Compact disc changer utilizing disc database

• US 6,147,940 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• 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): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US08/967,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30, 369/48, 369/34, 369/32, 369/49, 369/50, 369/59, 369/36, 369/38, 369/47, 369/58, 369/54, 360/19.1, 360/33.1, 358/341
• US Class Current: 369/30.06
• 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 controlling the operation of a compact disc player, comprising:

storing data relating to a compact disc in a database, said database including information relating to each track of said compact disc;

responsive to user input, storing playback attributes in said database on a track-by-track basis by storing a first playback attribute corresponding to a first track on the compact disc and a second playback attribute corresponding to a second track on the compact disc, the first playback attribute differing from the second playback attribute; and

instructing said compact disc player to play at least one of the first track using the first playback attribute and the second track using the second playback attribute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback attributes include a level attribute.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the playback attributes include a signal processing parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is located in a computer external to said compact disc player and wherein said instructing includes sending an instruction from said computer to said compact disc changer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said instructing includes instructing said compact disc player to play a track from a play list.

6. A method for controlling the operation of a multiple disc compact disc player, comprising:

storing data relating to a plurality of compact discs in a database, said database including information relating to each track of each said compact disc, and wherein said database is located in a computer external to said compact disc player;

responsive to user input storing playback attributes including at least a level attribute and a signal processing attribute in said database on a track-by-track basis wherein for a given compact disc the database stores a first playback attribute corresponding to a first track on the given compact disc and a second playback attribute corresponding to a second track on the given compact disc, the first playback attribute differing from the second playback attribute; and

instructing said compact disc player to play a selected track from a play list using said playback attributes by sending an instruction from said computer to said compact disc player.