613results about "Magneto-optical discs" patented technology

The invention relates to video and music distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's recording, storage and playback system. Customers may preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for the video/audio content that is actually viewed.

Control of audio/video equipment is provided by an apparatus constructed like a computer, with audio and video subsystems. The audio subsystem includes a programmable analog mixer and several analog and digital multiplexers to route and mix multiple inputs to multiple outputs. Databases are stored in computer mass storage to record preferences for playback of digital versatile discs, compact discs and audio files stored in the mass storage device, such as MP3 files. The playback preferences may include video output format, language, surround sound mode, etc. for DVDs and surround sound effects for CDs and audio files.

A method and apparatus that permits a user to electronically make a notation of a recorded music selection that he or she would like to take a later action on. Such later actions might include purchase actions or information gathering actions as well as other actions. The user actuates a button on a portable music player that plays music stored on a removable storage medium (e.g., a minidisc) and the music player stores identifying information that identifies the currently playing track of music. By connection of the music player to a personal computer, the user can then download the marked tracks to the personal computer and carry out actions over the Internet with service providers to complete transactions or queries.

A file managing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of restoring deleted files with ease. When a user gives an instruction to delete a file 6, a parent entry number for the file 6 is changed from “1” to “2” in a property list having the entry number 6 associated with the file 6. Because the parent entry number that is set for the value “2” points to the entry of a recycle bin, the file 6 is placed in a virtually deleted state. Any virtually deleted file is later restored easily through simple processing.

A recording apparatus is provided that includes a recording section for recording information onto a recording medium, a file system processing section for managing the information as a file using file system information having a directory hierarchy structure capable of being referenced using a path name, a contents management information processing section for managing the directory and the file using contents management information, and an extension information processing section for managing extension information with respect to the directory and the file. The contents management information includes media object management information for referencing the directory and the file using object reference information obtained by converting the path name, and extended object management information for managing the extension information. The directory and the file are associated with the extension information via the object reference information.

A picture signal recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed in which a CPU 11 records the identification information for discriminating the video cassette during picture recording on a magnetic tape, while recording the recording information indicating the recording contents, such as the still picture data for program scenes, in memories 13 and 14 in association with the identification information. During reproduction, the CPU 11 reads out still picture data of each program from the memories 13 and 14, while a digital signal processing circuit 15 converts the still picture data of each program as a multi-picture into analog signals which are outputted to a TV receiver via an analog signal processing circuit 23 and an output terminal 33. The result is that the scenes of plural programs recorded in each of plural video cassettes are displayed on the TV receiver. This permits the user to easily recognize the program recorded on the video cassettes and to reproduce the desired program or to record a program in an optimum video cassette.

An image distributing system for distributing an image in which a certain objected character is caught, having a camera system capturing images in which a person who is the objected character is caught; a signal transmitter connecting to the camera system; an image database connecting with the signal transmitter and storing a plurality of image data transmitted by the signal transmitter; a character information database for storing character information for identifying the person caught in the image as the objected character; and an image collecting unit, identifying a person caught in the image, data of which is stored in the image database, as the objected character, and collecting image data in which the objected character is caught.

A disc recording apparatus (A) for writing data onto a sector providing a recording area (B2) on a magneto-optical disc (B) performs a retry upon failure in the writing until a predetermined number of retries is reached, treats the sector as a defective sector upon failure in the last retry of the predetermined number of retries, and writes the data onto another sector. During a physical formatting, A CPU (11) records in medium management information (B1) on the recording disc (B) a retry count as retry count information for each of recovered sectors recovered from the failure through success in the writing of data during the retry. When actual data is written onto the physically formatted magneto-optical disc (B), and upon detection of a defective sector failed in the writing of the actual data, the CPU (11) selects a replacement sector for the defective sector. The replacement sector has a retry count stored as the retry count information smaller than that of the defective sector.

A near video-on-demand (VOD) service enabled using a digital video recorder (DVR) for the simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data. A DVR is connected over a network to a multimedia network source. A VOD selection is requested by the DVR from the network source. A multimedia data signal is received by the DVR from the network source. The data signal contains the requested VOD selection. A first received portion of the received data signal is stored on the DVR. The first received segment is played by the DVR for display on a display device. Simultaneously during the playing of the first received segment, a second received segment of the received data signal is received from the network source and stored on the DVR while the first received segment is played the display device. Thus, the requested VOD selection begins playing on the display device prior to the reception of the entire compressed multimedia data signal so that a requested VOD selection can begin being displayed nearly instantaneously after the request for it is made. A video-on-request (VOR) service is also enabled using a DVR. VOR selection data is received by a centralized database device, such as a network server, from a plurality of users. Each VOR selection data includes at least one requested video selection and video recorder identifying information for identifying each particular video recorder. A transmission priority of requested video selections is determined dependent on the frequency of requests ‘received from the plurality of users. A transmission channel and time is determined based on the transmission priority. DVR control signals are transmitted to automatically tune in the determined transmission channel at the determined transmission time and record the particular video selection.

A recording apparatus for recording video data to a rewritable optical disc is disclosed, that comprises an encoding means for encoding video data corresponding to a compression-encoding process, a converting means for converting the data structure of the encoded video data received from the encoding means into a file structure that allows a moving picture to be synchronously reproduced by computer software without need to use specially dedicated hardware, and a recording means for recording data having the file structure to an optical disc, wherein the file structure has a first data unit and a second data unit, the second data unit being a set of the first data units, and wherein a plurality of the second data units is matched with a successive record length of which data is written to the optical disc.

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal, a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through the conversion device in a storage device as image data and a display control circuit that detects an available capacity at the storage device and the length of time that power supply by a source is possible and displays them on a display as available capacity information and remaining power supply time information. The available capacity information indicates the length of available recording time remaining at the available capacity that has been detected.

Although music program data has been recorded on a disc, imperfect index data or a signal has been recorded so that music program data is prohibited from being reproduced. To allow music program data to be reproduced, the index data is rewritten to perfect index data or a permission signal that allows music program data to be reproduced is transmitted through a communication line. Thus, music program data can be reproduced from the disc. Since music program data is not directly transmitted, the data transmission time is shortened. The music program data can be downloaded at high speed. In addition, the charging process can be smoothly performed. Moreover, music program data can be prevented from being illegally used.

Value-added information is created based on favorite information of a content user. The content is processed according to the generated value-added information. Favorite data indicating operations, such as fast-forward, pause, and rewind operations, performed while the content is being played back, and personal user information, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style, of the content user are transferred to a server via a network. The server performs statistical processing on the user favorite data to generate value-added information according to the attributes of the user, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style. Accordingly, the user is able to search for popular titles, play back only popular scenes, and skip uninteresting scenes by using a content playback apparatus.

An information recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a recording section for recording files to a storage medium; an arranging section for arranging the files into groups by attribute so as to establish allocation of the files on the storage medium; and a controlling section for controlling the recording section so as to record the files to the storage medium based on the allocation established by the arranging section and to record concurrently allocation information reflecting the allocation to a predetermined location on the storage medium.

A multimedia file has a format in which actual data is embedded in a file structure. The multimedia information is assembled in blocks, each composed of a header area and a data area, and has a hierarchical structure in which a block is embedded in another block. Header area information may include a file name identification information (block name), a number of child blocks information and data length identification information. This arrangement facilitates the creation and editing of a multimedia file, permitting high-speed data searching.

In a recording method for a recording medium having a data recording area on which a data recording and/or reproducing operation is carried out, and a management data area on which management data to manage a recording and/or reproducing operation for the recording medium are recorded, when new data are recorded on the recording medium in a state where data have been already recorded on the recording medium and a data-recordable area on which the new data can be recorded exists on the data recording area, the recording operation of the new data is started from the head position of the data-recordable area on the basis of the management data recorded on the management data area, and data which have been already recorded on the recording medium are deleted by the same data amount as the new data to be recorded on the data-recordable area from a position on the data recording area of the recording medium at which the recording operation is instructed to start.

An editing apparatus wherein the editing of content is controlled according to its supply source. Identification information for identifying a content supply source is recorded in a recording medium in correspondence with the content supplied from the content supply source and recorded in the recording medium. When editing of the content is requested by a user, the identification information corresponding to that content is checked. According to the content supply source identified by the identification information, the editing of the content is enabled or disabled.