Method for updating a memory in a recorded media player

• US 6,272,078 B2
• Filed: 10/30/1997
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• 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:
  US08/961,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30, 369/34, 369/32, 369/47.15, 369/47.16, 369/59.1, 369/53.2, 369/36, 369/38, 369/47.1, 360/19.1, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 369/30.28
• 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 updating a memory in an audio compact disc changer, comprising the steps of:

reading a portion of a compact disc which uniquely identifies said compact disc as storing particular musical content;

determining whether the memory in the audio compact disc changer includes supplementary information that is associated with the particular musical content but which is not stored on the compact disc, the supplementary information including at least one of a title for a movement, a title for the compact disc, and a name of an artist;

querying a database residing outside said compact disc changer for said supplementary information if said supplementary information is not found in said memory; and

downloading said supplementary information from said database to said memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said database resides in a computer coupled to said compact disc changer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said database resides in a remote location and wherein said querying step includes the step accessing said database via a modem connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion includes TOC data and wherein said reading step includes reading said compact disc'"'"'s TOC data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said database resides in a remote location and wherein said downloading step includes accessing said database in said remote location.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein playback attributes are stored in said database and further including the step of playing back said compact disc in accordance with said playback attributes.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein playback attributes are stored in said database and further including the step of playing back said compact disc in accordance with said playback attributes.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein playback attributes are stored in said database and further including the step of playing back said compact disc in accordance with said playback attributes.

4. A method of updating a memory in an audio compact disc changer, comprising the steps of:

reading an identifying portion of a compact disc which uniquely identifies said compact disc, said identifying portion including a portion of said compact disc'"'"'s TOC data;

comparing said identifying portion with identifying portions stored in an EEPROM;

querying a first database residing in a computer situated outside and connected to said compact disc changer for said identifying portion of said disc if said identifying portion is not found in said EEPROM;

querying a second database residing in remote location via a modem connected to said computer for said identifying portion of said disc if said identifying portion is not found in said first database; and

downloading data from said first or second database to said EEPROM corresponding to said identifying portion.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of manually updating said EEPROM in the event said identifying portion is found in neither said first nor said second database.

6. A method of updating a memory in a recorded media player, comprising the steps of:

reading a portion of a recorded medium which uniquely identifies said recorded medium as storing particular content;

determining whether the memory in the recorded media player includes supplementary information that is associated with the particular content but which is not stored on the recorded medium, the supplementary information including at least one of a title and a name of an artist;

querying a database residing outside said recorded media player for said supplementary information if said supplementary information is not found in said memory; and

downloading said supplementary information from said database to said memory.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said database resides in a computer coupled to said compact disc changer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said database resides in a remote location and wherein said querying step includes the step of accessing said database via a modem connection.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of storing playback attributes for entries in said local database.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of controlling playback of said recorded medium in accordance with said playback attributes stored in said local database.

11. The method of claim 9, 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 recorded medium.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein said recorded media player includes a compact disc player for playing compact disc media.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein said recorded media player includes a MiniDisc™

.

19. The method of claim 6, wherein said recorded media player includes a digital video disc player for playing digital video discs.