Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Marcel S E Van Nieuwenhoven

Alphons A M L Bruekers

Johannes M M Verbakel

Johannes Jan Mons

In a method of recording real-time information on an information carrier, e.g. audio on an optical disc, the real-time information is compressed to units comprising a variable amount of compressed data, and playback parameters are determined in dependence of the compressed data. The playback parameters comprise an access list (Main_Acc_List) having entries, each subsequent entry being assigned to a subsequent interval of a fixed playback time and comprising a pointer (Entry[N]) to a unit within said interval. In a player the real-time information may be accessed at a selected point of playing time. The corresponding entry in the access list is determined by dividing the selected time by the interval. The entry provides the pointer (Entry[N]) to the unit corresponding to the selected playing time. Interpolation may be used for calculating an address at a selected playing time within an interval, and the accuracy may be improved by a margin parameter (Access_Flags[N]), which indicates the maximum distance between the unit of the selected playing time and the interpolated address.

Method and device for recording real-time information

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

In a method of recording real-time information on an information carrier, e.g. audio on an optical disc, the real-time information is compressed to units comprising a variable amount of compressed data, and playback parameters are determined in dependence of the compressed data. The playback parameters comprise an access list (Main_Acc_List) having entries, each subsequent entry being assigned to a subsequent interval of a fixed playback time and comprising a pointer (Entry&lsqb;N&rsqb;) to a unit within said interval. In a player the real-time information may be accessed at a selected point of playing time. The corresponding entry in the access list is determined by dividing the selected time by the interval. The entry provides the pointer (Entry&lsqb;N&rsqb;) to the unit corresponding to the selected playing time. Interpolation may be used for calculating an address at a selected playing time within an interval, and the accuracy may be improved by a margin parameter (Access_Flags&lsqb;N&rsqb;), which indicates the maximum distance between the unit of the selected playing time and the interpolated address.

Method and device for recording real-time information including playback parameters

Audio-centered information is stored on a unitary storage medium through a Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism that specifies an actual configuration of various audio items. In particular, in addition to the TOC mechanism a file-based access mechanism is assigned to the audio-centered information by a higher level Audio file. At a next-lower level a mechanism is assigned separately as one or more track-wise organized files indicating exclusively audio items contained in the area, and separately therefrom a comprehensive file indicating audio tracks as well as interposed pause intervals.

Method for storing audio-centered 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.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Marcel S E Van Nieuwenhoven