HK1103468B - Apparatus for recording and reproducing data on write-once disc - Google Patents

Description

Apparatus for recording and reproducing data on write-once disc

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a write-once disc, and more particularly, to a recording method and apparatus for recording data on a write-once disc to more rapidly access information required for using the write-once disc, and a write-once disc used for the same.

Background

New information can be repeatedly recorded on a rewritable disc on which information has been recorded. However, when new information is recorded on the write-once disc, since the already recorded information cannot be erased nor repeatedly recorded at the position where the information has been recorded, a new position must be allocated to update the already recorded information.

Usually, only the information that has been finally updated is meaningful. Accordingly, in order to read the information that has been finally updated, an update area is allocated to the data area, and the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus detects the information that has been finally updated by searching the update area in which the update information is recorded. When a large amount of information is recorded in the update area, a large amount of time is required to detect desired information.

On a write-once disc on which defect management is performed by a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus, there is an area in which information for managing defects generated while using the write-once disc and indicating a recording state of the write-once disc is recorded. Unlike a rewritable disc, according to the characteristics of a write-once disc, since update information cannot be repeatedly recorded at a location where already recorded information exists when updating of defect management information is required, it is necessary to record the update information at an empty location. Therefore, a relatively large update area is required. The update area is generally allocated to a lead-in area or a lead-out area. However, sometimes, an update area may be allocated to the data area to increase the update count according to a user's specification.

When the required final update information using the write-once disc is recorded in the update area allocated to the data area, and when information indicating the update area is allocated to the data area and information indicating the location of the update area is included in the final update information, the final update information or the location where the final update information is recorded cannot be detected even if the entire update area allocated to the lead-in area or the lead-out area is searched.

Even if the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus detects that the final update information is recorded in the update area allocated to the data area, if the size of the update area is large, it may take a lot of time to search for the final update information recorded in the update area.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical scheme

The present invention provides a write-once disc having access information error-correction-encoded in a predetermined method and repeatedly recorded thereon, the access information allowing a reduction in access time for reading update information required to use the write-once disc.

The present invention also provides a data recording apparatus and method by which an access time for reading update information required to use a write-once disc can be reduced.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Advantageous effects

According to the embodiments of the present invention, an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information required for using a write-once disc can be reduced. In particular, when there are a plurality of update areas for writing update information required to use the write-once disc, the recording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus can quickly and easily determine an update area in which final update information is recorded among the plurality of update areas. Further, when recording the access information, the access information is error correction encoded according to a predetermined error correction format, and the error correction encoded access information is repeatedly recorded in one recording unit block. Therefore, even if a defect due to a scratch is generated on a recording unit block on which access information is repeatedly recorded, the probability of successfully reproducing the access information can be greatly improved.

Drawings

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a detailed structure of a write-once disc having a single recording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having dual recording layers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having a dual recording layer according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user data area and a spare area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a data structure of temporary disc management information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a data structure of a Temporary Disc Management Area (TDMA) divided into a sub Access Information Area (AIA) and a plurality of sub areas;

FIG. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub-AIA according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a sub-AIA according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a data structure of access information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a block diagram of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a write-once disc including: a plurality of update areas recording update information of a predetermined type; at least one main Access Information Area (AIA) recording main Access Information (AI) indicating a final update area in which final update information is recorded among the plurality of update areas; and at least one sub-AIA recording a sub-AI indicating a location of the final update information recorded in the final update area; wherein the main AI is repeatedly recorded in an entire recording block in the at least one main AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a write-once disc including: a plurality of update areas recording update information of a predetermined type; at least one AIA recording an AI indicating a final update area in which final update information is recorded among the plurality of update areas; wherein the AI includes location information of the plurality of update areas, first flag information indicating a final update area, and second flag information indicating a location of final update information recorded in the final update area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a write-once disc including: a plurality of update areas used in a predetermined order, recording update information of a predetermined type; and at least one AIA recording AI including location information of the plurality of update areas in units of recording blocks; wherein a final update area in which final update information is recorded among the plurality of update areas is indicated according to the number of recording blocks in which the AI is recorded; and repeatedly recording the AI throughout the recording block of the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data recording apparatus comprising: a write/read unit writing information on or reading information from the write-once disc; and a controller controlling the write/read unit to record final update information of a predetermined type in one of the plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc, record a main AI indicating a final update area in which the final update information is recorded in at least one main AIA allocated to the write-once disc, and record a sub AI indicating a location of the final update information recorded in the final update area in at least one sub AIA allocated to the write-once disc, wherein the controller controls the write/read unit to repeatedly write the main AI in an entire recording block in the main AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data recording apparatus comprising: a write/read unit writing information on or reading information from the write-once disc; and a controller controlling the write/read unit to record final update information of a predetermined type in one of a plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc, and to record an AI indicating a final update area in which the final update information is recorded in at least one AIA allocated to the write-once disc, wherein the AI includes location information of the plurality of update areas, first flag information indicating the final update area, and second flag information indicating a location of the final update information recorded in the final update area, the controller controlling the write/read unit to repeatedly write the AI in an entire recording block in the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording data on a write-once disc having a plurality of update areas used in a predetermined order and at least one AIA, the apparatus comprising: a write/read unit writing information on or reading information from the write-once disc; and a controller controlling the write/read unit to record final update information of a predetermined type in one of the plurality of update areas, and to record an AI including location information of the plurality of update areas in the AIA in units of recording blocks, and to indicate a final update area in which the final update information is recorded in the plurality of update areas using the number of recording blocks in which the AI is recorded, wherein the controller controls the write/read unit to repeatedly write the AI in the entire recording blocks of the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of recording data on a write-once disc, the method including: recording final update information of a predetermined type in one of a plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc; recording a main AI indicating a final update area in which final update information is recorded, in at least one main AIA allocated to the write-once disc; and recording a sub AI indicating a location of final update information recorded in the final update area in at least one sub AIA allocated to the write-once disc; wherein the main AI is repeatedly recorded in an entire recording block in the at least one main AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of recording data on a write-once disc, the method including: recording final update information of a predetermined type in one of a plurality of update areas allocated to the write-once disc; recording an AI indicating a final update area in which final update information is recorded in at least one AIA allocated to the write-once disc; wherein the AI includes location information of the plurality of update areas, first flag information indicating a final update area, and second flag information indicating a location of final update information recorded in the final update area, and the AI is repeatedly recorded throughout the recording block of the AIA.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of recording data on a write-once disc having a plurality of update areas used in a predetermined order and at least one AIA, the method including: recording a predetermined type of update information in one of the plurality of update areas; and indicating a final update area in which final update information is recorded in the plurality of update areas according to the number of recording blocks in which the AI is recorded, by recording the AI including location information of the plurality of update areas in the AIA in units of recording blocks; in which the AI is repeatedly recorded in the entire recording block of the AIA.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Fig. 1A and 1B are structures of a write-once disc according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a structure of a write-once disc having a single recording layer, and fig. 1B is a structure of a write-once disc having dual recording layers.

The write-once disc having a single recording layer in fig. 1A includes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area arranged from an inner circumference to an outer circumference.

Each of the first recording layer L0 and the second recording layer L1 of the write-once disc having a double recording layer in fig. 1B includes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area arranged from an inner circumference to an outer circumference.

Fig. 2 is a detailed structure of a write-once disc having a single recording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 2, the lead-in area includes a first disc management area (DMA1), a second disc management area (DMA2), a first temporary disc management area (TDMA1), an Access Information Area (AIA), and a recording condition test area. The lead-out area includes a third disc management area (DMA3) and a fourth disc management area (DMA 4). In addition, the lead-out area may further include at least one of a temporary defect management area, a recording condition test area, and an AIA. That is, at least one of each of the AIA, the DMA, the TDMA, and the recording condition test area may exist in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area.

The AIA is an area where access information indicating a location of update information, such as defect management information, that a recording and/or reproducing apparatus should obtain to use a write-once disc is recorded. The access information and the AIA will be described later.

The data area includes a first spare area, a user data area, a second temporary disc management area (TDMA2), and a second spare area.

The TDMA1 included in the lead-in area is allocated during manufacturing based on the specification of the write-once disc according to the present embodiment. However, the first spare area, the TDMA2, and the second spare area included in the data area are allocated to the data area by the user's selection in the initialization process of the write-once disc.

Fig. 3A and 3B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having a dual recording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3A is a structure of the first recording layer L0, and fig. 3B is a structure of the second recording layer L1. The structure of the first recording layer L0 shown in fig. 3A is the same as that of the write-once disc having a single recording layer shown in fig. 2. The structure of the second recording layer L1 shown in fig. 3B is similar to that of the first recording layer L0. However, in the structure of the second recording layer L1, the AIA is not allocated to the second inner area, and two TDMAs are allocated to the second data area.

The write once disc having dual recording layers includes five TDMAs, i.e., TDMAs 1 through 5. The positions and sizes of the TDMA1 and TDMA2 are known to the recording apparatus and/or reproducing apparatus. However, when disc initialization is performed to use the write-once disc having a dual recording layer, the TDMA3, the TDMA4, and the TDMA5 are allocated to the data area by a user or by a recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Fig. 4A and 4B are detailed structures of a write-once disc having a dual recording layer according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4A is a structure of the first recording layer L0, and fig. 4B is a structure of the second recording layer L1. The TDMA1, the TDMA2, and the TDMA5 are allocated to the write-once disc having a dual recording layer as shown in fig. 4A and 4B. That is, when disc initialization is performed to use the write-once disc having a dual recording layer, only the TDMA5 is allocated to the second data area by a user or by a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, in addition to the known TDMA1 and TDMA 2.

An area, such as a TDMA, allocated to the write-once disc and a process of recording data in the area will now be described.

The TDMA is an area for recording a Temporary Disc Management Structure (TDMS) for managing the write-once disc before the end of the write-once disc. The finalization of the write-once disc is an operation to prevent the write-once disc from being recorded again. The write-once disc is finalized when data cannot be recorded on the write-once disc any more by a user's selection or when data cannot be additionally recorded on the write-once disc.

The TDMS includes a temporary disc defect list (TDFL), a Temporary Disc Definition Structure (TDDS), and a Space Bit Map (SBM). The TDFL includes information indicating an area where a defect is generated and indicating a replacement area. The TDDS for managing the TDFL includes a location pointer indicating a location where the TDFL is recorded, a location pointer indicating a location where the SBM is recorded, information indicating a location and size of a spare area allocated to the data area, and information indicating a location and size of a TDMA allocated to the data area. The SBM displays a data recording state of a write-once disc using a bitmap by allocating different bit values to clusters in which data is recorded in units of clusters, which are units of data recording, and clusters in which data is not recorded.

When a write-once disc is loaded into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a finally updated TDMS, and in particular, a finally updated TDDS, must be quickly read and reproduced from the write-once disc in order to use the write-once disc in the apparatus.

Generally, when a write-once disc is loaded into a recording apparatus and/or a reproducing apparatus, the recording apparatus and/or the reproducing apparatus determines how to manage the write-once disc and how to record or reproduce data by reading information from a lead-in area and/or a lead-out area. If the amount of information in the lead-in area and/or the lead-out area is large, more time is spent for preparation for recording or reproduction after the write-once disc is loaded. Accordingly, the concept of the TDMS is used, and the TDMS generated when data is recorded on or reproduced from the write-once disc is recorded in the TDMA, which is separated from the defect management area and allocated to the lead-in area and/or the lead-out area.

The TDMS recorded in the TDMA, i.e., the TDFL and the TDDS, is finally recorded in the DMA since it is possible to quickly use information access of the write-once disc by allowing the recording and/or reproducing apparatus to read only meaningful information from the defect management area by storing only the last meaningful information of the TDFL and the TDDS, which are updated and recorded several times, in the DMA when the write-once disc ends.

Fig. 5A and 5B illustrate a process of recording data in a user data area and a spare area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5A shows a user data area and fig. 5B shows a spare area. The method of recording user data in the user data area includes a continuous recording mode and a random recording mode. The user data is continuously and sequentially recorded in a continuous recording mode, and the user data is randomly recorded in a random recording mode. Regions (r) to (c) indicate units in which verification after recording is performed.

The recording apparatus writes user data to the area (r) and verifies whether the user data is normally written to the area (r) or a defect is generated in the area (r). If a portion where a defect is generated is found, the portion is designated as a defective area, i.e., defect # 1. In addition, the recording apparatus rewrites the user data written in defect #1 in the spare area. The user data that has been written in defect #1 is rewritten in a portion of the spare area called replacement # 1. The recording apparatus writes the user data in the area (c) and verifies whether the user data is normally written in the area (c) or a defect is generated in the area (c). If a portion where a defect is generated is found, the portion is designated as a defective area, i.e., defect # 2. Likewise, replacement #2 corresponding to defect #2 is generated. In addition, in the area (c), defect #3 and replacement #3 are generated. Since no portion where a defect is generated is found in the area (r), no defective area exists in the area.

If it is predicted that the recording operation #1 ends after the user data is written and verified, i.e., if the user presses the eject button, or if the recording of the user data allocated to the recording operation is completed, the recording apparatus writes information about defect #1, defect #2, and defect #3, which are defective areas generated in the areas (r) to (r), in the TDMA as TDFL # 1. In addition, a management structure for managing the TDFL #1 is written in the TDMA as TDDS # 1. The recording operation is a unit of work determined according to the purpose of the user or a desired recording work. In the present embodiment, the recording operation indicates a period of time from when the write-once disc is loaded and a recording work of predetermined information is performed to when the write-once disc is unloaded from the recording apparatus.

When the write-once disc is loaded again, the recording operation #2 is started, the recording conditions in the recording condition test area are tested, and the user data is written based on the test result. That is, in the recording operation #2, user data is written in the areas (c) to (c) in the same manner as in the recording operation #1, and defect #4, defect #5, replacement #4, and replacement #5 are generated. When the recording operation #2 ends, the recording apparatus writes information relating to defect #4 and defect #5 in the TDMA as TDFL # 2. In addition, a management structure for managing the TDFL #2 is written in the TDMA as TDDS # 2.

As shown in fig. 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, when a plurality of TDMAs and spare areas are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDMAs and the spare areas are used in a predetermined order. For example, when a data writing path used in the write-once disc having dual recording layers as shown in fig. 3A and 3B is an inverse track path, i.e., a path in which data is recorded from a first inner area of the first recording layer L0 to a first outer area of the first recording layer L0, and from a second inner area of the second recording layer L1 to a second outer area of the second recording layer L1, data in the spare area is recorded from the first spare area of the first recording layer L0. When the first spare area is full, the second spare area, the third spare area, and the fourth spare area are used in this order.

Also, the TDMS is recorded from the TDMA1 of the first recording layer L0. When the TDMA1 is full, the updated TDMS is recorded in the TDMA2 allocated to the second inner area of the second recording layer L1. When the TDMA2 is full, a new updated TDMS is recorded in the TDMA3 allocated to the first data area of the first recording layer L0. In the present embodiment, the TDMAs 1 and 2 allocated to the inner area of the recording layer are necessary for the write-once disc. However, the TDMAs allocated to the data areas may be allocated by the user's selection, or may not be allocated by the user's selection. Accordingly, the TDMS is sequentially recorded from the TDMA allocated to the inner area of the recording layer. When the TDMA allocated to the inner area of the recording layer is full, the TDMA allocated to the data area is used.

When the finally updated TDMS is written to the TDMA allocated to the data area, the write-once disc is unmounted, and the write-once disc is reloaded into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus must obtain the finally updated TDMS to use the write-once disc. However, the TDMS is recorded in the TDMA allocated to the data area, and the recording and/or reproducing apparatus cannot recognize the fact that the TDMS is recorded in the TDMA allocated to the data area until the disc drive accesses the TDDS included in the TDMS. In addition, even if the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes the fact that the finally updated TDMS is recorded in the TDMA allocated to the data area, if the size of the TDMA is large, it may take an excessive time to search for the finally updated TDMS recorded in the TDMA.

To solve this problem, three embodiments are now proposed in the present invention. In these three embodiments, the Access Information (AI) indicates the location where update information, such as the TDMS, and in particular the TDDS, is recorded. In addition, the update information indicates information that the recording and/or reproducing apparatus should recognize to use the write-once disc during an initialization period when the write-once disc is loaded in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. In addition, an area in which update information is recorded is referred to as an update area. In these three embodiments, the update information is TDDS and the update area is TDMA.

I. First embodiment

In the present embodiment, at least one main AIA for recording a main AI is allocated to a lead-in area or an inner area of the write-once disc, and a sub AIA is allocated to a TDMA.

When a write-once disc is loaded, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus first obtains a main AI by accessing the main AIA. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes a TDMA recording a finally updated TDDS from the main AI and then obtains a sub AI by accessing a sub AIA of the TDMA. Since the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize from the sub AI where the finally updated TDDS is recorded in the TDMA, the time required to search for the finally updated TDDS in the TDMA can be reduced.

According to the present embodiment, the AIA allocated to the write-once disc shown in fig. 2, 3A, and 4A is a main AIA. Since it takes longer to obtain the main AI if the size of the main AIA is large or if a plurality of main AIAs are allocated, it is preferable, but not necessary, to limit the size of the main AIA by minimizing the amount of main AI recorded in the main AIA and the main AI update count. In order to minimize the main AI update count, when the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded is changed, the main AI is recorded in one recording unit block of the main AIA.

Fig. 6 is a data structure of a TDDS according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a data structure of a separate main AI is not defined, and the TDDS is used as the main AI. As described above, the TDDS includes location information of the TDMA allocated to the write-once disc. As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, when the TDMAs 1 through 5 are allocated to the write-once disc, the TDDS includes position information of the TDMAs 1 through 5.

In the present embodiment, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded from the number of recording unit blocks in which TDDS is recorded in the main AIA. The case where the TDMAs 1 through 5 are allocated to the write-once disc and are used in the order of TDMA1, TDMA2, TDMA3, TDMA4, and TDMA5 will now be described in detail. If the main AI, i.e., the TDDS is not recorded in the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the first TDMA, i.e., the TDMA 1.

If the TDDS is recorded only in the first block of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the second TDMA, i.e., the TDMA 2. If the TDDS is recorded in the first and second blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the third TDMA, i.e., the TDMA 3. Also, if TDDSs are recorded in the first to third blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that a final TDDS is recorded in the fourth TDMA, i.e., the TDMA 4. If the TDDS is recorded in the first to fourth blocks of the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the fifth TDMA, i.e., the TDMA 5.

As described above, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded from the number of recording unit blocks in which the TDDS is recorded in the main AIA, and reproduces the TDDS finally recorded in the main AIA. Accordingly, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the location information of the TDMA from the TDDS.

According to the present embodiment, the size of the main AIA depends on the number of TDMAs allocated to the write-once disc. That is, if N TDMAs exist in the write-once disc, the main AIA includes at least (N-1) recording unit blocks.

It is preferable, but not necessary, that the TDDS recorded in the main AIA as the main AI is repeatedly recorded in one recording block. If the size of the TDDS is equal to the size of one sector, i.e., 2 kbytes, and if the size of the recording unit block is 64 kbytes, one TDDS can be repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording block. An error correction format for error correction in units of sectors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049. According to the error correction format disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049, if one TDDS is repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording unit block of 64 kbytes size, the probability of successfully reproducing the TDDS can be greatly increased. That is, even if an error due to a scratch occurs on a TDDS, i.e., a recording unit block in which an AI is repeatedly recorded 32 times, if error correction of at least one TDDS of the 32 repeated TDDSs is possible, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can obtain the AI.

The sub AIA and the sub AI will now be described. The sub AIA is allocated starting from the first block of each TDMA, and the size of the sub AIA depends on how many sub-areas the TDMA including the sub AIA is divided into.

Fig. 7 is a data structure of a TDMA divided into a sub AIA and a plurality of sub areas. Like the main AIA, the TDDS is used as a sub-AI, and the recording and/or reproducing apparatus identifies a sub-area in the TDMA where the final TDDS is recorded from the number of recording unit blocks in which the TDDS is recorded in the sub-AIA.

As in the case where the main AI is recorded in the main AIA, the TDDS recorded as the sub AI may be repeatedly recorded in one recording unit block.

As shown in fig. 7, the TDMA is divided into first to M-th sub-TDMAs, and when the sub-areas are sequentially used in a direction from the first to M-th sub-TDMAs, if the TDDS is not recorded in the sub-AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the first sub-TDMA, i.e., the sub-TDMA 1.

If the TDDS is recorded only in the first block of the sub-AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the second sub-TDMA, i.e., the sub-TDMA 2. If the TDDS is recorded in the first and second blocks of the sub-AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the final TDDS is recorded in the third sub-TDMA, i.e., the sub-TDMA 3. According to the present embodiment, the size of the sub AIA allocated to each TDMA depends on the number of sub-areas allocated to each TDMA. That is, if M sub-areas exist in the TDMA, the sub-AIA should include at least (M-1) recording unit blocks.

Fig. 8 illustrates a main AIA and a sub AIA according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the write-once disc according to the present embodiment is a disc in which only the TDMA5 is allocated to the data area when initialization is performed to use the disc. The main AIA includes 4 recording unit blocks. In the present embodiment, the TDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks and is divided into a plurality of cells of 4,000 blocks (except for one cell containing only 3,000 blocks). That is, the TDMA5 includes 9 sub-areas. Therefore, as described above, the sub AIA includes 8 recording unit blocks.

When the write-once disc is initialized, or when the TDMA1 is used, the main AI is not recorded in the main AIA. If the location where the final TDDS is recorded is changed to the TDMA2, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus indicates that the final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA2 by recording the TDDS in the first block of the main AIA.

If the location where the final TDDS is recorded is changed to the TDMA5, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus indicates that the final TDDS is recorded in the first sub-area of the TDMA5 by recording TDDSs in the second, third and fourth blocks of the main AIA.

Fig. 9A and 9B illustrate a sub-AIA according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the write-once disc according to the present embodiment is a disc in which a TDMA3, a TDMA4, and a TDMA5 are allocated to a data area when initialization is performed to use the disc. Therefore, as described above, since 5 TDMAs are allocated, the main AIA includes 4 recording unit blocks. In the present embodiment, each of the TDMA3 and TDMA4 includes 16,000 blocks, and as shown in fig. 8, the TDMA5 includes 35,000 blocks.

Fig. 9A illustrates a data structure of the TDMA3, and fig. 9B illustrates a data structure of the TDMA 4. The TDMA3 includes 4 sub-areas. Accordingly, the sub AIA included in the TDMA3 includes 3 recording unit blocks. Since the TDMA4 is the same as the TDMA3, the sub AIA included in the TDMA4 also includes 3 recording unit blocks.

The TDMA5 is divided into units of 4,000 recording unit blocks (except for one unit containing only 3,000 recording unit blocks) and includes 9 sub-areas. Therefore, as described above, the sub AIA included in the TDMA5 includes 8 recording unit blocks.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can access the location where the final TDDS is recorded more quickly by recording the main AI in the main AIA and recording the sub AI in the sub AIA.

The operation of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for accessing the location of the recording final TDDS from the main AI and the sub AI will now be described in more detail.

According to the first embodiment, when a write-once disc recording a main AI and a sub AI is loaded into a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses the main AIA. If information is not recorded in the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus determines that a final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA1 or that the write once disc is a blank disc, and accesses the TDMA 1. If no data is recorded in the TDMA1, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes that the write-once disc is a blank disc and starts initialization to use the write-once disc. If data is recorded in the TDMA1, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus obtains a final TDDS from the TDMA 1.

If data is recorded in the main AIA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus reproduces the TDDS by accessing a block in which the data is finally recorded. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus recognizes which block is a block in which data is finally recorded, and recognizes a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded. In addition, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the size of the TDMA, in which the final TDDS is recorded, from the reproduced TDDS, and recognize whether the sub-AIA is allocated to the TDMA from the size information. And, if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize the size of the sub AIA. If the sub-AIA is not allocated to the TDMA where the final TDDS is recorded, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus searches for the final TDDS from the TDMA.

However, if the sub AIA is allocated to the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus accesses the sub AIA, identifies a block to which data has been recorded, and identifies a sub-area of the TDMA in which the final TDDS is recorded.

Second embodiment

Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the sub-AIAs are not allocated, but at least one AIA for recording AI is allocated to a lead-in area or an inner area of the write-once disc.

Fig. 10 is a data structure of Access Information (AI) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data structure of the AI shown in fig. 10 is basically the same as that of the TDDS. However, a flag indicating a TDMA in which a final TDDS is recorded is also included in the TDDS.

In this embodiment, the flag includes: first flag information indicating a TDMA where a final TDDS is recorded; and second flag information indicating in which portion of the TDMA indicated by the first flag information the final TDDS is recorded.

The first flag information includes 4 bits, i.e., b4 through b 7. For example, it can be defined as follows: the final TDDS is recorded in the TDMA1 when b4 to b7 are '0000 b', in the TDMA2 when b4 to b7 are '0001 b', in the TDMA3 when b4 to b7 are '0010 b', in the TDMA4 when b4 to b7 are '0100 b', and in the TDMA5 when b4 to b7 are '1000 b'.

The second flag information includes 4 bits, i.e., b0 through b 3. The second flag information in the case where the first flag information indicates the TDMA5 divided into 5 sub-areas will now be exemplified. Can be defined as follows: when b0 through b3 are '0000 b', the final TDDS is recorded in the first sub-area, when b0 through b3 are '0001 b', the final TDDS is recorded in the second sub-area, when b0 through b3 are '0010 b', the final TDDS is recorded in the third sub-area, when b0 through b3 are '0100 b', the final TDDS is recorded in the fourth sub-area, and when b0 through b3 are '1000 b', the final TDDS is recorded in the fifth sub-area.

When the TDDS used as the AI is recorded, it is preferable, but not necessary, that the TDDS is repeatedly recorded in one recording block in order to increase the possibility of successful reproduction of the TDDS.

Third embodiment

This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment described above. However, unlike the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, the sub AI is not recorded in the write-once disc. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sub-AIA is not allocated to the TDMA, and the main AI and the main AIA in the first embodiment are denoted as AI and AIA, respectively.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus loaded with the write-once disc according to the present embodiment records user data in a data area and a TDDS in one of a plurality of TDMAs. If a new updated TDDS cannot be recorded in a TDMA in which a previous TDDS is recorded due to the TDMA being full, the new updated TDDS is recorded in one of the TDMAs based on the order of use. Further, the newly updated TDDS is recorded as AI in one recording block of the AIA.

The reproducing apparatus loaded with the write-once disc according to the present embodiment accesses the AIA and determines a final TDMA in which the final update TDDS is recorded, among the plurality of TDMAs, based on the number of recording blocks in which the AI is recorded. Thereafter, the reproducing apparatus obtains a finally updated AI from the recording block finally recorded in the final TDMA. The reproducing apparatus obtains location information of a final TDMA recording the final update TDDS from the final updated AI. Finally, the reproducing apparatus obtains the finally updated TDDS from the final TDMA. Since the TDDS recorded as an AI in the AIA is recorded in the AIA only in case that the TDMA such as the TDDS recording the update is changed, the TDDS may be different from the TDDS of the final update.

In the above-described embodiment, when recording the TDDS used as the AI, it is preferable, but not necessary, to repeatedly record the TDDS in one recording block. If the size of the TDDS is equal to the size of one sector (2 kbytes), and if the size of the recording unit block is 64 kbytes, one TDDS can be repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording block. An error correction format capable of performing error correction in units of sectors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049. If one TDDS is repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording unit block of 64 kbyte size according to the error correction format disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049, the probability of successful reproduction of the TDDS can be greatly increased.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 11, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a writing/reading unit 1, a controller 2, and a memory 3. The write/read unit 1 writes data on the write-once disc 100 and reads data recorded on the write-once disc 100 under the control of the controller 2. The write-once disc 100 is a write-once disc according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

The controller 2 controls the write/read unit 1 to write a main AI, a sub AI, or an AI according to the present invention on the write-once disc 100.

The controller 2 error-correction-codes the TDDS serving as the main AI, the sub AI, or the AI according to an error-correction format capable of error correction in units of sectors, and controls the write/read unit 1 to repeatedly record the error-correction-coded TDDS in the recording unit block. An error correction format capable of performing error correction in units of sectors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049. If the size of the TDDS is equal to the size of one sector (2 kbytes), and if the size of the recording unit block is 64 kbytes, one TDDS can be repeatedly recorded 32 times in one recording block.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand the operation of the recording and reproducing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus from the description of the first and second embodiments described above.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been described and shown, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (6)

1. A recording apparatus for recording data on a write-once disc, wherein the write-once disc includes a plurality of temporary disc management areas and an access information area including a plurality of unit blocks corresponding to the plurality of temporary disc management areas, the recording apparatus comprising:

a recording unit recording data on the write-once disc; and

a controller that controls the recording unit to:

recording an updated temporary disc management structure including an updated temporary disc definition structure in at least one of a plurality of temporary disc management areas allocated on the write-once disc; and

recording another temporary disc definition structure in at least one unit block of the plurality of unit blocks of the access information area when the updated temporary disc definition structure is recorded on a predetermined temporary disc management area among the plurality of temporary disc management areas;

wherein the access information area indicates a temporary disc management area in which a final-updated temporary disc definition structure is recorded among the plurality of updated areas, the other temporary disc definition structure including address information that allows a recording apparatus to find a location of the temporary disc management area in which the final-updated temporary disc definition structure is recorded;

wherein the temporary disc management structure includes a temporary defect list including a first pointer pointing to a location of a defective area and a second pointer pointing to a location of a replacement area replacing the defective area;

wherein the temporary disc definition structure includes location information of a temporary defect list.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller repeatedly records the temporary disc definition structure in the unit block.

3. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a write-once disc, the write-once disc including a plurality of temporary disc management areas and an access information area including a plurality of unit blocks corresponding to the plurality of temporary disc management areas, the reproducing apparatus comprising:

a reproducing unit reproducing a temporary disc management structure stored in at least one temporary disc management area, the temporary disc management structure including a temporary defect list including a first pointer pointing to a location of a defective area and a second pointer pointing to a location of a replacement area replacing the defective area, and a temporary disc definition structure including location information of the temporary defect list;

a controller which controls the reproducing unit to reproduce another temporary disc definition structure stored in the access information area based on a unit block corresponding to a temporary disc management area storing a finally updated temporary disc definition structure, and determines a temporary disc management area storing the finally updated temporary disc definition structure among a plurality of temporary disc management areas, wherein the access information area includes a plurality of unit blocks;

wherein when a temporary disc management structure is recorded in a temporary disc management area corresponding to a unit block of the access information area, each of a plurality of unit blocks of the access information area is recorded with the other temporary disc definition structure;

wherein the another temporary disc definition structure includes address information allowing the reproducing unit to find a location of a temporary disc management area in which the finally updated temporary disc definition structure is recorded.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller controls the reproducing unit to reproduce a temporary disc definition structure repeatedly recorded in the unit block.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of temporary disk management areas are non-adjacent.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of temporary disc management areas is recorded in a lead-in area of the disc, and at least one of the plurality of temporary disc management areas is recorded in the user data area.