Abstract: An optical disk drive includes an optical disk drive controller that can test the write channels between the controller and the laser diode driver. Using the results of this testing, the optical disk drive controller adjusts the characteristics of the write channel signals provided to the laser diode driver to correct for one or more detected imperfections in the write channel signals. Both the optical disk drive controller and the laser diode driver have communications ports to facilitate communication. The optical disk drive controller programs the operating characteristics of the laser diode driver so that the laser diode driver can be optimized for the measured characteristics of the write channels.

Abstract: A test unit is provided for executing a confirmation test on the storage area of the storage apparatus. A storage area management unit sets an accessible valid storage area in the storage area, and extends the accessible valid storage area to include a part of the storage area. The part of the storage area used to extend the accessible valid storage is confirmed for normal operation by the test unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the quality of storage media, and more specifically to a method for determining if the quality of a storage medium decreases. A method according to the invention has the steps of: determining one or more quality parameters of the storage medium; and comparing one or more of the determined quality parameters with previously determined quality parameters of the storage medium stored in a memory in case the quality of the storage medium has been determined before.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system that comprises a data storage device is disclosed. The data storage and retrieval system further comprises a first LED, a second LED, a third LED, and a fourth LED, interconnected with the data storage device. The data storage device causes the first LED and the second LED to emit first light comprising a first color if the data storage device detects an internal failure. Alternatively, the storage device causes the third LED and the fourth LED to emit second light comprising a second color if the data storage device remains operative.

Abstract: A method for determining a parameter space for finding optimal operating parameters for reading or writing storage medium is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes: setting a first parameter range of a first operating parameter and a second parameter range of a second operating parameter; normalizing the first and the second parameter ranges respectively and forming an initial parameter space based on the normalized first and second parameter ranges; and rotating the initial parameter space by a rotation angle and forming an actual parameter space based on the rotated initial parameter space. The actual parameter space is expected to result in more reliable optimal operating parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling the record and reproduction of optical record medium in which plural non-record regions having different phase are arranged between recordable data regions for the distinction in the shape of the data region. The method and apparatus performs the servo using focus error signal and tracking error signal averaged by the low pass filter at the header region of the optical disc. Especially, the tracking servo is performed by holding a fixed DC off-set value at the header region existing on the L/G switching or holding the tracking error value of the previous same track region. As a result, the exact header region is detected, the track sliding phenomenon is removed, and the tracking servo is stabilized, resulting in preventing the degeneration of the record and reproduction characteristics.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a reproduction apparatus includes a determination unit determining a preset reproduction limit level of the reproduction apparatus, a generator generating message data in accordance with the reproduction limit level, a reader reading data recorded in a recording medium, a reproduction unit reproducing data read from the reader, a detector detecting a reproduction limit level of the recording medium from data read from the reader, and a display unit comparing the reproduction limit level of the recording medium with the reproduction limit level of the reproduction apparatus, and stopping reproduction of the data of the generator in accordance with the comparison result, and further, displaying a message generated by the generator.

Abstract: A servo control system and method is provided, comprising: a controller outputting a parameter control signal; a device having a parameter controlled based on the parameter control signal; a sensing circuit sensing the parameter of the device and generating a parameter error signal; a sinusoidal signal generator generating a sinusoidal signal; and a adder combining the parameter error signal and the sinusoidal signal, wherein the controller includes a servo equalizer that equalizes the added parameter error signal and the sinusoidal signal to output an equalized parameter control signal to adjust the parameter.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention is usable for an optical disc including a bar code area and a control data area adjacent to the bar code area in a radial direction of the optical disc. The optical disc apparatus includes an optical head for directing an optical beam toward the optical disc so as to form an optical spot on the optical disc and output a signal in accordance with the optical beam reflected by the optical disc; a bar code area determination section for determining whether or not the optical spot is positioned on the bar code area of the optical disc based on the signal output by the optical head; and a control section for controlling the optical head so that the optical spot moves toward the control data area, when the optical spot is determined to be positioned on the bar code area.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization without certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization without certification on a blank test disc to which no data is written, and verifying the test information using reference test information for the initialization without certification to provide a test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization without certification, using a blank test disc.

Abstract: A information recording and reproducing apparatus is capable of recording received audio data in real time in a recording medium, in a searchable state with respect to each piece of music, with simple processing. The information recording and reproducing apparatus receives a data stream including, together with an audio stream, additional information of the piece of music which is currently being transmitted by the audio stream. The additional information includes time information such as the musical performance time of the piece of music and the elapsed time. The information recording and reproducing apparatus records the received audio stream sequentially in an HDD, without change, and on the basis of the received additional information, the reception ending time of the piece of music which is currently being received in the audio stream is calculated.

Abstract: An extracting circuit for extracting meta information from information forming contents is provided. The meta information extracted by the extracting circuit is recorded in a recording medium together with the contents and is used as management information. With this configuration, an object can be searched for based on the contents of the object in a recording device for recording contents, such as moving and still pictures, voices, graphics, and text, in a recording medium.

Abstract: A content transmitting apparatus and the like which execute copy control of content more securely than conventional, and can count copy number correctly according to the situation, even in the case where content transfer is interrupted are provided. The content reproducing apparatus 10 for transmitting content that is digital copyrighted work including a plurality of content blocks comprises: the content reproducing unit 11 which reads out content and the like from the DVD 30; the control unit 12 which repeats, for each of the plurality of content blocks, transmitting in parallel with the content blocks, the copy control information indicating copy permission of the content, the content identification information identifying content, and the content status information indicating status of the content blocks in the overall content; the data building unit 15; the transmission unit 16; and the like.

Abstract: The track jumping of a scanner on optical storage media in which information items are stored on groove and land tracks or which have not yet been written to is intended to be made possible in a reliable manner. For this purpose, firstly a fictitious track type is defined for a regulating circuit, which regulates the position of the scanner. The regulating circuit is then closed on the basis of the track type defined and a track scanning signal. The reaction of the scanner to the closing is detected in order to obtain from this an item of information about the track type. This method is also advantageous, in principle, for closing the track following regulation in information carriers having relatively high storage densities.

Abstract: A record carrier has a track pattern of substantially parallel tracks. Control data packs are stored repetitively in several control locations (32) for protection against damage and contamination. The control locations (32) are separated at spacer positions (33) by one or more spacers (34,35). The length of the spacers (34,35) is selected for preventing overlap of the position of the first block of the control data packs in the parallel tracks.

Abstract: An information recording method performing recording on an information recording medium having multiple rewritable recording layers each having a data area in which user data is to be recorded is disclosed. The method includes a recorded area presence or absence determination step that determines whether a recorded area exists in at least the data area of a first recording layer; and a corresponding unrecorded area data filling step that, if the recorded area exists in the first recording layer, records predetermined data in an unrecorded area in an area, corresponding to the same radial position as the recorded area, in a second recording layer except the first recording layer at a predetermined timing before completion of the recording on the information recording medium.

Abstract: A recording interruption-controlling section interrupts recording if vibration is detected in order to complete proper recording by making it possible to interrupt and restart recording in cases where proper recording is difficult to continue because of vibration or the like. A recording quality-confirming section reproduce a recording signal after the recording has been interrupted and detects a recording location at which degradation in recording quality occurs. A CD-ROM encoder or a CD encoder re-encodes data held in a buffer, and recording is restarted from the location at which degradation in recording quality occurs under the control of a recording restart-controlling section.

Abstract: When recording to an optical disk under zoned constant linear velocity (ZCLV) or partial constant angular velocity (PCAV) control, a plurality of super link points are dynamically set in the packet link areas. In this way, packet units recorded on a track of the optical disk are kept continuous.

Abstract: An optical disk has a central axis and a major face extending in a radial direction from the central axis. The optical disk is rotatable around the central axis at an angular velocity and is formed with a recording layer on the major face. The recording layer is optically recordable with information and is formed with a track area containing tracks which are arranged at a predetermined track pitch in the radial direction and which are accessable by an optical beam to read or write information while the tracks move at a linear velocity relative to the optical beam. The recording layer is preliminarily recorded with control information indicative of the predetermined track pitch and/or either of a predetermined linear velocity of the tracks or a predetermined angular velocity of the disk. The control information is readily readable from the recording layer to facilitate the accessing of the tracks by the optical beam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying medium content and updating database information. A medium identifier is created from both track fingerprint as well as physical media characteristics. The medium identifier is then used to query either a local or remote database of content information. A non-commercial medium test is conducted and if the medium is determined to be non-commercially created or if the medium is not identified in a database, fingerprints for all tracks are extracted and an extended medium identifier is created to query a database for information on all tracks on the medium.

Abstract: An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

Abstract: A system and method for detection and analysis of video recording is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a video recording, calculating complexity values of video recording received, comparing the calculated complexity values with reference complexity values, and displaying analysis of video recording on a user interface is disclosed. The system comprises an input device for receiving video recording, a computing device for calculating complex values of received video recording, a comparator device for comparing complex values of video recording, and a storage device for storing internal data.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention is usable for an optical disc including a bar code area and a control data area adjacent to the bar code area in a radial direction of the optical disc. The optical disc apparatus includes an optical head for directing an optical beam toward the optical disc so as to form an optical spot on the optical disc and output a signal in accordance with the optical beam reflected by the optical disc, a bar code area determination section for determining whether or not the optical spot is positioned on the bar code area of the optical disc based on the signal output by the optical head; and a control section for controlling the optical head so that the optical spot moves toward the control data area, when the optical spot is determined to be positioned on the bar code area.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization with certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating, as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization with certification on a test disc, which is obtained by making known physical defects on a blank disc, and verifying the test information using reference test information for initialization with certification to provide the test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization with certification, using a test disc with known physical defects.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus irradiates a light beam on an optical disc on which pre-pits are formed, and performs recording and/or reproduction of information with respect to the optical disc according to a recording clock produced based on a wobble signal and a pre-pit signal. When recording information onto the optical disc having the pre-pits, a light beam is radiated to thereby extract the wobble signal and pre-pit signal. Then, according to the wobble signal and the pre-pit signal, a recording clock signal is produced, and information is recorded based on the recording clock signal. When producing a pre-pit signal, a push-pull signal is produced from the reflected light from the optical disc, and this signal is compared with a reference level to thereby detect a pre-pit. Here, when a pre-pit is not detected, the reference level is changed and the detection processing of the pre-pits is executed again.

Abstract: Parameters characterizing physical operation of a rotating structure (disk drive) are determined by sending appropriate commands and examining the response. The measured parameters are then used to balance various requirements. For example, when starting retrieval of a data stream, a speed which leads to highest effective retrieval rate may be used such that the data elements are available quickly for use. On the other hand, in a playback mode (or a shock mode), a speed which consumes the lowest amount of electrical energy can be used.

Abstract: A method of verifying the defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc. The method verifies that DMA information is properly generated or updated after a recording and reproducing apparatus, which records or reproduces information on or from an optical disc with DMA information, performs a process in a test mode for testing the generation or update of DMA information. The method includes reading the generated or updated DMA information and verifying the generated or updated DMA information using reference DMA information which is predetermined for the test mode and providing the verified result. Accordingly, it is easily verified that the recording and reproducing apparatus exactly generates or updates defect information by performing various test modes using different test discs having predetermined defect information, which has no relation with actual defects, instead of using a disc having the actual defects.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization without certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization without certification on a blank test disc to which no data is written, and verifying the test information using reference test information for the initialization without certification to provide a test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization without certification, using a blank test disc.

Abstract: Film forming areas for recording main information are formed on surfaces on which two substrates (11a, 11b) are adhered to an adhesive layer (3). An inner-circumference portion (18) adjacent to the film forming area as a main-information area (12a, 12b) of the substrate has an individual recognizing area (4a) for read only on an optical disk (10), to which identification information for uniquely recognizing the optical disk is recorded. The identification information is formed by recording a pattern having a predetermined difference in tint to the individual recognizing area on the optical disk by printing, before adhering the two substrates to the adhesive layer. The individual recognizing area on the optical disk may be provided at an outer-circumference portion adjacent to the film forming area as the main-information area on the substrate.

Abstract: In a reproducing apparatus of the present invention, an input audio signal is divided into bands and an envelope value of each band is measured. Based on a change of the envelope value, a predetermined sound source is superimposed. Further, according to the envelope value of a reproduced audio signal, a tempo of reproduced music is detected and animation representation is changed in synchronism with the detected tempo. Further, a rhythm box is reproduced in synchronism with the detected tempo and a sound field is automatically selected corresponding to the detected tempo to perform synthesization.

Abstract: An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to simplify work to edit sub data by: recording one or a plurality of main data, recording management data for controlling the main data, recording one or a plurality of sub data related to the main data and sub management data for controlling the sub data on a recording medium; and linking the sub data and the sub management data so that they can be referenced from the management data.

Abstract: To ensure compatibility of apparatus, seamless_connection_flag is set to 1 when a succeeding play item can be reproduced in seamless reproduction consecutive to a previous play item and set to 0 when seamless reproduction cannot be guaranteed.

Abstract: In a memory control device for controlling the write-in/read-out operation for a memory of a recording/reproducing apparatus, a sector data storing area and an additive area are set in each sector-based data storing area in the memory. A prescribed data is stored in the additive area associated with the sector-based data stored in the sector data storing area. The access addresses for the additive area are generated on the basis of the sector count value when the sector data write-in or read-out is carried out in the memory. The access addresses are calculated by the memory control device.

Abstract: Data is recorded on and data is reproduced from an optical disc in a multi-session recording system on optical disc on which re-recording of data is possible. Contents of a last session of the optical disc are rewritten from contents indicating that a subsequent session does not exist to contents indicating that a subsequent session exists.

Abstract: A disk device for recording data onto a disk in accordance with a predetermined layout containing a footer portion. In the disk device, upon receipt of a record command entered by a user, a CPU reads out a TDB of a track finally subjected to data recording, and judges whether or not a data recording method used for the data recording is a track-at-once recording method or a packet-writing recording method. When it is the packet-writing recording method, the CPU reads out the data located at a position precedent to a record start address by two frames, and judges whether or not the mode of the header is Ro1 (bit value=111). When it is any other than Ro1, the CPU judges that the disk rejects the recording of data thereonto, and outputs a message stating that the disk rejects the recording of data thereonto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recording/reproducing information signals at an access speed in the order of &mgr;s, a recording density of 1 to 10 GBs/cm2, and a data transfer rate in the order of Gbit/sec without breakage of the data. The method includes the steps of: making a head device face to a memory medium having a flat recording surface, the head device including a plurality of head elements two-dimensionally arranged each of which has at its leading end a flat portion having an area of 0.1 &mgr;m2 or less; moving the head device relative to the memory medium a distance more than a gap between two adjacent ones of the head elements; and recording an information signal at a specific position of the recording surface at a recording density of 1 Gbit/cm2 or more, or reproducing an information signal previously recorded on the recording surface al a specific position by the head device.

Abstract: To ensure compatibility of apparatus, seamless_connection_flag is set to 1 when a succeeding play item can be reproduced in seamless reproduction consecutive to a previous play item and set to 0 when seamless reproduction cannot be guaranteed.

Abstract: A jack is provided to be inserted with a cable dedicated to analog transmission, a cable dedicated to digital transmission, and a cable dedicated to analog and digital transmissions. A recording device is also provided to have the jack and a cable identifying unit so that the signal to be recorded is automatically switched according to the transmitted digital signal and the cable identified result given by the cable identifying unit.

Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self-servowriting include detecting and correcting for media defects. A detector is used to detect whether a trigger pattern is within an expected location on the storage medium. If the trigger pattern is not detected, then a physical defect may be present. Thus, in one example, a false trigger pattern is generated. Additionally, a determination is made as to whether a trigger pattern is within an expected trigger pattern region. When the trigger pattern is not within the expected range, then a valid interval window may be modified to adjust the expected trigger pattern region.

Abstract: Recording surface of an optical disk is segmented radially into a plurality of volumes each including a lead-in area, program area and lead-out area. In each of the volumes, information indicating presence of a succeeding volume is recorded in a main channel of the program or lead-out area. Dedicated player can receive the information indicating presence of a succeeding volume during reproduction of the first volume and thus is allowed to access the second volume. By contrast, non-dedicated or ordinary CD-ROM players have no capability to read the information indicating presence of a succeeding volume and thus is only allowed to reproduce the first volume without knowing the presence of the succeeding volume.