Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording content information on an information recording medium includes a main information recording area on which main information to be reproduced is recorded, and a plurality of content information recording areas on which content information to be reproduced to indicate contents of the main information is recorded. The apparatus includes a recording device, a confirming device and a control device. The recording device records the content information on a part of the plurality of content information recording areas. The confirming device confirms a recording result of the content information thus recorded. The control device controls the recording device, only when the recording result is confirmed to be successful, so that content information that is identical with the content information recorded on the part of the content information recording areas can be recorded on the other part of the content information recording areas.

Abstract: DVD 1? has recording information areas VOR, AOR in which recording information is recorded and reproducing procedure information recording areas VNA, ANA in which reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedures of the recording information is recorded. In addition, this DVD 1? has an integrated reproducing procedure information recording area GNA in which an integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded. The integrated reproducing procedure information indicates reproducing procedures to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other DVD. Upon reproducing, the recording information recorded astride a plurality of DVDs is reproduced in accordance with the integrated reproducing procedure information.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the present invention includes a management information processing portion for generating management information describing a reproducing procedure for reproducing a series of information data by designating positions of from a head to an end of the series of information data recorded during a period of from an instruction of a record start to an instruction of a record stop at the time of a recording operation of moving image data to a recording medium, a playlist processing portion for selecting a part of the series of information data in accordance with a predetermined condition at the time of the recording operation of the information data to generate the series of information data, and a recording portion for recording the management information and the playlist information on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Disc Layout and Optimization (DLO) receives input such as a list of disc elements, a list of scene links, compiled code files, and still media files. The DLO also obtains information, e.g., from a work order, regarding the size of the target DVD disc, the number of layers on the disc, and whether the disc is a dual layer disc, the type of tracking used, i.e., parallel or opposite, etc. A scene is made up of one or more JARs, which are hierarchical. Navigation information from the scene code builder informs the DLO of the JAR types and scene flow. This allows the program to arrange the JARs and content to minimize the elapsed time between scenes. To accomplish this, a called JAR is placed within a reasonable distance of its calling JAR. If necessary, JARs will be replicated on the disc so as to keep the elapsed time as short as possible. Furthermore, replicated JARs that have no use will be deleted.

Abstract: A device for the storage and playback of audio signals originating from at least one portable medium includes a player for reading audio information from a portable medium having a plurality of audio tracks. The player transmits an audio output signal corresponding to a selected audio track. A storage device operatively connects to the player for receiving the output signal and storing the plurality of audio tracks. The device further includes a user interface control panel. A controller is adapted to receive user input from the control panel regarding desired playback of a selected track and records the playback information of the selected track in memory to prioritize the tracks relative to one another. The controller is further adapted to receive user input to control the player and the storage device to play at least portions of the stored plurality of audio tracks such that playing of the tracks is dependant on the playback information.

Abstract: When an instruction to enter information unqualified for programmed reproduction is accepted, an optical disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention gives a notification indicating that that information cannot be entered in a program. The disc detection unit 204 detects and decides a type of each optical disc, whether or not the disc can be entered in the program, and also detects the largest track number, the system controller 501 directs the disc information memory unit 502 to store the types of optical discs, information about possibility of entry in the program, and the largest track number associated with disc accommodation locations.

Abstract: A bookmark button on a remote control device can be depressed to store a bookmark in a DVD player's memory without interrupting play. The bookmark includes a play counter value and a timestamp. When a viewer subsequently wishes to start play from the bookmark, the DVD player is stopped or paused, the bookmark button manipulated, and a menu listing bookmarks pertaining to the disk being played is displayed. The user may navigate through the list and select a bookmark, and the DVD player automatically resumes play at the selected bookmarked point.

Abstract: An information recording method of recording object information (VOB) and reproducing control information (PGC) is provided. In this method, while the object information is recorded, the reproducing control information (PGC) defining a method of reproducing the object information and further defining a predetermined command executed according to a predetermined operation of a user is recorded in an information recording medium, and a desired reproducing action can be carried out by allocating an arbitrary command and the like to an arbitrary operation.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus has a control unit in which a position to pause and a time to pause are set for data which has been recorded on a recording medium and is continuous with respect to time, and when a current position reaches the set pause position during the reproduction of the data, the reproduction of the data is paused for the set pause period of time.

Abstract: A recording medium on which a plurality of programs are collected in a plurality of groups and supervised in this grouped state, wherein when an editing command such as dividing, linking, and erasing the predetermined programs or groups recorded on the recording medium is executed, management data is edited to perform the editing command. The invention provides a solution to meet this request by a recording medium, an editing method and an editing apparatus.

Abstract: The track information table has: decrypting information corresponding to each track; file pointer information showing one of a plurality of files with headers; and index information showing positions in the files. A function for adding the header to the track of the index information is provided. The decrypting information corresponding to the selected track, the file pointer information, and the index information are read out from the track information table. The header of the file with the header is read out on the basis of the file pointer information. Position information in the file corresponding to the index information is detected from the header. The latter half data of the file is read out on the basis of the position information and added to the track in which coupling has been instructed, thereby newly forming a file with a header.

Abstract: The present invention includes a condition setting portion configured to set a condition used to select titles to be registered in a play list among a plurality of titles recorded on a recording medium, a retrieval portion configured to retrieve titles corresponding to a set condition by making reference to management information recorded on the recording medium, and a registration portion configured to register retrieved titles in the play list.

Abstract: A method for reproducing an optical disc having a plurality of titles. The method is capable of, when an all disc repeat play operation or an all disc successive play operation is performed with respect to a plurality of optical discs loaded in a multi-disc changer, or when an instant play operation is performed in a general optical disc player, omitting a still mode operation of outputting and displaying a title menu picture regarding titles recorded on each disc, and selecting and reproducing any one of the titles with reference to respective playback times of the titles, thereby efficiently preventing the all disc repeat play operation, all disc successive play operation or instant play operation from being interrupted due to the display of the menu picture.

Abstract: A recording medium storing a write protection information, and a write protection method for protecting data recorded on a recordable and/or rewritable disc from unwanted overwriting or erasing. In order for write protection of a disc in a bare state that is usually used in a cartridge having a recognition switch for write-protection, such as a DVD-RAM, write protection information is recorded in a Lead-in area, a Lead-out area or a recording information area other than a user data area of the disc, and the data is protected from unwanted overwriting or erasing using the write protection information. Also, even though the write protection information stored on a disc does not match the state of a recognition switch of a case for write-protection, the data can be prevented from unwanted overwriting or erasing. Thus, the write protection can be ensured when a recordable and/or rewritable recording medium, such as DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW, is used in a bare state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photo-responsive liquid crystal composition which is composed of a liquid crystalline compound and a gelling agent, an information-recording medium and an information-recording process making use of the information-recording medium. The gelling agent consists of a photochromic compound having a group capable of forming an intermolecular hydrogen bond in its molecule as well as a photo-responding site of a specific structure. The composition can exist in any state of gel of a first phase and gel of a second phase and can undergo changes in state between the gel of the first phase and the gel of the second phase. The information-recording medium has a recording layer formed of the composition, and the information-recording process utilizes changes in state between the gel phases in the recording layer.

Abstract: The recording medium of this invention is recorded with a plurality of digital data and a plurality of reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of the plurality of digital data, wherein the plurality of reproduction path information includes first reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of all of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium and second reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of at least one of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method for random track playback is presented. A table base value is used to adjust entries in a pseudo-random table stored in read-only memory. A search start offset is used to select a starting point in the adjusted pseudo-random table. Entries before the starting point are effectively wrapped to the end of the pseudo-random table. A playable track, located in the adjusted, wrapped pseudo-random table, is then selected and played.

Abstract: The user properly operates an operating apparatus of a system controller 100 and enters an album number and a track number of a track which he wants to erase. The system controller 100 discriminates whether the track corresponding to those numbers has been registered in a play list of an HD recording and reproducing apparatus 300 or not. If it is determined that the track has been registered in the play list, a warning is displayed on a display apparatus of the system controller 100. After confirming this display, if it is possible to erase the track, the user properly operates the operating apparatus and commits the track erasure. The system controller 100 erases the track whose erasure is desired from the HD recording and reproducing apparatus 300 and erases information corresponding to the erased track from the play list.

Abstract: The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses. A content to be checked out is stored in an automatic-checking-out-destination storage section 113 from musical-piece-file storage sections 108-1 and 108-2 for each external-unit/-medium ID which identifies a PD 5. A GUI section 101 determines through a transfer processing section 103 and a PD plug-in 111 whether the PD 5 has been connected. When it is determined that the PD 5 has been connected, a musical-piece file is checked out from the musical-piece-file storage sections 108 to the PD 5 through a musical-piece management section 104, a file search section 106, and a data base 107 according to the information of the content to be checked out stored in the automatic-checking-out-destination storage section 113. The present invention can be applied to music reproduction software.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium, on which (i) a plurality of information groups each comprising one series of the record information and (ii) management information including positional information indicating a recorded area of each of the information groups are recordable, is provided with: a detecting device for detecting the management information, which is recorded in advance on the record medium, from the record medium; a recording device for newly recording the record information onto the record medium; an outputting device for outputting an identification information to identify the information groups, which are recorded in advance on the record medium, on the basis of the detected management information while the recording device is newly recording the record information; a specifying device for specifying an erasable information from among the information groups which are identified by the outputted identification information while the recordin

Abstract: Disclosed is a compact disc recording device that includes a housing, sound receiving means for receiving audio signals, a compact disc recorder for recording onto a compact disc, and data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The compact disc recording device is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure, and the compact disc recording device includes means for selecting a set of sound tracks from the music library to be recorded onto a compact disc by the compact disc recorder. The housing includes a display which identifies at least one sound track of the music library.

Abstract: Disclosed is a music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The music jukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes means for selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the data storage structure to play through the audio output structure, and the housing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in the music library. Preferably, the music jukebox is configured such that the sound tracks stored in the data storage structure are editable before being played through the audio output structure.

Abstract: The recording medium of this invention is recorded with a plurality of digital data and a plurality of reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of the plurality of digital data, wherein the plurality of reproduction path information includes first reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of all of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium and second reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of at least one of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method for managing play lists for playback control of data streams recorded on an optical disk such as a rewritable high-density storage medium. The method in accordance with the invention records received dubbed audio data pertaining to a data clip recorded on a storage medium and creates a play list for the recorded audio data clip, in which a flag included in the play list is set to ‘1’ to indicate that the audio clip referred to by the play list is auxiliary data. In case of sequential playing of all play lists, the play lists the flag of which is set to ‘1’ are skipped, thereby preventing meaningless playing of audio data with no video or unnecessary repeated playing of dubbed audio data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of managing summary information of play lists. In the present method, summary information is written in a specific file other than a play list file wherein the summary information is summarized from information written in play list files created under file structure of a recording medium. Afterwards, the summary information written in the specific file is read, and at least one thumbnail representing a play list is displayed onto a menu screen for user selections with reference to the read summary information. Through the concentrated summary information, play list related information such as thumbnails can be displayed fast.

Abstract: A control system for a compact disc jukebox detects skips in the compact disc by reading an apparent elapsed time signal from the compact disc that is encoded on the compact disc. A timer is simultaneously started and outputs a real elapsed time signal. A comparison is made between the real elapsed time signal and the apparent elapsed time signal. If the difference between these two signals exceeds a predetermined amount of time, a skip is recorded. The detection of a skip may be recorded as to a particular selection on a particular CD, along with the time of the skip. Appropriate action may be taken in response to the recording of a skip, such as cancelling the selection or stopping the CD.

Abstract: A track management method includes steps of obtaining track information from a play order table having track information entries arranged in a predetermined play order, the track information corresponds to a track to be deleted and points to a track descriptor in a track information table; obtaining the track descriptor, the track descriptor including a decryption key corresponding to the track to be deleted and pointer information that points to one of a plurality of part descriptors in a part information table; advancing the predetermined play order for a subset of the plurality of track information entries that follow the track to be deleted in the predetermined play order; reading the one of a plurality of part descriptors; separating in a file system a data block that is a part of a file specified by part pointer information in the part descriptor from the file managed by the file system and freeing the data block on the file system, the part pointer information pointing to a part of the file that includ

Abstract: The recording medium of this invention is recorded with a plurality of digital data and a plurality of reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of the plurality of digital data, wherein the plurality of reproduction path information includes first reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of all of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium and second reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of at least one of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a record medium. One of reproduce modes of reproducing information recorded on a record medium is selected. A reproduce program for selecting pieces of information recorded on the record medium on a random basis without duplication based on the selected reproduce mode and indicating the reproduce order of the selected pieces of information is prepared. The pieces of information recorded on the record medium are reproduced according to the reproduce order of the prepared reproduce program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical disk having data duplication prevention function, a method of authenticating such optical disk, and a method of fabricating such optical disk discriminated from a duplicated disk. For the optical disk, a prescribed field of subcode data, which is obtained from data recorded in a program area, is set to a value in such a manner that the value is different from that in the corresponding field of table-of-content data which is recorded in a lead-in area. Or reproduction control information associated with data recorded in a prescribed region in the program area is recorded in the reverse order. Depending on the existence of these unusual data patterns, the optical disk is judged as a legitimate production or an illegal production.

Abstract: A method of reproducing information, and more particularly, a method of playing an optical recording medium storing music files by which a user can load only desired directories from the optical recording medium to reproduce the music files contained therein. Directories are searched from the optical recording medium and are displayed on a screen if the optical recording medium is driven. Desired ones of the directories are selected from the displayed directories and are loaded. Information corresponding to the loaded directories is reproduced. Only a directory selected by a user is loaded and reproduced. Thus, disc-loading time is saved so that the user can rapidly reproduce desired information.

Abstract: Controlling compact disc (CD) changers for recording tracks from CD's stored in the CD changers onto blank CD's in a CD recording mechanism is disclosed. A CD recorder of the invention includes one or more inputs, one or more control mechanisms, a user interface mechanism, and a CD recording mechanism. The inputs are for receiving audio information from the one or more corresponding CD changers. The control mechanisms are for controlling the CD changers. The user interface mechanism allows a user to select a desired ordered list of tracks from CD's stored in the CD changers for recording onto a blank CD. The CD recording mechanism is receptive to the blank CD, and capable of recording the desired ordered list of tracks selected by the user from the CD's stored in the CD changers onto the blank CD.

Abstract: An apparatus records main information and sub information onto an information recording medium, which has a main recording area and a sub recording area. The apparatus is provided with an receiving device that receives the main information input from the external source; an accumulating device that accumulates the main information received by the receiving device; a recording device that records the main information and the sub information to the main recording area and the sub recording area, respectively; and a controller that determines whether or not an amount of the main information accumulated in the accumulating device is smaller than a predetermined amount, and that controls the recording device.

Abstract: A method for random track playback is presented. A table base value is used to adjust entries in a pseudo-random table stored in read-only memory. A search start offset is used to select a starting point in the adjusted pseudo-random table. Entries before the starting point are effectively wrapped to the end of the pseudo-random table. A playable track, located in the adjusted, wrapped pseudo-random table, is then selected and played.

Abstract: A CD player and three audio storage devices are coordinated using an interface(FIG. 1) which allows for a unique process of audio arrangement in which continuous intervals of audio are programed to be played from a CD in a specific order, each having a specific tempo and volume at which it is assigned to play. The process of forming an audio arrangement includes auditioning continuous intervals of audio directly from a CD in order to locate the precise position of desirable audio and then connecting these desirable intervals of audio so that each may be transmitted by this invention with a specific amount of timing with respect to the interval of audio that preceded it. After forming a program that specifies an audio arrangement, the CD player and the three audio storage devices can be used to further connect, blend, overlap, and otherwise mix the continuous intervals of audio read from one or several compact discs.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium, on which (i) a plurality of information groups each comprising one series of the record information and (ii) management information including positional information indicating a recorded area of each of the information groups are recordable, is provided with: a detecting device for detecting the management information, which is recorded in advance on the record medium, from the record medium; a recording device for newly recording the record information onto the record medium; an outputting device for outputting an identification information to identify the information groups, which are recorded in advance on the record medium, on the basis of the detected management information while the recording device is newly recording the record information; a specifying device for specifying an erasable information from among the information groups which are identified by the outputted identification information while the recordin

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus for reproducing an item of program information from among a plurality of items of program information recorded on a recording medium, the plurality of items of program information including program information to which reproduction restriction information is added, and the information reproduction apparatus includes: a continuous reproduction specifying device for specifying continuous reproduction of a plurality of items of program information recorded on the recording medium; a determination device for determining based on the reproduction restriction information whether an item of program information is prohibited to be reproduced; and a control device for starting the continuous reproduction of the item of program information if the continuous reproduction of the item of program information is specified through the continuous reproduction specifying device, wherein the control device causes an item of program information determined by the determination device as being

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus is provided with an editing function which allows a reproduction order of information recorded in an information recording/reproducing medium to be changed in a more convenient fashion or arranged. When a user selects music information recorded in the information recording/reproducing medium during the reproduction by operating an operating unit, data of track number indicating a place where the reproduced information is recorded is stored in a storing unit. When the selection of information is completed by the user, the data of track number stored in the storing unit 20 is changed in turn of a predetermined track number, and also an updated data assigned a group file is generated. The updated data is recorded in a predetermined area of the information recording/reproducing medium as a management data showing the reproduction order.

Abstract: When an instruction to enter information unqualified for programmed reproduction is accepted, an optical disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention gives a notification indicating that that information cannot be entered in a program.

Abstract: An information recording and/or reproducing apparatus that records desired information from a plurality of kinds of information having identification information attached thereto, the apparatus having identification information detecting means for detecting the identification information from information supplied thereto; first recording means for sequentially recording supplied information and for recording a table of contents (TOC) of the supplied information including the identification information detected by the identification information detecting means; specifying means for specifying desired information from the TOC recorded by the first recording means; and controlling means for reading the desired information specified by the specifying means from the first recording means.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus is provided, which has a new cue point setting function with excellent operability for enabling new application form. Specifically, a cue point for specifying a start position for playing back a disc, and additional information or disc identification information corresponding to the cue point are stored in a backup memory. The additional information or the disc identification information is associated with the cue point and shown on a display according to a proper operation of operation buttons and a turning member. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated, a system controller edits and adds the additional information, or edits the disc identification information in the backup memory. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated to enter retrieval information, information stored in the backup memory is compared and retrieved, and the retrieved information associated with a cue point is shown on the display.

Abstract: An audio device is compatible with a recordable medium such as a CD-R. The audio device manages track files in each session of the recordable medium and displays the session containing the file of an arbitrary track on a display. For example, each session is regarded as a virtual disk and the name of the virtual disk corresponding to the session containing the track is displayed. Accordingly, the device can be used like a CD-changer with a better operationality, and the user can easily find a desired track from the many tracks recorded on the CD-R and play it back. Also, the device automatically plays back a track of the latest session first.

Abstract: A digital audio recorder having a compact disk player for playing at least one compact disk having multiple tracks also has a hard drive and associated memory. The memory contains a database containing data relating to specific CD's such as album name, artist name, song title, and track, and may also contain playlists. The playlists can be loaded by the manufacturer or created by the user. There are correlations among the data. A central processor is connected to the compact disk player, the hard drive and associated memory, a second memory, display, audio output and buttons or knobs. Turning knobs or pushing buttons directs signals to the central processor and enables a user to operate the compact disk player, store in the second memory audio selections from a disk placed in the compact disk player, select and create playlists, and output audio selections contained in the second memory in an order according to a selected playlist. A keyboard communicates with the player through infrared signals.

Abstract: The present invention, along with reproduction based on a reproduction list for reproducing a plurality of main data recorded on an insertable recording medium in the desired sequence specified by the user, also allows user selection of a reproduction list for use from a plurality of reproduction lists based on the reproduction list table for managing the plurality of reproduction lists, and further generates the reproduction list and the reproduction list table.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus is capable of recording the video information on an optical disk and reproducing the video information which has been recorded on the optical disk in accordance with a play list. The apparatus includes the detecting unit which detects an unnecessary portion of the video information not to be reproduced by any play list, and the erasing unit which erases the video information with respect to the detected unnecessary segment, which has been recorded on the optical disk.

Abstract: The recording medium of this invention is recorded with a plurality of digital data and a plurality of reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of the plurality of digital data, wherein the plurality of reproduction path information includes first reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of all of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium and second reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of at least one of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: DVD 1′ has recording information areas VOR, AOR in which recording information is recorded and reproducing procedure information recording areas VNA, ANA in which reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedures of the recording information is recorded. In addition, this DVD 1′ has an integrated reproducing procedure information recording area GNA in which an integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded. The integrated reproducing procedure information indicates reproducing procedures to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other DVD. Upon reproducing, the recording information recorded astride a plurality of DVDs is reproduced in accordance with the integrated reproducing procedure information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating a memory in a Compact Disc changer. Information identifying discs stored in a CD changer is stored in a memory. The memory is updated when a CD is loaded which does not have identifying features which are recognized by the CD changer. Updating is carried out via a modem connection to a remote database. The database can be stored locally in a local database residing in a personal computer where the database can be queried to locate desired tracks and can be used to facilitate control of the compact disc changer by providing a simplified interface for building a play list and the like.