MXPA99001675A - Method and device for recording information on a carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of digitally recording information on a suitable medium, particularly a CD is described, in which method a recording (11) is made during a recording session. The recording (11) comprises a program portion (20) with the information to be recorded. Prior to recording the program portion (20), a predetermined number of run-in blocks (21, 22, 23, 24) is recorded, and subsequent to recording the program portion (20), a predetermined number of run-out blocks (25, 26) is recorded. During the recording session, an identification code (RID) identifying the recording apparatus used for the relevant recording session is recorded on the medium. In accordance with the present invention, this identification code (RID) is recorded in at least one of said run-in blocks (21, 22, 23, 24) and run-out blocks (25, 26). This provides the possibility of recording a full identification code, even in the case of relatively short recordings.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REGISTERING INFORMATION ON A CARRIER The invention relates generally to the recording of information on a carrier, particularly on a compact disc / which is hereinafter referred to as CD. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "information" should be understood as having a broad meaning: it refers to any form of information, not only to data files but also, for example, audio or video information. The present invention is particularly important for recording on CD, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the invention is not limited to this and that it may also be useful for recording over other media such as, for example, DVDs. it will be clarified below specifically for use in the CD record.The record of information can be roughly divided into two categories: on the one hand, the producer's record and, on the other hand, the consumer's record.

Producer registration is considered, for example when a manufacturer produces a music record on a carrier in large numbers and markets those carriers via normal channels; an end user (consumer) can buy such a CD in a store and reproduce it in his reproduction facility. The consumer record is considered when a consumer by himself has a recording device with which he can make records. Consumer registration is a phenomenon that has existed for a long time, which is very important in the audio industry. This allows a consumer to record his favorite music in a sequence determined by himself, using, for example, a radio receiver, a gramophone record, etc., as a source. The consumer may use a magnetic tape (recorder, tape reel or cassette recorder) as a means of recording. In principle, the registration may infringe author's laws. Since conventional recording systems are based on analog recording techniques, with which quality loss always occurs, their use will usually be limited to particular circumstances and will generally result in inappropriate use on a small scale. Recently, devices have been introduced to the consumer market with which digital registration is possible, for example on magnetic tape or envelope. CD. Particularly, the user is offered the relatively new facility of using a CD as a means of registration. When using digital recording techniques, these CDs have a high quality, so that there is a non-palpable risk of abuse in the form of large-scale piracy. In addition, this technique provides the possibility of copying computer programs and, also in this field, abuse (illegal copying) is undesirable. For these reasons, the CD registration equipment that is intended for the consumer market is designed in such a way that, when a CD is registered, a specific code of the unique device is also written, with which the relevant registration apparatus It can be recognized. If an illegal record is discovered, then it is possible to recover the device with which this record has been made. This code is denoted as RID code (Registrar Identification Code). The present invention relates particularly to the manner in which the RID code is registered. As will be explained here in more detail later, the RID code has so far been interspersed with the actual information. This implies that the information must be recorded continuously for a relatively long period of time when a complete RID code is written. This is not a disadvantage in the case of audio recording, since a minimum sequence of several seconds and usually several minutes will always be recorded. Nevertheless, this is a disadvantage in the case of data recording in which there is a need to have the facility of a relatively short record length. An important object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this problem, which solution is preferably compatible with the existing method. As is known to those skilled in the art, it is necessary to use a method of correcting errors in digital registration operations, a method by which incorrectly written or read bits can be "repaired". In the error correction method currently used, a predetermined number of consecutive bytes in combination is considered. To ensure that also the first and last bits of a record are verified and can possibly be corrected, a number of input cycle blocks are recorded before the actual record session and a number of download blocks are recorded after the session of real registration. As is well known, the input cycle blocks also serve as "capture" blocks for a recording apparatus with which the record is read in. For example, the clock of the recording apparatus is captured by means of other blocks and, for For example, the decoder is synchronized so that the correct reading takes place directly when the reading head of the recording device reaches the start of the first data block.

Although those blocks of the input and download cycle are necessary to allow a recording device to read the actual record satisfactorily, the content of the information of the blocks of the input and download cycle has no function in this case. The present invention was based on the recognition that such blocks represent an amount of storage space necessarily associated with each record, a space which has not been used so far, and that these blocks are eminently suitable for recording information related to the actual record and / or the recording apparatus. According to an important aspect of the present invention, the RID code is therefore registered in at least one of the blocks of the input and / or download cycle. All blocks of the input and discharge cycle are preferably written in an identical form. These and other aspects of the invention are evident from and will be described with reference to the modalities described hereinafter. In the drawings: Figure 1 schematically shows the structure of the information record on a CD; Figure 2 schematically shows the data processing in a reading apparatus; Figure 3 schematically shows the structure of a Q-byte, and Figure 4 shows schematically a writing apparatus. The recording of information on a CD is already known in practice. The format used will be clarified here below with reference to Figures 1A-1D. Figure 1 schematically shows the structure of the information record on a CD. Since the manner in which this registration is effected physically is not an object of the present invention, and since the knowledge of this registration mode is not necessary for those skilled in the art to understand the present invention, and is also known per se. se, this object will not be described anymore. In Figure 1A, the record of information on a CD is represented as a linear track 10. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the registration on a CD actually has the form of a circular or spiral pattern. The track 10 can be written during a single writing session, but it is possible, alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 1A, for the track 10 to be written during a plurality of mutually independent writing sessions, although, in principle, it is possible that a different recording device is activated during each writing session. The part of the track 10 written during a single session will here subsequently be referred to as the record 11. Figure IB is a large-scale schematic illustration of a portion of the track 10 shown in Figure 1A, and illustrates that each record 11 comprises a portion of program 20 having a length, which is, in principle, unlimited (of course within the limits of the possibilities of the CD). Figure 1C illustrates on a large scale a portion of the portion of the program 20 shown in Figure IB and illustrates that the program portion 20 is subdivided into blocks of successive programs 30. Each program block 30 comprises 32 bytes of 8 bits related to the information registers real, and an extra 8-bit byte 40, which is known as a subcode byte. Of the 32 bytes of 8 bits, 24 bytes contain the actual registered information and can therefore be called information bytes, while the 8 bytes are added as an error correction code and therefore, they can be called correction bytes. . The subcode byte 40 is used to record additional information, as will be explained hereinafter. Figure ID schematically shows the subcode byte 40 incorporated in each program block 30 shown in Figure 1C. The 8 bits of a subcode byte 40 are successively denoted by the letters P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, as shown in Figure ID. 98 consecutive subcode bytes 40a to 4098, which correspond to 98 blocks of consecutive programs 30, together constitute a subcode block 50, which defines a complete information cycle of the subcode. Figure 2 illustrates schematically how the information read from a CD 1 is processed on a CD reading device 100. A read member 101 applies a signal 102 to a signal selection member 103, which signal represents the program blocks 30. The CD reading apparatus 100 has a first signal processing channel 110 for the "normal" processing of the actual recorded information, such as music reproduction.The signal selection member 103 applies the 32 bytes of information of the program blocks 30 to this first signal processing channel 110. The CD reading device 100 has a second signal processing channel 120, which is known as a P channel for processing the information represented by the P-bits of the subcode bytes 40. The CD reading device 100 has a third signal processing channel 130, which is known as the Q channel for processing the information represented by the Q bi ts of the subcode bytes 40. The CD reading device 100 has a fourth signal processing channel 140, which is known as the R-W channel for processing the information represented by the R-W bits in combination.

For this purpose, the signal selection member 103 directs the P-bits of the program blocks 30 to the P channel 120, the Q-bits of the program blocks 30 to the Q channel 130 and the other bits of the subcode bytes 40 to channel RW 140.. The 98 consecutive P-bits Px to P98 of the subcode block 50 define a block P. The 98 consecutive Q-bits Qi to Q9S of a subcode block 50 define a block Q. The 588 bits Ri to W98 of the subcode block 50 define an RW block. Hereby it was established by way of example, that the blocks P comprise information that marks the regions on a CD between the tracks, the region of the disc's input cycle, the disk's unloading region and the like. For example, a content index of a disc can be stored by means of the Q blocks in the region of the disc's input cycle, while the Q blocks associated with a record can comprise the track number and the playing time. It is intended that the R-W channel be for text and graphics. Figure 3 schematically illustrates the contents of a block Q generally denoted by the reference numeral 60, as defined by the 98 consecutive Q-bits Qi to Q98 of a subcode block 50. Each block Q 60 comprises 9 block portions. 61 to 69. The first block portion 61 comprises 2 synchronization bits. The second portion of block 62 comprises 4 control bits that indicate whether the recorded information is audio information or data information. The third portion of block 63 comprises 4 bits so as to indicate the manner in which the relevant Q block 60 was used. In mode 3, the other block portions have the following meaning. The seventh block portion 67 comprises 4 bits, which are equal to zero. The eighth block portion 68 comprises 8 bits representing the value of the absolute time block. The ninth block portion 69 comprises 16 bits for an error correction code (CRC). The fourth block portion 64 and the sixth block portion 66, 'comprise 30 bits and 28 bits, respectively, which have a meaning which is defined by the content of the fifth block portion 65, which comprises two bits. If the content of the fifth block portion 65 is equal to 00, the 58 bits of the fourth block portion 64 and the sixth block portion 66 represent the International Standard Registration Code (ISRC), which is a unique code for every piece of music If the content of the fifth block portion 65 is equal to 01, the 58 bits of the fourth block portion 64 and the sixth block portion 66 represent a code, which has not yet been defined, but is reserved for future use , and therefore, it is known as TBD code (To Be Defined). The value of 10 is not used for the fifth block portion 65. If the content of the fifth block portion 65 equals 11, the 58 bits of the fourth block portion 64 and the sixth block portion 66 represent the code RID The known RID code is integrated as follows. The first 18 bits define three alphanumeric characters, which are coded according to a 6-bit code and jointly define the code of a manufacturer that represents the name of the manufacturer of the recording device with which the relevant record has been written. The next 20 bits define two alphanumeric characters, which are also coded according to the 6-bit code, and two figures, which are coded according to a 4-bit BCD code, and jointly define a type code that represents the type of recording device with which the relevant record has been written. The last 20 bits together define a binary number, with the first MSB, without a sign, number which is a specimen code, which corresponds in a unique form to the recording apparatus itself. It should be noted that the Q block format used in practice, which is the format of the ISRC code used in practice, and the RID format used in practice satisfies a standard, in which one out of every 100 ± 5 consecutive Q blocks is formatted according to mode 3. The consecutive mode 3 Q blocks comprise the following codes in a cyclic sequence : ISRC, ISRC, RID, ISRC, ISRC, TBD, etc. This means that only one RID code was recorded once for six blocks Q of mode 3, that is, only one for 600 Q blocks, or only one for 58.800 program blocks 30. Since each block of information in the audio comprises 6 blocks. audio samples, while the audio is sampled at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz, this means that a RID code is recorded only once for 8 seconds of audio time. This is acceptable because audio records will hardly last more than 8 seconds, while illegal copies of such short audio clips on a commercial scale are unlikely to be made. However, in the case of data recording, this means that a RID code is only registered once for 58.800 blocks of 24 bytes of recorded data, that is, once for more than 1.4 Mbytes. Since there is a need for the facility to record data in small portions, the known method for registering the RID code is not suitable for data recording. As illustrated in Figure IB, the program portion 20 of a record 11 is preceded in the data record by four input cycle blocks 21, 22, 23 and 24, and the program portion 20 of a record 11. it is followed by two discharge blocks 25 and 26. Each block has a length of 2 kbytes. The four blocks of the input cycle 21, 22, 23 and 24 are preceded by an initial link block 28 and the two download blocks 25 and 26 are followed by a final link block 29. The initial link block 28 of a register 11 is partially superimposed with the final link block 29 of the preceding register 11. In principle, the program portion 20 itself has an arbitrary length but, in practice, it is divided into blocks 27, each of which comprises 2 net bytes of current data. More particularly, each block 27 comprises 98 blocks 30, that is, 98 * 24 = 2352 bytes of recorded information comprising synchronization, addressing and error correction bits at a high level. The four blocks of the input cycle 21, 22, 23 and 24, and the two discharge blocks 25 and 26 serve two important purposes. First, they can make possible an error correction of the first and last data blocks of the program portion 20. In fact, the error correction algorithm used extends across a plurality of consecutive blocks. To ensure that the last data block 27 of the program portion 20 can be read perfectly, the two download blocks 25 and 26 are involved in the error correction algorithm. The final link block 29, which is partially overwritten by an initial link block 28 of a subsequent register 11, is incomplete and not correctable, and the last download block 26 will be only partially useful for registration purposes, due to that the final link block 29 is largely unreadable. The first download block 25 can possibly be read correctly, but this is not entirely true. To ensure that the first data block 27 of the program portion 20 can be read perfectly, the last two download blocks 23 and 24 are involved in the error correction algorithm. The most important reason why the number of input cycle blocks is greater than the number of download blocks, is the fact that the reading device reading the register 11 must be adapted to the precise form at which the record 11 has been registered. For example, it is necessary to synchronize the clock of the reading device with the written information. Before the playback has been reliably "captured", a certain period of time elapses, and in this period of time, the relevant blocks (21, 22) are not useful for correcting errors; the largest number of blocks in the input cycle now serves to compensate for this effect. The last two blocks of the entry cycle 23 and 24 are perfectly readable with great certainty.

For such functions, that is, correction and error capture, it is important that the blocks of the input cycle 21-24, and the download blocks 25-26, are valid blocks, but the content of the information written in those blocks is not it's crucial. With respect to the functions, these blocks can be considered as auxiliary blocks with false information. The present invention proposes to use the storage space represented by such blocks, recording "useful" information therein, for example, the RID code mentioned above, which identifies the relevant registration apparatus In principle, it is possible to record mutually different information in the six blocks of the input and discharge cycle, but since the distance to the program portion 20 is larger, the probability of a failed reading is smaller, the most useful being the last block of the input cycle 24 and (perhaps in a slightly smaller degree) the first discharge block 25. However, for simplicity, it is preferable to write the same information in all six blocks in the cycle of entry and discharge.The invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the record in the last block of the input cycle 24. As has been explained here above, the RID code so far described in the Q channel has a lon 12 characters and a total number of 58 bits recorded with a mutual interspace in the program portion 20 of the register 11. The same conventional RID code can be registered in the last block of the input cycle 24 within the scope of the present invention . An important advantage of the invention is that the last block of the input cycle 24 has no location restriction to record any information, and that the 58 bits of the standard RID code can thus be placed closer to what is done in the conventional recording method. It is preferred that some of those 58 bits, or even all of those 58 bits, be registered one after the other, that is, contiguously, in the last block of the input cycle 24. It will be evident that the storage space in a block having a length of 2 kbytes is widely enough to store such a RID code. Then there is still enough free space to store the RID code several times, if desired, and / or to store other useful information. Within the scope of the present invention, it is still possible that the information recorded with reference to the relevant registration apparatus is more extensive than the conventional RID code. In a particular embodiment, the present invention proposes the following coding. A code indicating that a valid RID code has been registered in the block is recorded in the first five bytes (bytes 0 to 4) of the block. This code may consist of the characters * RID01. "At least provisionally, the next three bytes are not used and have the content 00 H. Three alphanumeric characters are registered that correspond to the aforementioned manufacturer code in the three subsequent bytes (8-10). At least provisionally, the following five bytes are not used and have the content 00 H. Two alphanumeric characters and two figures correspond to the code of the type mentioned above in the subsequent four bytes (16-19). the next four bytes are not used and have the content 00 H. The aforementioned specimen code is recorded in the form of a 20-bit number in the three subsequent bytes (24-26) The first four bits 24 are equal to 0. The fifth bit of byte 24 is the MSB of the 20-bit number, while the last bit of byte 26 is the LSB of the 20-bit number. On average, the next five bytes are not used and have the content 0OH. If desired, bytes 32-63 comprise, in alphanumeric characters, the full name of the manufacturer of the recording apparatus with which the relevant record has been written. If this facility is not used, those bytes have the content 00H. If desired, bytes 64-79 comprise, in alphanumeric characters, supplementary data about the type of recording apparatus with which the relevant record has been written. If this facility is not used, those bytes have the content 00H. If desired, bytes 80-95 comprise, in alphanumeric characters, supplementary data about the specimen of the recording apparatus with which the relevant record has been written. If this facility is not used, those bytes have the content 00H. 96-255 bytes are not used, at least not to be time, and have the content 00H. The bytes 256-1023 are freely usable and the meaning of the information stored there can be freely defined by the manufacturer of the recording device. In this case, the recording apparatus can store particularly, for example, information related to the writing parameters set during the writing process. In a subsequent write operation, the same writing apparatus could read this information and set the same write parameters again without requiring a complicated new test procedure to set the optimal writing parameters. The 1024-2047 bytes are not used, at least they are not for time, and they have the content 00H. Figure 4 schematically shows a writing apparatus 200 for performing the registration method described hereinabove. The writing apparatus 200 comprises a writing member 201 for carrying out a physical change representing the information to be recorded on the CD 1. This writing member 201 can be a standard writing member comprising, for example, a laser and it will not be described in more detail here. A control member 203 generates control signals 202 to control the write member 201. The control member 203 is associated with a memory 204, in which the RID code identifying the relevant writing apparatus 200 is stored. control 203 is adapted to generate control signals in a recording session, control signals which represent the information to be recorded from program portion 20 of record 11. Prior to control signals representing program portion 20 , the control member 203 also generates control signals that define the input cycle blocks 21, 22, 23, 24, drive signals which incorporate the RID code stored in the memory 204. After the control signals that represent the portion of the program 20, the control member 203 also generates the control signals defining the discharge blocks 25, 26, control signals the which incorporate the RID code stored in the memory 204. Since the blocks of the input and download cycle are associated with each individual record 11, regardless of the length of the portion of the program 20, this ensures that the information identifying the The record used is recorded with uncertainty during each registration session, even if the program portion 20 has a short length of only 2 kbytes. It will also be apparent that the method of recording RID information proposed by the present invention is compatible with the currently known method, in the sense that both methods can be used side by side and do not interfere with each other. In practice, this means that the RID code can be written in at least one of the three blocks of the input and / or download cycle according to the protocol proposed by the present invention and that can also be written in the Q channel of according to the current protocol. If the RID code is to be read for control purposes, any of the Q-channel or the blocks of the input and / or download cycle, or both, may optionally be queried, while, according to the present invention, the RID code registered in one of the blocks of the cycle of entry and / or discharge is readable in a greater degree of certainty to a short length of a record 11. On the other hand, the conventional registration of the RID code of the Q channel can be dispensed if the RID code according to the present invention is registered in at least one of the blocks of the input and / or download cycle and preferably in all those blocks. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the protection of the present invention as defined in the claims, is not limited to the modes shown and described with reference to the drawings, but it is possible to change or modify the illustrated modes of the record according to the invention within the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to write the RID code in the Q channel of a block of the input cycle. Furthermore, it is possible that only one block of the input cycle is sufficient and no download blocks are necessary in certain systems, for example DVD, in which a method of correcting different errors is used. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, in such a situation, the RID code can be registered in this single block of the input cycle.

Claims (4)

CHAPTER CLAIMANT Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content is claimed in the following:

1. A method for digitally recording information on a suitable medium, particularly a Compact Disc (CD), a method in which a record is made during a registration session, which comprises a portion of the program with information to be recorded, method in which which, before registering the program portion, a predetermined number of blocks of the input cycle is registered and / or after registering the program portion, a predetermined number of download blocks is registered; and method in which, during the registration session, a RID identification code is registered that identifies the recording apparatus used for the relevant registration session on the medium, characterized in that the RID identification code is recorded in at least one of the input cycle blocks and the download blocks.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification code (RID) is recorded in each block of the input cycle and the download block.

3. A record carrier such as, for example, a CD, provided with at least one record, which is characterized in that it comprises a program portion and a predetermined number of blocks of the input cycle and / or a predetermined number of download blocks , wherein at least one of the blocks of the input cycle and / or download blocks comprises a RID identification code identifying the recording apparatus used for the relevant registration session.

4. A writing apparatus for digitally recording information on a suitable medium, particularly a CD, characterized in that it comprises: a writing member for carrying out a physical change in the medium, representing the information to be recorded; a control member for controlling the writing member by means of control signals; a memory, associated with the control member, in which a RID code is stored that identifies the writing apparatus; the control member is adapted to generate control signals in a recording session, control signals, which represent information to be recorded from a program portion of a record; the control member is also adapted to generate control signals in the registration session and before the control signals representing the program portion, control signals, which define a predetermined number of blocks of the input cycle and / or for generating control signals in the registration session and after the control signals representing the program portion, subsequently generated control signals, which define a predetermined number of download blocks; the control member is also adapted to incorporate the identification code (RID) stored in the memory in the control signals, which define at least one of the blocks of the input cycle and / or download blocks.