Abstract: A method and apparatus providing variable rate auxiliary video data in a digital cinema package is disclosed. The digital cinema package has primary video information and primary audio information carried on a plurality of fixed bit rate primary audio channels, each fixed bit rate primary audio channel represented by a sequence of audio channel data blocks. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating a chunk of the auxiliary video data, the chunk representing time duration Dc of the auxiliary video data, generating an auxiliary video data block of Lb length, and providing the auxiliary video data block as an audio channel data block of at least one of the fixed bit rate primary audio channels.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to provide a technique, when using fixed-length run-length limit codes based on enumeration, that generates fixed-length channel bit words satisfying maximum run-length limitation using a simple configuration. A channel bit word processor according to the present invention includes an avoidance list that describes a difference between a user bit word satisfying a maximum run-length limitation of run-length limit code and a user bit word not satisfying the maximum run-length limitation. The channel bit word processor, if a user bit word does not satisfy the maximum run-length limitation, generates a channel bit word using a user bit word after the difference is added.

Abstract: A signal conditioning unit processes a data signal from an optical pickup unit. The signal conditioning unit includes a single-ended channel and a dual-ended channel. One of the single-ended channel and the dual-ended channel is selected as an active channel, and a reference level of a signal in the active channel is calibrated. The signal in the active channel is adjusted within a dynamic range of a digital signal processing stage, and the data signal of the active channel is converted to a digital signal at the digital signal processing stage.

Abstract: A method of determining characteristics of a signal and an apparatus using the method. The apparatus for determining characteristics of a signal includes: a level detector receiving sample values of a radio frequency (RF) signal and binary data obtained by binarizing the RF signal, generating selection signals based on the binary data, classifying each of the sample values of the RF signal into one of a plurality of levels using the selection signals, and outputting average values of sample values of each level; and a signal characteristics determiner determining a characteristics value that indicates the characteristics of the RF signal using the average values of the sample values belonging to each level.

Abstract: An information readout device includes an equalizer and a maximum likelihood detector. The equalizer includes a second-order Volterra filter, and equalizes a readout signal read out from an information recording medium to a predetermined characteristic to output the equalization signal. The maximum likelihood detector outputs a binary signal through maximum likelihood detection based on the equalization signal. By limiting the number of second-order terms of the second-order Volterra filter to three terms or four terms, a nonlinear component can be effectively corrected.

Abstract: In an apparatus for conditioning a signal from an optical pickup unit (OPU), a single-ended channel includes a first signal processing block to calibrate a dark level of a single-ended signal corresponding to a single-ended output of the OPU, if any, and to center the single-ended signal. A dual-ended channel includes a second signal processing block to calibrate a dark level of a dual-ended signal corresponding to a dual-ended output of the OPU, if any, and to center the dual-ended signal. A multiplexer selects one of the single-ended channel and the dual-ended channel, and outputs a selected signal. A digital signal processing stage converts the selected signal to a digital signal.

Abstract: An optical disc device and an adjusting method for a recording condition for use with the optical disc device that records data into an optical disc medium by using codes whose shortest run length is 2T and reproduces the recorded data by using an adaptive equalizing procedure and a PRML procedure, wherein the recording condition is so adjusted that a reproduced signal with desired quality can be obtained, by using, as the adaptive equalizing procedure, a procedure in which a tap coefficient Cn is set to a value obtained by averaging values of a tap coefficient an renewed by a LMS method, located symmetrically with each other along the time axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the quality of a signal on an optical disc based on level information of a viterbi decoder are provided. The signal quality measuring apparatus includes: a binary unit that generates binary signals from input RF signals; a channel identifier that receives the input RF signals and the binary signals output from the binary unit and outputs reference level values corresponding to the binary signals; and an information calculator that receives the reference level values and detects a signal quality value.

Abstract: A method of determining characteristics of a signal and an apparatus using the method. The apparatus for determining characteristics of a signal includes: a level detector receiving sample values of a radio frequency (RF) signal and binary data obtained by binarizing the RF signal, generating selection signals based on the binary data, classifying each of the sample values of the RF signal into one of a plurality of levels using the selection signals, and outputting average values of sample values of each level; and a signal characteristics determiner determining a characteristics value that indicates the characteristics of the RF signal using the average values of the sample values belonging to each level.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the quality of a signal on an optical disc based on level information of a viterbi decoder are provided. The signal quality measuring apparatus includes: a binary unit that generates binary signals from input RF signals; a channel identifier that receives the input RF signals and the binary signals output from the binary unit and outputs reference level values corresponding to the binary signals; and an information calculator that receives the reference level values and detects a signal quality value.

Abstract: The present invention enables audio data to be recorded or played back more easily. LPCM samples from an LPCM sample 301-1 of a first channel to an LPCM sample 304-1 of a fourth channel in audio data are combined in order to generate a GOLS 310-1. An even number of GOLS are combined to generate an audio frame. Header information is added to the audio frame to generate an audio PES packet, which is multiplexed with a video PES packet and recorded onto a recording medium. As a result, the number of bits of the audio frame is an integral multiple of 32. This increases an affinity with a recording and playback apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pre-pit signal at different laser power intensities of an optical disk drive. The apparatus includes an amplifier for receiving a push-pull signal acquired from an optical disk to generate an adjusted signal, a multiplexer for receiving the push-pull signal and the adjusted signal and selecting the push-pull signal or the adjusted signal as a slicing signal for output according to a power state signal, and a slicer for receiving the slicing signal and slicing the slicing signal according to a slicing level to generate the pre-pit signal. Thus, the apparatus only needs one set of slicer to correctly slice the pre-pit signal.

Abstract: A method for bit recovery in a data channel includes the steps of: inputting a read channel signal, providing a main signal processor for adaptive bit recovery from the read channel signal, providing an auxiliary signal processor for bit recovery from the read channel signal, using an output of the auxiliary signal processor for adaptation of the main signal processor, and outputting a recovered binary bit stream.

Abstract: Today the storage of audiovisual (AV) data on storage media employs standardized coding schemes, e.g. MPEG-2. End user devices for AV presentation, like disc players, contain dedicated decoders implemented in hardware, which are able to decode data streams complying with the respective standard. The efficiency of this decoding methodology relies on the standardization of appropriate coding schemes. Proprietary coding schemes may be more efficient by being adapted to the content, or may be used for content protection or optional features. Using reconfigurable decoder hardware, storing the configuration data for the actual decoder on the same storage medium as the AV data, and downloading the data to configure the player can be used to implement proprietary coding schemes. Such schemes require appropriate player hardware, suitable to execute a downloaded decoder under real-time conditions, and a standardized format to store the decoder configuration data.

Abstract: A recording medium has a first recording area on which multiplexed audio informations are recorded as sets of one or more information units, a second recording area on which control information for controlling recording of the multiplexed audio informations are recorded. The control informations include first information representing the number of sets of information composing the multiplexed audio informations, and second information instructing to record the multiplexed audio informations as a stream.

Abstract: An optical disk control device comprises a playback signal detection unit for detecting data recorded on a disk by irradiating the disk with a converged light beam; a signal switching unit for successively selecting plural data signals obtained by the playback signal detection unit, and performing time-division-multiplexing on the selected signals; an A/D conversion unit for converting an analog signal which has been time-division-multiplexed by the signal switching unit, into a digital signal; an A/D conversion command unit for generating an A/D conversion command of the A/D conversion unit; a serial transfer unit for serial-transferring the command signal generated by the A/D conversion command unit; a serial reception unit for receiving the signal from the serial transfer unit, and controlling the signal selection operation of the signal switching unit on the basis of the received signal; and an arithmetic unit for generating an optical disk drive controlling signal by performing arithmetic processing on t

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pre-pit signal at different laser power intensities of an optical disk drive. The apparatus includes an amplifier for receiving a push-pull signal acquired from an optical disk to generate an adjusted signal, a multiplexer for receiving the push-pull signal and the adjusted signal and selecting the push-pull signal or the adjusted signal as a slicing signal for output according to a power state signal, and a slicer for receiving the slicing signal and slicing the slicing signal according to a slicing level to generate the pre-pit signal. Thus, the apparatus only needs one set of slicer to correctly slice the pre-pit signal.

Abstract: A record carrier carries a stereo signal and a data signal which includes a first data portion and a remaining data portion. A first channel on the record carrier includes a composite signal which is obtained by combining the stereo signal and the first data portion. A second channel on the record carrier includes the remaining data portion of the data signal. The stereo signal and the data signal are recorded to and reproduced from the record carrier using a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An information recording medium for recording main information and auxiliary information is provided. The auxiliary information is recorded on the information recording medium in a manner that edge positions of the pits or the recording marks indicating the main information are shifted either in a phase advancing direction or in a phase delaying direction along the track direction. A predetermined frequency is used to determine whether the edge position is shifted in the phase advancing direction or in the phase delaying direction in order to record the auxiliary information. The predetermined frequency is substantially consistently lower than ½ of a reference frequency of a recording clock for creating the pits or the recording marks and is higher than a response frequency of a PLL for generating a reproduction clock for reproducing the main information.

Abstract: A DVD audio data structure following high-sound-quality specifications is realized, making the best use of the audio data structure standard in DVD video. A first sample data string created by digitizing a first channel audio signal at a first sampling frequency in a first number of quantization bits, a second sample data string created by digitizing a second channel audio signal at a second sampling frequency in a second number of quantization bits, and header data including timing data to synchronize the first sample data string with the second sample data string are recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: An ATIP (absolute time in pre-groove) bit data generator free from an uneven duty cycle. The ATIP bit data generator includes an analog processor, a high-frequency clock generator, a first decoder, a sync pattern detector, and a second decoder. The analog processor receives a signal generated from an optical pickup, and further processes the signal to generate an ATIP FM signal. The high-frequency clock generator provides a high-frequency clock using the ATIP FM signal as a reference signal. The first decoder receives the ATIP FM signal and the high-frequency clock and generates bi-phase data. The sync pattern detector receives the bi-phase data and the high-frequency clock, and generates a sync indication signal. The second decoder counts the pulse number of the high-frequency clock for each counting cycle, and the counting cycle includes a plurality of half periods of the ATIP FM signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording on DVD-like recording media in which audio content is stored in a high-capacity multi-channel (e.g., six-channel) format are provided. Various channels may use various resolutions. A two-channel audio output may be derived from the multi-channel audio data stream during playback. To facilitate an accurate derivation, the mixing coefficients to be used in generating the derivation can be supplied along with the six-channel audio data.

Abstract: A recording medium, such as an optical disk, a recorder for recording data on the recording medium, and a player for playing back the data are described. Music information can be recorded on the recording medium with higher sound quality than that achieved by a conventional compact disk, and the music information can be played back with higher quality than that achieved by the conventional compact disk. Further, the recording medium can be played back through use of a conventional CD player. The recording medium has two recording layers, i.e., layer A and layer B. Conventional CD data are recorded on the layer A, and data for complementing the CD data are recorded on the layer B. The two data sets are merged into a single data set during playback, thereby enabling playback of data in higher quality and resolution than the CD data.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a generating unit which generates a wobble signal on the basis of a reflected light beam of an optical disk, a multiplying unit which multiplies the wobble signal and an oscillation wave, an integral processing unit which receives a multiplication result of the multiplying unit to integrate the multiplication result, an oscillating unit which generates the oscillation wave whose oscillation frequency is controlled on the basis of integral result of the integral processing unit, and a processing unit which processes information on the optical disk on the basis of the oscillation wave which is of a wobble PLL signal. In the optical disk apparatus of the invention, binarization is not performed unlike the conventional apparatus, and the wobble signal is compared to the oscillation wave in a signal area, so that the wobble PLL signal which is highly resistant to noise following the wobble is obtained.

Abstract: A data recording method of optical storage medium is disclosed. The method employs the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) to record the data in order to increase the usage efficiency of the storage channel. The method evolves dividing a storage channel into multiple sub-channels, and then determining the recordable bits of the multiple sub-channels according to the signal to noise ratio of the storage channel; next, an input signal to be recorded on the optical storage medium is transformed from frequency domain to time domain such that a time-domain signal is obtained; at last, recording the time-domain signal on the optical storage medium through a compositive modulation of pulse width and pulse amplitude.

Abstract: An MFI synchronization manager determines the continuity of MFI values to manage the synchronization of the MFI values. A phase adjuster detects a reference VC-3 channel of VC-3 channels which make up a virtual concatenation based on detected MFI values. A write controller writes frame data into a phase adjustment memory based on a write permission signal from the phase adjuster and data valid/invalid information. A write frame manager manages the frame data written in the phase adjustment memory with respect to each of the VC-3 channels and generates a read permission signal for the frame data whose all VC-3 channels of the concatenation have been written. A read controller reads the frame data from phase adjustment memory according to the read permission signal.

Abstract: Presently, almost all commercially available data storage systems use saturation recording and binary signaling schemes. Earlier data channels for storage systems utilized various forms of bit by bit peak detection. More recently, various forms of PRML (partial response maximum likelihood) or DFE (decision feedback equalization) have appeared in products. These improvements are still limited by the fact that the storage data channel is a saturation channel, and as such, has a significantly reduced information handling capacity compared to a linear data channel. Recording media defects are currently mapped out at the factory and skipped under normal device usage, while remaining errors are corrected by error correction code. However, at higher aerial densities, defects in the media tend to become a greater problem. The above-incorporated applications teach a linearization technique for linearizing magnetic recording channels without suffering signal to noise loss and not suffering bandwidth loss.

Abstract: A recording medium reproducing device is provided which device varies a tempo and a key of music reproduced from audio data recorded on a recording medium. The recording medium reproducing device comprises means for calculating a variable width of the key according to a varied tempo, means for adding the variable width of the key to a variable width of the key according to a varied key so as to have a summed variable width of the key, and means for displaying the summed variable width of the key.

Abstract: A unique recording medium having identification information such as a serial number or ID number inherent in the recording media as information signals recorded thereon, which is prevented from being easily erased or rewritten, without inducing the complexity of an optical disc reproducing apparatus in its configuration and the intricacy of the reading-out operation is realized. Recognition information is recorded to a recording medium which has a recognition information recording area for recording the recognition information, and at least the recognition information recording area is capable of additionally having information recorded thereto. In recording digitized recognition information to the recognition information recording area, the “1” is modulated to a signal having a first frequency and the “0” is modulated to a signal having a second frequency, and the signals corresponding to their respective frequencies are written to the recognition information recording area.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for generating a calibration sequence of multilevel symbols includes generating subsequences of digital values selected from a range of digital values using a maximal length shift register. The subsequences have a given subsequence length. The range of digital values is mapped onto a set of multilevel symbols and the multilevel symbols corresponding to the generated digital values are output to a write strategy processor.

Abstract: An optical recording medium for accurately deriving the address information or the disc rotation control information despite narrow track pitch and for recording signals to a high density, and a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing such optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has a wobbled groove and pits formed at a pre-set interval in an area between turns of the wobbled groove. The recording/reproducing method includes controlling rotation of the optical recording medium by a wobbled signal from the groove and detecting the position on the optical recording medium of a recording signal by pit signals detected from the pits. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detection device for detecting the wobbled signal from the groove and a detection device for detecting pit signals from the pits.

Abstract: Methods for the recording of data to an optical media are provided. In one example, a method includes the determining of the length of a single audio file. A test burn is then performed in which all of the operations required to record the single audio file to optical media are performed except the actual transfer of data to the optical media. During the test burn, the amount of time required to decode the single audio file is measured, and then a codec decoding factor is calculated. The codec decoding factor is equal to the length of the single audio file divided by the amount of time required to decode the single audio file. The codec decoding factor is used to set the recording speed of a selected optical recording device to avoid buffer under-run.

Abstract: Simplified DVD-Audio decoders and encoders are provided. The decoder does not include FIFOs between the depacketizer and the decoder cores. Rather, the decoder cores directly receive data from the depacketizer. Underflow is avoided by spinning the DVD at a speed higher than the nominal, single speed of the DVD, which ensures that data are available at a sufficient rate. Similarly, an encoder provides data directly from an encoding core into a packetizer, eliminating the FIFOs from the data path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for writing data to an optical disc, and for subsequently reading the data therefrom. A first modulation encoding scheme (MES1) is defined to encode input data as data symbols having nominal symbol lengths over a first range. A second modulation encoding scheme (MES2) different from the MES1 is further defined to encode input data as data symbols having nominal symbol lengths over a second range. Each symbol length of the second range appears in the first range. The MES1 is used to encode primary data written to the disc while the MES2 is used to encode secondary data inserted at selected locations for disc authentication purposes. A readback system includes a primary decoder which decodes and outputs the primary data, and a secondary decoder which searches for a leading synchronization pattern which, when detected, allows remaining portions of the secondary data to be decoded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of writing audio data to a rewritable recording medium as grouping the written audio data into each Audio Object Unit (AOBU). This method changes AOBU grouping criterion such as time or size if a bit rate of input audio data being written to the rewritable disk is changed, and groups written audio data into each AOBU in accordance with the changed AOBU grouping criterion while recording. As a result, an amount of management information to be created for each AOBU is reduced remarkably even if the bit rage of input audio data is relatively low.

Abstract: An optical recording medium for accurately deriving the address information or the disc rotation control information despite narrow track pitch and for recording signals to a high density, and a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing such optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has a wobbled groove and pits formed at a pre-set interval in an area between turns of the wobbled groove. The recording/reproducing method includes controlling rotation of the optical recording medium by a wobbled signal from the groove and detecting the position on the optical recording medium of a recording signal by pit signals detected from the pits. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detection device for detecting the wobbled signal from the groove and a detection device for detecting pit signals from the pits.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for modulating data to be resistant to channel distortion. A space extending encoder performs a first code transformation to extend a run length of digitized data to a predetermined length and outputs the space-extended data. A multiplexer multiplexes the space-extended data and data transformed by a predetermined second code transformation. A format converter converts the multiplexed data into a predetermined format which is suitable for writing to a recording medium. The apparatus and method enable recorded data to be resistant to channel distortion, enable the data to be recorded with increased recording density, and enable the data written to the recording medium to be reproduced with improved reliability.

Abstract: An optical disk control device comprises a playback signal detection unit for detecting data recorded on a disk by irradiating the disk with a converged light beam; a signal switching unit for successively selecting plural data signals obtained by the playback signal detection unit, and performing time-division-multiplexing on the selected signals; an A/D conversion unit for converting an analog signal which has been time-division-multiplexed by the signal switching unit, into a digital signal; an A/D conversion command unit for generating an A/D conversion command of the A/D conversion unit; a serial transfer unit for serial-transferring the command signal generated by the A/D conversion command unit; a serial reception unit for receiving the signal from the serial transfer unit, and controlling the signal selection operation of the signal switching unit on the basis of the received signal; and an arithmetic unit for generating an optical disk drive controlling signal by performing arithmetic processing on t

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus for recording first audio information including a first audio content in an information recording medium which can store a plurality of audio contents having a plurality of different audio properties, the Information recording medium containing second audio information including a second audio content, wherein the recording apparatus includes: a conversion section for converting an audio property of soundless information of the first audio information into the same audio property as the audio property of the second audio information; and a recording section for recording the soundless information in the information recording medium as a part of the second audio information so as to be adjacent to a tail of the second audio content, and recording the first audio content in the information recording medium.

Abstract: A reproducing and recording apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a recording apparatus, a reproducing and recording method, a decoding method and a recording method are provided in which a computation for changing acoustic characteristics of compressed digital data is effected on a scale factor of each divided band in the compressed digital data including spectrum data band-divided into a plurality of bands on a frequency axis and the scale factor of every divided band.

Abstract: A multimedia decoder is provided that inserts synchronization words into elementary linear pulse-code modulation (LPCM) audio bitstreams. In one embodiment, the multimedia decoder includes a pre-parser, a memory, and an audio decoder module. The pre-parser receives a multimedia bitstream and separates it into an audio substream and a video substream, and inserts a synchronization words before each data packet in the audio substream while forming it into an elementary bitstream. The memory is coupled to the pre-parser to buffer the elementary audio bitstream, and the audio decoder module is coupled to the memory to retrieve the elementary audio bitstream and convert it into a digital audio signal. The inserted synchronization word may comprise between from four to ten bytes in length. In one particular implementation, the inserted synchronization word includes the ASCII representation of the letters LSILOGIC.

Abstract: A data transfer system transfers frames with more than two data words from a transmitter 100 to at least one receiver 102 in a time-multiplexed manner. The transmitter 100 and receiver(s) 102 are connected via four signal lines: a clock signal 112, a serial data signal 110, a word-select signal 114 and a frame-begin signal 116. The data is serially transferred via the serial data line 110, in synchronisation with periodic clock pulses of the clock signal 112. The word-select signal 114 triggers selecting a next transmit channel register from which the transmitter 100 transmits the next data word and a next receive channel register into which the receiver 102 stores the data word to be received next. The frame-begin signal 116 triggers selecting a first one of the channel registers. The data transfer system may, for instance, be used for transferring eight digital audio channels in a DVD player between components such as an input/output interface, a filter, a (de-)coder or a digital signal processor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording on DVD-like recording media in which audio content is stored in a high-capacity multi-channel (e.g., six-channel) format are provided. Various channels may use various resolutions. A two-channel audio output may be derived from the multi-channel audio data stream during playback. To facilitate an accurate derivation, the mixing coefficients to be used in generating the derivation can be supplied along with the six-channel audio data.

Abstract: An optical disc in which hidden data are stored for forensic tracking or copy protection purposes. This disc includes a contiguous user data portion comprising a set of user data samples which, when accessed by a readback system, generates a human detectable output. The disc further includes a null zone adjacent the contiguous user data portion comprising a sequence of user data fields storing a set of user data samples which, when accessed by a readback system, generates an output with a specified signal to noise ratio so as to be substantially undetectable by a human, wherein hidden data are written to at least selected ones of the user data fields of the null zone to convey a specified informational message related to the optical disc, the specified informational message undetectable by a human when the null zone is accessed by the readback system.