Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-04
2001-07-03
Tran, Thang V. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
C369S275300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256268
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a CD player for CD-like recording formats, such as, for example, CD-ROM, CD-I, CD-V and CD.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In addition to the CD, which is generally known as Compact Disc, as digital recording medium for audio signals, further recording media are known which differ from the CD only to an insignificant extent in terms of their structure. When a music aficionado sees a CD, a computer specialist sees a CD-ROM. The designation CD-ROM indicates that what is involved here is a read-only storage medium, or a so-called compact disc read-only memory. While the CD-ROM was regarded primarily as a medium for text and data transmission at its inception, the so-called CD-I standard was then developed in order to extend the possibilities of use for the CD-ROM. In accordance with this standard, texts and data can be supplemented with images, graphics and music. Furthermore, the compact disc with video, known as CD-V, was created for the light music sector, enabling a combination of five to six minutes of video recording including sound and twenty minutes of high-quality digital sound recording on a disc with a diameter of 12 cm.
Despite the different recording formats, CD-like recording formats are involved since the recording media have a corresponding recording principle which consists in digital information storage in a virtually corresponding information track which can fundamentally be read by the same scanning system. However, the differences in the recording format mean that a CD-ROM, CD-I or CD-V, for example, cannot be played back by a CD player in the same way as by a playback device provided specifically for the recording medium. On the other hand, devices for recording formats which differ from the CD recording format are generally set up in such a way that they can also play back an audio CD. Furthermore, however, such devices have additional decoders and controllers for decoding the recording format and controlling the recording medium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a CD player which enables CD-like recording formats to be played back with no additional outlay on hardware.
This object is achieved by means of the features specified in the main claim. Advantageous designs and developments are specified in subclaims.
The invention is based on the insight that in a CD player, it is not possible to access individual titles or, sequentially, the content of a recording medium having a recording format which differs from a CD. In principle, however, the common recording principle means that a recording medium having a recording format which differs from a CD can also be played back from start to finish without a break on a CD player. Random access to individual video sequences stored on a CD-I full motion video disc, for example, is not possible, however, since in the case of the CD-I the table of contents is not coded in the subcode but rather in the CD-ROM format. A CD player is not equipped with a requisite controller interface between the servo-processor of the CD player and a processor for controlling a CD-ROM decoder and an MPEG decoder. Since a CD player represents a closed system in which it is not possible to access the servo-processor without intervention in the device and a decoder for the CD-ROM table of contents is not provided in the CD player, the table of contents of the CD-I or CD-ROM cannot be decoded and used for the purpose of control. In order to provide the purchaser of a CD player with the option additionally to play back recording media having a CD-like format, such as CD-ROM, CD-I or CD-V, for example, on the CD player and at the same time, in an analogous manner to a player provided specifically for the recording format, optionally to enable access to individual sequences of the information stored on the recording medium, a CD player which has a virtual table of contents is provided. In order to be able sequentially to access the content of a recording medium having a recording format which differs from the CD, a virtual table of contents is provided which is formed by a predetermined assignment of start times to a number of titles by means of a processor. For this purpose, it is possible to use a program which is provided in the processor and by means of which, for example, a title is assigned a start time corresponding to its title number, or to use a ROM memory or else the RAM that is usually provided for storing the table of contents of a CD. The access is preferably made using the means which are provided for access to the titles of a CD. From the point of view of random access to sequences of a CD-I full motion video disc, the virtual table of contents has preferably 74 assumed titles, since the maximum playing time of a CD-I full motion video disc is limited to 74 minutes. As a result, the user can sequentially access the content of the recording medium even though the recording medium has a recording format which differs from the CD and the table of contents cannot be read by the CD player. The interval between the sequences to which random access is made is one minute in this case.
In accordance with a second design, 99 titles are provided in the virtual table of contents. This selection of titles corresponds to the maximum number of titles which are provided for a CD in accordance with the CD standard. The information content of a fully prerecorded recording medium is consequently divided into 99 sections, to which access can then be made sequentially. However, it is also possible to provide a number of titles which differs from the above mentioned designs.
A further aspect of the invention is being able sequentially to access the content of a recording medium despite a non-readable table of contents of the CD or of the CD-like recording medium.
If the CD player cannot read, or can only partially read, the table of contents of the recording medium, a virtual or artificial table of contents is generated which is used for the purpose of controlling the scanning device of the CD player in order sequentially to access the content of the recording medium.
By virtue of the possibility of sequential access to the content of recording media whose table of contents cannot usually be read by a CD player, the CD player becomes a universal CD player which, advantageously, additionally enables the playback of CD-I full motion video discs, CD-ROM, CD-V or other CD-like recording media. In order to reproduce the information stored on the recording medium, an appropriate additional device is connected to the output of the CD player and to a device which is suitable for reproduction of the stored information. In the case of a CD-I full motion video disc, an additional device connected to a television set then contains a CD-ROM decoder, a microcontroller and also decoders for MPEG video and MPEG audio, unless the television set already has a corresponding input which enables direct processing of signals provided by the microcontroller.
As regards the CD player, neither additional hardware nor intervention in the device for a connection to the servo-processor is necessary. With a virtual table of contents, the CD player advantageously becomes a CD player which is also suitable for the playback of recording media having a CD-like recording format. The outlay for the virtual table of contents which is additionally to be provided is low enough to be scarcely worthy of mention, since the said table of contents is implemented with the software to be provided.
As a result, it is advantageous that the scanning and servo devices which are present in the CD player and, in other players, too, do not have a significant effect on the outlay therefor are multiply utilized and the music aficionado is afforded a simple entry into the world of CD video and computers with a CD player.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5197053 (1993-03-01), Baas
patent: 5315570 (1994-05-01), Miura et al.
patent: 5499225 (1996-03-01), Yoshimura
patent: 5537387 (1996-07-01), Ando et al.
patent: 5701384 (1997-12-01), Park
Kern Alois
Rapp Stefan
Chu Kim-Kwok
Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
Kiel Paul P.
Tran Thang V.
Tripoli Joseph S.
LandOfFree
CD player for CD-like recording formats does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with CD player for CD-like recording formats, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and CD player for CD-like recording formats will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521257