Sony Corporation

Nec Corporation

Saturn Licensing LLC

Satoshi Otsuka

Tamotsu Yamagami

Kazuyuki Marukawa

Yoichiro Sako

Minoru Tobita

Seiichi Misawa

Shigeru Yokono

Goro Fujita

Yoshikatsu Niwa

Yasushi Tsuruta

Katsuro Matsuzaki

Goru Fujita

Tobita Minoru

Kumiko Tokita

Disclosed is an information providing system for providing information on content recording. The system includes: a network communicating unit for communication via a network; and an information distributing unit for distributing the information on content recording via the network.

Information providing system and information providing method, content recording apparatus and content recording method, and computer program

A downloading system which can be used freely by many and unspecified persons. A recording medium is loaded in a public downloading apparatus, and use condition confirmation processing is performed by using information recorded on the medium. Processing for downloading various sorts of information using the public downloading apparatus is allowed to be started according to a result of the use condition confirmation processing. Communication of information necessary for use condition confirmation processing with respect to use of the public downloading apparatus or for downloading processing can be performed between the public downloading apparatus and a server system.

Downloading system

The present invention provides a portable telephone set and a communication inquiring method wherein an inquiry regarding a telephone answering service and an inquiry regarding a mail service can be executed by one operation to achieve sufficient convenience to common users. When one of an inquiring operation as to whether or not a terminated telephone answering service call by the telephone answering service function is present and another inquiring operation as to whether or not a terminated mail by the mail service function is present is performed, an inquiring action corresponding to the one operation is executed first, and then an inquiring action corresponding to the other operation is automatically executed.

Portable telephone set and communication inquiring method for portable telephone set

A computer unit with excellent backup function is realized. A backup operation system is set, and based on the setting, a data file under editing or the like is saved in a backup section. The backup operation system is distinguished through existence of execution of a backup operation, execution timing of the backup operation, an object to be backed up, a backup destination, and the like. This prevents data loss in the case where a computer unit is hanged, or in the case where trouble of the computer unit, crash of a terminal side data storage section, or the like occurs.

Computer system having backup function with specified storage period of backup data

Computer system having predetermined data backup operations

The invention relates to a signal recording and reproducing method, and a storage medium processor. A buffer memory for temporarily storing a signal is provided. A boundary point is set in the buffer memory. An area for storing a signal to be recorded on a magneto-optical disc and an area for storing a signal reproduced from the disc are provided. A predetermined area for storing signals in an alternate sector is also provided. When reproducing operation is enabled, a ready command showing that recording and reproduction are enabled is supplied to a computer. Prefetch operation is started and the prefetched signal is stored in the buffer memory. When the computer supplies a write command before recording operation is enabled, a signal is stored in the buffer memory. When a signal is read, a desired signal can be promptly read from the buffer memory. Signal writing processing can be started before recording operation is enabled.

Signal recording and reproducing method and storage medium processor

Computer system having backup function

A computer system which can be freely used by many and unspecified persons. A recording medium is loaded in a computer terminal (public terminal), and use condition confirmation processing is performed by using information recorded on the medium. Use of the public terminal for various processes is allowed to be started according to a result of the use condition confirmation processing. Communication of information necessary for use condition confirmation processing with respect to use of the public terminal or for one of the various processes executed as use of the public terminal can be performed between the public terminal and a server system.

Computer system

An information providing system includes a loading section in which a recording medium is removably loaded, a content identification information detecting portion for detecting content identification information of the recording medium loaded in the loading section, and a housing section for housing a plurality of recording media in which content information indicated by the content identification information is recorded in advance. An ejecting device ejects a recording medium in which the content information coincident with the content information set by the setting means is recorded. The system also includes a detector for detecting whether or not the remaining number of recording media housed in the housing section and having a particular content information is a minimum threshold value. A replenishing mechanism replenishes the housing section with the recording media of the kind detected by the detector to be at the minimum value.

Content providing system

An information providing apparatus includes a housing section for housing recording media including a plural kinds of recording media, which have at least any one of plural kinds of contents information recorded in advance. A content detector is also included for detecting a kind of content information required by a user. An ejecting portion ejects the kind of recording media in which the content information of the kind detected by the content detector is recorded. A remaining recording medium detector detects, for each kind of recording media, whether or not the remaining number of the kind of recording media housed in the housing section is less than or equal to a minimum threshold value. A replenishing device replenishes the recording media of the kind detected by the remaining recording medium detector to be less than or equal to the minimum threshold value.

Content information vending system

A recording medium is disclosed which is removably loaded in an information providing apparatus and in which content information is recorded by the information providing apparatus. The recording medium includes a recording medium main body and a content identification section including content identification information detectable by the information providing apparatus, which indicates a kind of content information downloaded by the information providing apparatus.

Recording medium having content identification section

Promotion of effective use in accordance with different types of media, reduction in the load on users, and promotion of diversified use modes by use of media. A plurality of types of recording media (disk media, IC media, and hybrid media) are respectively almost the same in cartridge shape and any of them can be mounted in the recording media mounting part of a drive unit to enable recording or reproduction operations. The drive unit has a recording media mounting part in which the plurality of types of recording media can be respectively mounted, identifies the type of recording media mounted in the recording media mounting part in accordance with an identification feature formed on the cartridge of the recording media, and in accordance with the type of the identified recording media, performs a recording or reproduction operation on the mounted recording media by either or both of disk drive means and IC memory drive means.

Recording media including auxiliary memory of different types

An optical disk having a plurality of substantially concentric tracks, each of which includes a plurality of segments each comprising a servo area ARs provided with servo pits for giving servo information to a disk drive and a data area ARd. Identification marks SGM, ADM, STM1, STM2 are recorded in the servo area ARs. The identification marks SGM, ADM, STM1, STM2 provide information for identifying the respective segments depending on the recording position in the servo area ARs.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Satoshi Otsuka