Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation of America

Other

Sony Electronics Inc

Rich Gioscia

Knut T Fenner

Andrew M Proehl

Jan-Christoph Zoels

Kimberly Mingo

A recording media storage and player unit, including a playback unit for replaying data retrieved from a selected one of several stored recording media, a communication link for obtaining expanded information associated with the recording medium from an external database, a memory storage location for storing the expanded information locally within the recording media storage and player unit; and a display for displaying the expanded information when the data retrieved from the recording medium is played back. Additional storage and player units are coupleable to the aforementioned unit to increase disc storage capacity. All player units are controlled by a control panel on the first-mentioned unit.

Modular media storage system and integrated player unit and method for accessing additional external information

A graphic user interface for use with a multi-recording media storage apparatus includes a determiner for determining the identity of at least one of a plurality of recording media retained within the apparatus and an accumulator for accumulating statistical information regarding the identity of that medium. Additional information is obtained from an external database based upon the identity of the recording medium, and further additional information is obtained from an external information source in accordance with the accumulated statistical information. The graphic user interface allows a user to view and manipulate the additional information and the further additional information in order to select a particular recording medium for playing, or to perform various other operations.

Graphic user interface that is usable as a PC interface and an A/V

Modular media storage unit

Growing community of inventors

Mahwah, NJ, United States of America

Rich Gioscia