Compact disc changer utilizing disc database

• US 5,751,672 A
• Filed: 07/26/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yankowski, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US08/507,544
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30, 369/32, 369/49, 369/48, 369/50, 369/59, 369/34, 369/36, 369/38, 369/33, 369/47, 369/58, 369/54, 369/127, 360/19.1, 360/33.1, 360/32, 360/72.1, 360/72.2, 358/341, 340/825.35, 379/67-68
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• 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 27/007 reproducing continuously a part of the information, i.e. repeating
• 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 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and apparatus for updating a memory in a Compact Disc changer. Information identifying discs stored in a CD changer is stored in a memory. The memory is updated when a CD is loaded which does not have identifying features which are recognized by the CD changer. Updating is carried out via a modem connection to a remote database. The database can be stored locally in a local database residing in a personal computer where the database can be queried to locate desired tracks and can be used to facilitate control of the compact disc changer by providing a simplified interface for building a play list and the like.

Claims

1. A system for playback of music compact discs, comprising in combination:

a disc changer for receiving a compact disc and converting data from said disc to signals representing music;

means for reading an identifying portion of said disc which uniquely identifies said disc;

a memory;

means for comparing said identifying portion of said disc with said memory to determine if said identifying portion and associated identifying information relating to said compact disc is stored in said memory;

a modem;

searching means for accessing a remote database via said modem, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory, said searching means accesses said remote database via said modem to locate identifying information relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said database by said identifying portion; and

downloading means for downloading said identifying information from said remote database to said memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said disc includes a TOC area and wherein said identifying portion includes a portion of the TOC data of said compact disc.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said disc includes program material, and wherein said identifying portion includes a sample of said program material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memory includes an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said searching means additionally includes means for accessing a local database, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory, said searching means accesses said local database to locate identifying portion relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said database by said identifying portion, and wherein said downloading means includes means for downloading information from said local database to said memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for manually updating said memory in the event a said identifying portion is not found in said remote database.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for manually updating said memory in the event a said identifying portion is not found in said local database.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising database management software for selectively searching said remote database.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising database management software for selectively searching said local database.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for storing playback attributes for entries in said local database.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for controlling playback of said disc in accordance with said playback attributes stored in said local database.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said disc may include a plurality of tracks and wherein playback attributes are stored on a track-by-track basis for each track of said disc.

13. A system for playback of music compact discs, comprising in combination:

a disc changer for receiving a compact disc and converting data from said disc to signals representing music;

means for reading an identifying portion of said disc which uniquely identifies said disc;

a memory;

means for comparing said identifying portion of said disc with said memory to determine if said identifying portion and associated identifying information relating to said compact disc is stored in said memory;

first searching means for accessing a local database, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory, said first searching means accesses said local database to locate said identifying portion relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said local database by said identifying portion;

a modem;

second searching means for accessing a remote database via said modem, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory and said first searching means does not locate said identifying portion in said local database, said second searching means accesses said remote database via said modem to locate identifying information relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said remote database by said identifying portion; and

downloading means for downloading said identifying information from either of said local database or said remote database to said memory.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said disc includes a TOC area and wherein said identifying portion includes a portion of the TOC data of said compact disc.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said disc includes program material, and wherein said identifying portion includes a sample of said program material.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said memory includes an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means for manually updating said memory in the event a said identifying portion is not found in one of said local database and said remote database.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising database management software for selectively searching said remote database.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising database management software for selectively searching said local database.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for storing playback attributes for entries in said local database.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for controlling playback of said disc in accordance with said playback attributes stored in said local database.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said disc may include a plurality of tracks and wherein playback attributes are stored on a track-by-track basis for each track of said disc.

23. A system for playback of music compact discs, comprising in combination:

a multiple disc changer for receiving a compact disc and reading data from said disc to convert to signals representing music;

means for reading an identifying portion of said disc which can be used to uniquely identify said disc, said disc including a table of contents (TOC) area and a program area, and wherein said identifying portion includes data taken from said TOC area;

an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM);

means for comparing said identifying portion of said disc with said EEPROM to determine if data relating to said compact disc is stored in said EEPROM;

a modem;

a database manager comprising;

first searching means for accessing a local database, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said EEPROM, said first searching means accesses said local database to locate said identifying portion relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said local database by said identifying portion;

second searching means including a programmed computer for accessing a remote database via said modem, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said EEPROM and said first searching means does not locate said identifying portion in said local database, said second searching means accesses said remote database via said modem to locate identifying information relating to said disc, said disc being identified in said database by said identifying portion;

downloading means for downloading information from either said local database or said remote database to said EEPROM;

manual update means for manually updating said EEPROM in the event said identifying portion is not found in one of said local database and said remote database;

means for storing playback attributes for entries in said local database, wherein said disc may include a plurality of tracks and wherein said playback attributes are stored on a track-by-track basis for each track of said disc; and

means for controlling playback of said disc in accordance with said playback attributes stored in said local database.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said identifying portion further includes a sample of said program material.

25. A multiple disc compact disc (CD) player, comprising in combination:

a multiple disc CD changer mechanism for playing and storing a plurality of compact discs;

a memory for storing information associated with said plurality of compact discs;

a controller for controlling operations of said multiple disc compact disc player;

a modem coupled to said controller for accessing a remote database via a telephone line connection; and

said controller including;

means for issuing a first query to said memory to determine if said memory includes information associated with a selected disc in said CD changer mechanism;

means for issuing a second query to a remote database via said modem in order to find information associated with said selected disc if said first query fails to locate said information in said memory associated with said selected compact disc.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said controller further comprises means for downloading said information said information from said remote database in order to update said memory.

27. A system for playback of recorded media, comprising in combination:

a media changer for receiving a recorded medium and reading data from said medium;

means for reading an identifying portion of said medium which can be used to uniquely identify said medium;

a memory;

means for comparing said identifying portion of said medium with said memory to determine if data relating to said medium is stored in said memory;

a modem;

searching means for accessing a remote database via said modem, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory, said searching means accesses said remote database via said modem to locate identifying information relating to said medium, said medium being identified in said database by said identifying portion; and

downloading means for downloading information from said remote database to said memory.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said medium includes a TOC area and wherein said identifying portion includes a portion of the TOC data of said medium.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said medium includes program material, and wherein said identifying portion includes a sample of said program material.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said memory includes an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said searching means additionally includes means for accessing a local database, wherein in the event said comparing means does not detect said identifying portion in said memory, said searching means accesses said local database to locate identifying portion relating to said medium, said medium being identified in said database by said identifying portion, and wherein said downloading means includes means for downloading information from said local database to said memory.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for manually updating said memory in the event a said identifying portion is not found in said remote database.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for manually updating said memory in the event a said identifying portion is not found in said local database.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising database management software for selectively searching said remote database.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising database management software for selectively searching said local database.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for storing playback attributes for entries in said local database.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising means for controlling playback of said recorded medium in accordance with said playback attributes stored in said local database.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said recorded medium may include a plurality of tracks and wherein playback attributes are stored on a track-by-track basis for each track of said disc.