Method and apparatus for recovering TOC and user information from an optical disk and using the TOC information to access user tracks

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said embossed pits have a linear density in the range between 0.237 μm per bit and 0.378 μm per bit.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said program area is located in a portion of the disk having a radius of from 20 mm to 65 mm.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein each sector of said user and TOC tracks includes a sector header at a leading portion thereof, said sector header containing a sector sync pattern, a sector address, an error detection code, and subcode data.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said subcode data in a given sector includes a subcode identifier and subcode information of a type identified by said subcode identifier.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein said subcode identifier is a subcode address.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 wherein said subcode information includes track identifying data which identifies the track in which said given sector is recorded, copyright data which indicates whether user information in said track is permitted to be copied, and application identifying data which identifies a predetermined application allotted to said user information in said track.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 wherein said user information is picture information representing a respective picture, said picture information being recorded in at least one sector in a user track, and wherein said subcode information includes first distance information representing the distance from said given sector to the sector in which picture information representing a next preceding picture is recorded and second distance information representing the distance from said given sector to the sector in which picture information representing a next following picture is recorded.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein said picture information is recorded in a lead sector and at least one following sector; and each said distance information represents the distance from said given sector to a next lead sector.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein said picture information is compressed picture data selectively comprised of intraframe encoded picture data or predictively encoded picture data; and said first and second distance information each represents the distance from said given sector to the next lead sector in which intraframe encoded picture data is recorded.

Claim 12

The method of claim 5 wherein said user information is compressed picture data selectively comprised of different compression-encoded data representing respective pictures having a predetermined display sequence, and said subcode information includes type identifying information for identifying the type of compression-encoded data that is recorded in said given sector and sequence information for identifying the location in said display sequence of the picture represented by the compression-encoded data that is recorded in said given sector.

Claim 13

The method of claim 5 wherein said user information is variable over time, and said subcode information includes time code data representing time information at which said user information is recorded.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 wherein said TOC information is representative of record/playback characteristics, diameter, recording capacity and number of record tracks of said disk.

Claim 15

The method of claim 13 wherein said record/playback characteristics of said optical disk represent a read only disk, a write once disk or an erasable disk.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein said TOC information includes TOC identification data for identifying a location of said at least one TOC track, data configuration of said at least one TOC track, and sector configuration of each of said plurality of sectors.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 wherein said TOC information includes data representative of disk size.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1 wherein said TOC information includes data representative of a time code associated with said user information.

Claim 19

The method of claim 1 wherein said user information is reproducible at a selected one of plural playback speeds; and said TOC information includes data representative of said selected playback speed.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 wherein said error-correction encoded information is formed of a pre-established number of C1 code words, each C1 code word containing information symbols, C2 parity symbols each of which is derived from an information symbol included in a preassigned number of C1 code words, and C1 parity symbols each of which is derived from a predetermined number of symbols, including information symbols and C2 parity symbols in said C1 code word; and wherein said step of error correcting comprises using said C1 parity symbols to error correct the C1 code word which contains said C1 parity symbols, using said C2 parity symbols in said C1 code word to error correct respective information symbols included in said preassigned number of C1 code words, and forming an error corrected C1 code word from the information symbols that had been corrected as a result of using said C2 parity symbols.

Claim 21

The method of claim 19 wherein said information symbols are recorded in a disarranged order; and wherein the step of error correcting further comprises rearranging the order of the symbols included in said error corrected code word to an arranged sequence.

Claim 22

The method of claim 20 wherein said disarranged order is formed of odd information symbols recorded in an odd group and even information symbols recorded in an even group, and said arranged sequence is formed of sequential alternating odd and even information symbols.

Claim 23

The method of claim 21 wherein each C1 code word is formed of m symbols including n information symbols, where m and n are integers; and wherein: i=(k/m)-(kmod2)+1 j=(m/2)×(kmod2)+(kmodm)/2 where i is the sequential order of the error-corrected C1 code words, j is the sequential order of the arranged sequence of m symbols in each error-corrected C1 code word, and k is the disarranged order in which the m symbols are recorded on the disk.

Claim 24

The method of claim 1 wherein the error correction encoded data is in a convolution code.

Claim 25

The method of claim 1 wherein said data on the disk is modulated as a run length limited (RLL) code; and said step of demodulating includes decoding said RLL data.

Claim 26

The method of claim 24 wherein said RLL code is (2,10) RLL code, such that successive data transitions are separated by no less than 2 data bit cells and by no more than 10 data bit cells.

Claim 27

The method of claim 24 wherein said RLL code is recorded as 2n-bit information words, and said step of demodulating converts said 2n-bit information words into n-bit information words.

Claim 28

The method of claim 26 wherein said step of demodulating comprises storing in each of a plurality of tables several n-bit information words, selecting a particular table as a function of a preceding 2n-bit information word read from said disk, and reading out from the selected table an n-bit information word which corresponds to the 2n-bit information word presently read from said disk.

Claim 29

The method of claim 27 wherein at least one 2n-bit information word read from the disk corresponds to two different n-bit information words a first of which is stored in a first table and a second of which is stored in a second table, and wherein said step of selecting further comprises examining the 2n-bit information word which next follows said presently read 2n-bit information word to select said first or said second table as a function of said next-following 2n-bit information word.

Claim 30

The method of claim 28 wherein said step of examining comprises sensing predetermined bits in said next-following 2n-bit information word to determine the table to be selected for said next-following 2n-bit information word, and selecting said first or said second table for said presently read 2n-bit information word depending upon the table to be selected for said next following 2n-bit information word.

Claim 31

Apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk having a diameter less than 140 mm, a thickness of 1.2 mm±0.1 mm and a recording area divided into a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area, and wherein said data is recorded as embossed pits representing modulated, error-correction encoded user information in sectors in user tracks in said program area and representing modulated, error-correction encoded table of contents (TOC) information in sectors in at least one TOC track in said lead-in area with said TOC information including addresses of respective start sectors of said user tracks, the tracks having a track pitch in the range of 0.646 μm to 1.05 μm, said apparatus comprising means for rotating said disk to obtain a constant linear velocity; pickup means for projecting a pickup light beam through a lens to optically read the rotating disk, said pickup light beam having a spatial frequency l=λ/2NA, where the spatial frequency l is less than the track pitch, λ is the wavelength of the pickup light beam and NA is the numerical aperture of the lens; demodulating means for demodulating the data read from said disk; error correcting means for error correcting the demodulated data; means for separating the error corrected data into TOC information and user information; and control means responsive to said TOC information to access and read selected user tracks in response to access instructions from a user.

Claim 32

Apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk having a diameter less than 140 mm, a thickness of 1.2 mm±0.1 mm and a recording area divided into a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area, and wherein said data is recorded as embossed pits representing modulated, error-correction encoded user information in sectors in user tracks in said program area and representing modulated, error-correction encoded table of contents (TOC) information in sectors in at least one TOC track in said lead-in area with said TOC information including addresses of respective start sectors of said user tracks, the tracks having a track pitch in the range of 0.646 μm to 1.05 μm, said apparatus comprising means for rotating said disk to obtain a constant linear velocity; pickup means for projecting a pickup light beam through a lens to optically read the rotating disk, said pickup light beam having a spatial frequency l=λ/2NA, where the spatial frequency l is less than the track pitch, λ is the wavelength of the pickup light beam and NA is the numerical aperture of the lens; demodulating means for demodulating the data read from said disk; error correcting means for error correcting the demodulated data; means for separating the error corrected data into TOC information and user information; and control means responsive to said TOC information to access and read selected user tracks in response to access instructions from a user.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said embossed pits have a linear density in the range between 0.237 μm per bit and 0.378 μm per bit.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said program area is located in a portion of the disk having a radius of from 20 mm to 65 mm.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each sector of at least said user tracks includes a sector header at a leading portion thereof, said sector header containing a sector sync pattern, a sector address, an error detection code, and subcode data.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said subcode data in a given sector includes a subcode identifier and subcode information of a type identified by said subcode identifier.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said subcode identifier is a subcode address.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said subcode information includes track identifying data which identifies the track in which said given sector is recorded, copyright data which indicates whether user information in said track is permitted to be copied, and application identifying data which identifies a predetermined application allotted to said user information in said track.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said user information is picture information representing a respective picture, said picture information being recorded in at least one sector in a user track, and wherein said subcode information includes first distance information representing the distance from said given sector to the sector in which picture information representing a next preceding picture is recorded and second distance information representing the distance from said given sector to the sector in which picture information representing a next following picture is recorded.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said picture information is recorded in a lead sector and at least one following sector; and each said distance information represents the distance from said given sector to a next lead sector.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said picture information is compressed picture data selectively comprised of intraframe encoded picture data or predictively encoded picture data; and said first and second distance information each represents the distance from said given sector to the next lead sector in which intraframe encoded picture data is recorded.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said user information is compressed picture data selectively comprised of different compression-encoded data representing respective pictures having a predetermined display sequence, and said subcode information includes type identifying information for identifying the type of compression-encoded data that is recorded in said given sector and sequence information for identifying the location in said display sequence of the picture represented by the compression-encoded data that is recorded in said given sector.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said user information is variable over time, and said subcode information includes time code data representing time information at which said user information is recorded.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said TOC information is representative of record/playback characteristics, diameter, recording capacity and number of record tracks of said disk.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said record/playback characteristics of said optical disk represent a read only disk, a write once disk or an erasable disk.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said TOC information includes TOC identification data for identifying a location of said at least one TOC track, data configuration of said at least one TOC track, and sector configuration of each of said plurality of sectors.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said TOC information includes data representative of disk size.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said TOC information includes data representative of a time code associated with said user information.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said user information is reproducible at a selected one of plural playback speeds; and said TOC information includes data representative of said selected playback speed.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said error-correction encoded information is formed of a pre-established number of C1 code words, each C1 code word containing information symbols, C2 parity symbols each of which is derived from an information symbol included in a preassigned number of C1 code words, and C1 parity symbols each of which is derived from a predetermined number of symbols, including information symbols and C2 parity symbols in said C1 code word; and wherein said error correcting means includes C1 parity correction means to error correct a C1 code word with C1 parity symbols included therein, C2 parity correction means to error correct respective information symbols included in said preassigned number of C1 code words with C2 parity symbols included in the error corrected C1 code word, and means for forming an error corrected C1 code word from the information symbols that had been corrected by using said C2 parity correction means.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said information symbols are recorded in a disarranged order; and wherein said error correcting means further includes rearranging means for rearranging the order of the symbols included in said error corrected C1 code word to an arranged sequence.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said disarranged order is formed of odd information symbols recorded in an odd group and even information symbols recorded in an even group, and said arranged sequence is formed of sequential alternating odd and even information symbols.

Claim 53

The apparatus of claim 50 wherein each C1 code word is formed of m symbols including n information symbols, where m and n are integers; and wherein: i=(k/m)-(kmod2)+1 j=(m/2)×(kmod2)+(kmodm)/2 where i is the sequential order of the error-corrected C1 code words, j is the sequential order of the arranged sequence of m symbols in each error-corrected C1 code word, and k is the disarranged order in which the m symbols are recorded on the disk.

Claim 54

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the error correction encoded data is in a convolution code.

Claim 55

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said data on the disk is modulated as a run length limited (RLL) code; and said demodulating means includes an RLL decoder.

Claim 56

The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said RLL code is (2,10) RLL code, such that successive data transitions are separated by no less than 2 data bit cells and by no more than 10 data bit cells.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said RLL code is recorded as 2n-bit information words, and said RLL decoder converts said 2n-bit information words into n-bit information words.

Claim 58

The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said RLL decoder comprises a plurality of storage tables, each for storing several n-bit information words, means for selecting a particular table as a function of a preceding 2n-bit information word read from said disk, and means for reading out from the selected table an n-bit information word which corresponds to the 2n-bit information word presently read from said disk.

Claim 59

The apparatus of claim 56 wherein at least one 2n-bit information word read from the disk corresponds to two different n-bit information words a first of which is stored in a first table and a second of which is stored in a second table, and wherein said means for selecting includes means for examining the 2n-bit information word which next follows said presently read 2n-bit information word to control the selection of said first or said second table as a function of said next-following 2n-bit information word.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said means for examining comprises means for sensing predetermined bits in said next-following 2n-bit information word to determine the table to be selected for said next-following 2n-bit information word, and means for controlling said selecting means to select said first or said second table for said presently read 2n-bit information word depending upon the table to be selected for said next following 2n-bit information word.