Patent ID: 7889608
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of reproducing information from a recording medium having first and second places on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively, the recording medium including at least first and second signal recording layers accessible from one side, the method comprising the steps of: rotating the recording medium; enabling a head to reproduce the first and second information signals from the first and second places in the recording medium on a time sharing basis to get first and second reproduced signals respectively; temporarily storing the first and second reproduced signals in a buffer memory; outputting the first and second reproduced signals from the buffer memory at first and second transfer rates respectively; transmitting the first and second reproduced signals from the head to the buffer memory on a time sharing basis and at a third transfer rate higher than the first and second transfer rates; and deciding at least one of (1) an information amount of the first reproduced signal continuously transmitted from the head to the buffer memory and (2) an information amount of the second reproduced signal continuously transmitted from the head to the buffer memory on the basis of a given relation among parameters including (a) a time interval taken by the head to move from the first place to the second place as viewed on one of the first and second signal recording layers, (b) a time interval taken by the head to move from the second place to the first place as viewed on one of the first and second signal recording layers, (c) a time interval taken by the head to move its focus from the first signal recording layer to the second signal recording layer, (d) a time interval taken by the head to move its focus from the second signal recording layer to the first signal recording layer, (e) the first transfer rate, (f) the second transfer rate, and (g) the third transfer rate.