Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing bar including, arranged in a first direction, a plurality of thermally-assisted magnetic recording head sections each including a waveguide, and a plurality of light source units each including a substrate with a light source mounted on a first surface of the substrate; bonding a second surface of the substrate to the bar with a bonding layer while allowing a light emitting position of the light source to be in opposition to the waveguide and allowing the first surface to be parallel to the first direction; and separating the bar for each of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head sections. The substrate is bonded to the bar by radiating each laser beam from a dead angle direction where the first surface on which the light source units are provided is hidden from view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing information useful to a particular user of a computerized apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a portable computerized apparatus (such as for example a digital assistant or notebook computer) which obtains information configured according to a user profile after identification of the user via a short range wireless technology such as RFID.

Abstract: Methods for providing information useful to a user of a remote computerized apparatus. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving via a network link a digitized speech input relating to an organization or entity which a user wishes to locate; based at least in part on the input, identifying a location associated with the organization or entity; and selecting and causing provision of a graphical or visual representation of the location via the network link, the graphical or visual representation of the location also comprising a graphical or visual representation of the surroundings of the organization or entity.

Abstract: A computerized information system and computer readable apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured for use in a transport apparatus and comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to provide the user with requested information (such as for example directions to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server.

Abstract: Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.

Abstract: A near field transducer (NFT) that includes a disk, the disk having a top surface, a side surface, and a center; a peg, the peg positioned adjacent the side surface of the disk; and a heat sink, the heat sink positioned on the top surface of the disk, and the heat sink having an effective center, wherein the NFT has a peg axis, which is defined by the location of the peg adjacent the side surface of the disk, and a non-peg axis, which is perpendicular to the peg axis, and wherein the effective center of the heat sink is positioned at about the center of the disk.

Abstract: A computerized information system and computer readable apparatus for use in a transport apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to facilitate ad hoc communication with a personal electronic device of a user, and provide the user with requested information (such as for example direction to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server.

Abstract: A player device uses playlists having names of contents. Users can update the playlists via network. The player device includes a storage device for storing digital data of the contents, a reception/reception circuit for downloading playlists, a display for displaying the titles of contents included in the playlists, a pointing device for specifying displayed titles, a circuit for retrieving digital data from the storage device in the event that digital data of a content specified by the pointing device is stored within the storage device, and an output circuit for outputting the retrieved digital data.

Abstract: Proposed is a disk controller capable of notifying that a hard disk drive needs to be replaced even when the power of such hard disk drive is turned off. When a controller is to control the supply of electrical power to a disk in the respective disk units, the controller turns off a green LED and turns on a red LED when a disk in a disk group becomes a replacement target disk, turns off the power of the replacement target disk by opening a power switch corresponding to the respective replacement target disks, turns on the disk power source by closing the power switch when the replacement target disk is replaced with a new disk, and recognizes information concerning the new disk.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the management of the hardware key of a library apparatus employing the LTO system, a write function of a noncontact memory (CM: cartridge memory) contained in an LTO tape cartridge is implemented in a medium carrying mechanism part of the library apparatus, and during an insertion to a tape drive, the IDs unique to a library control part and to the medium carrying mechanism part are recorded in the non-contact memory and utilized as the hardware key of an encrypting apparatus. The hardware key written once is overwritten (erased) during an ejection, thereby preventing leakage of key information.

Abstract: One embodiment of invention is useful when updating data of a database which is configured to take in data through a network, has a part to be updated, and takes in information of media stored in a local storage, and characterized by that a result of retrieval is outputted with additional information of an updated date/time of information updated by connecting to a network, and the output result is informed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing entertainment content on a computer jukebox are provided in which, in exemplary embodiments, a digital file is transferred from a data center to a temporary cache in a digital memory of the computer jukebox in response to a user selection and the file is transferred from the temporary cache to a local file in the digital memory according to predetermined criteria. Also provided is a system and method of managing entertainment content on a computer jukebox in which, in one embodiment, the least popular albums are removed from the digital memory of the computer jukebox if the digital memory has reached a predetermined memory limit and a predetermined number of the most popular albums not already in the digital memory are added to the digital memory.

Abstract: Video data is divided into portions which are sequentially recorded on recording mediums respectively. IDs of the respective recording mediums are set. IDs of the respective video data portions are set. Items are recoded on first one among the recording mediums. These items are the ID of the first recording medium, the ID of first one among the video data portions, the ID of second one among the recording mediums which follows the first recording medium, and the ID of second one among the video data portions. Items are recorded on last one among the recording mediums. These items are the ID of the last recording medium, the ID of last one among the video data portions, the ID of second last one among the recording mediums which precedes the last recording medium, and the ID of second last one among the video data portions.

Abstract: A disc storage apparatus includes a disc changer mechanism including a disc slot through which a disc is insertable, a storage section having storage locations that are capable of storing discs inserted through the disc slot, and a transport mechanism that transports the disc, inserted through the disc slot, to any of the storage locations in the storage section. The apparatus further includes an operation section having operations keys; a display section; and a controller that associates, when the disc is inserted and any of the operations keys is operated, the operated operation key with the storage location in which the disc is stored. In accordance with a predetermined operation on the operation section, the controller extracts all discs stored in the storage locations associated with the operated operation key and causes information regarding all the extracted discs to be displayed on the display section.

Abstract: A method stores, in a first memory location in a context weight update engine in an arithmetic encoder, a context weight value. The method also stores, in a second memory location in the context weight update engine in the arithmetic encoder, a context weight adjustment value. Further, the method reads, in a first clock cycle, the context weight value and a first binarization value from the first memory location. In addition, the method writes, in a second clock cycle, the context weight adjustment value and a second binarization value into the first memory location. The second binarization value is distinct from the first binarization value.

Abstract: Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.

Abstract: A storage region providing device provides a physical storage region (a physical region) as a virtual storage region (a logical region). The device accepts a writing request including data and information for specifying a partial logical region that is part of the logical region. In a case that part of the physical region is not allocated yet to a partial logical region specified by a writing request, the device allocates at least part of an initial allocation region of the physical allocation region to the partial logical region. The device moves data stored in the partial physical region included in the initial allocation region, to a movement destination region that is at least part of a reallocation region other than the initial allocation region of the physical region, and reallocates the movement destination region to the partial logical region.

Abstract: An adaptive advertising apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display) advertising-related content (e.g., audio, video, images, etc.) that is contextually related to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user.

Abstract: A player device uses playlists having names of contents. Users can update the playlists via network. The player device includes a storage device for storing digital data of the contents, a reception/reception circuit for downloading playlists, a display for displaying the titles of contents included in the playlists, a pointing device for specifying displayed titles, a circuit for retrieving digital data from the storage device in the event that digital data of a content specified by the pointing device is stored within the storage device, and an output circuit for outputting the retrieved digital data.

Abstract: An invention disclosed includes a layer number obtaining section (222) for determining which information storage layer (L1) has been accessed and a layer type identifying section (223) for identifying a type of the information storage layer (L1) determined by the layer number obtaining section (222). With the configuration, even in a case where an information recording and reproducing apparatus accesses an information storage layer different from an intended information storage layer by false operation or the like, it is still possible to dissolve mismatching between a recording or reproduction control scheme being set up and a recording or reproduction control scheme suitable for the information storage layer thus accessed.

Abstract: An additionally recordable information recording medium has a complicated management structure for managing an unrecorded area. Therefore, there are problems that it takes a long time for a disk to startup and it is difficult to build a recording/reproducing system. The additionally recordable information recording medium according to the present invention includes a simple data structure for managing a location information for a recorded area located at the rearmost location in a user data area. An additionally recordable apparatus according to the present invention also includes means for updating the location information of the recorded area so that the recorded area located at the rearmost location in the user data area is always managed.

Abstract: An adaptive information presentation apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display or play out via an audio system) information that is related or in response to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for writing repeating patterns of features to a substrate, such as a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-dimensional pattern of discrete features of different sizes to be written to a substrate is divided into a plurality of contiguous regions. A unique set of compensation values is assigned to each region. A write beam of a write system is used to write the features to the substrate responsive to said unique sets of compensation values so that all of the features having a common size in at least one region are written using the same compensation values from the associated set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium are disclosed. The method and apparatus calls for downloading data associated with data read from the recording medium. The downloaded data is stored in a local storage using an organization ID directory. The downloaded data from the local storage and the data from the recording medium are ultimately bound together to form a virtual package.

Abstract: A method of reproducing information recorded on an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers inclusive of a first recording layer and a second recording layer includes the steps of referring to an order of recording of the first recording layer and the second recording layer according to which information is recorded in a prerecorded area of the optical disc, and selecting a scan path in response to the order of recording, from a first scan path including no seek operation preceding a focus jump and a second scan path including a seek operation preceding a focus jump, to scan an optical spot from a first address in the first recording layer to a second address in the second recording layer through scanning along the prerecorded area in at least one of the first recording layer and the second recording layer.

Abstract: One embodiment of invention is useful when updating data of a database which is configured to take in data through a network, has a part to be updated, and takes in information of media stored in a local storage, and characterized by that a result of retrieval is outputted with additional information of an updated date/time of information updated by connecting to a network, and the output result is informed.

Abstract: A server apparatus (1) includes a deletion information decision section (104) and a management information update section (105). The deletion information decision section (104) decides a file from among files of an AV content already stored in a storage section (202) of a receiving apparatus (2), the file to be decided being so deleted as to be prevented from being used in the receiving apparatus (2) when files constituting an AV content that is to be newly transmitted is stored in the storage section (202). The management information update section (105) transmits, to the receiving apparatus (2), management information including deletion information for specifying the file thus decided. The receiving apparatus (2) includes a deletion section (205) for deleting, from the storage section (202), the file specified by the deletion information of the management information received from the server apparatus (1).

Abstract: A library control device to controls a library device includes a designated-information acquisition section, a loading control section, a transfer control section and a medium storage control section. The transfer control section that orders, when a storage location indicated by the loading control section to a library device and a storage location designated by storage-location designating information are different from each other, the library device to transfer a storage medium from the storage location designated by the storage-location designating information to a storage location different from the storage location designated by the storage-location designating information.

Abstract: An optical disk medium includes a track groove thereon. On the optical disk medium, information is recorded along the track groove on a block unit basis. The block unit has a predetermined length. The block unit having the predetermined length includes a number of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove. A sub-block mark is provided within each of the sub-blocks and used to identify the sub-block.

Abstract: A song in a music player is replaced by another song in a server in accordance with the user's estimated preferences and wishes and without requiring the user to become conscious of individual songs. A CPU (3) in the music player (30) or a CPU (11) in a server (10) detects or receives the size of a free space in a flash memory (34) and a playback history (a substantial playback count Kp, which denotes the number of times a song was continuously played for a duration not shorter than a predetermined one, or a skip count Ks, which denotes the number of times a song was played for a duration shorter than a predetermined one) of every song recording in the flash memory (34), and judges whether any song should be deleted from the flash memory (34) to permit a song to be downloaded into the music player (30) from the server (10). If any song should be deleted, the CPU selects a song having a small (minus) evaluation function K (e.g., K=2Kp?Ks) as the song to be deleted.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing method, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for performing the method. A recording unit block in which invalid data is partially padded is written on an information storage medium along with padding information indicating that the invalid data is included in the recording unit block. The padding information is useful in determining whether the recording unit block includes the padding data. Accordingly, unnecessary retrial processes of a drive system are reduced such that the performance of the drive system is improved and error correction capability is enhanced.

Abstract: Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage is disclosed. A method and apparatus for downloading data associated with the recording medium from an external part, and reproducing the downloaded data is disclosed. A binding unit combined with the recording medium from among the downloaded data of the local storage is formed, and is combined with files of the recording medium using the binding information, such that the virtual package is formed. Data of the recording medium and/or data of the local storage are reproduced by the virtual package. If a specific file contained in the binding unit is equal to a specific file contained in the recording medium when the virtual package is formed, priority is assigned to the file of the binding unit so that the virtual package is formed. Therefore, data of the recording medium and data of the local storage can be effectively reproduced at the same time, resulting in greater convenience of a user.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, enhancements have been developed to further extend the performance of a generic DVD navigator. The methods and arrangements herein provide a mechanism that allows a player application to precisely ‘bookmark’ locations during playback, and later resume playback at the selected bookmarked locations.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to provide for managing data storage media to provide secure storage of the data storage media in an automated data storage library. A logical library partition vault is created in the automated data storage library that is not accessible by any host computer. Data storage media in the logical library partition vault may only be accessed by an operator using a secure means. The logical library partition vault may comprise various components of the automated data storage library by assigning storage shelves, service bays, data storage media, data storage drives or other library components to the logical library partition vault.

Abstract: A data recording method is disclosed which includes the steps of: firstly recording audio data onto a temporary storage medium following retrieval of the audio data from an external storage medium in response to an audio data import request; detecting whether a leading frame of the audio data held on the temporary storage medium references a preceding frame; and secondly recording the audio data held on the temporary storage medium to a storage medium in accordance with an outcome of the detecting step.

Abstract: A cassette library apparatus and a posture control method thereof are provided. A swing arm (16a) is capable of chucking or releasing a cassette (1) by getting into a recessed part (10a) of the cassette (1) and getting out of the recessed part (10a) when a swing frame (34) swings up and down. The apparatus includes a swing mechanism (47, 48) for swinging the swing frame (34) and the swing arm (16a), a stepping motor (45) for driving the swing mechanism (47, 48), a device (51, 52) which detects the swing arm (16a) being in a specific posture, and a device (55) which detects the posture of the swing arm (16) by counting a number of pulses supplied to the stepping motor (45) when the posture of the swing arm (16a) is changed from the specific posture by drive of the stepping motor (45).

Abstract: An information and control system for personnel transport devices. In one embodiment, the information and control system is coupled to the elevator system of a building, and includes a touch panel input device, a flat panel display having a touch sensitive screen, and speech recognition and synthesis systems serving each elevator car. The speech recognition and synthesis systems and input device(s) are operatively coupled to a processor and storage devices having a plurality of different types of data stored thereon. Each elevator car is also a client connected to a LAN, WAN, intranet, or Internet, and capable of exchanging data with and retrieving data therefrom. Functions performed by the information and control system include a voice-actuated building directory, download of selected data to personal electronic devices (PEDs), monitoring of areas adjacent to the elevator car on destination floors, and control of lighting and security monitoring in selectable areas of destination floors.

Abstract: A recording/playback device includes an information conversion unit converting video or audio information, received from an external source, to video or audio data for recording on a rewritable optical disk, a recording unit recording the video or audio data on said optical disk, and a playback unit playing back the video or audio data recorded on said optical disk, in which the optical disk has at least two recording layers and, when the video or audio data is recorded in two or more layers of the optical disk and then a part of the video data or audio data recorded in each layer is erased, a part of the video or audio data left unerased is moved so that a number of layers, in which the video or audio data left unerased is recorded, is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods provide a level of indirection between multiple host computers and multiple data storage resources, such as removable media data storage devices. At least one of the hosts is not provided with direct access to some of the removable media data storage devices. Instead, logical addresses are provided to the host computers, where the logical addresses can relate to physical addresses associated with the data storage resources. A data storage resource handle or logical proxy may be presented to a host, and a management layer determines whether the host receives access to physical data storage resources, or virtual resources that emulate the physical resources.

Abstract: A settling judgment method judges whether an object is settled at a target position by using a settlement judgment formula set a slice value and number of continuous samples. The slice and number of continuous judgments of the judgment value of the settling judgment are judged by the slice value and number of samples which are set such that the maximum value of a maximum amplitude ratio (Rate), for each frequency of cyclic disturbance (Y), determined from the maximum amplitude values (Max1, Max2) of the judgment values when the cyclic disturbance is applied is contained within a predetermined position accuracy. Settlings can be judged at high-speed and accurately according to the settling judgment formula, and both an improvement of positioning accuracy and high-speed judgment can be implemented.

Abstract: One embodiment of invention is useful when updating data of a database which is configured to take in data through a network, has a part to be updated, and takes in information of media stored in a local storage, and characterized by that a result of retrieval is outputted with additional information of an updated date/time of information updated by connecting to a network, and the output result is informed.

Abstract: An optical disk medium includes a track groove thereon. On the optical disk medium, information is recorded along the track groove on a block unit basis. The block unit has a predetermined length. The block unit having the predetermined length includes a number of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove. A sub-block mark is provided within each of the sub-blocks and used to identify the sub-block.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a signal processing system applicable in an electronic system having a hard disk, an indicator and an I/O controller, the I/O controller processing a driving signal outputted by the hard disk and generating a first processing signal. The signal processing system includes an editing module for editing a plurality of decoding modes, a detecting module for detecting a type of the I/O controller and outputting type messages corresponding to the detected type of the I/O controller; an acquiring module for acquiring the decoding mode from the editing module according to the type messages outputted by the detecting module; and a decoding module for decoding the first processing signal outputted by the I/O controller according to the decoding mode acquired by the acquiring module and generating a second processing signal to drive the indicator to operate, thereby simplifying the design and reducing the cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a video camera which ensures that the user will recognize recording mode, thereby preventing the user from confusing a target recording medium. For that, the video camera 100 has a character information composition unit 3 which composites image data outputted by a signal processing unit 2 with predetermined information consisting of characters or pictographic characters to be recognized by the user during operation and outputs a resulting video signal, a liquid crystal monitor 4 which displays the video signal outputted by the character information composition unit 3, a magnetic tape recording unit 8, and a memory card recording unit 9. The predetermined information is target media information which indicates whether the image data outputted by the electronic camera unit 1 is to be recorded on the magnetic tape recording unit 8 or memory card recording unit 9. Immediately after start of recording, a system control unit 5 displays an animated icon which appears to rotate.

Abstract: A method of recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium, the method including recording user data on a logical area of the disc and, prior to removal of the disc out of a recording/reproducing apparatus, finalizing the disc with a lead-in and lead-out area comprising predefined medium format data. A general purpose area within the logical area for other use than recording of user data, is being reserved. Such a use may be, for example, defect management. Further, the method involves interrupting recording a lead-in area or a lead-out area at predefined splice points whenever a request for user data is made.

Abstract: In a storage medium, an address space is defined which is divided into a first area and a second area. According to the invention, at least one file is stored on the medium which is split into small data packets and large data packets. All small data packets are stored on said first area, and all large data packets are stored on said second area. A single file allocation table (FAT) is used and is small by having one entry per data packet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer system capable of automatically duplicating data into discs with automatically blank-disc-supplying. The invention can be implemented by software, hardware, or any of the combinations. Since the invention does not utilize a mechanical arm to move the discs, the structure of the invention saves space compared with a traditional disc duplicating machine; moreover, the cost is less than that of the prior art.

Abstract: A recording medium that technically makes it not only impossible to infringe copyrights but possible for a buyer who properly bought contents to personally freely reproduce and enjoy the contents. A recording medium comprises a first recording region (3) where the contents encrypted by a contents key are recorded in advance, a second recording region (5) where a data providing a basis for the contents key is recorded in advance and a third recording region (4) that allows the encrypted contents key obtained by encrypting the contents key generated from the data providing a basis for the contents key by means of identification information on a user to be recorded therein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for implementation of data transfers in an efficient manner. The 48-bit LBA mechanism requires two sets of I/O writes to IDE registers on primary channel or secondary channel. The two sets of I/O writes to the primary or secondary channel registers are performed by setting a status register to a first or second state appropriately depending on the data. Embodiments of the present invention provide a single set of writes to I/O registers when the size of the data transfer is equal to or below a threshold value.