Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

Sony Corporation

Johannes M M Verbakel

Johannes Jan Mons

Tadao Suzuki

Yoshizumi Inazawa

Muneyasu Maeda

Alphons A M L Bruekers

Marcel S E Van Nieuwenhoven

Josephus J M M Geelen

Audio-centered information is stored on a unitary medium by using a Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism that specifies an actual configuration of various audio items on the medium. In particular, each one of a set of one or more Track Areas gets at least two mutually logically conforming Sub-TOCs assigned. This allows to retrieve any constituent Sub-TOC part from at least any correct copy of the Sub-TOCs. Furthermore, one or more Master-TOCs are provided for specifically pointing to each of the Sub-TOCs.

Storing audio-centered information with a multi-level table-of-contents (TOC) mechanism having redundant sub-TOCs

A method for transferring real time information on a record carrier, typically bitstream audio on an optical disc, which method comprises encoding consecutive segments of the real time information to compressed real time data in frames, and determining a buffer occupancy for at least one frame, which buffer occupancy is indicative of an amount of compressed real time data to be present in the playback buffer at the start of decoding said frame. A signal is transmitted carrying the compressed real time data and the buffer occupancy, which data are received, stored in a playback buffer and finally decoded. The retrieving and/or the decoding is controlled in dependence on said transferred buffer occupancy. A playback buffer can be used effectively without risk for underflow or overflow. Also a method for recording audio information on a record carrier, a recording device, a record carrier and a playback device are described.

Transferring compressed audio via a playback buffer

Storing audio-centered information with a multi-level table-of contents (TOC) mechanism having redundant sub-TOCs

A transmitter is disclosed for transmitting a digital information signal via a transmission medium. The digital information signal can be divided into one or more sub-signals. Each sub-signal is transmitted as a non-encoded or as an encoded signal. In which way the sub-signal is transmitted depends on the compression that can be achieved by the encoder. If the compression is low the sub-signal is transmitted in non-encoded form. For the receiver an identification is added to the composite signal to be transmitted. A first component of the identification signal indicates if one or more sub-signals are transmitted in encoded form. A second component of the identification signal indicates for each sub-signal whether it appears in encoded or non-encoded form in the composite signal. The invention provides a composite signal with a minimal number of bits.

Transmitting device for transmitting a digital information signal alternately in encoded form and non-encoded form

For mapping sampled digital audio information onto a linear physical mapping space that is partitioned in a string of uniform-sized blocks, in particular, for variable-rate coded audio information that is distributed over successive audio units which are each composed from one or more audio packets, each block is supplemented with a block header for indicating an actual content of the block in question with respect to any constituent packet of the audio information.

Method and device for interfacing variable-rate sampled digital audio information to a string of uniform-sized blocks, and a unitary medium so produced by a write-interfacing

For mapping sampled digital audio information onto a linear physical mapping space that is partitioned in a string of uniform-sized blocks, in particular for variable-rate coded audio information that is distributed over successive audio units which are each composed from one or more audio packets, each block is supplemented with a block header for indicating an actual content of the block in question with respect to any constituent packet of the audio information.

A transmitter transmits a digital information signal via a transmission medium. The digital information signal can be divided into one or more sub-signals. Each sub-signal is transmitted as a non-encoded or as an encoded signal. Thus, the sub-signal is transmitted depending on the compression that can be achieved by the encoder. If the compression is low the sub-signal is transmitted in non-encoded form. For the receiver, an identification is added to the composite signal to be transmitted. A first component of the identification signal indicates if one or more sub-signals are transmitted in encoded form. A second component of the identification signal indicates for each sub-signal, whether it appears in encoded or non-encoded form in the composite signal. The invention provides a composite signal with a minimal number of bits.

METHOD, DEVICE, AND INFORMATION STRUCTURE FOR STORING AUDIO-CENTERED INFORMATION WITH A MULTI-LEVEL TABLE-OF-CONTENTS (TOC) MECHANISM AND DOUBLING OF AREA-TOCS, A DEVICE FOR USE WITH SUCH MECHANISM AND A UNITARY STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING SUCH MECHANISM

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Johannes M M Verbakel