Abstract: The present invention is directed to memory systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a memory system with a volatile memory, a persistent memory, and a controller. In a save operation, the controller copies contents of the volatile memory to the persistent memory as data units with their corresponding descriptor fields, where the descriptor fields include address information. In a restore operation, the controller copies data units from the persistent memory to their corresponding locations based on addresses stored at descriptor fields. There are other embodiments as well.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to memory systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a memory system with a volatile memory, a persistent memory, and a controller. In a save operation, the controller copies contents of the volatile memory to the persistent memory as data units with their corresponding descriptor fields, where the descriptor fields include address information. In a restore operation, the controller copies data units from the persistent memory to their corresponding locations based on addresses stored at descriptor fields. There are other embodiments as well.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent occurrence of data destruction when a transfer source region and a transfer destination region of data overlap with each other and even when transfer is performed using a burst transfer function. The data read from the transfer source region is temporarily written into a ring buffer, and then the data written into the ring buffer is written into the transfer source region. In this case, reading of the data from the ring buffer is controlled, based on a magnitude relation between the number of times of wrap-arounds caused by writing of the data into the ring buffer and the number of times of wrap-arounds caused by reading of the data from the ring buffer.

Abstract: A hybrid BD drive 1 (1) of the present invention includes a flash control section (2) which (a) uses a flash memory (7) as a cache memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (13) and which (b) uses the flash memory (7) as a data memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (14). This makes it possible to provide an optical disc drive device having a nonvolatile memory capable of reducing an access time in random access and storing data except cache data.

Abstract: Provided is an orbiting memory capable of suppressing residual deviation even when a phase difference is caused between a signal to be compensated and information stored in a memory to be fed back and a disc device using the orbiting memory. The disc device includes: an adder to which a signal (s10) to be compensated and having a cyclic frequency component such as a control system error signal is inputted; and a feed back signal system for successively updating and storing an output signal of the adder for each cycle in a memory and inputting one-cycle information stored in the memory to the adder.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a circuit comprising a switch and a switch driver. The switch is configured to provide synchronous rectification switching of a back-EMF voltage. The synchronous rectification switching produces a source voltage. The switch driver is configured to receive the back-EMF voltage and the source voltage. The switch driver provides a control signal to a control terminal of the switch. The control signal has a frequency. The frequency is used to control an amount of the synchronous rectification switching. Accordingly, the frequency reduces a dissipated power associated with the synchronous rectification switching.

Abstract: A control unit accesses a memory. The memory includes a plurality of blocks. The control unit includes a batch buffer, a batch controller and a multiplexer. The batch buffer stores a batch which includes a designated block index. The batch controller fetches the designated block index from the batch buffer. The multiplexer selectively outputs a sequential block index or the designated block index as an active index according to a control signal. And a designated block of the memory is accessed according to the active index.

Abstract: A non-volatile storage subsystem is capable of serving as a configuration controller for configuring/programming one or more field-programmable devices, such as FPGAs, of a target computer system. The storage subsystem may be in the form of a memory card or drive that plugs into a standard slot or external port of the target system. When connected to the target system, the storage subsystem uses the appropriate download interface/protocol to stream or otherwise send configuration data stored in its non-volatile storage to the target system's field-programmable device(s). Thus, the need for a configuration controller in the target system is avoided. Once the configuration process is complete, the storage subsystem preferably acts as a standard storage subsystem, such as an ATA storage drive, that may be used by the target system to store data.

Abstract: When receiving the reproduced data from the optical disc and buffering same, the buffering from the correct position can be started on the basis of the synchronous signal and the address information included in the sub data which was received simultaneously. There is provided a method for controlling the buffering of the main data which is reproduced from the optical disc, in which the main data and the sub data are received with taking word clocks which are partitioning timings having plural bits of the main data as a unit as references, a synchronous signal which is in synchronization with the main data is generated, and the buffering of the main data is started on the basis of the synchronous signal.

Abstract: A drive apparatus of the present invention includes: a recording/reproduction section, a drive control section and a memory circuit. The drive control section performs a process including: receiving a recording instruction specifying at least data to be recorded; storing the data to be recorded in the memory circuit; defining data from a start location of the data stored in the memory circuit to a location corresponding to a next writable address as a first data portion; defining data from the location corresponding to the next writable address to an end location of the data stored in the memory circuit as a second data portion; and controlling the recording/reproduction section to record the second data portion before recording the first data portion.

Abstract: A recording medium includes a plurality of signal recording layers. A head reproduces two information signals from respective places in the recording medium on a time sharing basis. The reproduced signals are stored in a buffer memory before being outputted therefrom at first and second transfer rates respectively. The reproduced signals are transmitted from the head to the buffer memory on a time sharing basis and at a third transfer rate higher than the first and second transfer rates. Information amounts of the respective reproduced signals continuously transmitted from the head to the buffer memory are decided on the basis of a given relation among parameters including intra-layer seek times and inter-layer seek times related to the head, and the first, second, and third transfer rates.

Abstract: A hybrid BD drive 1 (1) of the present invention includes a flash control section (2) which (a) uses a flash memory (7) as a cache memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (13) and which (b) uses the flash memory (7) as a data memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (14). This makes it possible to provide an optical disc drive device having a nonvolatile memory capable of reducing an access time in random access and storing data except cache data.

Abstract: A recording apparatus and a recording method are provided. Control information is generated by the microcontroller based on the received command. The data preparing unit has a control register and a preparing circuit, wherein the control register is used for storing a set of control register values corresponding to the control information, and the preparing circuit is used for generating prepared data based on the set of control register values and storing the prepared data in the data buffer. The recording circuit records on an optical storage media based on the prepared data. The optical storage media has a lead-in area having a plurality of continuous zones. The prepared data includes a plurality of data to be written into the corresponding zones and the plurality of data are stored in the data buffer in the same sequence as the writing sequence to the zones and are read continuously.

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: Blu-Ray reading and writing methods are provided. In a reading procedure, a first plurality of recording frames are sequentially read from a Blu-Ray disc and stored in a memory array along a first direction to assemble a first LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction. A second plurality of recording frames are simultaneously read and stored in the memory array along the second direction to assemble a second LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along the first direction while the data lines in the first LDC block are sequentially decoded and output.

Abstract: Disclosed is a playback device capable of audio playback with little or no interruption. Yet, there is no need of increasing the memory capacity of the playback device and sacrificing the usability of the playback device. The playback device stores, to its internal memory, identification information of audio data stored on a recording medium such as an optical disc, and specifying information specifying the storage location of the identification information. The playback device sequentially stores the audio data to a remaining area of the memory. The audio data stored in the memory is supplied for playback.

Abstract: A method for identifying an optical disk according to a radio frequency integration filtering signal includes the steps of: moving an optical head to an initial position; rotating the optical disk and making focus, moving the optical head in a direction toward an inner ring until the optical head is moved to a home position or the focus fails, reading the radio frequency integration filtering signal, and recording a maximum and a minimum thereof when the optical head is being moved; stopping the optical head and determining whether a difference between the maximum and the minimum is greater than a predetermined threshold value; setting the optical disk as a second type of disk if the difference is greater than the predetermined threshold value; and setting the optical disk as a first type of disk if the difference is smaller than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A recording method for an optical disk drive is implemented as follows. First, at least one of the level of the focusing error signal, the level of the tracking error signal, a wobble synchronization pattern loss, the error rate of demodulating a wobble signal and the frequency of buffer under-run occurrence is detected. If at least one detected value exceeds the preset value, the recording will be ceased. Then, the rotation speed of the optical disk drive is decreased, and the recording is resumed with the decreased rotation speed.

Abstract: The same contents having different recording rates are recorded on a multi-layer disk. A plurality of contents or the same contents having different recording rates are independently recorded respectively in different layers of an optical disk having a plurality of recording layers. In order to record a plurality of contents or the same contents having different recording rates in parallel at that time, recording on the multi-layer optical disk is conducted by repeating an operation of dividing each content into recording units, recording a recording unit of one kind of information in a recording layer, and recording a recording unit of the other kind of information in a different recording layer.

Abstract: A coder codes an information signal. A rate controller controls a coding rate of the coder in accordance with complexity of the information signal. The rate controller controls a coding amount per unit time in the coding process so that an average value of the coding amount can be approximate to an average rate. The coded data is temporarily memorized in a temporary memory unit and processed by an information processing unit such as a recorder and a transmitter. The information processing unit measures an information processing rate in processing the information. The rate controller adjusts the average rate so that the average rate is lower than the information processing rate measured by the information processing unit, or the rate controller compares a threshold value of a used amount of the temporary memory unit which is previously set and an actually used amount of the temporary memory unit and reduces the average rate when the used amount exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: An audio encoding method and apparatus for electronic shock protection (ESP) function in an audio player. A method of generating a frame structure for an electronic shock protection function of an audio player, includes: encoding original data of a frame and locating the encoded data in a first area that is a start part of the frame structure; and encoding frame length information indicating a size of the encoded data in the frame, and locating the encoded frame length information in a second area that is an end part of the frame structure.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which records data on the basis of a predetermined minimum amount of recording data. Recording data supplied from an external device is stored in a buffer memory and then encoded and recorded on an optical disk. The data is recorded in units of one ECC block (sixteen sectors). When the buffer memory has a free space corresponding to data amount of less than one ECC block, a system controller supplies a request for data in a data amount of the free space to the host device to store data corresponding to one ECC block in the buffer memory, as a result of which data filling by means of access to the optical disk is prevented.

Abstract: First, an ID added disc is loaded. A disc ID is read from the disc at step S2. The disc ID matches a hardware ID of hardware that can use software recorded on the disc. If the disc ID has not been read from the disc, an error process is performed. At step S3, a hardware ID of hardware connected to a personal computer is obtained. At step S4, it is determined whether or not both the IDs match. When the determined result represents that they match, at step S5, an application starts. When the determined result at step S4 represents that they do not match, at step S6, an error message is displayed on a display of the personal computer.

Abstract: A data storage device includes two data storage media: both a hard disk and a non-volatile solid state memory device, such as a flash memory. Data received by the data storage device for storage is stored both in the hard disk and the flash memory. Since the data storage is duplicated, if a problem arises with retrieving data from one of the hard disk, the data can be retrieved from the flash memory.

Abstract: A method for accessing a variable memory of an optical disk drive includes utilizing the optical disk drive to read and write data of an optical disk, and identifying the type of the data. If the data is CD data, arrange writing variables from a first initial address of the variable memory and reading variables from a second initial address of the variable memory. If the type of the data is DVD data, arrange writing variables from the first initial address of the variable memory and reading variables from the second initial address of the variable memory.

Abstract: Stable playback performance is assured and data loss due to out-of-step synchronization is reduced even when playback signal quality deteriorates due to such cause as a recording medium defect. The playback method applies to a recording medium to which data is recorded in block units containing multiple fixed-length frames together with block address information. The data and the block address information are acquired from the recording medium. The recording position of each frame in a block is then predicted from the acquired block address information. Synchronization is then set to the frame level based on the acquired data, and the memory address for storing the acquired data is determined based on the predicted recording position. The acquired data is then stored at the determined memory address.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control method of recording speed in an optical disc drive. Firstly it is determined whether the recording speed is higher than a data transfer rate from the host to the data buffer in the optical disc drive. If so, the recording speed is set to the data transfer rate and disc writing is continued with a constant linear velocity (CLV) mode.

Abstract: A pattern buffer apparatus for a dynamic write strategy, which buffers non return to zero (NRZ) data patterns in order to generate a recording pulse in a compact disc system, includes a pattern detector which detects a pattern edge and a pattern from the NRZ data; a write address generating unit which generates a write address indicating a pattern buffer which stores the pattern in response to a write enable signal; the pattern buffer which has a plurality of registers and stores the detected pattern according to the write address; and a read address generating unit which generates a read address in response to a read enable signal, and reads the current pattern stored in the pattern buffer indicated by the read address.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for driving an optical disk having formed therein sawtooth wobbles of +STW and ?STW. A pickup receives a laser beam reflected from the optical disk and supplies a reproduced signal to a wobble signal processing section. The wobble signal processing section differentiates the reproduced signal and binarizes the differential signal with reference to a zero level. A pulse length of the binary signal achieved during a positive period is compared with that of the binary signal achieved during a negative period. When the pulse length achieved during the positive period is longer than that achieved during the negative period, the binary signal is determined to be a +STW. In contrast, when the pulse length achieved during the negative period is longer than that achieved during the positive period, the binary signal is determined to be a ?STW, whereby a wobble signal is demodulated.

Abstract: A method for replacing a defective block with a good block in an optical disk allows data recording operations to be effectively performed. The method temporarily stores data that would have otherwise been recorded in a defective area of an optical disc in a temporary buffer. The method then stores the data in the temporary buffer in a spare area of the optical disc after the normal data recording operation is completed, or if the amount of data in the buffer exceeds a predetermined memory capacity. The method can continuously and quickly perform a general data recording operation, effectively avoid a system load increase due to frequent track movements on an optical disc, and appropriately record real-time data without the loss of data.

Abstract: A controller for controlling interruptions and restarts when writing data to a recording medium by emitting a laser beam against the recording medium. The controller prevents buffer underrun errors. The laser beam is emitted at a high power level when writing data on the recording medium and at a low power read level when reading data from the medium. The writing of data is interrupted when there is a possibility of a buffer underrun error. When restarting data writing from where the interruption occurred, the laser beam is shifted from the read level to the write level before reaching the location at which the interruption occurred. This guarantees that the laser beam has the required power level when writing is restarted.

Abstract: A controller for a data recorder for recording data that records data in a continuous manner regardless of interruptions. An encoder encodes data that is to be written to a recording medium. A synchronizing circuit synchronizes the data read from the recording medium with the encoded data when the writing of data to the recording medium is interrupted. A first retry determination circuit determines whether an address of the data read from the recording medium and an address of the data provided to the encoder match. A second retry determination circuit determines whether the timing for reading data from recording medium and the timing for encoding data match. A restart circuit restarts the writing of data to the recording medium based on the determinations of the first and second retry determination circuits.

Abstract: A data recorder for recording data that records data in a continuous manner regardless of interruptions. An encoder encodes data that is to be written to a recording medium. A synchronizing circuit synchronizes the data read from the recording medium with the encoded data when the writing of data to the recording medium is interrupted. A first retry determination circuit determines whether an address of the data read from the recording medium and an address of the data provided to the encoder match. A second retry determination circuit determines whether the timing for reading data from recording medium and the timing for encoding data match. A restart circuit restarts the writing of data to the recording medium based on the determinations of the first and second retry determination circuits.

Abstract: A method for decoding encoded data around a linking area on an optical storage medium includes: detecting at least one type of sync patterns within the encoded data; determining an offset value corresponding to the linking area according to the detected sync patterns; and decoding the encoded data according to the offset value for generating decoded data.

Abstract: A data accumulating apparatus, comprising: storage media; receiving means for receiving digital raw data about specific information from an external electronic device; first accumulating means for accumulating the digital raw data received by the receiving means into the storage media; producing means for producing first data equal to the digital raw data accumulated in the storage media; compressing means for compressing the first data produced by the producing means to produce coded data in association with the digital raw data accumulated in the storage media; and second accumulating means for accumulating the digital coded data produced by the compressing means into the storage media.

Abstract: A controller for a data recorder controls data recording to prevent buffer overrun errors. The data recorder emits a laser beam against a recording medium to record data. The data has a level that determines the power of the laser beam. When there is a possibility of a buffer overrun, the controller interrupts data recording. The controller interrupts data recording when the power of the laser beam is a low level and restarts data recording with the laser beam generated at the low level.

Abstract: An optical disk for a sampled servo system is provided with a servo area having a synchronization pit serving as a synchronization reference of reproduction; and a data area having a plurality of data pits which records the digital data and a tracking pit which serves as a tracking reference of the reproduction. The data pits are provided with first data pits and second data pits; and the tracking pit is located between the first and the second data pits. The tracking pit is located at a predetermined position in the data area. A pit row of the plurality of data pits and the tracking pit has the identical pit period. A pit row of the plurality of data pits and the tracking pit has a reverse phase between adjoining two tracks.

Abstract: To provide an optical disk drive having an enhanced replaying capability in case of an abnormality occurring in various kinds of synchronization of the optical disk drive or in replay of a defective sector. A frame synchronization counter value address translation decoder 202, low order ID address translation decoder 203, adder/subtracter 204, high order ID address translation decoder 205, and adder 206 are used to translate information read from an optical disk medium into an absolute storage address in a storage medium, and thus data that is highly replayed can be stored in the storage medium.

Abstract: In a recording stop processing method according to an aspect of this invention, when a recording stop instruction is input and the data size of stream data, which is stored in a storage destination, is smaller than the predetermined data size, dummy data is added to the stream data stored in the storage destination, and the stream data with the dummy data, whose data size becomes equal to the predetermined data size, is DMA-transferred to terminate DMA transfer, thus stopping recording of stream data.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for storing and reading a file system structure in a write-once memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits representing a file system structure is inverted and stored in a write-once memory array. When the inverted plurality of bits is read from the memory array, the bits are inverted to provide the file system structure bits in their original, non-inverted configuration. With this preferred embodiment, a file system structure can be updated to reflect data stored in the memory array after the file system structure was written. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for copying/moving data on an optical recording medium is disclosed, in which data moves or copies in one disc using a memory and data transmission to a host is omitted when the data moves or copies in one optical disc. To this end, identification information is assigned to a reserved area of read/write commands generated from the host, thereby displaying data movement status or data copying status. Thus, it is possible to reduce the data transmission time when the data moves or copies in one disc. Furthermore, even if the read/write commands in one file or the whole data to move or copy occur several times, the data transmission time such as the data movement time and the data copying time can be reduced by reducing the number of physical access times of the optical disc for the data reading/writing operation.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiplies or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a pause circuit for pausing data encoders upon receiving a pause signal so that a write operation may be paused without writing dummy data, thereby maintaining data succession. The optical disc apparatus also includes a circuit for accurately determining a write start location by referring to previously written data. A processor generates a pause signal when the amount of data in the optical drive apparatus data buffer is low, and removes the pause signal when additional data from a host is received. The processor may also automatically reduce the write speed of the optical disc apparatus upon a pause condition, thereby preventing the necessity for excessive pausing.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having plural recording layers includes a first recording layer on which first data is to be recorded and a second recording layer on which second data is to be recorded. The first and second recording layers are layered, with the second data being recorded at a location in the second recording layer in the vicinity of a location in the first recording layer where the first data relevant to the second data is recorded. Replay signals of variable configurations can be obtained by suitably synthesizing data read out from the respective recording layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a file tree in a compact disc player from the file system of a compressed audio CD is disclosed. After determining the target sector for building the file tree of the CD player, the CD player reads into the memory of the CD player the target sector and a number of contiguous sectors following the target sector. After identifying a target sector, the CD player first determines if the target sector is cached in the memory of the CD player. If the target sector is cached in the memory of the CD player, the sector is retrieved from the CD player. If the target sector is not cached in the memory of the CD player, the target sector is retrieved from the file system of the CD, together with a number of sequential contiguous sectors following the target sector.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for caching media data to thereby enhance media data read and/or write functionality and performance. A multimedia apparatus, comprises a cache buffer configured to be coupled to a storage device, wherein the cache buffer stores multimedia data, including video and audio data, read from the storage device. A cache manager coupled to the cache buffer, wherein the cache buffer is configured to cause the storage device to enter into a reduced power consumption mode when the amount of data stored in the cache buffer reaches a first level.

Abstract: A ring buffer region is divided into a plurality of ring regions. Information is recorded in (or reproduced from) the ring regions from one end of the ring buffer region to the other end of the ring buffer region and from the other end to the one end in the predetermined order. The predetermined order is determined such that the recording (or reproducing) takes place skipping over at least one ring region every time.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform random access playback, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. quickly and seamlessly. A signal processing unit stores audio data read out from a disc into a buffer memory, and performs information processing for audio playback based on the audio data in the buffer memory. Audio data of certain time durations respectively corresponding to a past and a future with respect to the audio data currently being subjected to audio playback is replenished and stored into the buffer memory. When a jog dial is manipulated, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. are performed quickly and seamlessly based on the audio data in the buffer memory.

Abstract: When subcodes included in a CD format are reproduced, jitter is removed when the subcodes are synchronized with signal data. The data is connected together by using the subcode data to prevent interruptions of sound and pictures. An error correction unit performs error correction processing for signal data reproduced (read) from a CD. A memory stores the signal data whose error is corrected and a data output unit reads out the signal data stored in the memory according to a reference clock. A subcode detection/jitter removal unit detects subcode data reproduced from the CD and outputs the subcode data to the memory in synchronism with outputting of the signal data whose error is corrected by the error correction unit, to thereby remove jitter.

Abstract: A method for accessing a variable memory of an optical disk drive includes utilizing the optical disk drive to read and write data of an optical disk, and identifying the type of the data. If the data is CD data, arrange writing variables from a first initial address of the variable memory and reading variables from a second initial address of the variable memory. If the type of the data is DVD data, arrange writing variables from the first initial address of the variable memory and reading variables from the second initial address of the variable memory.