Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for managing time information in a mobile communication terminal. To this end, the present invention provides a plan in which time information of a terminal can be automatically set with the local time of a corresponding time zone as a reference in accordance with a user's selection in a communication network, and a schedule can be exchanged with the universal time as a reference when it is necessary to share the schedule containing time information between terminals in different time zones.

Abstract: A novel digital calendar is disclosed for the retention of a user's schedule and events, and for displaying and communicating the user's schedule and events pursuant to an instruction set that manages the operations of the digital calendar. The digital calendar comprises an oversized display that is retained in a housing, with a keyboard for inputting data, a microprocessor for management of the functions of the digital calendar, a speaker/microphone for inputting and outputting audible messages, and a power supply. The microprocessor includes an instruction set that defines the operation the digital calendar. In one embodiment of the present invention, a remote is provided for the remote entry and receipt of inputs and outputs from the digital calendar.

Abstract: A decorative product having a base member composed of primarily an Fe—Cr alloy, and an austenite layer that is austenitized by adding nitrogen atoms near the surface of the base member.

Abstract: To improve a precision of tracking control. A tracking control apparatus includes a filter section (106) including a plurality of low-pass filters (LPFs). Each of the plurality of low-pass filters (LPFs) removes components having frequencies equal to or higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency from a corresponding received light quantity signal among a plurality of received light quantity signals output from light detection means (6). The tracking control apparatus includes: a tracking error detection section (104) for generating a tracking error signal indicating an amount of deviation of an optical beam spot from a track to be scanned on a recording surface of an optical disc by performing predetermined calculations with respect to a plurality of signals output from the filter section (106); and a tracking control section (102) for driving moving means (101) such that the optical beam spot follows the track on the recording surface of the optical disc in accordance with the tracking error signal.

Abstract: A device for recording records blocks of information on logical addresses on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence on defect management information that includes defect information on a defective status of physical addresses and remapping information on translating a logical address initially mapped to an initial physical address to an alternate physical address. The device has a real-time storage unit for writing real-time information blocks (77) to respective initial physical addresses irrespective of the defective status. When recording at a defective status location (76), the real-time information block is temporarily stored in a memory (80). In a separate period, when the writing of real-time information blocks is suspended, said temporarily stored real-time information blocks are additionally written to alternate physical addresses (81).

Abstract: In DVR Volume( ), there is stated the information pertinent to the totality of the information recorded in a disc. The information recorded in the disc can be confirmed on the basis of this description. In TableOfPlayList( ), there is stated the information usable in reproducing the information recorded in the disc. Using this description, the desired information can be retrieved extremely readily. So, the information recorded in the disc or desired information can be confirmed extremely readily.

Abstract: In DVRVolume( ), there is stated the information pertinent to the totality of the information recorded in a disc. The information recorded in the disc can be confirmed on the basis of this description. In TableOfPlayList( ), there is stated the information usable in reproducing the information recorded in the disc. Using this description, the desired information can be retrieved extremely readily. So, the information recorded in the disc or desired information can be confirmed extremely readily.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus comprising: a writing device capable of writing record information onto an information recording medium comprising first and second recording layers; a first controlling device for controlling said writing device to continuously write the record information into the first and second recording layers; a second controlling device for controlling said writing device to write a predetermined amount of buffer data on an outer circumferential side of the record information written in the first and second recording layers; and a third controlling device for controlling said writing device to add buffer data on an outer circumferential side of the predetermined amount of buffer data.

Abstract: A power control apparatus and method for an optical drive is disclosed. The power control apparatus estimates the temperature rising effect of a laser diode and performs a partial open-loop power control, achieving accurate write power control. Therefore, regarding to a high-speed, high-density optical disk recording medium combined with multi-pulse write waveforms, the invention can also achieve accurate write power control even though the response speed of a front photodiode is much slower than the modulation speed of recording pulses of the laser diode.

Abstract: There is provided an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus including a unit for detecting the focus error signal from the reflected light flux from a recording layer of an optical recording medium, and a unit for focusing the light flux on the recording layer of the optical disk on the basis of the focus error signal. In the case of detecting the focus error signal, the light flux of the effective numeric aperture NAeff<1 due to an objective lens and the SIL within a pupil is obtained by a splitting device as the focus error signal, whereby it is possible to suppress the reflected light from the bottom surface of the SIL from being mixed into the focus error signal as a noise.

Abstract: For achieving pulling operation into tracking servo during seek operation at high-speed and with stability, in timing thereof, even on an optical disk forming lands and grooves on a recording surface thereof, in a seek control method, according to the present invention, for moving an optical spot onto an arbitrary track through movement of an optical pickup 110 into the radial direction on the optical disk forming the lands and the grooves, thereby forming a track on the recording surface thereof, in particular, in the seek operation, measurement is made on a period of a tracking error (TE) signal generated due to the movement in the radial direction, and a time point when the measured period of the tracking error signal exceeds a predetermined value is determined to be a starting point for pulling the optical spot of the optical pickup into the track, through the tracking servo, thereby pulling it selectively, into either one of the land and the groove building up the track.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording apparatus having an information recording unit configured to record information in recording guide grooves formed on a surface of an optical recording medium by irradiating the optical recording medium while scanning the recording guide grooves with a light beam to change optical properties of the optical recording medium, a determining unit configured to determine a signal amplitude in the recording guide grooves to determine whether or not the determined signal amplitude is more than a specified amplitude value which has been preliminarily stored in the optical recording apparatus, and a recording condition changing unit configured to change recording conditions of the information recording unit when the determined signal amplitude is determined as being more than the specified amplitude value.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a lens, a stepper motor and a tracking error controller. The lens may be positioned in a sled housing. The stepper motor may be configured to (i) move the sled housing in response to a first control signal and (ii) vibrate the lens in response to moving the sled housing. The tracking error controller may be configured to lock the lens to any one of a particular number of disc tracks with a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor may be configured to minimize the vibration of the lens prior to locking the lens to any one of the particular number of disc tracks.

Abstract: A recording and reproduction system includes a recording system and a reproduction system. The reproduction system reproduces (simultaneous reproduction) data of content while the data is being recorded by the recording system. The recording system records information on recording process to a management area as management data. The reproduction system reads the management data to control reproduction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing data is disclosed. The method and apparatus configures a composite file structure to simultaneously reproduce data recorded in a recording medium and other data recorded in a local storage, and reproduces data using the configured composite file structure. A variety of methods for configuring the composite file structure are described in preferred embodiments, such that a method for effectively configuring the composite file structure regardless of a current condition state is given. Therefore, data recorded in the recording medium and other data stored in the local storage can be effectively used.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus may write information to an optical disc by forming a mark and a space on the optical disc. The optical disc apparatus may include a write stopping unit, a deviation calculating unit, and a write strategy correction unit. The write stopping unit may temporarily stop writing of information to the optical disc at a predetermined time. The deviation calculating unit may obtain a deviation value of written information just before writing of information is stopped by the write stopping unit. The write strategy correcting unit may correct a write strategy based on the deviation and the previously-stored inherent variation. Writing of information to the optical disc may be restarted using the corrected write strategy.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to a method which easily distinguishes copycat products that are difficult to distinguish by identifying only a media ID. A media ID and other attribute data are read out of a reference optical recording medium, and then a media ID and other attribute data are read out of an optical recording medium that is a target for separation. They are compared with each other in a data record processing section to determine whether data is data matched or not matched, and the result is displayed on a display section.

Abstract: A header region protection apparatus of an optical storage medium. The apparatus comprises an encoder, a header location generator, and a header protector. The encoder converts user data to an EFM signal and a write enable signal according to a write clock. The header location generator generates a header location signal. The header protector is coupled to the encoder and the header location generator and generates a header protect write enable signal according to the write enable signal and the header location signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording or playback apparatus for optical recording media with a compatible laser diode circuit, which can be used both for controlling the light power of a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode and for a number of lasers each with a monitor diode respectively assigned to a laser. The compatible laser diode circuit has a small number of terminal contacts, which corresponds to the number of terminals that is required as the minimum for a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode. This is achieved by providing at a terminal a means for detecting the wiring of the laser diode circuit, the output of which is connected to a logic circuit which is intended for configuring the laser diode circuit in a way corresponding to the wiring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording pulse generating apparatus capable of forming a recording pit having a proper shape even at the time of ultra-high-speed recording of, for example, 8×recording or higher. A recording controller 10 for generating recording pulse signals having lengths corresponding to ten kinds of lengths of pits formed at the time of recording information has a recording controller 10 for generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 4T changes from a first amplitude to a second amplitude, and generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 5T or longer changes from a third amplitude to a fourth amplitude and further changes to a fifth amplitude.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording pulse generating apparatus capable of forming a recording pit having a proper shape even at the time of ultra-high-speed recording of, for example, 8× recording or higher. A recording controller 10 for generating recording pulse signals having lengths corresponding to ten kinds of lengths of pits formed at the time of recording information has a recording controller 10 for generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 4 T changes from a first amplitude to a second amplitude, and generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 5 T or longer changes from a third amplitude to a fourth amplitude and further changes to a fifth amplitude.

Abstract: Embodiments for binary encoding and/or decoding of data for transmission and/or reception over a parallel bus are disclosed.

Abstract: An information recording device is provided with a writing device for writing recording information in a first recording layer and a second recording layer of an information recording medium; an acquiring element for acquiring information relating to an offset quantity; and a calculating member for calculating a start position where the recording information can be recorded in the second recording layer, based on the acquired information. The information recording device is also provided with a control unit which controls the writing device to i) write the recording information in the first recording layer along a first recording track, and ii) write the recording information in the second recording layer along a second recording track from the calculated start position.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: An objective lens for use in an optical pickup apparatus, comprises an objective lens satisfying the following expression: 0.01?|?SA3obj/??|<0.1 (?rms/nm), where ?SA3obj/?? represents the wavelength dependency of the 3rd order spherical aberration of the objective lens when the oscillation wavelength is fluctuated between ±2 nm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical pickup apparatus, comprising steps of selecting one type objective lens from plural types of objective lenses different in specification of respective optical path difference providing structures in accordance with an oscillation wavelength of a laser light source; and assembling the selected type objective lens and the laser light source into the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an irradiating unit irradiating an optical disk with laser light; a photodetector split into at least two along a track direction of the optical disk and converting return light from the optical disk into an electric signal to output a detection signal; and a reproduction signal generating unit generating an RF signal based on the detection signal from the photodetector. The reproduction signal generating unit generates an RF signal in a header portion based on a detection signal from one of the at least two photodetectors split along the track direction or a detection signal from the other photodetector. An RF signal in a data portion is generated based on all of detection signals from the photodetector.

Abstract: A phase change memory cell includes a MOS select transistor having a gate coupled to a word line, and a source and drain region coupled between first and second bit lines, respectively. A first phase change element is coupled between the first bit line and the source region of the MOS select transistor. A method of reading a selected cell in the array is provided by evaluating a body effect impact of a state of the phase change element associated with the selected cell on a MOS select transistor.

Abstract: An optical disk including first information layer having first guide grooves consisting of first protrusive flat portion having first width and first recessed flat portion having a second width having first height difference from the first protrusive flat portion, the first information layer being formed on the transparent substrate layer, second information layer having second guide grooves consisting of second protrusive flat portion having third width formed on second recessed flat portion having fourth width having second height difference, the second information layer, wherein cycle P (?m) of the first and second guide grooves has value ranging from 0.35 ?m to 0.8 ?m and has relationship of Q1=2Z1/(P?X1?Y1), Q2=2Z2/(P?X2?Y2), 0.9<Q2/Q1<1.5, and 1<X1/Y1<4, 0.25<X2/Y2<1 is satisfied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a record carrier comprising a train of marks and lands (14, 15, 23), which has a plurality of marks comprising shortest marks (1) and other marks (2) and a plurality of lands between said marks in a direction of said train of marks and lands comprising shortest lands (28) and other lands (27), said train of marks and lands (14, 15, 23) having information read by applying a light beam, and a land area not being part of said train of marks and lands.

Abstract: An optical disk has transparent substrate layer provided at light incidence side, first information layer which has first groove of first depth, adhesive layer provided on the first information layer, and second information layer which has second groove of second depth that is deeper than the first depth, and irreversibly records information therein, wherein the first depth and the second depth are ?/2n or less, the width of the first and second grooves is 0.3 ?m or less, the track pitch of the first and second grooves is 0.45 ?m or less, the first and second information layers include organic dye material having light absorption in the range of the wavelength ? of laser beam for use in recording and reproducing information from 390 nm to 420 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing inexpensively and effectively a stamper utilized for producing multi-valued ROM discs, which comprises: (i) irradiating a light onto a laminate, thereby producing reacted portions within a thermo reactive layer, (ii) maintaining the reacted portions, which are produced by irradiating the light, within the thermo reactive layer, (iii) maintaining an optical absorption layer under the reacted portions, (iv) maintaining a substrate under the reacted portions, and (v) removing the maintained optical absorption layer and the maintained thermo reactive layer, wherein the laminate comprises the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer on the substrate, the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer are disposed adjacently.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing inter-subcarrier interference (ICI) in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system are provided. The method includes determining a correction frequency from uplink intermediate frequency (IF) signals subjected to analog-to-digital conversion when an uplink radio frequency (RF) signal is input through an antenna of a base station and each uplink IF signal (I(n)+j1(n)) is input,; and correcting the uplink IF signal so as to correspond to the determined correction frequency. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the ICI of each terminal caused by mismatching of the interval of the inter-subcarrier center frequency of each terminal that constitutes the uplink signal in the OFDMA system.

Abstract: A bi-directional communication system is provided. The system includes a multipoint-to-point host unit and a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the multipoint-to-point host unit through an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform. The multipoint-to-point host unit is configured to receive the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units. The multipoint-to-point host unit is configured to adjust transmissions from at least one of the plurality of remote units based on the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform so that the plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units are substantially orthogonal when received at the multipoint-to-point host unit.

Abstract: A method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system is provided. The method includes establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration, transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, and receiving information from the host unit to adjust transmission of the up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, all of the tones are substantially orthogonal when received at the host unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transmitting a modulated frame in a block transmission system and for decoding the modulated frame when received are provided. The block transmission system is a frequency reuse system. The transmission of a frame in a block transmission system includes modulating the frame using a modulation sequence to produce a modulated frame and transmitting the modulated frame. The modulation sequence is unknown to a receiver that will receive the modulated frame, and is representative of control information.

Abstract: A method of signal processing for a receiver for OFDM encoded digital signals. The OFDM encoded digital signals are transmitted as data symbol sub-carriers in several frequency channels. A subset of the sub-carriers is in the form of pilot sub-carriers having a pilot value (ap) known to the receiver. First, a received signal (y0) is obtained, followed by a first estimation of a pilot channel transfer function (H0)at pilot sub-carriers from said received signal (y0) and said known pilot values (ap). Then a second estimation of a channel transfer function (H1) is performed at all sub-carriers from said pilot channel transfer function (H0). A third estimation of a derivative (H?1) of the channel transfer function (H1) is performed from the channel transfer function (H1) and a channel transfer function (H3) from a past OFDM symbol.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for OFDM transmission with low latency, whereby at least one pilot symbol (P, Pf, Ps) is transmitted within a transmission time interval (TTIn), said at least one pilot symbol (P, Pf, Ps) is used for channel estimation, OFDM symbols are equalized according to said channel estimation, at least one forward error correction codeword is decoded after equalization of said OFDM symbols, and one of said at least one pilot symbol (P, Pf) is transmitted in the last OFDM symbol of the transmission time interval (TTIn), a base station, a user terminal and a network therefor.

Abstract: A transmitter 100 transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. A control unit 104 receives a group of input symbols (X0 to XN-1) based on which the transmitted signal is to be generated. The control unit selects, from among a plurality of available allocations of input symbols to sub-carriers, one allocation to apply to the received group of input symbols. Each available allocation serves to allocate the input symbols to respective sub-carriers in a different way from each other available allocation. The allocation selection is based on predicted values of a predetermined property, e.g. a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), of the transmitted signal for different available allocations. The available allocations may be different rotations. Further elements 102, 14, 16 of the transmitter generate the transmitted signal using the selected allocation.

Abstract: In a ring network system, a first node device includes means for sending out a control signal for controlling one of a plurality of second node devices so as to allow signals transmitted over a protection band to pass through the second node device; each of the second node devices includes means for receiving the control signal sent out from the first node device or another second node device, means for controlling the signals transmitted over the protection band to pass through the second node device during the reception of the control signal, and means for transferring the control signal to the adjacent first node device or to the adjacent second node device during the reception of the control signal; and the first node device further includes means for receiving the control signal transferred from the adjacent second node device.

Abstract: A method of managing faults in a ring network may include configuring a ring network to be in a “horseshoe” topology by disabling a communications link from distributing media between a selected pair of adjacent nodes while allowing other communications or non-related media to continue to be distributed via the adjacent nodes. In the event of a failure, the disabled communications path may be re-enabled, and first or second backup communications paths may be employed, where the first backup communications path may use primary connections between adjacent nodes used for primary communications paths normally used to carry the media, and the second backup communications paths may use secondary connections between non-adjacent nodes. The disabled communications path may be dynamically moved in a logical or physical manner in an event of a communications link or node failure to maintain a “horseshoe” topology in the ring network.

Abstract: A communication system for making communication devices on a network separately transmit annunciation signals, said system comprising a control unit for controlling proportion of transmission of the annunciation signals of each communication device based upon device information of at least two communication devices. This makes it possible to control transmission that the power consumption signal in such a manner that the power consumption of the overall system is optimized.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for estimating a state of a reception buffer, and processing a downlink frame based on the estimated state of the reception buffer in a wireless terminal. The method includes continuously monitoring a level of a reception buffer; determining based on the level of the reception buffer whether to store the incoming data frame; discarding the incoming data frame when the level of the reception buffer is insufficient for storage of the incoming data frame; and reporting to a transmitter that the incoming data frame has been discarded.

Abstract: By more flexibly controlling connection for each transmission rate in the wireless base station, the connection is established using possibly a higher transmission rate so long as the connection capacity of the wireless base station has a margin while efficiently determining the transmission rate according to the wave intensity from a wireless communication terminal. If the connection capacity of the base station has a margin after additionally connecting one wireless communication terminal, i.e., if the communication traffic is equal to or less than a predetermined margin threshold value, the rate decision threshold value to determine the transmission rate for connection is lowered by a predetermined value to determine a transmission rate so that the connection is established using a transmission rate higher than that determined by the rate decision threshold value as the default value (initial value) to thereafter establish the connection.

Abstract: A network element can monitor (105) communication resource usage by, for example, a first end user. A determination (106) can then be had as to whether this first end user's communication resource usage exceeds a predetermined individual level of usage for that first end user (as distinguished, for example, from an upper limit as might be generically applied across an entire user population). When the first end user's communication resource does exceed this predetermined individual level of usage, automatic limitations regarding the first end user's communication resource usage can be imposed (108) while nevertheless continuing to facilitate the end user's communication resource usage.

Abstract: A method for incorporating a queuing device as a lossless processing stage in a network device in a communications network, comprising: monitoring a depth of a queue in the queuing device, the queue for receiving packets from an upstream device within the network device, the queuing device acting as a discard point by discarding packets when the queue is full; and, if the depth passes a predetermined threshold, sending a message to the upstream device to reduce a rate at which packets are sent to the queuing device to prevent the queue from filling and thereby preventing packet discarding and loss by the queuing device.

Abstract: In a communication system including an external maintenance terminal and a communication device in which boards including a maintenance-and-operation board and a switchboard are installed, the switchboard is directly connected to the external maintenance terminal, and a predetermined address is assigned for use only in communication between the maintenance-and-operation board and the external maintenance terminal, and set in the switchboard. When communication is performed between ones of the boards, the switchboard connects the ones of the boards on the basis of the local addresses of the ones of the boards. When communication is performed between the maintenance-and-operation board and the external maintenance terminal, the switchboard connects the maintenance-and-operation board to the external maintenance terminal, and translates a global address of the external maintenance terminal into the predetermined address and vice versa.

Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment a system for maintaining a communication link over a network includes a processor adapted to be coupled to a first communication link, the first communication link connected to a customer premises equipment (CPE), wherein the processor transmits data over the first link and switches to transmit data over the second link in response to a signal that is indicative of a degradation of service over the first link. In one aspect the system may include a switch at a service provider Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) for switching to a spare pair communication link when a degradation of service signal is received. In another aspect at least one spare pair communication link may be associated with a plurality of primary communication pairs.

Abstract: A cross-layer QoS management method comprises monitoring a sequence of video frames (e.g., I, P and B frames of an MPEG video sequence) in a layer above the MAC layer; determining video frame sizes and a pattern of video frames per unit time; predicting a future data rate for a future time based on the video frame sizes and the pattern of video frames per unit time; and adjusting parameters (e.g., AIFS, CW, CWmax, CWmin) in the MAC layer based on the predicted future data rate for the future time, the parameters being associated with a time value for allowing access to a wireless medium.

Abstract: A QoS information notification method for transmitting QoS information over a multi-domain network includes steps of: (a) a first inter-domain signaling apparatus 11A transmitting QoS information to a first communication apparatus 13A; (b) the first communication apparatus 13A transmitting the received QoS information to a second communication apparatus 13B; (c) the second communication apparatus 13B transmitting to a second inter-domain signaling apparatus 11B the received QoS information and a route through which the received QoS information has passed; and (d) the second inter-domain signaling apparatus 11B associating the received QoS information with the received route.