Information reproducing apparatus

• US 5,392,264 A
• Filed: 04/20/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Hira, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US08/050,872
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 369/32, 369/30, 369/33, 369/178, 369/47, 369/48, 369/54
• US Class Current: 369/30.06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/913 Digital audio tape [DAT] format
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An information reproducing apparatus, to which a recording medium having record information and table of contents information is mounted, controls a reproduction operation on the basis of the table of contents information. The apparatus includes: an operation input device by which various command data are inputted; a first memory for temporarily storing reproduction control information including the table of contents information; a reproduction device for reproducing the recording medium according to the inputted command data; a second memory of non-volatile type for storing the reproduction control information in correspondence with each recording medium; and a memory control device for storing into the second memory the reproduction control information stored in the first memory the at least one of the inputted command data and an operation condition of the reproduction device indicate a continuous stop condition of the reproduction operation. The reproduction device reproduces the recording medium on the basis of the reproduction control information stored in the first and second memory according to circumstances.

Claims

1. An information reproducing apparatus, to which a recording medium having record information and table of contents information of the record information is mounted, for controlling a reproduction operation of the record information on the basis of the table of contents information, said apparatus comprising:

an operation input means by which various command data are inputted;

a first memory for temporarily storing reproduction control information including the table of contents information for performing the reproduction operation;

a reproduction means for reproducing said recording medium according to the inputted command data;

a second memory of non-volatile type for storing the reproduction control information in correspondence with said recording medium; and

a memory control means coupled to said operation input means and said reproduction means, for storing into said second memory the reproduction control information stored in said first memory, when at least one of the inputted command data and an operation condition of said reproduction means indicate a continuous stop condition of the reproduction operation,

said reproduction means to reproduce record information on said recording medium on the basis of the reproduction control information stored in said second memory if the reproduction control information of the recording medium to be reproduced is stored in said second memory, and on the basis of the reproduction control information stored in said first memory if the reproduction control information of the recording medium to be reproduced is not stored in said second memory.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to accommodate a plurality of recording media and continuously reproduce said recording media.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a magazine for packing said recording media therein, and an auto-changer for exchanging said recording media in said magazine to be reproduced.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction means comprises an optical pickup, and a signal processing device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying various data indicating a condition of the reproduction operation.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction control information includes a DSP mode data, and said reproduction means is adapted to perform a DSP mode operation according to the DSP mode data.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means is adapted to compress the reproduction control information when said memory control means stores the reproduction control information into said second memory.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means is adapted to store the reproduction control information into an area in said second memory where no data is recorded.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means is adapted to store the reproduction control information into an area in said second memory where an oldest data is recorded.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means is adapted to recover the reproduction control information, which is stored in said second memory, to said first memory.

11. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said memory control means is adapted to clear data content of said first and second memories when said magazine is discharged.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a single player type and provided with a tray for mounting the recording medium, and said memory control means is adapted to clear data contents of said first and second memories when an operation indication of discharging the recording medium is detected or when said tray is opened and closed.