# US 7,613,379 B2 · Recording and reproduction apparatus, recording apparatus, editing apparatus, information recording medium, recording and reproduction method, recording method, and editing method

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- Number: US 7,613,379 B2
- Document ID: US7613379B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/540,631
- Filed: 2003-10-09
- Published: 2006-09-28
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-24
- Assignees: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Takanori Okada; Yoshiho Gotoh; Tatsushi Bannai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613379B2

## CPC

- G11B 20/10527: {Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements (G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence)}
- G11B 27/007: {reproducing continuously a part of the information, i.e. repeating}
- G11B 27/034: on discs (G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence)
- G11B 27/105: {of operating discs}
- G11B 2020/1062: {Data buffering arrangements, e.g. recording or playback buffers}
- G11B 2020/10916: {Seeking data on the record carrier for preparing an access to a specific address}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A recording and reproduction apparatus includes a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the first data; a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the second data; and a control section for calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point of first data to the read start point of second data until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A recording and reproduction apparatus, comprising:
a reading section for reading first data including video and audio data, and second data including video and audio data, from an information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data including video and audio data generated by decoding the accumulated first data;
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data including video and audio data generated by decoding the accumulated second data,
a first setting section for setting a read finish point of the first data;
a second setting section for setting a read start point of the second data; and
a control section for calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculated first time period includes a time period which is obtained by subtracting a time period, required for reading data from a read start point of the first data to the read finish point of the first data, from a time period obtained by dividing a data amount from the read start point of the first data to the read finish point of the first data by a bit rate corresponding to the first data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the first data includes a plurality of data portions between a read start point of the first data and the read finish point of the first data,
the plurality of data portions are each associated with a bit rate; and
the calculated first time period includes a time period which is obtained by subtracting a time period, required for reading data from the read start point of the first data to the read finish point of the first data, from a time period which represents a sum of a plurality of time periods, the plurality of time periods being obtained by dividing a data amount of each of the plurality of data portions by a bit rate corresponding to each of the plurality of data portions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bit rate associated with an m'th data portion among the plurality of data portions is different from the bit rate associated with an n'th data portion among the plurality of data portions, where m is an integer and n is an integer different from m.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the first data includes a plurality of data portions between a read start point of the first data to the read finish point of the first data, and
the calculated first time period includes a time period from when one of the plurality of data portions is input to the first decoding section until the first decoding section outputs decoded data which is generated by decoding the one of the plurality of data portions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
the first buffer section includes a track buffer section and a VBV buffer section, and
the calculated first time period includes a time period in which one of the plurality of data portions is accumulated in the VBV buffer section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the first data includes a plurality of data portions from a read start point of the first data to the read finish point of the first data,
each of the plurality data portions is associated with a bit rate,
the first buffer section includes a track buffer section and a VBV buffer section,
where the calculated first time period is TA, TA is expressed by
TA=Σ(V(i)/VdV(i))−Σ(TR(i)+a(i)×Ts)+TdlyA
where:
V(i) is a data amount of an i'th data portion among the plurality of data portions where i is an integer.
VdV(i) is a bit rate associated with the i'th data portion,
TR(i) is a time period required for reading the i'th data portion,
a (i) is a number of defective ECC blocks present in an area in the information recording medium where the i'th data portion is recorded,
Ts is a time period required for skipping one ECC block, and
TdlyA is a time period representing a sum of a time period, in which one of the plurality of data portions is accumulated in the VBV buffer section, and a time period from when the one of the plurality of data portions is input to the first decoding section until the first decoding section outputs decoded data which is generated by decoding the one of the plurality of data portions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculated second time period includes:
a time period required for a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point, and
a time period from when at least a portion of the second data is input to the second decoding section until the second decoding section outputs decoded data which is generated by decoding the at least a portion of the second data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the calculated second time period includes a time period in which the at least a portion of the second data is accumulated in the second buffer section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the calculated second time period includes:
a time period required for a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point, and
a time period from when at least a portion of the second data is input to the second decoding section until the second decoding section outputs decoded data which is generated by decoding the at least a portion of the second data.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the calculated second time period includes a time period in which the at least a portion of the second data is accumulated in the second buffer section.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculated second time period includes:
a time period required for a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point, and
a time period required for pre-decoding processing for obtaining prescribed data which is used for decoding data corresponding to the read start point of the second data.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein where the calculated second time period is TB, TB is expressed by
TB=Tf+Tb+TdlyB+Tin
where:
Tf is a time period required for a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point,
Tb is a time period required for reading data which is readable during a period from the start point of the seek operation until data corresponding to the read start point is read,
TdlyB is a time period representing a sum of a time period, in which at least a portion of the second data is accumulated in the second buffer section, and a time period from when the at least a portion of the second data is input to the second decoding section until the second decoding section outputs decoded data which is generated by decoding the at least a portion of the second data, and
Tin is a time period required for pre-decoding processing for obtaining prescribed data which is used for decoding data corresponding to the read start point of the second data.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein Where the calculated second time period is TB, TB is expressed by
TB=Tf+Tb+TdlyB+Tin
where:
Tf is a time period required for a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point,
Tb is a time period required for reading data which is readable during a period from the start point of the seek operation until the data corresponding to the read start point is read,
TdlyB is a time period representing a sum of a time period, in which at least a portion of the second data is accumulated in the second buffer section, and a time period from when the at least a portion of the second data is input to the second decoding section until the second decoding section outputs decoded data Which is generated by decoding the at least a portion of the second data, and
Tin is a time period required for pre-decoding processing for obtaining prescribed data which is used for decoding data corresponding to the read start point of the second data.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a writing section for writing, in the information recording medium, at least one of, at least a portion of the first data and at least a portion of the second date, wherein:
when determining that the length of the calculated first time period is shorter than the length of the calculated second time period, the control section controls the writing section so as to change a recording position, in the information recording medium, of at least one of, at least a portion of the first data and at least a portion of the second data, such that the length of the first time period is greater than or equal to the length of the second time period.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control section controls the writing section so as to change the recording position of one of the at least a portion of the first data and the at least a portion of the second data, which has a smaller data amount.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:
the first data includes first audio data and first video data;
the second data includes second audio data and second video data; and
the control section controls the writing section such that the first audio data and the second audio data are recorded on the information recording medium adjacently to each other, and such that the first video data and the second video data are recorded on the information recording medium adjacently to each other.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is an optical medium.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is a semiconductor memory medium.

### Claim 20

A recording apparatus for recording on an information recording medium at least one of first date and second data to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including:
a reading section for reading the first data and the second data from the information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data; and
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
the recording apparatus comprising:
a first setting section for setting a read finish point of the first data;
a second setting section for setting a read start point of the second data; and
a control section for calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

A recording apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a writing section for writing, in the information recording medium, at least one of, at least a portion of the first data and at least a portion of the second data, wherein the control section controls the writing section so as to write in the information recording medium at least one of, at least a portion of the first data and at least a portion of the second data, such the length of the first time period is greater than or equal to the length of the second time period.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:
the first data includes first audio data and first video data;
the second data includes second audio data and second video data; and
the control section controls the writing section such that the first audio data and the second audio data are recorded on the information recording medium adjacently to each other, and ouch that the first video data and the second video data are recorded on the information recording medium adjacently to each other.

### Claim 23

An editing apparatus for editing at least one of first data and second data recorded on an information recording medium to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including:
a reading section for reading the first data and the second data from the information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data; and
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
the editing apparatus comprising:
a first setting section for setting a read finish point of the first data;
a second setting section for setting a read start point of the second data; and
a control section for calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

### Claim 24

An information recording medium having first data and second data recorded thereon to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including:
a reading section for reading the first data and the second data from the information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data; and
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
wherein:
a read finish point is set for the first data,
a read start point is set for the second data,
the first data and the second data are arranged such that a length of the first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, is greater than or equal to a length of second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section.

### Claim 25

A recording and reproduction method, comprising the steps of:
reading first data and second data from an information recording medium;
temporarily accumulating the read first data;
temporarily accumulating the read second data;
outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data;
outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
setting a read finish point of the first data;
setting a read start point of the second data; and
calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation from the read finish point to the read start point until output of the first decoded data is completed, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

### Claim 26

A recording method for recording on an information recording medium at least one of first data and second data to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including:
a reading section for reading the first data and the second data from the information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data; and
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
the recording method comprising the steps of:
setting a read finish point of the first data;
setting a read start point of the second data; and
calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding section; and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A recording method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of writing, in the information recording medium, at least one of, at least a portion of the first data and at least a portion of the second data, such that the length of the first time period is greater than or equal to the length of the second time period.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

A recording method according to claim 27, wherein:
the first data includes first audio data and first video data;
the second data includes second audio data and second video data; and
the step of writing includes the step of:
recording at least one of the first audio data and the second audio data on the information recording medium such that the first audio data and the second audio date are adjacent to each other, and
recording at least one of the first video data and the second video data on the information recording medium such that the first video data and the second video data are adjacent to each other.

### Claim 29

An editing method for editing at least one of first data and second data recorded on an information recording medium to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus the reproduction apparatus including:
a reading section for reading the first data and the second data from the information recording medium;
a first buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read first data;
a second buffer section for temporarily accumulating the read second data;
a first decoding section for outputting first decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated first data; and
a second decoding section for outputting second decoded data generated by decoding the accumulated second data;
the editing method comprising the steps of:
setting a read finish point of the first data;
setting a read start point of the second data; and
calculating a first time period, from a start point of a seek operation of the reading section from the read finish point to the read start point until the first decoding section completes output of the first decoded data, and a second time period, from the start point of the seek operation until the second decoded data is allowed to be output by the second decoding sections and comparing a length of the calculated first time period and a length of the calculated second time period.