Data playback system for random selections
AssigneePioneer Electronic Corporation
InventorNaoki Masaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a data playback system in which multiple disks are stored in a magazine, a first random number is generated to select one of the disks believed to be present in the magazine, or temporarily, on the turntable. A disk fetch is attempted and it is determined from the success of the fetch whether or not the disk is present. If not, a memory is updated to eliminate such disk from a catalog and disk selection is repeated. Then a table of contents is read, either from the disk or from a previously written random access memory. A second random number selects a block of data on the selected disk for playback. If the table of contents is stored in random access memory, it is completed as the information becomes available. Then the process is repeated for other randomly selected disks and data blocks.
Claims7
A data playback process in which data blocks recorded on a plurality of recording media are randomly selected and reproduced, comprising;
- (a) providing a data playback apparatus having a plurality of storage locations, each for accommodating one of said recording media,
- (b) selecting a recording medium by generating a first random number associated with one of said recording media, the presence of said selected medium in said plurality of storage locations being initially unknown,
- (c) determining if said selected recording medium is present in one of said locations,
- (d) in response to a determination that said selected recording medium is present, determining the number of data blocks recorded on said selected medium and their respective locations thereon,
- (e) selecting a data block by generating a second random number associated with one of said number of data blocks recorded on said selected medium, and
- (f) playing said selected data block recorded on said selected medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.