Method and apparatus for operating a database

• US 6,128,625 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• 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): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US08/985,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/102, 707/100, 707/10, 707/6, 707/3, 707/1, 369/48, 369/30, 369/34, 369/50, 369/32, 369/49, 369/36, 369/38, 369/33, 369/47, 369/58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of operating a database comprising:

receiving identifying information from a recorded media playing device located remotely from the database through a network connection, said identifying information identifying a recorded medium;

said recorded medium being devoid of certain data associated with said identifying information;

searching said database for said identifying information;

retrieving said certain data associated with said identifying information from said database; and

transmitting said data to said recorded media playing device through the network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded medium playing device includes a computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said database resides in said computer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said database is located in a remote location relative to said recorded media playing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said receiving and transmitting are carried out over a modem link.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said receiving and transmitting are carried out over an internet connection.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said receiving and transmitting are carried out over an ISDN connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded medium includes a compact disc.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said identifying information includes TOC information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said certain data includes a title of said compact disc.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said certain data includes titles of tracks appearing on said compact disc.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said certain data includes artist information relating to said compact disc.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded medium includes a MiniDisc™

.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded medium includes a digital video disc.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said certain data includes a title of said recorded medium.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said certain data includes titles of songs recorded on said recorded medium.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said certain data includes artist information relating to said recorded medium.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said database resides in said computer.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said database is located in a remote location relative to said recorded media playing device.

18. An apparatus comprising:

communicating means for receiving identifying information transmitted from a recorded media playing device located remotely from the database through a network connection, said identifying information identifying a recorded medium;

said recorded medium being devoid of certain data associated with said identifying information;

a search engine which searches the database for said identifying information and retrieves said certain data associated with said identifying information from said database; and

said communicating means transmitting said certain data back to said recorded media playing device through the network connection.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said recorded medium playing device includes a computer.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said communicating means is coupled to a telephone line and communicates via a modem link.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said communicating means communicates over an internet connection.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said communicating means communicates over an ISDN connection.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said recorded medium includes a compact disc.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said certain data includes a title of said compact disc.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said certain data includes titles of tracks appearing on said compact disc.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said certain data includes artist information relating to said compact disc.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said recorded medium includes a MiniDisc™

.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said recorded medium includes a digital video disc.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said identifying information includes TOC information.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said certain data includes a title of said recorded medium.

33. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said certain data includes titles of songs recorded on said recorded medium.

34. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said certain data includes artist information relating to said recorded medium.

35. A method of operating a remote database, comprising:

receiving identifying information via modem in the form of a TOC from a compact disc playing device, said identifying information identifying a recorded medium;

searching said database for said identifying information;

retrieving data associated with said identifying information from said database;

said data including title of said compact disc, titles of tracks on said compact disc and artist information relating to said compact disc; and

transmitting said data via modem to said compact disc playing device.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a modem for receiving identifying information in the form of TOC information transmitted from a compact disc playing device, said identifying information identifying said compact disc;

a search engine which searches a database for said identifying information and retrieves data associated with said identifying information from said database;

said data including title of said compact disc, titles of tracks of said compact disc and artist associated with said compact disc; and

said modem transmitting said data back to said recorded media playing device.