Abstract: Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers.

Abstract: An individual code can be recorded on optical discs with post-recording techniques like for example laser-ablation. This normally requires the presence of an ad-hoc decoder in a corresponding playback apparatus. According to the invention this individual code is recorded by using an encoding scheme which is different from the encoding scheme proper of the user data but equal to the encoding scheme proper of control data already foreseen in the disc, like for example PIC in the case of a BD. In this way an ad-hoc decoder is no longer required and a suitable playback apparatus capable of acquiring individual code can be obtained with minimal modifications of an existing playback apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic racetrack memory device includes; a magnetic track having a plurality of magnetic domains partitioned by at least one magnetic domain wall, a current source applying current to the magnetic track sufficient to move the at least one magnetic domain wall and the plurality of magnetic domains along the magnetic track, a writing device disposed at a first location along the magnetic track and storing write data to the magnetic domains, a reading device disposed at a second location along the magnetic track and retrieving read data from the magnetic domains, and a write-back loop connecting the reading device and the writing device and communicating read data obtained by the reading device to the writing device.

Abstract: A technique capable of realizing a power saving in a device for reproducing/recording digital signals by properly controlling a frequency of a clock. The device for reproducing/recording digital signals (device for reproducing an optical disk) includes: a difference comparing circuit for comparing a first parameter (demodulating block counter) updated each time a process for one correcting block is done in a demodulating circuit with a second parameter (error correcting block counter) updated each time a process of one correcting block is done in an error correcting circuit; and a circuit (clock controlling circuit etc.) for switching a frequency of a master clock (MCLK) depending on a comparison result of the difference comparing circuit. Thereby, the frequency of the clock can be switched both of when the demodulation for one correcting block is ended and when the correcting process for one correcting block is ended by using the switched master clock.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for rearranging back-up data, which first starts rearranging a back-up area when a rewritable optical disc is loaded, reads all available replacing blocks on the back-up area, rearranges the order of the replacing blocks based on the order of addresses of corresponding data blocks on the user data area, writes the rearranged replacing blocks into a planned area of the back-up area, and registers the corresponding information to finish the operation of rearrangement for rapidly reading data.

Abstract: A self-diagnosis function is used to acquire information showing the state of deterioration of a hard disk device, and when the hard disk device is deteriorated, a job is executed under the control which is different from that in the case where the hard disk device is not deteriorated. For example, copying job is executed in the HDD use mode in the case of non-deterioration, and copying job is executed in the HDD non-use mode (an image memory is used) in the case of deterioration. Further, the number of retrials by an alternative sector in the case of occurrence of errors of writing in a hard disk device in the course of job execution is changed according to the state of the deterioration.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical recording method. The optical recording method includes emitting laser light from a mode-locked laser light source, modulating a pulse of the laser light during a time period when a recording mark is formed in a medium, and irradiating the medium with the laser light modulated.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the embodiment, a recording apparatus includes: a recording medium unit having a metal face; a control circuit configured to operate the recording medium unit; a connector electrically connected to the control circuit and configured to transfer data between an external apparatus and the recording medium unit; and a metal portion disposed in a vicinity of the connector and electrically connected to the metal face.

Abstract: A recording medium and a method and apparatus for recording data are disclosed. The recording medium includes a data area in which data is recorded, a lead-in area arranged radially inwardly of the data area, and a lead-out area arranged radially outwardly of the data area, wherein the lead-in area includes information indicating whether pre-recording has been performed with respect to a portion of the lead-in area.

Abstract: A disc having an updatable defect management area used by an apparatus for managing defects on the disc, the disc including a user data area which includes user data, a spare area that is a substitute area for a defect existing in the user data area, and an area in which are recorded an address of data that is last recorded in the user data area and an address of a replacement data recorded in the spare area. Accordingly, the disc defect management method and apparatus are applicable to a recordable disc such as a write-once disc while effectively using a defect management area of the disc.

Abstract: The present invention enhances the capability to specify a recorded position of designated data, even when a tape medium is run at high speed. A controller of a tape drive includes: a data set generator for generating a data set; a metadata generator for generating metadata including the number of records in the data set and the like; and a writing unit for writing the data set to the tape medium with a high recording density, and writing the metadata to the tape medium with a low recording density. The controller also includes: a movement controller for receiving a record number of a designated record; a reading unit for obtaining the number of records and the like included in the metadata read by running the tape medium at high speed; and a comparison unit for determining whether or not to read the data set by lowering the speed of the tape medium to R/W speed, in comparison with the record number received by the movement controller and the number of records and the like obtained by the reading unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data modulation method applicable to make data streams tend to have desired properties, useful for clock recovery, making signals more distinguishable, or enforcing run-length conditions. A stream of input data and a corresponding stream of output data are grouped into elements of a finite field. Input elements of said input data are modified by a transform generating output elements of the output data, such that a current output element is a linear combination of a current input element and at least one previous output element. A multiplier applied to at least one previous output element is a non-zero and non-unity element of the finite field. A set of initial conditions inherent to the transform, is selected such that the output elements resulting from the transform tend to have the desired property.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording device and method, a program storage medium, and a program, wherein updated file system information can be recorded without changing a logical address. As shown to the upper side in FIG. 18, in the event that data has been recorded, upon a file (Files (Stream+DB)) recorded in region B112 being updated, an updated file is recorded at region B112? as shown at the middle in FIG. 18. In conjunction with this, main FS (FS (Metadata)), inner side volume structure information, and anchor information, which had been recorded in region B111 until this time, is rendered unreadable, and newly-generated file system information (FS (Metadata)), inner side volume structure information, and anchor information, are recorded in region B111? in an ISA which is an inner side SA region. The present invention can be applied to a Blu-Ray Disc recording/playing device.

Abstract: A disk rotation control part for controlling the rotations of a plurality of disk devices is provided. The configuration is such that a disk of a disk device for which an access will not be generated is rotated at a second rate of speed, which is faster than 0, and slower than a first rate of speed, which is the rotation speed at access time. DB management information comprises information denoting which DB schema inside a DB is stored in which location. The disk rotation control part, based on a query plan of a query received by the DBMS, and DB management information, specifies the storage location of a DB schema to be accessed when this query is processed, and rotates a disk of the disk device comprising the specified storage location at a first rate of speed.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc device that achieves more accurate time search. Thus, in a DVD playback device including time search function of performing playback from specified time, control is performed so that, when the specified time for the time search has been inputted, playback inside the device starts from a top of a VOBU including the specified time, and outputting a video and an audio starts from time when a playback frame agrees with a frame corresponding to the specified time.

Abstract: In a write once type optical disc, when ejecting the disc and turning power OFF, it is necessary to update record management data on the disc so that the record management data on the disc coincide with the record management data on the memory. Here, the update of the record management data on the disc requires a certain time. The present invention provides a user-friendly recording/reproduction apparatus including a unit for judging whether the disc record management information can be updated according to the ratio of the recorded capacity with respect to the recording-enabled capacity. Upon completion of the user data recording, the disc record management information is recorded so that the record management data is not updated when power is turned OFF or the disc is ejected, thereby reducing the time required for the power turning OFF and the disc ejection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling writing and reading of data in an array of A storage fields of a probe-based data storage device in which data is written to and read from the array of storage fields by a corresponding array of probes. One method uses the concept of sub-arrays to provide variable-rate read/write operation. Input data blocks are received for writing to the A-field array, each input data block being writable in A/k0 storage fields where k0 is an integer>=2. For successive groups of k0 blocks, the k0 blocks are written to respective sub-arrays, each of A/k0 storage fields, of the storage field array by selectively writing at one of a series of rates, ranging from 1 block at a time to k0 blocks at a time, in dependence on a desired data write-rate. The blocks can also be read from the sub-arrays by selectively reading at one of a series of rates, ranging from 1 sub-array at a time to k0 sub-arrays at a time, in dependence on a desired data read-rate.