes.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a recording medium on which, in addition to a video format signal and a coded information signal, graphic codes including picture information are recorded as the subcode of the coded information signal. The apparatus is structured to generate, as a reading address data, data which varies sequentially by a predetermined value from a value determined in response to a command, and to write sequentially the graphic codes output from an extracting circuit into a memory and subsequently sequentially read out the graphic codes in the order of address indicated by the reading address data. With this feature, the position of the subcode image can be moved on the picture by the video format signal.

Abstract: A video disk recording method and the recorded disk in which a video signal is frequency-multiplexed with a digital data signal into respective frames which are asynchronous to each other. A time code is recorded in both types of frames. The time is incremented periodically but the period in one of the types of frames is occasionally varied to compensate for the asynchronism.