Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control... – Control of information signal processing channel
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-19
2004-03-23
Edun, Muhammad (Department: 2655)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control...
Control of information signal processing channel
C369S047300, C369S053100, C369S059100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06711106
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an information reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing AV (audio Visual) data recorded on an information recording medium rotationally driven, such as a CD-ROM disc, a CD-R disc or a CD-RW disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
An effort has been made to improve the read rate of an information reproducing apparatus that reads information from an information medium rotated, such as a CD-ROM disc, CD-R disc or a CD-RW disc. On the other hand, such an information reproducing apparatus has problems to be resolved, such as noise because of high-speed rotation of the disc and power consumption.
For example, as the data read rate goes up, noise caused by vibration due to rotation and power consumption become more conspicuous at the time of reproducing AV data recorded on a music CD (CD-RA), a video CD or CD as a WAV file or MP3 file through USB speakers installed in a computer. The WAV file is a most popular audio file format handled by Windows that is an OS of Microsoft and has an extension “wav”. The MP3 file is the name of a standardized audio compression technique and has an extension “mp3”, wherein MP is an abbreviation of MPeg audio layer 3.
There is an increased possibility that data may be erroneously read more frequently due to crack or dusk as the disc rotates faster.
However, generally, AV data recorded on a disc such as music data, video data and WAV data, is reproduced at an average transfer rate approximately equal to a single multiple. MP data is reproduced at an average transfer rate approximately equal to one tenth of that for AV data. That is, it takes a much longer time to read AV data and MP data than ordinary data. This does not need to rotate the disc fast.
An improved information reproducing apparatus directed to resolving the above problems has been proposed. In the improved apparatus, data that does not need an error correction mechanism, such as music CDs and some video CDs, is read at a given lowered reproduction rate. However, since the reproduction rate is lowered unconditionally, data cannot be read fast in data ribbing or a similar situation required to read data fast. An error correction function is added to WAV data and MP3 data, which will be subject to high-rate read operation in the above-mentioned proposal. Thus, WAV data and MP3 cannot be read at the given lowered reproduction rate.
Japanese Unexamined Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-132901 proposes a disc apparatus capable of controlling the read rate. The proposal shown in this publication analyzes a disc revolution corresponding to the transfer rate of a file to be read, more specifically, the type of data (such as type of file and file size), and thus determines the optimal read rate. The proposal avoids necessity of a requirement for always reading data at the maximum rate, and is therefore preferable in terms of read rate, vibration
oise and power consumption when totally viewed.
However, the technique disclosed in the above publication does not satisfy a request such that the same file is read at different reproduction rates because the unique disc revolution (read rate) is automatically defined based on the type of data to be read (type of file or file size). For example, the proposed technique does not meet different requests for reading data of the same WAV file (for example, WAV reproduction and data ribbing).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information reproducing apparatus method and apparatus using an information recording medium that is driven rotationally, wherein data can be read at a data transfer rate based on a user's read request.
The above object of the present invention is achieved by an information reproducing method and apparatus described below.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing method comprises the steps of: reading information from an information medium that is rotated; and determining a rotation velocity of the information medium on the basis of a data transfer rate based on a specification of a read request. Similarly, an information reproducing apparatus comprises: a motor rotating an information medium; an optical pickup reading information from the information medium; and a part determining a rotation velocity of the information medium on the basis of a data transfer rate based on a specification of a read request.
The transfer rate at which data is read is based on the specification of the read request which may be supplied from a user. The data read rate is defined by a rotation velocity of the information medium. The higher the rotation velocity, the higher the read rate, and the lower the rotation velocity, the lower the read rate. Thus, by determining the rotation velocity in accordance with the data transfer rate based on the specification of the read request, the rotation velocity of the information medium may be lowered in a case that a low data transfer rate is acceptable, for example, a case where AV data is retrieved. This avoids reading data at an excessively high bit rate and contributes to reduction of noise and power consumption because of high-speed rotation. Even for AV data, if it is requested to data in ripping, the rotation velocity may be raised to the upper limit. Thus, data can be read at the maximum bit rate.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing method comprises the steps of: reading information from an information medium that is rotated; and measuring an average transfer rate in data read and lowering a rotation velocity of the information medium if the average transfer rate measured is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. Similarly, an information reproducing apparatus comprises: a motor rotating an information medium; an optical pickup reading information from the information medium; a measuring part measuring an average transfer rate in data read; a comparing part comparing the average transfer rate measured with a predetermined threshold value; and a rotation velocity control part lowering a rotation velocity of the information medium by the motor if a result of comparison shows that the average transfer rate measured is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value.
Although the second aspect of the invention is basically the same as the first aspect thereof, the second aspect may be preferably applied to a specification of the read request in which AV data such as music CD is retrieved. In such retrieval, the average transfer rate of reading data is much lower than that in ordinary data read. Thus, the average transfer rate is measured and is compared with the predetermined threshold value. If the average transfer rate is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, the rotation velocity is lowered. Thus, AV data such as music CD can preferably be read.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing method comprises the steps of: reading information from an information medium that is rotated; and measuring an average transfer rate in data read and raising a rotation velocity of the information medium if the average transfer rate measured is greater than a predetermined threshold value. Similarly, an information reproducing apparatus comprises: a motor rotating an information medium; an optical pickup reading information from the information medium; a measuring part measuring an average transfer rate in data read; a comparing part comparing the average transfer rate measured with a predetermined threshold value; and a rotation velocity control part raising a rotation velocity of the information medium by the motor if a result of comparison shows that the average transfer rate measured exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Although the third aspect of the invention is basically the same as the first aspect thereof, the third aspect may be preferab
Cooper & Dunham LLP
Edun Muhammad
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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