JP2005129116A - Write-once information recording medium, information recording method and information reproducing method, information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform retrieval by preventing the problem, wherein it takes time to acquire the newest recording management information arranged in a recorded region adjacent to a boundary between the recorded region and an unrecorded one since it takes time to find the boundary when the size of a recording management region becomes large. <P>SOLUTION: According to the size of the recording management region, the number of block jumps is changed in a first amplitude inspection in the recorded and unrecorded regions. The size of transmission changes according to the size of the recording management region, thus efficiently performing retrieval even if the size of the region is large. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a write-once information recording medium, an information recording method and an information reproducing method, an information recording apparatus, and an information reproducing apparatus.

  Optical discs that are information recording media are classified into several types according to recording characteristics.

  There is a write-once disc as a disc that can be recorded only once. Write-once discs have become very popular in recent years because they are generally highly compatible with read-only discs and are relatively inexpensive. Representative examples of the write-once disc include DVD-R and CD-R. Below, DVD-R is demonstrated to an example (refer nonpatent literature 1).

  FIG. 1 is an area configuration diagram of a general write-once optical disc. A disk-shaped write-once optical disc 1 has a large number of tracks 2 formed in a spiral shape, and each track 2 has a large number of finely divided blocks 3 formed therein. The block 3 is a unit for error correction, and is the minimum unit for performing recording and reproduction operations. For example, in the case of a DVD-R or DVD-RAM using a red laser as a laser, it is 1 ECC (32 KByte) size, and in a large-capacity BD-WO or BD-RE that uses a blue laser as a laser, one cluster (64 KByte) size. It is.

  FIG. 24 shows the data structure of a DVD-R disc.

  A DVD-R disc that is a write-once optical disc 1 is composed of a recording information area 4 and an information area 5.

  The recording information area 4 is composed of a recording management area (RMA: Recording Management Area). The RMA 6 is a fixed size area for managing a recording state of the data area 8 described later.

  The information area 5 is roughly divided into a lead-in area 7, a data area 8, and a lead-out area 9. Recording / reproduction of user data is performed on the data area 8. The lead-in area 7 and the lead-out area 9 serve as a margin so that the optical head (not shown) can follow the track even if the optical head overruns when accessing the end of the data area 5. This is a control information area in which parameters necessary for accessing the data area 8 are stored.

  The data area 8 is divided into one or more recording areas called R zones 10, and information indicating the recording state of each R zone 10 is recorded in the RMA 6.

  The RMA 6 is composed of a plurality of recording management work areas (TRMA: Temporary Recording Management Area) 11.

  The TRMA 11 includes recording management information (RMD: Recording Management Data) 21 that is information indicating the recording state of the R zone and a disc definition structure (DDS: Disc Definition Structure) 20. Generally, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are updated when a new R zone 10 is generated or when a disc is ejected from the recording apparatus.

  The RMD 21 is variable size information, and the DDS 20 is fixed size information. That is, the TRMA 11 is a variable size area.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a state in which TRMA 11 is added to RMA 6.

  In the figure, the black-painted TRMA is an area where RMD and DDS recording is performed, and the white-painted TRMA indicates an unrecorded area where recording has not yet been performed.

  FIG. 25A shows the case where the first RMD 21 and DDS 20 are recorded in the recording management area 6, FIG. 25B shows the case where the second RMD 21 and DDS 20 are recorded in the recording management area 6, and FIG. This is an example when the third RMD 21 and DDS 20 are recorded in the recording management area 6.

  As shown in this figure, when new recording management information is recorded, it is recorded in the TRMA located at the head of the unrecorded area in order from the TRMA 11 # 1 arranged at the head of the recording management area 6. Therefore, the latest RMD 21 and DDS 20 in the recording management area 6 are arranged in the recorded TRMA adjacent to the recorded end.

  FIG. 26 shows the data structure of the RMD 21. As shown in FIG.

  The RMD 21 includes a management information header and zero or more R zone entries.

  The management information header includes information such as the number of R zone entries included in the RMD.

  The R zone entry includes an R zone start position 37 that is a start position in the target R zone 10 and an R zone final recording position 38 that is final recording position information in the R zone 10.

  If there are M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1) R zones 10 in the data area 8 as shown in FIG. 24, the number of R zone entries in the management information header is M, and M R zone entries are arranged. Is done. When the corresponding R zone is in an unrecorded state, 0 is stored as the R zone final recording position 38.

  However, the latest RMD 21 is not recorded in the RMA 6 every time the recording end position in the R zone 10 is updated. If the recording apparatus is turned off at an unexpected timing, the read RMD 21 There may be a case where the R zone final recording position 38 in the R zone entry of the target R zone 10 and the true final recorded position do not match. Therefore, a method is used in which the true final recorded position is obtained by searching for the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area.

  FIG. 27 is a block diagram of an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 200 for a conventional write-once optical disc.

  The optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is connected to a host controller (not shown) via an I / O bus 170. The host control device is typically a host computer.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a command processing unit 110 that processes a command from the host controller, a recording control unit 120 that performs control during recording on the optical disc 1, and a reproduction control that performs control during reproduction from the optical disc 1. , A recording management information storage buffer 140 for storing the contents of the RMD 21 and DDS 20 reproduced from the recording management work area 11, a data buffer 150 for temporarily storing recording and reproduction data, and processing related to the RMD 21 and DDS 20 A recording management information processing unit 160 is functionally provided.

  The record management information processing unit 160 searches the record management work area 11 recorded last in the record management area 6, and then reads the contents into the record management information storage buffer 140. Operation control of the recording management information update unit 164 and the recording management information processing unit 160, which update the contents of the recording management information storage buffer 140 and newly create the RMD 21 and DDS 20 when the last recording position information in the zone 10 changes. It includes a recording management information control memory 163 that stores the status, and a recording management work information writing unit 162 that writes information updated by the recording management information updating unit 164 to the available recording management work area 11.

  In general, the unrecorded area is determined based on whether or not the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value, and if it exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined that the recorded area is a recorded area and does not exceed the predetermined value. In this case, it is determined that the area is an unrecorded area.

  FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a recorded end position search process in the recording management area 6 of the write-once optical disc in the conventional example, and FIG. 28 is a flowchart of the process.

  In the following, “there is amplitude” is used in the same meaning as when the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value, and “no amplitude” means that the amplitude of the reproduction signal does not exceed the predetermined value.

  First, the recording management information reading unit 161 performs a test as a first amplitude test until the amplitude of the reproduction signal disappears every predetermined block from the top of the recording management area 6 (step 2801). Here, the amplitude inspection of the reproduction signal is always performed at regular intervals regardless of the type and state of the disk.

  Next, as a second amplitude test, a position where the amplitude disappears between the position where the amplitude is present and the position where the amplitude is absent is examined (step 2802).

Then, the position of the recorded management area 6 at the recorded end obtained by the inspection is acquired as the recorded end position (step 2803).
“80 mm (1,23 Gbytes per side) and 120 mm (3,95 Gbytes per side) DVD-Recordable Disk (DVD-R)”, Standard ECMA-279, December 1998

  However, when the capacity of the recording medium itself is further increased, the size of the recording management work area is increased accordingly, so that the size of the recording management area is also increased. In this case, the conventional search method of searching the latest disc definition structure / record management information by searching the unrecorded area in order from the beginning of the record management area searches as the size of the record management area increases. Since time also increases, there is a problem that efficiency is poor.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a write-once optical disc that can efficiently search for the latest disc definition structure and recording management information in a short time even when the size of the recording management area becomes large, and a search method therefor. .

  In order to solve this problem, a search method according to claim 1 of the present invention is a search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium includes: Recording / reproduction is performed in block units, which are recording / reproduction units, and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area are allocated. A record management area that is variable-size area, and the search method includes: (a) calculating the number of jump blocks based on the size of the record management area ( b) As a first amplitude inspection, a step of performing an inspection from the beginning of the recording management area to a position where the amplitude of the reproduction signal disappears every other block obtained in step (a). As (c) the second amplitude examination, is characterized in that it comprises a step of inspecting the amplitude is eliminated position between a position where there is the amplitude of the amplitude was not located.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 1 of the present invention, the search method of claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the step (a) is proportional to the size of the recording management area. This is a step of calculating the number of jump blocks.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 1 or claim 2 of the present invention, the search method of claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the record management work area is a record indicating the size of the record management area. A DDS including management area size information, wherein the DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the recording management work area, and the step (a) includes (a1) obtaining the recording management area size from the DDS (a2 And a step of calculating the number of jump blocks based on the recording management area size acquired in step (a1).

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium, and the write-once information recording medium Includes at least one user data area for recording user data and recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area. The recording management area is a variable-size area, and the information reproducing apparatus calculates (a) the number of jump blocks based on the size of the recording management area. Means (b) for performing a first amplitude test, the test is performed from the beginning of the recording management area to a position where the amplitude of the reproduction signal disappears every other block obtained by the means (a). As (c) the second amplitude examination, is characterized in that it comprises means for checking the amplitude is eliminated position between a position where there is the amplitude of the amplitude was not located.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 4 of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus of claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that the means (a) is proportional to the size of the recording management area. It is a means for calculating the number of jump blocks.

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 4 or claim 5 of the present invention, the record management work area is a record indicating the size of the record management area. A DDS including management area size information, wherein the DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the recording management work area, and the means (a) includes: (a1) means for acquiring the recording management area size from the DDS (a2) And a means for calculating the number of jump blocks based on the recording management area size acquired by the means (a1).

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to claim 7 of the present invention is a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in a block unit that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A user data area for recording user data, a record management area for assigning at least one record management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area, and recording in the record management area And a use progress management area including use degree information representing the degree of progress.

  In order to solve this problem, in the write-once information recording medium according to claim 8 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 7 of the present invention, the use progress management area includes the use progress information as the use degree information. The recorded area exists so that the ratio of the recorded area in the management area can be correlated with the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area.

  In order to solve this problem, the write-once information recording medium according to claim 9 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the feature of claim 7 of the present invention, the usage degree information is a ratio of a recorded area of the recording management area. This is characterized in that it is recorded area ratio information.

  In order to solve this problem, in the write-once information recording medium according to claim 10 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 7 of the present invention, the usage degree information is information related to the final recording position of the recording management area. It is characterized by being.

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes the recording management work area in addition to the features of the seventh aspect, the eighth aspect, the ninth aspect, or the tenth aspect of the present invention. Are allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the recording management area, and are composed of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and a DDS including recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information The recording management work area is arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management work area.

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes the recording management work area in addition to the features of the seventh aspect, the eighth aspect, the ninth aspect, or the tenth aspect of the present invention. Are allocated in order from the end to the top of the recording management area, and are composed of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and a DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information The DDS and the record management information are arranged in this order from the top of the record management work area.

  In order to solve this problem, a search method according to claim 13 of the present invention is a search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium, and the write-once information recording medium includes: Recording / reproduction is performed in block units, which are recording / reproduction units, and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area are allocated. A record management area that can be used, and a use progress management area that includes use degree information indicating the degree of recording progress of the record management area, and the search method includes: (a) from the use progress management area, the use degree information; (B) calculating a search start position in the record management area based on the usage degree information acquired in step (a). The basis of the search start position calculated in c) step (b), the further comprising a step of performing boundary search for a recorded area and an unrecorded area.

  In order to solve this problem, the search method according to claim 14 of the present invention includes, in addition to the feature of claim 13 of the present invention, the use progress management area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. There is a recorded area so that the ratio of the recorded area can be correlated with the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area, and the step (a) includes (a1) the number of recorded blocks in the use progress management area. (A2) The method further comprises the step of obtaining the ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area from the number of blocks obtained in the step (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area. ) Indicates the recorded area of the recording management area and the unrecorded area from the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained in step (a2). Calculating a position where the boundary exists approximately, it is characterized by a step of the search start position.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the search method of the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the use progress management area indicates a ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area. Including the recorded area ratio information, the step (a) is a step of (a1) obtaining the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area, and the step (b) A step of approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired in step (a1) and setting it as a search start position. It is a feature.

  In order to solve this problem, in the search method of claim 16 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 13 of the present invention, the use progress management area includes a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the record management area. The step (a) is a step of obtaining the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area.

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing method according to claim 17 of the present invention is an information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A recording management area in which recording / reproduction is performed in units, and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated; And a usage progress management area including usage degree information indicating the degree of recording progress of the recording management area, and the information reproduction method includes: (a) acquiring the usage degree information from the usage progress management area (b) ) Calculating a search start position in the record management area based on the use degree information acquired in the step (a); Step (d) of obtaining a recorded boundary position information by performing a boundary search between a recorded area and an unrecorded area with reference to the search start position calculated in step (b). A step of reading the latest management information on the basis of the position indicated by the boundary position information is provided.

  In order to solve this problem, the information reproduction method according to claim 18 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the feature of claim 17 of the present invention, the use progress management area includes the use progress management area as the use degree information. The recorded area exists so that the ratio of the recorded area in the recording area and the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area can be correlated, and the step (a) includes (a1) a recorded block in the use progress management area. A step of obtaining a number (a2) further comprising a step of obtaining a ratio of a recorded area in the use progress management area from the number of blocks obtained in step (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area; b) indicates the recorded area of the recording management area and the unrecorded area from the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained in step (a2). And approximately calculates the position where the boundaries of the regions are present, are characterized by a step of the search start position.

  In order to solve this problem, the information reproducing method according to claim 19 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the feature of claim 17 of the present invention, the use progress management area indicates a ratio of the recorded area in the record management area. The step (a) is a step of (a1) obtaining the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area, and the step (b) includes: A step of approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired in step (a1), and setting it as a search start position. It is characterized by.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information reproducing method according to claim 20 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 17 of the present invention, the use progress management area includes a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area. It includes boundary position information which is information relating to the boundary of the area, and the step (a) is a step of acquiring the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area.

  In order to solve this problem, the information reproduction method according to claim 21 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20 of the present invention, It is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the recording management area, and is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area, and a DDS including recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, Arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the beginning of the recording management work area, the step (d) is (d1) the recorded boundary position information acquired by the step (c). A step of reading out the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the end position information (d2) from the DDS read out in the step (d1) Is characterized by further comprising a step of reading the latest of the recording management information from the position indicated by the acquired recording management information position information by acquiring records management information location information (d3) said step (d2).

  In order to solve this problem, the information reproducing method according to claim 22 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20 of the present invention, It is allocated in order from the end to the beginning of the recording management area, and is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area, and a DDS including recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, Arranged in the order of the DDS and the recording management information from the head of the recording management work area, the step (d) is (d1) the recorded boundary position information acquired in the step (c). A step of reading the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the head position information (d2) The previous DDS read in the step (d1) Is characterized by further comprising a step of reading the latest of the recording management information from the position indicated by the acquired recording management information position information by acquiring records management information location information (d3) said step (d2).

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus that reads information from a write-once information recording medium, and the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A recording management area in which recording / reproduction is performed in units, and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated; And a usage progress management area including usage degree information indicating the degree of recording progress in the recording management area, wherein the information reproducing apparatus is (a) means for acquiring the usage degree information from the usage progress management area (b) ) Means for calculating a search start position in the record management area based on the use degree information acquired by the means (a); (c) calculated by the means (b) Means for performing a boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area with reference to the search start position, and acquiring recorded boundary position information; (d) a position indicated by the recorded boundary position information acquired by the means (c); And a means for reading out the latest management information based on the above.

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the usage progress management area includes the usage progress management area as the usage degree information. The recorded area exists so as to be correlated with the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area and the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area. The means (a) includes (a1) a recorded block in the usage progress management area. Means for obtaining the number (a2) further comprising means for obtaining a ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area from the number of blocks obtained in the means (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area; b) is a position where the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained by the means (a2). Is characterized by an approximately calculated, a means for the search start position.

  In order to solve this problem, the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 23 of the present invention, is characterized in that the use progress management area indicates a ratio of the recorded area in the record management area. The means (a) includes (a1) means for obtaining the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area, and the means (b) includes: A means for approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired by the means (a1) and setting it as a search start position; It is characterized by.

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the use progress management area includes a recorded area and an unrecorded area It includes boundary position information, which is information relating to the boundary of the area, and the means (a) is a means for acquiring the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area.

  In order to solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of the twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, It is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the recording management area, and is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area, and a DDS including recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, Arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management work area, the means (d) is (d1) the recorded boundary position information acquired by the means (c). Means (d2) for reading the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the end position information (d2) The recording management information position from the DDS read by the means (d1) Is characterized by further comprising means for reading the latest of the recording management information from the position indicated by the acquired recording management information position information by means for obtaining information (d3) said means (d2).

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of Claim 23, Claim 24, Claim 25, or Claim 26 of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus of Claim 28 of the present invention includes the recording management work area described above. It is allocated in order from the end to the beginning of the recording management area, and is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area, and a DDS including recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, Arranged in order of the DDS and the recording management information from the top of the recording management work area, the means (d) is (d1) the recorded boundary position information acquired by the means (c). Means for reading out the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the head position information (d2) The recording management information position from the DDS read out by the means (d1) Is characterized by further comprising means for reading the latest of the recording management information from the position indicated by the acquired recording management information position information by means for obtaining information (d3) said means (d2).

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording method according to claim 29 of the present invention is an information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A recording management area in which recording / reproduction is performed in units, and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated; And a usage progress management area including usage degree information indicating the degree of recording progress of the recording management area, and the information recording method includes: (a) a non-recorded area in the recording management area as a recording management work area (B) selecting the management information in the recording management work area selected in step (a) (c) recording the recording management area A step of calculating the usage level information based on the progress level (d) a step of recording from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the usage progress management area based on the usage level information obtained in the step (c); It is characterized by providing.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 29 of the present invention, in the information recording method of claim 30 of the present invention, the step (c) includes: (c1) the recorded area in the record management area; Step (c2) of calculating a ratio The number of blocks to be recorded in the use progress management area is calculated so that the ratio obtained in step (c1) and the ratio of the recorded area in the use management progress management area can be correlated. The step (d) is a step of recording as many times as the number of blocks obtained in the step (c2) from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. It is a feature.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information recording method of claim 31 of the present invention, in claim 29 of the present invention, the step (c) is (c1) a recorded area which is a ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area. And calculating the ratio information, wherein the step (d) records the recorded area ratio information obtained in the step (c1) from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. It is a step to perform.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information recording method of claim 32 of the present invention, in claim 29 of the present invention, the step (c) relates to (c1) a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area. In the step of calculating boundary position information, the step (d) records the boundary position information obtained in the step (c1) from the beginning of an unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. It is characterized by being a step.

  In order to solve this problem, the information recording method according to claim 33 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 29, claim 30, or claim 31 or claim 32, the step (a) comprises: (A1) a step of selecting a head of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the step (b) includes (b1) the record selected in the step (a). Step (b2) where the position information with reference to the management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. (B2) The record management selected in step (a) The method further comprises a step of recording in a form in which a DDS including the recording management information position information is arranged next to the recording management information from the head side of the work area.

  In order to solve this problem, the information recording method according to claim 34 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 29, claim 30, or claim 31 or claim 32, the step (a) comprises: (A1) a step of selecting a head of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the step (b) includes (b1) the record selected in the step (a1). Step (b2) where the position information with reference to the management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area (b2) The record management information position information Step (b3) for recording to the position indicated by step (b3) Step for determining whether recording was successful in step (b2) (b4) Normal recording in step (b3) If it is determined that there is not, step (b5) to return to step (a1). If it is determined that recording has been normally performed in step (b3), the recording management is performed in the area next to the area recorded immediately before. Step (b6) for recording DDS including information position information Step (b6) Step for determining whether recording was successful in step (b5) (b7) If it was determined that recording was not successful in step (b6) The method further includes a step of returning to the step (b5).

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording method according to claim 35 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 29 or claim 30 or claim 31 or claim 32 of the present invention, the step (a) comprises: (A1) a step of selecting an end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the step (b) includes (b1) the record selected in the step (a1). Step (b2) where the position information with reference to the management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area The record management selected in step (a1) The method further comprises a step of recording in such a manner that the recording management information is arranged next to the DDS including the recording management information position information from the head side of the work area.

  In order to solve this problem, the information recording method of claim 36 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 29 or claim 30 or claim 31 or claim 32 of the present invention, the step (a) comprises: (A1) a step of selecting an end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the step (b) includes (b1) the record selected in the step (a1). Step (b2) where the position information with reference to the management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area (b2) The record management information position information Step (b3) for recording to the position indicated by step (b3) Step for determining whether recording was successful in step (b2) (b4) Normal recording in step (b3) If it is determined that there is not, step (b5) returning to step (a1), if it is determined that recording has been normally performed in step (b3), the recording management is performed in the area before the area recorded immediately before. Step (b6) for recording DDS including information position information Step (b6) Step for determining whether recording was successful in step (b5) (b7) If it was determined that recording was not successful in step (b6) The method further includes a step of returning to the step (b5).

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording apparatus according to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A recording management area in which recording / reproduction is performed in units, and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated; , A usage progress management area including usage degree information indicating the degree of recording progress of the recording management area, and the information recording apparatus (a) records an unrecorded area in the recording management area as a recording management work area. Means for selecting (b) means for recording the management information in the record management work area selected by the means (a), and (c) the degree of recording progress in the record management area Based on the usage degree information obtained by the means (d) and the means (c), the means for calculating the usage degree information is provided with means for recording from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the usage progress management area. It is a feature.

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording apparatus according to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the feature of the thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the means (c) includes (c1) a recorded area in the recording management area. Means for calculating ratio (c2) The number of blocks to be recorded in the use progress management area is calculated so that the ratio obtained in the means (c1) and the ratio of the recorded area in the use management progress management area can be correlated. The means (d) is means for recording the number of blocks obtained by the means (c2) from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the usage degree information. It is a feature.

  In order to solve this problem, in an information recording apparatus according to a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the thirty-seventh aspect, the means (c) includes: (c1) a recorded area in the recording management area; Means for calculating recorded area ratio information, which is a ratio, wherein the means (d) obtains the recording obtained by the means (c1) from the beginning of an unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. It is a means for recording completed area ratio information.

  In order to solve this problem, in an information recording apparatus according to claim 40 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 37 of the present invention, the means (c) includes: (c1) a recorded area in the record management area; Means for calculating boundary position information relating to a boundary of an unrecorded area, wherein the means (d) is obtained by the means (c1) from the head of the unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. It is a means for recording boundary position information.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 of the present invention, the information recording apparatus of claim 41 of the invention includes the means (a): (A1) means for selecting a head of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the means (b) is (b1) the record selected by the means (a). Means (b2) for making the position information with reference to the management work area the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area (b2) The record management selected by the means (a) The apparatus further comprises means for recording in a form in which a DDS including the recording management information position information is arranged next to the recording management information from the head side of the work area.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 of the invention, the information recording apparatus of claim 42 of the invention includes the means (a): (A1) means for selecting the start of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the means (b) is (b1) the record selected by the means (a1). Means (b2) for making the position information on the basis of the management work area the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area; (B3) means for recording at the position indicated by (b3) means for judging whether or not the recording can be normally performed by the means (b2) (b4) when the means (b3) determines that the recording cannot be performed normally ( Means (b5) for returning to 1) means for recording the DDS including the recording management information position information in the area next to the area recorded immediately before when it is judged that the means (b3) has been recorded normally ( b6) Means for judging whether or not the recording was normally performed by the means (b5) (b7) A means for returning to the means (b5) when it is judged that the recording could not be performed normally by the means (b6) It is characterized by providing.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 of the present invention, the information recording apparatus according to claim 43 of the present invention comprises: (A1) means for selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the means (b) is (b1) the record selected by the means (a1). Means (b2) for making the position information with reference to the management work area the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area; and the record management selected by the means (a1) It is further characterized by further comprising means for recording the recording management information in a form in which the recording management information is arranged next to the DDS including the recording management information position information from the head side of the work area.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the features of claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 of the invention, the information recording apparatus of claim 44 of the invention includes the means (a): (A1) means for selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area, wherein the means (b) is (b1) the record selected by the means (a1). Means (b2) for making the position information on the basis of the management work area the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area; (B3) means for recording at the position indicated by (b3) means for judging whether or not the recording can be normally performed by the means (b2) (b4) when the means (b3) determines that the recording cannot be performed normally ( Means (b5) for returning to 1) means for recording the DDS including the recording management information position information in the area before the area recorded immediately before when it is judged that the means (b3) has been normally recorded ( b6) Means for judging whether or not the recording was normally performed by the means (b5) (b7) A means for returning to the means (b5) when it is judged that the recording could not be performed normally by the means (b6) It is characterized by providing.

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to a 45th aspect of the present invention is a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in a block unit that is a unit of recording and reproduction. A user data area for recording user data, and a recording management area composed of at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated. The reference zone includes a reference zone to be arranged at a predetermined position in at least two zones, and the reference zone includes the first record management work area and the (P + 1) th A recording management area, a (Q + 1) th recording management area, an (R + 1) th recording management area,... Are arranged in the second zone. , The Pth record management work area is arranged, and the (P + 2) th record management work area,..., The Qth record is arranged in the third zone. A management work area is arranged, and in the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged, (P, Q, The recording management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above-mentioned relationship that R is an integer of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2).

  In order to solve this problem, in a write-once information recording medium according to a 46th aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the 45th aspect of the present invention, the recording management area includes position information for recording the management information next time. A DDS including a certain next recording management information position is provided.

  In order to solve this problem, in the write-once information recording medium according to claim 47 of the present invention, in addition to the features of claim 45 or claim 46 of the present invention, the DDS further includes the recording management in the recording management area. It includes update counter information indicating the number of update times of information, and is characterized in that (P-2), (Q- (P + 2)), and (R- (Q + 2)) are equal.

  In order to solve this problem, the write-once information recording medium of claim 48 of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the features of claim 45 or 46 of the present invention, each of the zones has a fixed size. .

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to a 49th aspect of the present invention includes the recording management work area in addition to the features of the 45th, 46th, 47th or 48th aspects of the present invention. Are assigned in order from the head to the tail of the zone, and are composed of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and DDS, and the DDS is a recording management information position which is position information of the recording management information Including the information and arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management work area.

  In order to solve this problem, a write-once information recording medium according to a 50th aspect of the present invention includes the recording management work area in addition to the features of the 45th, 46th, 47th or 48th aspects of the present invention. Is allocated in order from the end to the beginning of the zone, and is composed of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and a DDS, and the DDS is a recording management information position that is position information of the recording management information Including the information and arranged in the order of the DDS and the record management information from the top of the record management work area.

  In order to solve this problem, a search method according to claim 51 of the present invention is a search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium includes: Recording / reproduction is performed in block units, which are recording / reproduction units, and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area are allocated. A recording management area consisting of at least two zones, and in the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided, and the reference zone includes The first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area, Is arranged in the second zone, the second record management work area,..., The Pth record management work area, and the (P + 2) th in the third zone. , The Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area,. The record management work area is arranged, and the zone so as to satisfy the above-mentioned relationship of (P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively) The record management work area is provided with a DDS including the next record management information position information which is the position information of the record management work area where the management information is next recorded, DDS is a predetermined position in the record management work area Arranged, the search method includes: (a) searching for a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of the reference zone, and acquiring the position information (b) of the position information acquired in step (a) (C) reading the DDS with reference to the indicated position, (c) obtaining the next recording management information position information from the DDS read in the step (b), (d) the next obtained in the step (c) (E) calculating the search start position of the search target zone based on the record management information position information of the recorded area in the search target zone based on the search start position calculated in step (d) It is characterized by comprising a step of performing a boundary search of an unrecorded area.

  To solve this problem, an information reproducing method according to claim 52 of the present invention is an information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A reference management zone that is arranged at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, and the reference zone includes the first recording management work area. , (P + 1) th recording management area, (Q + 1) th recording management area, (R + 1) th recording management area, etc. , The Pth record management work area is arranged in the zone, and the (P + 2) th record management work area in the third zone, ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. ,... (Where P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The recording management work area is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area and a DDS, and the DDS is recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information; Next, record the management information. And the next record management information position information which is the position information of the record management work area, the DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area, and the search method includes: (a) A step of retrieving a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area and acquiring the position information; (b) a step of reading out the DDS based on the position indicated by the position information acquired in the step (a); (D) acquiring the next recording management information position information from the DDS read in (b), and (d) based on the next recording management information position information acquired in the step (c). A step (e) of calculating a search start position A boundary search between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated in the step (d) Step (f) for obtaining recorded boundary position information when the search target zone searched in step (e) is in an unrecorded state, the position information obtained in step (a) Step (g) of setting the recorded boundary position information Step (g) Reading the DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded boundary position information obtained in Step (e) or Step (f) (h) Step (g) (I) acquiring the record management information position information from the DDS read in step (i), and reading the latest record management information from the position indicated by the record management information position information acquired in step (h). An information reproduction method characterized by the above.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 52 of the present invention, in the information reproduction method of claim 53 of the present invention, the recording management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the zone. The recording management information is arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the head of the recording management area, and the step (a) is a step of searching for a recorded area end position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information. Yes, the step (e) is a step of searching for a recorded region end position in the search target zone based on the search start position calculated in the step (d) and acquiring recorded boundary position information. It is characterized by that.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 52 of the present invention, in the information reproduction method of claim 54 of the present invention, the recording management work area is allocated in order from the end of the zone to the head. The DDS and the recording management information are arranged in this order from the beginning of the recording management area, and the step (a) is a step of searching for the recorded area starting position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information. Yes, the step (e) is a step of searching for a recorded region start position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated in the step (d) to obtain recorded boundary position information. It is characterized by that.

  To solve this problem, an information reproducing apparatus according to claim 55 of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for reading information from a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A recording management area comprising: one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, wherein the reference management zone includes the first recording management work An (P + 1) th recording management area, a (Q + 1) th recording management area, an (R + 1) th recording management area,. In the second zone, the second record management work area,..., The Pth record management work area are arranged, and in the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area. , ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. (P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The recording management work area is composed of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area and DDS, and the DDS is recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information. Next, the management information is recorded Next recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management work area to be performed, the DDS is arranged at a predetermined position of the recording management work area, and the search device is: (a) Means for retrieving a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area and acquiring the position information; (b) means for reading out the DDS with reference to the position indicated by the position information acquired by the means (a); (D) means for acquiring the next recording management information position information from the DDS read in (b), based on the next recording management information position information acquired by the means (c); Means for calculating a search start position (e) A boundary search between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the search target zone is performed on the basis of the search start position calculated by the means (d), and recorded boundary position information (F) means for obtaining the position information obtained by the means (a) as the recorded boundary position information when the search target zone searched by the means (e) is in an unrecorded state. (G) means for reading out the DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded boundary position information obtained by the means (e) or the means (f); (h) from the DDS read by the means (g); Means for acquiring record management information position information (i) Means further comprising means for reading the latest record management information from the position indicated by the record management information position information acquired by the means (h).

  To solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 55 of the present invention, in the information reproducing apparatus of claim 56 of the present invention, the recording management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the zone. The recording management information is arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management area, and the means (a) is a means for searching the recorded area end position of the reference zone and acquiring the positional information. The means (e) is means for searching for a recorded area end position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated by the means (d) and acquiring recorded boundary position information. It is characterized by that.

  To solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 55 of the present invention, in the information reproducing apparatus of claim 57 of the present invention, the recording management work area is allocated in order from the end of the zone to the head. The DDS and the recording management information are arranged in this order from the beginning of the recording management area, and the means (a) is a means for searching for the recorded area starting position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information. The means (e) is a means for searching for the recorded region start position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated by the means (d), and acquiring recorded boundary position information. It is characterized by that.

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording method according to claim 58 of the present invention is an information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A recording management area comprising: one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, wherein the reference management zone includes the first recording management work Area, (P + 1) th recording management area, (Q + 1) th recording management area, (R + 1) th recording management area, etc. , The Pth record management work area is arranged in the zone, and the (P + 2) th record management work area in the third zone, ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. ,... (Where P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The information recording method is arranged to: (a) calculate a recording target zone for recording the management information; and (b) select an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone. Step (c) In step (b) (D) In the step (b), the position information based on the selected record management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state in the user data area. The position information of the record management work area to be recorded next to the selected previous record management work area is set as the next record management information position information. (E) In the record management work area selected in the step (b), The record management information, the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information, and the DDS including the next record management information position information are arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area. It is characterized by comprising the step of recording to do.

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 58 of the present invention, in the information recording method of claim 59 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the zone. In the step (e), from the head of the recording management work area selected in the step (b), next to the recording management information, the recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information and the recording management information It is a step of recording so as to arrange a DDS including the next recording management information position information.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information recording method of claim 60 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 58 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the end of the zone to the head. In the step (e), from the head side of the recording management work area selected in the step (b), the recording management information position information which is the position information of the recording management information, the next recording management information position information, The recording management information is recorded so as to be arranged next to the DDS including.

  To solve this problem, the information recording method of claim 61 of the present invention is an information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A recording management area comprising: one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, wherein the reference management zone includes the first recording management work Area, (P + 1) th recording management area, (Q + 1) th recording management area, (R + 1) th recording management area, etc. , The Pth record management work area is arranged in the zone, and the (P + 2) th record management work area in the third zone, ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. ,... (Where P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The information recording method is arranged to: (a) calculate a recording target zone for recording the management information; and (b) select an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone. Step (c) In step (b) (D) In the step (b), the position information based on the selected record management work area is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state in the user data area. Step (e) for recording the record management information in the selected previous period record management work area (e) Step for determining whether or not the record management information has been recorded normally in the step (d) (f) Failure to record normally in the step (e) Step (g) when it is determined that the recording has been successfully performed in Step (e), the next recording management work area selected in Step (b) is determined. Step (h) where the position information of the record management work area where recording is performed is set as the next record management information position information. (H) The record management work area selected in step (b) A step of recording a DDS including recording management information location information, which is location information of management information, and the next recording management information location information so as to be arranged at a predetermined location in the recording management work area; Step (j) for determining whether or not recording is normally performed in step h), and a step for returning to Step (g) when it is determined that recording is not performed normally in Step (i). .

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 61 of the present invention, in the information recording method of claim 62 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the zone. The step (d) is a step of recording so as to arrange the recording management information at the head side of the previous period recording management work area selected in the step (b), and the step (h) The DDS including the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information and the next record management information position information in the previous record management work area selected in b) is stored in the record management work area in the step ( It is a step of recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the end side of the recording management information recorded in d).

  In order to solve this problem, in addition to the feature of claim 61 of the present invention, in the information recording method of claim 63 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the end of the zone to the head. The means (d) is means for recording the record management information so as to be arranged at the tail side of the previous period record management work area selected by the means (b), and the means (h) In the record management work area, the DDS including the record management information position information, which is the position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information is stored in the record management work area selected in the previous period record management work area. It is a means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the head side of the recording management information recorded in d).

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording apparatus according to a 64th aspect of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A recording management area comprising: one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, wherein the reference management zone includes the first recording management work Area, (P + 1) th recording management area, (Q + 1) th recording management area, (R + 1) th recording management area, etc. , The Pth record management work area is arranged in the zone, and the (P + 2) th record management work area in the third zone, ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. ,... (Where P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The information recording apparatus is arranged, (a) means for calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information, and (b) selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone. Means (c) said selected in said means (b) (D) The previous period selected by the means (b), wherein the position information based on the record management work area is used as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state in the user data area. Means for making the position information of the record management work area to be recorded next to the record management work area the next record management information position information. (E) In the record management work area selected by the means (b), the record management work area. The DDS including the information, the record management information position information that is the position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area. It is characterized by comprising means for recording.

  In order to solve this problem, in an information recording apparatus according to a 65th aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the 64th aspect of the present invention, the recording management work area is sequentially allocated from the head of the zone to the tail. The means (e), from the head side of the recording management work area selected by the means (b), next to the recording management information, records management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, and It is a means for recording so as to arrange a DDS including the next recording management information position information.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information recording apparatus according to claim 66 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 64 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the end to the head of the zone. The means (e) includes, from the head side of the recording management work area selected by the means (b), recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information, and the next recording management information position information. The recording management information is recorded so as to be arranged next to the DDS including.

  In order to solve this problem, an information recording apparatus according to claim 67 of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium, wherein the write-once information recording medium is a block that is a unit of recording and reproduction. At least two zones in which recording / playback is performed in units and at least one user data area for recording user data and at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated A recording management area comprising: one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position in at least two of the zones, wherein the reference management zone includes the first recording management work Area, (P + 1) th recording management area, (Q + 1) th recording management area, (R + 1) th recording management area, etc. , The Pth record management work area is arranged in the zone, and the (P + 2) th record management work area in the third zone, ..., the Qth record management work area is arranged, and the (Q + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Rth record management work area are arranged in the fourth zone. ,... (Where P, Q, and R are integers of 2 or more that satisfy P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively). The information recording apparatus is arranged, (a) means for calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information, and (b) selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone. Means (c) said selected in said means (b) (D) The previous period selected by the means (b), wherein the position information based on the record management work area is used as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state in the user data area. Means for recording the record management information in the record management work area (e) Means for judging whether the means (d) has been recorded normally (f) It is judged that the means (e) has not been recorded normally In this case, when the means (g) returns to the means (c) and it is determined that the means (e) has been recorded normally, the recording is performed next to the previous recording management work area selected by the means (b). Means for setting the position information of the recording management work area to be performed as the next recording management information position information. Information and the next recording tube Means for recording the DDS including the physical information position information so as to be arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area; (i) means for judging whether the means (h) has successfully recorded the DDS; A means for returning to the means (g) when the means (i) determines that the recording is not normally performed is provided.

  In order to solve this problem, in the information recording apparatus according to claim 68 of the present invention, in addition to the feature of claim 67 of the present invention, the record management work area is allocated in order from the head to the tail of the zone. The means (d) is means for recording the recording management information so as to be arranged at the head of the previous-term recording management work area selected by the means (b), and the means (h) In the record management work area, the DDS including the record management information position information, which is the position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information is stored in the record management work area selected in the previous period record management work area. It is a means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the end side with respect to the recording management information recorded in d).

  In order to solve this problem, in an information recording apparatus according to a 69th aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the 67th aspect of the present invention, the recording management work area is sequentially allocated from the end of the zone toward the top. The means (d) is means for recording the record management information so as to be arranged at the tail side of the previous period record management work area selected by the means (b), and the means (h) In the record management work area, the DDS including the record management information position information, which is the position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information is stored in the record management work area selected in the previous period record management work area. It is a means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the head side of the recording management information recorded in d).

  The latest disc definition structure / record management information in the record management area is changed by changing the number of block jumps in the first amplitude check of the recorded end position search for the record management area in accordance with the size of the record management area which is a variable size. It becomes possible to search efficiently.

  In addition, by using a usage progress management area including usage degree information indicating the degree of recording progress in the recording management area, the start position of the boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area in the recording management area based on this usage degree information Thus, the latest disc definition structure / record management information can be efficiently searched even when the size of the record management area increases.

  In addition, after the record management area is divided into a plurality of zones and the management information record is recorded in the record management work area in the reference zone, the record is recorded in the record management work area included in another zone. When the management work area runs out, record again in the record management work area in the reference zone, and repeat this process.In other words, arrange so that the record management work area in the reference zone is associated with other zones, and further in the disc definition structure Management information position information in which management information is recorded. As a result, a search is made for the record management work area in which the latest disc definition structure / record management information is recorded by searching the record management work area located at the recorded end position in the first zone, and the search range is found in that zone. It is possible to search for the recorded end position in the zone continuously after narrowing down and efficiently search the record management work area in which the latest disc definition structure and record management information is recorded. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the description of the embodiment, a write-once optical disc (hereinafter referred to as an optical disc) is used as an information recording medium.

(Embodiment 1)
(1) Optical Disc Data Structure The data structure of the optical disc 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention is the same as the conventional example shown in FIG. 28 except for the disc definition structure (DDS) 20.

  The optical disc 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a recording information area 4 and an information area 5.

  The recording information area 4 includes a recording management area (RMA: Recording Management Area) 6. The RMA 6 is an area for managing the recording state of the data area 8 described later.

  Here, the size of the recording management area (RMA) 6 in the first embodiment is not uniquely determined by the optical disc 1, that is, a variable size. Specifically, the RMA 6 includes an area other than the area reserved in the recording information area 4 in advance, such as by an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 to be described later or a request from the upper control apparatus (not shown) by the user. May be assigned.

  The information area 5 is roughly divided into a lead-in area 7, a data area 8, and a lead-out area 9. Recording / reproduction of user data is performed on the data area 8. The lead-in area 7 and the lead-out area 9 serve as a margin so that the optical head (not shown) can follow the track even if the optical head overruns when accessing the end of the data area 5. This is a control information area in which parameters necessary for accessing the data area 8 are stored.

  The data area 8 is divided into one or more recording areas called R zones 10, and information indicating the recording state of each R zone 10 is recorded in the RMA 6.

  The RMA 6 is composed of a plurality of recording management work areas (TRMA: Temporary Recording Management Area) 11.

  The TRMA 11 includes recording management information (RMD: Recording Management Data) 21 that is information indicating the recording state of the R zone and a disc definition structure (DDS: Disc Definition Structure) 20. Generally, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are recorded (updated) in the TRMA 11 at an arbitrary timing such as when the state of the R zone 10 in the data area 8 changes or when the disc is ejected from the recording device.

  The RMD 21 is variable size information, and the DDS 20 is fixed size information. That is, the TRMA 11 is a variable size area.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the disk definition structure (DDS) 20.

  The DDS 20 includes a recording management area size 32, which is the size of the recording management area (RMA) 6, a recording management information starting position 33 indicating the starting position where the recording management information (RMD) 21 is arranged, and then the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 Including the next recording management information position 34, which is information relating to the recording position.

  Here, the size of the RMA 6 is determined at the time of “(3) initialization” described later, and the value is stored in the recording management area size 32.

  The DDS is information arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated based on the boundary of the recorded TRMA 11 adjacent to the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area. In the first embodiment, description will be made assuming that the DDS is arranged at the end of the TRMA.

  Note that the DDS is not necessarily arranged at the end of the TRMA, but may be arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated from the TRMA end position.

  The DDS is fixed-length information and has a size of, for example, one block.

  In the first embodiment, the DDS size is described as one block size which is a recording / reproduction unit.

  The RMD has a variable size according to the number of registered R zone entries 31 and the like. That is, the sizes of TRMA # 1 to TRMA # N (N is an integer of 1 or more) are not necessarily the same.

  Note that RMD and DDS may include information such as an anchor indicating that each piece of information is a termination.

  The recording management area 6 composed of the recording management work area 11 is not necessarily arranged in the recording information area 4. For example, the user can arbitrarily access the lead-in area 7, the lead-out area 9, or the data area 8. You may arrange | position to the area | region which cannot be performed.

(2) Configuration of Optical Disc Recording / Reproducing Device FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is connected to a host controller (not shown) via an I / O bus 170. The host control device is typically a host computer.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a command processing unit 110 that processes a command from the host controller, a recording control unit 120 that performs control during recording on the optical disc 1, and a reproduction control that performs control during reproduction from the optical disc 1. Section 130, recording management information storage buffer 140 for storing the contents of RMD 21 and DDS 20 reproduced from recording management work area (TRMA) 11, data buffer 150 for temporarily storing recording and reproduction data, and RMD 21 and DDS 20 A recording management information processing unit 160 that performs processing is functionally provided.

  The record management information processing unit 160 includes a search pattern calculation unit 165 for calculating / determining a search content / search position in a boundary search between a recorded area and an unrecorded area, and the TRMA 11 recorded last in the record management area 6. And the contents of the recording management information storage buffer 140 are updated when the recording management information reading unit 161 that reads the contents into the recording management information storage buffer 140 and the last recording position information in the R zone 10 change. Using the record management information update unit 164 that newly creates the RMD 15 and DDS 14, the record management information control memory 163 that stores the operation control state of the record management information processing unit 160, and the information updated by the record management information update unit 164 And a record management work information writing unit 162 that writes to the possible TRMA 11.

(3) Initialization of the disc Before the user (user) starts recording, the size setting of the RMA 6 described above is performed, the arrangement of each area is determined, and the optical disc 1 is made ready for recording and reproduction. It is necessary to initialize.

  FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart showing an overview of the initialization processing procedure.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which the size of the RMA 6 is determined according to a request from the user will be described.

  First, when the size of the recording management area 6 is determined by the user, such information is notified to the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 together with an initialization request from a host control device (not shown).

  Note that the size of the RMA 6 may be preliminarily held by the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 in advance as default size information, and is not necessarily notified from the user.

  When the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 receives the initialization request, the recording management information updating unit 164 first creates recording management information (RMD) 21 in which the number of R zone entries in the management information header 30 is 1, and also records management information. Store in the storage buffer 140 (step 401).

  The number of R zone entries is set to 1 because the case where the entire data area 8 is handled as one R zone 10 at the time of initialization is taken as an example.

  Note that the size of the RMD 21 recorded at the time of initialization is, for example, one block size and a fixed size. In the first embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the size of the RMD 21 recorded at the time of initialization is one block size.

  Further, the recording management information updating unit 164 sets the recording destination of the RMD 21, that is, the leading position of the unrecorded area in the RMA 6 (the leading position of the RMA 6 in the case of a disc in the initial state) as the recording management information leading position 33, and further controls the higher level. A DDS 20 in which the size of the RMA 6 notified from the apparatus is set to the recording management area size 32 is created and stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 402). Here, the size of the DDS 20 is one block size and a fixed size. At this time, the size of the RMA 6 notified from the host controller may be stored as the recording management area size information 43 in the recording management information control memory 163.

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 stores the RMD 21 and DDS 20 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 at the head of the unrecorded area of the RMA 6 in the optical disc 1 (TRMA 11 # 1 in the case of an initial disc). (Step 403).

  Here, since the size of the RMD 21 to be recorded at the time of initialization is a fixed size and the DDS is also a fixed size, both are arranged at positions that can be calculated based on the leading position of the TRMA 11.

  Note that the RMD 21 does not necessarily need to be recorded at the time of initialization, and only the DDS 20 may be recorded, or the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 may be added and recorded as one block size.

  In addition, the case where the block of TRMA11 in RMA6 which records RMD21 and DDS20 is a defective block is considered. However, there is no area such as RMA 6 where the recording information area 4, lead-in area 7 and data-out area 9 are replaced. Therefore, after step 403, it is confirmed whether or not the recording has been normally performed, and if it is determined that the recording has failed, the process of recording (step 403) is performed on the next block that has become a defective block. Repeat until recording is successful.

(4) Boundary search between recorded area and unrecorded area In this embodiment, a method for determining an unrecorded area using the amplitude of a reproduction signal will be described as an example. This method determines whether or not the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value. When the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as having an amplitude), it is determined that the area is a recorded area. If this value is not exceeded (hereinafter referred to as having no amplitude), it is determined that the area is an unrecorded area.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the recorded end position search process in the recording management area (RMA) 6 of the write-once optical disc.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of search processing when the size of the RMA 6 in the optical disc 1 is a general size (for example, the size of the RMA 6 in a conventional DVD-R), and FIG. 5B shows the RMA 6 in the optical disc 1. This is an example in which the size of is larger than the general size. As can be seen from these figures, the number of jumps of the block in the first amplitude test is characterized by changing according to the size of the RMA 6.

  Note that “there is amplitude” means that the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value, and “no amplitude” means that the amplitude of the reproduction signal does not exceed the predetermined value.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 searches for the recorded end position in the RMA 6.

  First, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads the DDS from the TRMA # 1 arranged at the head of the recording management area (RMA) 6 to the recording management information storage buffer 140, and records the recording management area size 32 in the DDS. The information is stored as the recording management area size information 43 in the information control memory 163 (step 601).

  Here, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 provided in the TRMA 11 # 1 are not necessarily arranged at fixed positions. Specifically, as described in the section (3) Initialization, there is a case where a defective block may exist in the TRMA 11 # 1. However, even in this case, the sizes of the RMD 21 and DDS 20 recorded in the TRMA 11 # 1 are one block size and a fixed size here, so the second block that has been read correctly is read from the first block of the TRMA 11 # 1. The block is DDS20.

  If the RMA 6 is in an unrecorded state, it is determined that the disc is in an initial state, and the above (3) initialization is executed.

  Next, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates a block jump size in the first amplitude test from the size information of the RMA 6 stored as the recording management area size information 43 (step 602). More specifically, the size of the recording management area 6 defined as the default and the recording management area size information are used by using the size of the RMA 6 determined as a default previously held by the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 and the block jump size at that time. The block jump size in the first amplitude check is calculated by obtaining a ratio with the size of the recording management area 6 in the current optical disc 1 stored as 43 and multiplying the block jump size determined as a default by this ratio value. . The size of RMA 6 determined as default and the block jump size at that time are, for example, the size of RMA 6 and the block jump size in DVD-R.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 performs a test from the beginning of the RMA 6 as a first amplitude test until the amplitude of the reproduction signal disappears every block jump size obtained in step 602 (step 603).

  Next, as a second amplitude test, a position where the amplitude disappears between the position where the amplitude is present and the position where the amplitude is absent is examined (step 604).

  Then, the position of the recorded end RMA 6 obtained by the inspection is acquired as the recorded end position (step 605).

  Generally, as the capacity of the optical disk 1 increases, the number of recordings to the DDS 20 and RMD 21 to the RMA 6 increases accordingly. This is expected to increase.

  Therefore, in a recordable optical disc in which the RMA 6 has a variable length, the recorded end position search in the recording management area 6 is performed by changing the block jump size of the first amplitude check in the recorded end position search according to the size of the RMA 6. That is, it is possible to efficiently search for the latest RMD 21 arranged at the recorded end position.

  In the first embodiment, the block jump size is calculated using the size ratio of RMA6. However, this is merely an example, and the block jump size may be obtained according to the size of RMA6. A similar effect can be obtained by a method in which a correlation table between the size and the block jump size is stored in advance and the block jump size is obtained according to the value of the table.

  In the first embodiment, it has been described that the block jump size in the first amplitude test is changed according to the size of the RMA 6. However, for example, if the block jump size is changed according to the size of the data area 8, the present method is used as the data. The same effect can be obtained even if it is applied to the recorded end position search of the area 8. More generally speaking, if the block jump size in the first amplitude test is changed according to the size of the variable-size area, this method can be applied to the recorded end position search of the area or an area closely related to the area. However, the same effect can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the RMA 6 size information is included in the DDS 20. However, for example, an area for storing the RMA 6 size information may exist on the optical disc 1, and in this case, The size information of RMA 6 can be obtained by reading the information of the area.

  In the first embodiment, the RMA 6 is described as having a variable size and the size information is included in the DDS 20. However, for example, the RMA 6 is a fixed size, and this size information is recorded in advance on the optical disc. The playback apparatus 100 may hold it. In this case, if the RMA 6 size information held by the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is stored as the recording management area size information 43, the same effect as described in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, it has been described that the size of the RMA 6 is determined at the time of initialization of the optical disc 1 in the initial state. However, the size of the RMA 6 is increased or decreased with respect to the optical disc 1 in use. In some cases, it can be considered. However, in this case as well, the same effect as described above can be obtained if re-initialization is performed by the same processing as described above (3). However, in this case, the size of the RMA 6 after the increase / decrease cannot be obtained from the DDS 20 positioned at the head of the RMA 6, but for example, an area for recording the size of the RMA 6 is held at each initialization. By using a method such as acquiring the size of the RMA 6 by reading the latest information of the area, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
(1) Optical Disk Data Structure FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the data structure of the optical disk 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention. The data structure of the optical disc 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention except for the recording information area 4.

  The optical disc 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a recording information area 4 and an information area 5.

  Since the configuration and contents of the information area 5 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The recording information area 4 includes a recording management area (RMA: Recording Management Area) 6 and a use progress management area 12.

  The RMA 6 is an area for managing the recording state of the data area 8 and the like.

  Since the configuration and contents of the RMA 6 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The use progress management area 12 is an area including use degree information for managing the use status of the RMA 6, that is, the use degree of the block 3 in the RMA 6. Since it is an area for managing the degree of progress and it is desirable that the degree of progress can be grasped as soon as possible, the area size is basically not so large. In the second embodiment, description will be made assuming that the size of the use progress management area 12 is 10 blocks.

  Note that the size of the use progress management area 22 may be any size.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the RMA 6 and the usage status management area 12.

  In the figure, “X” represents the number of blocks in the recorded area in the RMA 6, and “Y” represents the total number of blocks in the area. “P” represents the number of blocks in the recorded area in the use progress management area 12, and “Q” represents the total number of blocks in the area (Q = 10 in the present embodiment).

  At this time, the value obtained by dividing “X” by “Y”, that is, the percentage of the recorded area in the RMA 6 is the value obtained by dividing “P” by “Q”, that is, the percentage of the recorded area in the use progress management area 12. The value is the same or correlated. The reason why there is a correlation here is that the size of the use progress management area 12 is generally smaller than the size of the RMA 6 (here, 10 blocks), and the block is the minimum unit for recording and reproduction. The percentage that can be represented by the use progress management area 12 is a large value (in this case, 10%), whereas the percentage of the recorded area of the RMA 6 is not necessarily the percentage that can be represented by the use progress management area 22. This is because they are not necessarily the same. For example, when the percentage of the recorded area of RMA 6 is 25%, the percentage of the recorded area of the use progress management area 12 indicating the degree of recording progress is 20%, that is, 2 blocks out of 10 blocks are recorded. Data is recorded in

  The numerical values indicating the percentages of the RMA 6 and the usage progress management area 12 described here are merely examples, and data may be recorded in the usage progress management area so as to correlate with the recording progress degree of the RMA 6. Further, the percentage represented by the use progress management area 12 is a value equal to or less than the percentage of the recorded area in the actual RMA 6.

(2) Configuration of Optical Disc Recording / Reproducing Device The configuration of the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. .

(3) Acquisition of Latest Recording Management Information A procedure for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 to acquire the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the latest RMD 21 from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6, that is, the latest TRMA 11.

  First, the recording management information reading unit 161 detects the number of recorded blocks in the usage progress management area 12 and obtains the percentage of recorded blocks from the detected number of recorded blocks and the total number of blocks in the usage progress management area 12. The recorded percentage information 44 stored in the recording management information control memory 163 is stored (step 901). Specifically, when the total number of blocks in the use progress management area 12 is 10 blocks and the detected number of recorded blocks is 2, the recorded percentage information 44 is 20%. The number of recorded blocks is detected by maximizing the size of the use progress management area 12 from the top block of the use progress management area 12.

  In general, whether the recorded area or the unrecorded area is determined is determined by whether or not the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value. If the amplitude exceeds the predetermined value, the recorded area is determined to be a recorded area. If it does not exceed this value, it is determined that the area is an unrecorded area.

  Next, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates the search start position of the recorded end position in the RMA 6 using the stored recorded percentage information 44 (step 902). Specifically, when the recorded percentage information 44 is 20%, it can be determined that the percentage of the recorded area in the RMA 6 is 20% or more and less than 30%, so 20% of the total number of blocks in the RMA 6 from the top of the RMA 6 A block corresponding to the eye is obtained as a search start position.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 searches for the recorded end position in the RMA 6 with the block position obtained in step 901 as the head, and records the determined end position information in the recording management information control memory 163. 40 (step 903).

  The recorded end position search method is the same as the conventional method described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the term “with amplitude” means that the amplitude of the reproduced signal exceeds a predetermined value, and the term “without amplitude” means that the amplitude of the reproduced signal does not exceed the predetermined value.

  First, the recording management information reading unit 161 performs a first amplitude test from the first block of the RMA 6 until the amplitude of the reproduction signal disappears every predetermined block (step 2801).

  Next, as a second amplitude test, a position where the amplitude disappears between the position where the amplitude is present and the position where the amplitude is absent is examined (step 2802).

  Then, the position of the recorded end TRMA 11 obtained by the inspection is acquired as a recorded end position (step 2803).

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads out the DDS 20 arranged in one block size with the recorded end position information 40 as the end to the recording management information storage buffer 140, and records the recording management information start position 33 in the DDS 20 as follows. The RMD head position information 41 stored in the recording management information control memory 163 is stored (step 904).

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads the RMD 21 arranged with the position read as the RMD head position information 41 as the head, to the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 905).

  Note that the size of the RMD 21 to be read can be calculated based on the number of R zone entries in the management information header 30 located at the head of the RMD 21.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6, that is, the latest TRMA 11 by the above procedure.

  The method for detecting the recorded end position described above is an example, and it is not always necessary to use the above-described method, and for example, it can be realized by a method for searching for a start position where an amplitude is generated from the end of RMA 6 toward the start. Is possible.

(4) Update of Recording Management Information A procedure in the case where the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (adds) new management information to the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (adds) new management information to the RMA 6.

  Here, the RMD 21 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 is kept up-to-date by the recording management information updating unit 164.

  First, the recording management information updating unit 164 records the position where the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is advanced one time, that is, the leading position of the unrecorded area in the RMA 6 as the recording management information leading position 33. The DDS 20 in the management information storage buffer 140 is updated (step 1001).

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 records the updated RMD 21 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 from the start position of the unrecorded area in the RMA 6, and further checks whether the RMD 21 has been normally recorded. Judgment is made (step 1002).

  Here, whether or not the recording has been normally performed is determined by, for example, a method of performing error correction on the recorded block, or whether the recorded data matches the recorded data by reading the recorded data It is realized by a method of judging by confirming.

  When it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 has failed, the recorded end position information 40 is updated to a value obtained by adding the size of the previously recorded RMD 21, and from step 1001 to step 1002 Is repeated (step 1003).

  When it is determined that the recording has been normally performed, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 has been performed normally, the block position where the DDS 20 is recorded subsequently is stored as the recording completion block position information 45 in the recording management information control memory 163. At the same time, the updated DDS 20 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 is recorded, and it is further determined whether or not the DDS 20 has been recorded normally (step 1004).

  If it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, if the recording of the DDS 20 has failed, step 1004 is repeated (step 1005).

  When it is determined that the recording has been normally performed, that is, when the recording of the DDS 20 is normally completed, the recording process to the TRMA 11 is completed.

  When the recording process to the TRMA 11 is completed, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates the percentage occupied by the number of recorded blocks in the RMA 6 from the total number of blocks of the RMA 6 and the recording completion block position information 45 (step 1006).

  Next, the search pattern calculation unit 165 records data in the use progress management area 12 so as to correspond to the percentage obtained in step 1006. Any data may be used for recording at this time.

  Here, since the percentage increment (unit) that can be represented by the total number of blocks in the use progress management area 12 is generally different from the percentage increment (unit) calculated in step 1006, a new RMD is added to the RMA 6. However, recording to the use progress management area 12 is not necessarily performed simply because the above recording is performed. Specifically, when the total number of blocks in the use progress management area 12 is 10, the percentage that can be expressed is in increments of 10%. Therefore, if the recorded percentage information 44 currently in the recording management information control memory 163 is 2 and the percentage obtained in step 1006 is 25%, the recording to the use progress management area 12 is not performed. , 1006 is 32%, one block is recorded in the first block of the unrecorded area of the use progress management area 12.

  Note that there may be a case where the block in the use progress management area 12 is a defective block and the recording fails. In such a case, even if recording is performed on the next block until the recording is successful, the recording is performed as it is. May be completed as long as the process of detecting the number of recorded blocks in the use progress management area 12 in step 1001 in the acquisition of the latest record management information (3) is supported.

  The recording management area updating unit 164 records new management information in the TRMA 11 in the RMA 6 by the above procedure.

  When the order of step 1001 and step 1002 is changed, that is, after recording RMD 21 and confirming that recording has been performed normally, the recording management included in DDS 20 includes the head position of TRMA 11 in which RMD 21 is recorded. There is no problem even if it is updated as the information head position 33.

  In the second embodiment, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are described as independent blocks. However, even if both the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 form one block, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are configured. After the block is recorded, it is confirmed whether or not the recording has been performed normally. If the recording has failed, the position where the next recording is performed is replaced with the recording management information start position 33 of the DDS 20, and the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are configured again. It goes without saying that the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained by repeating the recording of the blocks until the recording is normally performed.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the RMA 6 when the RMA 6 is updated according to the recording procedure of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, if a defective block exists in the recording management work area 11 # 1 (TRMA # 1), the first recording of RMD # 1 to TRMA # 1 will fail. Therefore, the recording of RMD # 1 is continued until the recording is successful. If the recording of RMD # 1 is successful, the recording of DDS # 1 is continued.

  When there is no defective block in the recording management work area 11, the result is as shown by TRMA # 2 in FIG.

  As described above, information (in this case, the use progress management area 12) indicating the degree of recording progress of the RMA 6 is provided, and the latest TRMA 11 is searched using this information, so that even when the size of the RMA 6 is large, recording is possible. It becomes possible to efficiently search for the latest DDS20 / RMD21 existing at the end position.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, if the recorded end position search method described in the first embodiment of the present invention is applied using the recording management area size 32 in the DDS 20, the first embodiment will be described. The effects described in the above can also be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, description has been made using an example in which information having no particular meaning is recorded in a block of the usage progress management area 12 according to the usage degree of the RMA 6, but the usage progress management area 12 is Information that can manage the usage level of the RMA 6 only needs to be recorded. For example, the usage progress management area 12 has the percentage information occupied by the recorded area of the RMA 6, the number of recorded blocks of the RMA 6, or the recording end position in the RMA 6. Information or the like may be recorded. That is, when the TRMA 11 is added, the information is added to the use progress management area 12 according to the change in the degree of use, and when the latest RMD 21 is acquired, the recorded end position is recorded in the use progress management area 12. The same effect as described in the second embodiment can also be obtained by a method of reading the latest information that exists and searching for the recorded end position based on this information.

  In the second embodiment, the RMA 6 is described as being composed of one continuous region. However, for example, the RMA 6 may be composed of a plurality of dispersed regions, and in this case as well, the second embodiment is used. It is possible to obtain the same effect as described in the above. In such a case, for example, each distributed area is associated with a block of the usage progress management information 12, and when one area is used, one block of the usage progress management area 12 is recorded. Even if this method is used, the same effect as described in the second embodiment can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, the increase / decrease of the size of the RMA 6 in the optical disc 1 in use is not particularly mentioned. However, the size of the RMA 6 may be increased / decreased relative to the optical disc 1 in use. Conceivable. In such a case, for example, by using a method such as increasing the size of the usage progress management area 12 in the same manner as the size of the RMA 6 is increased, the information held in the usage progress management area and the recorded RMA 6 are recorded. What is necessary is to make it consistent with the area.

(Embodiment 3)
(1) Optical Disc Data Structure FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the data structure of the optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The data structure of the optical disc 1 in the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention except for the recording management area 6.

  The optical disc 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a recording information area 4 and an information area 5.

  Since the configuration and contents of the information area 5 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The recording information area 4 includes a recording management area (RMA: Recording Management Area) 6.

  The RMA 6 includes N recording management information zones 13 (N is an integer of 1 or more). Both of the recording management information zones 13 are variable-size areas.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the data structure of the recording management information zone 13. All N record management information zones 13 include M record management work areas (TRMA) 11 (M is an integer of 1 or more).

  In the N record management information zones 13, at least one reference zone whose start position is determined in advance is arranged. In the third embodiment, the recording management information zone 13 # 1 that is the head zone is handled as the reference zone, but the reference zone is not necessarily the head zone.

  Further, the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone will be described as being used sequentially from the inner periphery side. That is, the TRMA 11 having the latest RMD 21 is arranged at either the recorded end position in the reference zone or the recorded end position in the other recording management information zone 13 in the RMA 6.

  In the third embodiment, it is assumed that all the N recording management information zones 13 are composed of M TRMAs 11. However, this is a configuration in which the reference zone and other zones have a correlation. Therefore, if the reference zone and the other recording management information zone 13 have a correlation, the same number of TRMAs 11 as the other recording management information zones 13 are not necessarily provided as in the third embodiment. Good.

  The number of recording management information zones 13 (N in this case) existing in the RMA 6 basically correlates with the number of recorded TRMAs 11 provided in the reference management zone, that is, the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the first zone. In the third embodiment, N is a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of recorded TRMAs 6 included in the recording management information zone 13 # 1.

  Here, the relationship between the recording management information zone 13 and the TRMA 11 is that if the recording management information zone 13 # 1 has M recorded TRMAs, the number of the recording management information zones 13 existing in the RMA 6 is M + 1. That is, N = M + 1. Specifically, M + 1 TRMAs 11 are treated as one group, the first TRMA 11 of the group is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 1 which is the reference zone, and all the other M TRMAs 11 are 1 The configuration is such that they are arranged in two identical record management information zones 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, TRMA # 1 is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, and subsequent TRMA # 2,..., TRMA # N are arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 2. Further, since the recording management information zone 13 has such a configuration, a zone corresponding to at least the number of recorded TRMAs in the recording management information zone 13 # 1 that is the reference zone is the recording management information zone 13 that is the reference zone. It will exist in addition to # 1.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the record management work area (TRMA) 11.

  The TRMA 11 includes recording management information (RMD) 21 and a disk definition structure (DDS) 20. Generally, the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 are recorded (updated) in the TRMA 11 at an arbitrary timing such as when the state of the R zone 10 in the data area 8 changes or when the disc is ejected from the recording device.

  Since the configuration and contents of the RMD 21 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The DDS 20 includes a recording management area size 32, which is the size of the recording management area (RMA) 6, a recording management information starting position 33 indicating the starting position where the recording management information (RMD) 21 is arranged, and then the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 , The next recording management information position 34 which is position information related to the TRMA 11 to be recorded next, an update counter 36 indicating the number of updates of the RMD 21 and DDS 20 in the RMA 6, and the like.

  Here, since the update counter 36 is information indicating the number of times the RMD 21 and DDS 20 are updated in the RMA 6, the update counter 36 generally has a role of 1 for TRMA 11 # 1, 2 for TRMA 11 # 2, and an identification ID of the TRMA. It matches the value that plays.

  The next record management information position 34 stores position information related to the TRMA 11 where the management information is recorded next. In other words, in the present third embodiment, the next recording management information position 13 in each TRMA 11 included in the recording management information zone 13 # 1 of the first zone that is the reference zone is the start of the corresponding other recording management information zone 13. The position information regarding the position, that is, the head position is stored. Further, in the next recording management information position 34 in the TRMA 11 arranged at the end of the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone, the management information is recorded next in the recording management information zone 13 # 1 which is the reference zone. The position information related to the TRMA 11 is stored.

  The DDS 20 is information arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated with reference to the boundary of the recorded TRMA 11 adjacent to the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area. In the first embodiment, description will be made assuming that the DDS 20 is arranged at the end of the TRMA 11.

  Note that the DDS 20 does not necessarily have to be arranged at the end of the TRMA 11 and may be arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated from the end position of the TRMA 11.

  The DDS 20 is fixed-length information and has a size of, for example, one block.

  In the first embodiment, the size of the DDS 20 is described as one block size which is a recording / reproduction unit.

  The RMD 21 has a variable size according to the number of registered R zone entries 31 and the like. That is, the sizes of TRMA11 # 1 to TRMA11 # N (N is an integer of 1 or more) are not necessarily the same.

  The RMD 21 and the DDS 20 may include information such as an anchor indicating that each piece of information is a termination.

(2) Configuration of Optical Disc Recording / Reproducing Device The configuration of the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. .

(3) Acquisition of Latest Recording Management Information A procedure for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 to acquire the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the latest TRMA 11 recorded in the RMA 6, that is, the latest RMD 21 from the latest TRMA 11.

  First, the recording management information processing unit 160 calculates a search target zone position for searching for the latest RMD 21 (step 1501).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the search target zone calculation processing procedure.

  First, the record management information reading unit 161 searches for the recorded end position in the record management information zone 13 # 1 which is the reference zone, and uses the obtained position information as the reference zone recorded end position information in the record management information control memory 163. 47 (step 1601).

  Here, the recorded end position searching method is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 28 as a conventional example, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads out the DDS 20 arranged in a predetermined block size (here, one block size) from the reference zone recorded end position information 47 to the recording management information storage buffer 140 and at the same time in the DDS 20 The new recording management information start position 33 is updated to the RMD starting position information 41 in the recording management information control memory 163, and the next recording management information position 34 is updated to the next recording management information position information 46 in the recording management information control memory 163. The counter 36 is stored in the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163 (step 1602).

  The zone position to be searched is obtained by the above procedure.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 calculates the recorded end position from the position of the search target zone obtained in step 1501, that is, the position stored as the next recording management information position information 46 in the recording management information control memory 163 in step 1602. (Step 1502).

  Here, the head position of the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, is a predetermined position.

  Here, the recorded end position searching method is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 28 as a conventional example, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  When the search target zone is completely unrecorded, the TRMA 11 existing at the recorded end position of the recording management information zone 13 # 1 acquired when calculating the search target zone position in step 1401 has the latest RMD 21. The value of the next recording management information position information 46 in the recording management information control memory 163 that is determined to be the TRMA 11 and is set as the search start position is stored as the recorded end position information 40, and the process proceeds to step 1505 described later (step 1503). ).

  If the recorded TRMA 11 exists in the search target zone, the recorded end position obtained in step 1502 is stored in the recorded end position information 40 in the record management information control memory 163.

  Thus, the recorded end position information 40 stores the recorded end position in the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads out the DDS 20 arranged in a predetermined block size (here, one block size) from the recorded end position information 40 to the recording management information storage buffer 140 and records in the DDS 20. The management information head position 33 is stored in the RMD head position information 41 in the recording management information control memory 163, the next recording management information position 34 is stored in the next recording management information position information 46 in the recording management information control memory 163, and the update counter 36. Is stored in the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163 (step 1504).

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads the latest RMD 21 arranged with the position read as the RMD head position information 41 as the head, to the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 1505).

  Note that the size of the RMD 21 to be read can be calculated based on the number of R zone entries in the management information header 30 located at the head of the RMD 21.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMD 6, that is, the TRMA 11 including the latest RMD 21 by the above procedure.

  The method for detecting the recorded end position described above is an example, and it is not always necessary to use the above-described method, and for example, it can be realized by a method for searching for a start position where an amplitude is generated from the end of RMA 6 toward the start. Is possible.

(4) Update of Recording Management Information A procedure when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (adds) a new RMD 21 to the RMA 6 with respect to the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (appends) a new RMD 21 / DDS 20 to the RMA 6.

  Here, the RMD 21 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 is kept up-to-date by the recording management information updating unit 164.

  First, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates a recording target zone for recording a new RMD 21 and its position (step 1701). Specifically, when the number of TRMAs 11 in one zone is M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1), (M + 1) TRMAs 11 are handled as one group, and therefore update counter information in the recording management information control memory 163 is updated. When the value of 42 is divided by the value obtained by adding 1 to the number of TRMAs in one zone, that is, (M + 1), and the remainder (remainder) is 0, that is, the latest RMD 21 at the time before the recording of a new RMD 21 is performed. When all the M TRMAs 11 included in the recording management information zone 13 including the included TRMA 11 are in a recorded state, the head of the unrecorded area of the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, that is, the reference zone recording Record management information corresponding to a position obtained by advancing the position held as the finished end position information 47, otherwise, the number obtained by adding 2 to the quotient The head of the unrecorded area over emissions 13, i.e. advanced position held as recorded end position information 40 forward one position is the recording target zone and location. For example, when the value of the update counter information 42 is 6 and the number of TRMAs in one zone is 4, the quotient obtained by dividing 6 by (4 + 1) is 1, and the remainder is 1, so the recording target zone number is the quotient. A number obtained by adding 2 to a certain number, that is, a recording management information zone 13 # 3.

  Next, the record management information update unit 164 updates the DDS 20 in the record management information storage buffer 140 by using the update counter information 42 in the record management information control memory 163 plus 1 as the update counter 36 (step 1702). Further, at this time, the value of the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163 may be updated.

  Next, the recording management information updating unit 164 updates the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 with the unrecorded area head position of the recording target zone obtained in step 1701 as the recording management information head position 33 (step 1703). Specifically, when the recording target zone obtained in step 1701 is the recording management information zone 13 # 1, the position where the reference zone recorded end position information 47 in the recording management information control memory 163 is advanced one by one, In other cases, the position where the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is advanced one time becomes the unrecorded area start position of the recording target zone.

  Here, when the recording target zone is the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, the size of the management information to be recorded (that is, the RMD 21 and DDS 20) exceeds the size of the unrecorded area in the recording management information zone 13 # 1. In such a case, if there is a vacant zone in the position indicated by the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163, it may be set as a recording target zone. The same applies to the reverse case.

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 records the updated RMD 21 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 from the head position of the unrecorded area in the recording target zone obtained in step 1701, and has the RMD 21 been recorded normally? It is determined whether or not (step 1704).

  Here, whether or not the recording has been normally performed is determined by, for example, a method of performing error correction on the recorded block, or whether the recorded data matches the recorded data by reading the recorded data It is realized by a method of judging by confirming.

  When it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 has failed, when the recording is being performed in the reference zone, the reference zone recorded end position information 47 in the recording management information control memory 163 is updated. Otherwise, the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is updated to a value obtained by adding the size of the previously recorded RMD 21, and Steps 1703 to 1704 are repeated (Step 1705).

  When it is determined that the recording is normally performed, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 is normally performed, the recording management information update unit 164 updates the next recording management information position 34 in the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140. (Step 1706). Specifically, when the number of TRMAs 11 in one zone is M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1), the recording management information control memory 163 updated in step 1702 is used in order to treat (M + 1) TRMAs 11 as one group. Is divided by the value obtained by adding 1 to the number of TRMAs in one zone, that is, (M + 1), and when the remainder (remainder) is 0, that is, in step 1704, the latest RMD 21 is recorded. When all the M TRMAs 11 included in the recording management information zone 13 in which the recorded TRMA 11 exists are recorded, the beginning of the unrecorded area of the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, that is, the reference zone recorded The position held as the end position information 47 is the position advanced one step forward, otherwise, the number obtained by adding 2 to the quotient The next recording management information is the head of the unrecorded area of the corresponding recording management information zone 13, that is, the recording management information zone 13 where the DDS 20 is to be recorded, and the recommended recording end position after the DDS 20 recording is the next recording management information. It becomes position 34. For example, if the value of the update counter information 42 is 5 and the number of TRMAs in one zone is 4, the quotient obtained by dividing 5 by (4 + 1) is 1 and the remainder is 0. Is the start position of the unrecorded area of the recording management information zone 13 # 1.

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 records the updated DDS 20, and further determines whether or not the DDS 20 has been normally recorded (step 1707).

  If it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, if the recording of the DDS 20 has failed, Steps 1706 to 1707 are repeated (Step 1708).

  When it is determined that the recording is normally performed, that is, when the recording of the DDS 20 is normally completed, the recording process of the new RMD 21 is completed.

  The recording target zone calculated in step 1701 may be affected by defects such as scratches, and the size of the recordable unrecorded area in the recording management information zone 13 may be insufficient during the execution of steps 1703 to 1708. In such a case, for example, when recording is performed in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, the recording management information control memory 163 records the recording in the reference zone. If there is a vacancy in the recording management information zone 13 existing at the position indicated by the recorded terminal position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 at the position indicated by the reference zone recorded terminal position information 47, otherwise Is calculated again as a recording target zone, and the above steps 1703 to 1708 may be repeated.

  In this way, the RMA 6 is divided into a plurality of recording management information zones 13, the plurality of TRMAs 11 are regarded as one group, the first TRMA 11 of the group is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 which is a reference zone, and the others Are arranged in the same recording management information zone 13, so that a search for the latest RMD21 / DDS 20 in the reference zone gives a place where the TRMA including the latest RMD21 to some extent is placed. By searching for the latest RMD 21 from the position marked with, it becomes possible to efficiently search for the latest RMD 21 even when the size of the RMA 6 is large.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, if the recorded end position search method described in the first embodiment of the present invention is applied using the recording management area size 32 in the DDS 20, the first embodiment will be described. The effects described in the above can also be obtained.

(Embodiment 4)
(1) Optical Disk Data Structure The data structure of the optical disk 1 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the third embodiment of the present invention except for the recording management area 6.

  An optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention includes a recording information area 4 and an information area 5.

  Since the configuration and contents of the information area 5 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The recording information area 4 includes a recording management area (RMA: Recording Management Area) 6.

  The RMA 6 includes N recording management information zones 13 (N is an integer of 1 or more). Each of the recording management information zones 13 is a fixed size area.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the data structure of the recording management information zone 13 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. All N record management information zones 13 are provided with one or more record management work areas (TRMA) 11. The start position of each zone is a predetermined fixed position. That is, any recording management information zone 13 is a fixed-size area composed of a predetermined number of blocks (here, X blocks: X is an integer of 1 or more). Since the size of the TRMA 11 is variable, the number of TRMAs 11 included in each recording management information zone 13 is indefinite.

  One TRMA 11 may be arranged across a plurality of recording management information zones 13. It is assumed that one recording management information zone 13 has a fixed size while the TRMA 11 has a variable size, and therefore, it is not always possible to allocate all the areas in each recording management information zone 13 as the TRMA 11. This is to prevent the area not allocated in that case from being wasted.

  In the fourth embodiment, description will be made assuming that all the N recording management information zones 13 have the same size as shown in FIG. 18, but the start position of each recording management information zone 13 is fixed in advance. If it is the position, the size of all the recording management information zones 13 may not be the same size.

  Note that the number of recording management information zones 13 (N in this case) existing in the RMA 6 basically correlates with the number of recorded TDMAs provided in the reference management zone, that is, the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the first zone. In the present embodiment, N is a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of recorded TRMAs 11 included in the recording management information zone 13 # 1.

  Here, the relationship between the recording management information zone 13 and the TRMA 11 is that a plurality of TRMAs 11 are treated as one group, and the first TRMA 11 of the group is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is a reference zone. All the TRMAs 11 are arranged in one and the same recording management information zone 13. For example, when P TRMAs 11 (P is an integer of 2 or more) are handled as one group, as shown in FIG. 18, TRMA 11 # 1 is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, and the remaining TRMA 11 # 2,. TRMA 11 # P is arranged in the recording management information zone 13 # 2. Since the recording management information zone 13 has such a configuration, at least a zone corresponding to the number of recorded TRMAs in the recording management information zone 13 # 1 exists following the recording management information zone 13 # 1. become.

  Note that the number of TRMAs 11 handled as one group is not necessarily the same value in each group.

  Further, the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone will be described as being used sequentially from the inner periphery side. That is, the TRMA 11 having the latest RMD 21 is arranged at either the recorded end position in the reference zone or the recorded end position in the other recording management information zone 13 in the RMA 6.

  Since the data structure of the recording management information zone 13 is the same as that described in the third embodiment of the present invention, description thereof is omitted here.

(2) Configuration of Optical Disc Recording / Reproducing Device The configuration of the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. .

(3) Acquisition of Latest Recording Management Information A procedure for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 to acquire the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the latest RMD 21 from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6, that is, the TRMA 11 including the latest RMD 21.

  First, the record management information processing unit 160 calculates a search target zone for searching for the latest record management information (step 1901).

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the search target zone calculation processing procedure.

  First, the record management information reading unit 161 searches for the recorded end position in the record management information zone 13 # 1 that is the reference zone, and uses the obtained position information as the reference zone recorded end position information in the record management information control memory 163. 47 (step 2001).

  Here, the recorded end position searching method is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 28 as a conventional example, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads out the DDS 20 arranged in a predetermined block size (here, one block size) from the reference zone recorded end position information 47 to the recording management information storage buffer 140 and at the same time in the DDS 20 The recording management information head position 33 of the recording management information control memory 163 is the RMD head position information 41 in the recording management information control memory 163, the update counter 36 is the updating counter information 42 of the recording management information control memory 163, and the next recording management information position 34 is Is stored in the record management information position information 46 (step 2002).

  Next, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates a zone number to be searched and stores it in the search target zone number 48 in the recording management information control memory 163 (step 2003). Specifically, the search target zone is calculated using the position information stored in the next record management information position information 46 and the head position information of each record management information zone 13 held in advance.

  The search target zone number is obtained by the above procedure.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 searches the recorded end position from the head position of the search target zone obtained in step 1901 (step 1902).

  Here, the start position of each zone is a predetermined position, and information relating to the start position of each zone is held in advance by the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100.

  Here, the recorded end position searching method is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 28 as a conventional example, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  When the search target zone is completely unrecorded, the TRMA 11 existing at the recorded end position of the recording management information zone 13 # 1 obtained when calculating the search target zone position in step 1901 has the latest RMD 21. The head position of the recording management information zone 13 determined as the TRMA 11 and stored as the search start position is stored in the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163, and the process proceeds to step 1907 described later (step 1903). .

  If there is a recorded TRMA 11 in the search target zone, the recorded end position obtained in step 1902 is stored in the recorded end position information 40 in the record management information control memory 163.

  Thus, the recorded end position information 40 stores the recorded end position in the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone.

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads out the DDS 20 arranged in a predetermined block size (here, one block size) from the recorded end position information 40 to the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 1904).

  Next, the record management information processing unit 160 acquires the update counter 36 in the DDS 20 read to the record management information storage buffer in step 1904 and compares it with the update counter information 42 in the record management information control memory 163 (step 1905). ).

  If the value of the update counter 36 in the DDS 20 read to the record management information storage buffer is smaller than the update counter information 42 in the record management information control memory 163, the process proceeds to step 1907 described later. Here, the value of the update counter 36 in the DDS 20 read to the record management information storage buffer becomes smaller than the update counter information 42 in the record management information control memory 163 because the TRMA 11 straddles two record management information zones 13. This is the case. In this case, the TRMA 11 arranged at the recorded end position of the reference zone includes RMD 21 and DDS 20 that are newer than the TRMA 11 arranged across the two recording management information zones 13, that is, the update counter 36 is provided. It can be large.

  When the value of the update counter 36 in the DDS 20 read to the recording management information storage buffer is larger than the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163, the value in the DDS 20 read to the recording management information storage buffer 140 in step 1904 is displayed. The record management information start position 33 is updated to the RMD start position information 41 in the record management information control memory 163 and the next record management information position 34 is updated to the next record management information position information 46 in the record management information control memory 163. 36 is stored in the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163 (step 1906).

  Next, the recording management information reading unit 161 reads the latest RMD 21 arranged with the position stored as the RMD head position information 41 as the head to the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 1907).

  Note that the size of the RMD 21 to be read can be calculated based on the number of R zone entries in the management information header 30 located at the head of the RMD 21.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 acquires the contents from the TRMA 11 recorded last in the RMA 6, that is, the TRMA 11 including the latest RMD 21 and DDS 20 by the above procedure.

  Note that the search target zone number calculation process in step 2003 in the fourth embodiment may be omitted. Specifically, in the same manner as described in the third embodiment, the recorded end position is searched in step 1902 to be described later using the position stored as the next record management information position information 46 as the start position. Similar effects can be obtained. In this case, the update counter 36 in the DDS 20 may not be provided, and further, the comparison process of the update counter 36 in 1905 described later may be omitted.

  The method for detecting the recorded end position described above is an example, and it is not always necessary to use the above-described method, and for example, it can be realized by a method for searching for a start position where an amplitude is generated from the end of RMA 6 toward the start. Is possible.

(4) Update of Recording Management Information A procedure when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (appends) a new RMD 21 to the RMA 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 records (appends) new RMA 21 / DDS 20 to the RMA 6.

  Here, the RMD 21 stored in the recording management information storage buffer 140 is kept up-to-date by the recording management information updating unit 164.

  First, the search pattern calculation unit 165 calculates a recording target zone for recording a new RMD 21 and its position (step 2101). Specifically, when the end position of the record management information zone 13 indicated by the search target zone number 48 is smaller than the position indicated by the recorded end position information 40, that is, the record management information in use indicated by the search target zone number 48. If there is an unrecorded area in the zone 13, the position where the position held as the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information zone 13 is advanced one time is calculated as the recording destination. Conversely, when the end position of the record management information zone 13 indicated by the search target zone number 48 is greater than or equal to the position indicated by the recorded end position information 40, that is, the record management in use indicated by the search target zone number 48. If there is no unrecorded area in the information zone 13, the head of the unrecorded area of the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, that is, the position held as the reference zone recorded end position information 47 is moved forward by one. The position advanced to is calculated as the recording destination position.

  Here, when the recording destination zone is the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, and the size of the unrecorded area in the reference zone is not enough to newly record the RMD 21 / DDS 20, the RMD 21 / DDS 20 is recorded. If there is a recording management information zone 13 including an unrecorded area sufficient for recording, the recording management information zone 13 is set to a position where the position held as the recorded end position information 40 is advanced one by one. Is calculated as a recording target zone.

  Next, the recording management information update unit 164 updates the update counter information 42 in the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 (step 2102). Specifically, the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 is updated by using the update counter information 42 in the recording management information control memory 163 plus 1 as the updating counter 36.

  Next, the recording management information update unit 164 updates the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 with the unrecorded area head position of the recording target zone as the recording management information head position 33 (step 2103). Specifically, if the recording target zone obtained in step 2101 is the recording management information zone 13 # 1 which is the reference zone, the reference zone recorded end position information 47 in the recording management information control memory 163 is advanced one step forward. In other cases, the position where the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is advanced one time becomes the unrecorded area start position of the recording target zone.

  Here, when the recording target zone is the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, the size of the RMD 21 and DDS 20 to be recorded exceeds the size of the unrecorded area in the recording management information zone 13 # 1. If the recording management information zone 13 existing at the position indicated by the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 has a vacancy, it may be set as a recording target zone. The same applies to the reverse case.

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 records the updated RMD 21 in the recording management information storage buffer 140 from the start position of the unrecorded area in the recording target zone obtained in step 2101, and whether the RMD 21 has been normally recorded. Judgment is made (step 2104).

  Here, whether or not the recording has been normally performed is determined by, for example, a method of performing error correction on the recorded block, or whether the recorded data matches the recorded data by reading the recorded data It is realized by a method of judging by confirming.

  When it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 has failed, when the recording is being performed in the reference zone, the reference zone recorded end position information 47 in the recording management information control memory 163 is updated. In other cases, the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is updated to a value obtained by adding the size of the previously recorded RMD 21, and Step 2103 to Step 2104 are repeated (Step 2105).

  When it is determined that the recording has been performed normally, that is, when the recording of the RMD 21 has been performed normally, the recording management information update unit 164 next positions the next recording management information in the DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140. 34 is updated (step 2106). Specifically, when recording is being performed in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, the next recording management information position 34 is recorded as one recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163. Value that went ahead. When recording in the recording management information zone 13 other than the reference zone, there is an unrecorded area after recording the RMD 21 / DDS 20 in the recording management information zone 13 currently being recorded, that is, the TRMA 11 currently being recorded is 2 If the recording management information zone 13 is not straddled, the next recording management information position 34 is set to a value obtained by advancing the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 one by one. Does not exist, that is, when the currently recorded TRMA 11 has been used up to the end of the recording management information zone 13 being recorded, or the currently recorded TRMA 11 exists across the two recording management information zones 13, The recording management information position 34 is set as a reference zone recorded end position 47 in the recording management information control memory 163.

  Next, the recording management information writing unit 162 records the updated DDS 20 in the recording management information storage buffer 140, and further determines whether or not the DDS 20 has been normally recorded (step 2107).

  If it is determined that the recording has not been performed normally, that is, if the recording of the DDS 20 has failed, step 2107 is repeated (step 2108).

  When it is determined that the recording has been normally performed, that is, when the recording of the DDS 20 is normally completed, the recording process of the new RMD 21 is completed. At this time, the reference zone recorded end position information 47 or the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 may be updated.

  It should be noted that the recording target zone calculated in step 2101 is affected by defects such as scratches, and the size of the recordable unrecorded area in the recording management information zone 13 to be recorded is sufficient during the execution of step 2103 to step 2108. In such a case, for example, when recording is performed in the recording management information zone 13 # 1, which is the reference zone, the recorded end position information 40 in the recording management information control memory 163 is recorded. If there is a vacancy in the recording management information zone 13 existing at the position indicated by, it is calculated again as a recording target zone, and the above steps 2103 to 2108 may be repeated. The same applies to the reverse case.

  In this way, the RMA 6 is divided into a plurality of zones, the plurality of TRMAs 11 are regarded as one group, the first TRMA 11 of the group is arranged in the reference zone, and other TRMAs 11 are arranged in other identical recording management information zones. 13, the location of the TRMA 11 including the latest RMD 21 to some extent is determined by searching the latest RMD 21 and DDS 20 in the first zone, and the latest RMD 21. By performing a search for the DDS 20, even when the size of the RMA 6 is large, the latest RMD 21 / DDS 20 can be efficiently retrieved.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, if the recorded end position search method described in the first embodiment of the present invention is applied using the recording management area size 32 in the DDS 20, the first embodiment will be described. The effects described in the above can also be obtained.

  In the fourth embodiment, the next recording management information position 34 has been described as the position information where the RMD 21 and the DDS 20 can be recorded next. However, the next recording management information position 34 includes the TRMA 11 that performs recording next. Even if information relating to the recording management information zone 13 (for example, zone number) or information relating to the head position of each zone is held, the same effect as described in the fourth embodiment of the present invention can be obtained. . However, in this case, when the recording management information is updated (recorded), the position of the recording destination TRMA is separately calculated by searching the head position of the unrecorded area in the recording management information zone indicated by the next recording management information position information. You can do it.

  Note that a write-once optical disc generally has two recording methods of “Sequential Recording Mode (SRM)” and “Random Recording Mode (RRM)”. When the Range Information is RRM, information of SBM (Space Bit Map) is recorded as the RMD 21. Here, any information is management information of the recording state in the data area 8.

  Note that the recording management area 6 may be composed of a plurality of areas that are not physically continuous. In this case, it is confirmed whether the head of each area is in an unrecorded state, and the latest After the region where the RMD 21 and DDS 20 exist is limited, the latest RMD 21 and DDS 20 can be searched more efficiently by using the method described in the embodiment of the present invention for that region.

(Embodiment 5)
(1) Data Structure FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the data structure of the optical disc 1 in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, description will be made by replacing the record management information in the first to fourth embodiments with defect management information.

  The area of the optical disc 1 is roughly divided into a lead-in area 7, a data area 8, and a lead-out area 9.

  The data area 8 includes a spare area 14 and an R zone 10.

  The R zone 10 is an area in which arbitrary information can be recorded by the user, such as real-time data such as music and video and computer data such as text and database.

  The spare area 14 means that when a defective block due to a scratch or dust is detected in the R zone 10, data is recorded in place of the defective block, or it is overwritten on a write-once optical disc that cannot be overwritten. In order to make it appear as if the data is to be overwritten, it is a replacement area used when “Logical Overwrite” is performed in which data to be overwritten is recorded in a spare area and the original data is handled in the same way as a defect. Although one spare area 14 is shown on the inner circumference side (that is, the lead-in area 7 side) and one outer circumference side (that is, the lead-out area 9 side) of the data area, the number and arrangement of the spare areas 14 are different. It is free and does not necessarily have to be as illustrated.

  The size of the spare area 14 is determined to be the maximum or minimum size, but can be arbitrarily selected by the user within the range. That is, the spare area 14 is a variable-size area.

  The lead-out area 9 includes a third defect management area 17 (hereinafter referred to as DMA3) and a fourth defect management area 17 (hereinafter referred to as DMA4).

  Both DMA3 and DMA4 are areas for managing information relating to defective blocks on the optical disc 1 and blocks that are logical overwrite targets.

  The lead-in area 7 includes a first defect management area 17 (hereinafter referred to as DMA1), a second defect management area 17 (hereinafter referred to as DMA2), and a defect management work area group 15.

  Both DMA1 and DMA2 are areas for managing information relating to defective blocks in the optical disc 1 and blocks that are logical overwrite targets.

  Here, DMA1 to DMA4 are areas arranged at predetermined positions, respectively, and the size is variable according to the number of defective blocks or blocks that are logical overwrite targets.

  Each of DMA1 to DMA4 includes a DDS 20 and a defect list (DFL: Defect List) 22, and the DFL 22 is arranged next to the DDS 20.

  The defect management work area group 15 includes N defect management work areas (TDMA: Temporary Defect Management Area) 16 (N is a positive number of 1 or more).

  The TDMA 16 is an area for temporarily recording defect management information updated before finalization is performed on the write-once type optical disc 1. The TDMA 16 includes a DFL 22 and a DDS 20, and the DDS 20 is arranged next to the DFL 22. The

  Here, “finalize” means that the write-once optical disc 1 is made to have a data structure compatible with the rewritable optical disc, and the latest contents of the TDMA 16 are recorded in the DMAs 1 to 4.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a data structure of the DDS 20 and the DFL 22.

  The DFL 22 includes a defect list header 50 and zero or more defect entries 51.

  The defect list header 50 includes the number of defect entries, which is the number of defect entries 51 included in the DFL 22.

  The defect entry 51 includes the position information of the defective block detected in the data area 8 and the block that is the target of Logical Overwrite, the replacement block position information of the spare area 14 that is the replacement destination of the block, and the like.

  The DDS 20 is based on the defect management work area group size 52, which is the size of the defect management work area group 15, the next defect list position 54 where the next defect management information is recorded, and the number of updates of the DFL 22 and the DDS 20. An update counter 55 is provided.

  The DDS 20 is information arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated on the basis of the boundary in the recorded TDMA adjacent to the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area. In the fifth embodiment, it is assumed that DDS 20 is arranged at the end of TDMA 16.

  Note that the DDS 20 does not necessarily have to be arranged at the end of the TDMA 16 and may be arranged at a predetermined position that can be calculated from the end position of the TDMA 16.

  The DDS 20 is fixed-length information and has a size of, for example, one block. In the fifth embodiment, the DDS size is set to one block size which is a recording / reproducing unit.

  The DFL 22 is variable-length information and has a size corresponding to the number of registered defect entries 51. That is, the sizes of TDMA16 # 1 to TDMA16 # N are not necessarily the same.

  The DFL 22 may include information such as an anchor indicating the end of the DFL in addition to the defect list header 50 and the defect entry 51.

  The defect management work area group 15 composed of the defect management work area 16 does not have to be in the lead-in area 7 but may be arranged in an area other than the R zone 10, for example, in the lead-out area 9 or the spare area 14. good.

  Even in such a case, the latest defect management information can be efficiently searched by using a method similar to the method described with reference to the record management information in the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that this can be done, and further explanation is omitted here.

  In all the fifth embodiments of the present invention, the terms defect management information, defect management work area, and the like are used. However, as described in the above embodiment, these are information regarding replacement processing to a spare area. Note that it is not only for defects.

  In all the embodiments of the present invention, the amplitude of the reproduction signal is used as a method for searching for an unrecorded area, and whether or not the amplitude of the reproduction signal exceeds a predetermined value is determined. Since the quality is low, that is, the amplitude of the reproduction signal is small, there is a possibility that the defective area is erroneously determined as an unrecorded area that can be additionally recorded. In order to prevent this, for example, when a plurality of blocks in which the amplitude of the reproduction signal does not exceed a predetermined value continues continuously, it is determined that the area is an unrecorded area.

  In all of the embodiments of the present invention, the minimum unit of recording / reproduction has been described as a block unit which is a unit of error correction. However, the same effect can be obtained even when the sector is a minimum unit of access (2 KB). Can be obtained.

  The method for searching for the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area and the information reproducing method according to the present invention can be applied to applications such as an optical disk drive device that needs to be able to efficiently acquire the latest information.

  The write-once information recording medium according to the present invention can be applied to uses such as an optical disc that requires the effect of efficiently acquiring the latest information.

Optical disk area configuration diagram Data structure explanatory diagram of the disk definition structure in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention Explanatory drawing of initialization processing procedure in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of a recorded end position search method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory diagram of recorded end position search procedure in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of write-once optical disc in embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of recording management area and use progress management area in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory diagram of latest record management information acquisition processing in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the update procedure of the record management work information area in the second embodiment of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the update method of the record management work information area in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of write-once optical disc in embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of recording management information zone in embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of recording management work area in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory diagram of latest record management information acquisition processing in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of search target zone position calculation processing in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the update procedure of the record management work information area in the third embodiment of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of recording management information zone in embodiment 4 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of latest record management information acquisition processing in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of search target zone position calculation processing procedure in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the update procedure of the record management work information area in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of data structure of write-once optical disc in embodiment 5 of the present invention Data structure explanatory diagram of defect list and disk definition structure in Embodiment 5 of the present invention Description of data structure of write-once optical disc in conventional example Explanatory drawing of the update method of the record management work information area in the conventional example and the embodiment of the present invention Data structure explanatory diagram of record management information in the conventional example and the embodiment of the present invention Configuration diagram of optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus in the conventional example Explanatory diagram of the recorded end position search procedure in the conventional example Explanatory diagram of the recorded end position search method in the conventional example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Write-once optical disk 2 Track 3 Block 4 Recording information area 5 Information area 6 Recording management area 7 Lead-in area 8 Data area 9 Lead-out area 10 R zone 11 Recording management work area 12 Usage progress management area 13 Recording management information zone 14 Spare Area 15 defect management work area group 16 defect management work area 17 defect management area 20 disk definition structure 21 record management information 22 defect list 30 management information header 31 R zone entry 32 record management area size 33 record management information head position 34 next record Management information position 35 Other information 36 Update counter 37 R zone start position 38 R zone final recording position 40 Recorded end position information 41 RMD head position information 42 Update counter information 43 Recording management area size information 44 Recorded percentage information Information 45 Recording completion block position information 46 Next recording management information position information 47 Reference zone recorded end position information 48 Search target zone number 100 Optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 110 Command processing unit 120 Recording control unit 130 Reproduction control unit 140 Recording management information storage Buffer 150 Data buffer 160 Recording management information processing unit 161 Recording management information reading unit 162 Recording management information writing unit 163 Recording management information control memory 164 Recording management information update unit 165 Search pattern calculation unit

Claims (69)

A search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area,
The recording management area is a variable-size area,
The search method is:
(A) A step of calculating the number of jump blocks based on the size of the recording management area (b) As a first amplitude check, reproduction is performed every block obtained in step (a) from the beginning of the recording management area (C) The second amplitude test includes a step of inspecting a position where the amplitude disappears between a position where the amplitude is present and a position where the amplitude is absent, as a second amplitude test. retrieval method. The step (a)
The search method according to claim 1, wherein the number of jump blocks is calculated so as to be proportional to the size of the recording management area. The record management work area includes:
DDS including record management area size information indicating the size of the record management area
With
The DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area,
The step (a)
(A1) obtaining the recording management area size from the DDS (a2) calculating the number of jump blocks based on the recording management area size obtained in the step (a1). The search method according to claim 1 or 2. An information reproducing apparatus for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area,
The recording management area is a variable-size area,
The information reproducing apparatus includes:
(A) Means for calculating the number of jump blocks based on the size of the recording management area. (B) As a first amplitude check, reproduction is performed every block obtained by the means (a) from the beginning of the recording management area. Means for inspecting to a position where the amplitude of the signal disappears (c) As a second amplitude inspection, means for inspecting a position where the amplitude disappears between the position where the amplitude is present and the position where the amplitude is absent is provided. Information playback device. Said means (a) comprises:
5. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information reproducing apparatus is means for calculating the number of jump blocks so as to be proportional to the size of the recording management area. The record management work area includes:
DDS including record management area size information indicating the size of the record management area
With
The DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area,
Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for obtaining the recording management area size from the DDS; (a2) means for calculating the number of jump blocks based on the recording management area size obtained by the means (a1). The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. A write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are units of recording and reproduction,
The write-once information recording medium is
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A write-once information recording medium, comprising: a use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area. In the use progress management area, as the use degree information,
8. The write-once information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein a recorded area exists so as to be correlated with a ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area and a ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area. . The usage degree information is
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the write-once information recording medium is recorded area ratio information indicating a ratio of a recorded area of the recording management area. The usage degree information is
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the write-once information recording medium is information on a final recording position of the recording management area. The record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state of the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the record management information is arranged in the order of the record management information and the DDS from the top of the record management work area. . The record management work area is allocated in order from the end to the top of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state of the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the recording management information area is arranged in the order of the DDS and the recording management information from the top of the recording management work area. . A search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area,
The search method is:
(A) A step of acquiring the usage degree information from the usage progress management area (b) A step of calculating a search start position in the recording management area based on the usage degree information acquired in the step (a). c) A search method comprising: performing a boundary search between a recorded area and an unrecorded area based on the search start position calculated in the step (b). In the use progress management area, as the use degree information,
The recorded area exists so that the ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area and the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area can be correlated,
The step (a)
(A1) Step of obtaining the number of recorded blocks in the use progress management area (a2) A recorded area in the use progress management area based on the number of blocks obtained in step (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area Further comprising the step of determining the proportion of
The step (b)
From the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained in the step (a2), the position where the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area is approximately calculated, and the search start position 14. The search method according to claim 13, wherein The use progress management area is
Including recorded area ratio information indicating the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area;
The step (a)
(A1) obtaining the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area;
The step (b)
A step of approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired in step (a1), and setting it as a search start position. The search method according to claim 13. The use progress management area is
Including boundary position information that is information about a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area;
The step (a)
The search method according to claim 13, comprising obtaining the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area. An information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area,
The information reproduction method includes:
(A) A step of acquiring the usage degree information from the usage progress management area (b) A step of calculating a search start position in the recording management area based on the usage degree information acquired in the step (a). c) A step of searching for a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area using the search start position calculated in step (b) as a reference, and acquiring recorded boundary position information (d) acquired by step (c) An information reproducing method comprising: reading the latest management information based on a position indicated by the recorded boundary position information. In the use progress management area, as the use degree information,
The recorded area exists so that the ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area and the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area can be correlated,
The step (a)
(A1) Step of obtaining the number of recorded blocks in the use progress management area (a2) A recorded area in the use progress management area based on the number of blocks obtained in step (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area Further comprising the step of determining the proportion of
The step (b)
From the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained in the step (a2), the position where the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area is approximately calculated, and the search start position The information reproducing method according to claim 17, wherein the information reproducing method comprises: The use progress management area is
Including recorded area ratio information indicating the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area;
The step (a)
(A1) obtaining the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area;
The step (b)
A step of approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired in step (a1), and setting it as a search start position. The information reproduction method according to claim 17. The use progress management area is
Including boundary position information that is information about a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area;
The step (a)
The information reproducing method according to claim 17, wherein the information is the step of acquiring the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area. The record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
Arranged in the order of the record management information and the DDS from the top of the record management work area,
The step (d)
(D1) A step of reading the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded end position information, which is the recorded boundary position information acquired in step (c). (D2) The DDS read out in step (d1) (D3) The step of reading the latest recording management information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired in step (d2) is further provided. The information reproducing method according to claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20. The record management work area is allocated in order from the end to the top of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
Arranged in the order of the DDS and the record management information from the top of the record management work area,
The step (d)
(D1) A step of reading the latest DDS with reference to a position indicated by the recorded head position information which is the recorded boundary position information acquired in step (c). (D2) The DDS read out in step (d1) (D3) The step of reading the latest recording management information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired in step (d2) is further provided. The information reproducing method according to claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20. An information reproducing apparatus for reading information from a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area,
The information reproducing apparatus includes:
(A) Means for obtaining the use degree information from the use progress management area (b) Means for calculating a search start position in the record management area based on the use degree information obtained by the means (a) c) Means for performing a boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area on the basis of the search start position calculated by the means (b), and obtaining recorded boundary position information. (d) Obtained by the means (c) An information reproducing apparatus comprising: means for reading out the latest management information based on a position indicated by the recorded boundary position information. In the use progress management area, as the use degree information,
The recorded area exists so that the ratio of the recorded area in the use progress management area and the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area can be correlated,
Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) Means for obtaining the number of recorded blocks in the use progress management area (a2) A recorded area in the use progress management area from the number of blocks obtained in the means (a) and the total number of blocks in the use progress management area Further comprising means for determining the ratio of
The means (b)
From the ratio of the recorded area of the use progress management area obtained by the means (a2), the position where the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area is approximately calculated, and the search start position 24. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the information reproducing apparatus comprises: The use progress management area is
Including recorded area ratio information indicating the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area;
Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for acquiring the latest recorded area ratio information arranged in the use progress management area;
The means (b)
A means for approximately calculating a position where a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the recording management area exists from the recorded area ratio information acquired by the means (a1) and setting it as a search start position; 24. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 23. The use progress management area is
Including boundary position information that is information about a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area;
Said means (a) comprises:
24. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, which is means for acquiring the latest boundary position information arranged in the use progress management area. The record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
Arranged in the order of the record management information and the DDS from the top of the record management work area,
Said means (d) comprises:
(D1) Means for reading the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded end position information which is the recorded boundary position information acquired by the means (c). (D2) The DDS read by the means (d1). (D3) further comprising: means for reading the latest recording management information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired by the means (d2). 27. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, claim 24, claim 25 or claim 26. The record management work area is allocated in order from the end to the top of the record management area,
Record management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A DDS including recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management information;
Arranged in the order of the DDS and the record management information from the top of the record management work area,
Said means (d) comprises:
(D1) Means for reading the latest DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded head position information, which is the recorded boundary position information acquired by the means (c). (D2) The DDS read by the means (d1). (D3) further comprising: means for reading the latest recording management information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired by the means (d2). 27. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, claim 24, claim 25 or claim 26. An information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area,
The information recording method includes:
(A) a step of selecting an unrecorded area in the record management area as a record management work area; (b) a step of recording the management information in the record management work area selected in step (a). c) a step of calculating the usage level information based on a recording progress level of the recording management area; (d) an unrecorded area in the usage progress management area based on the usage level information obtained in step (c); An information recording method comprising: a step of recording from the top of The step (c)
(C1) calculating the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area (c2) so that the ratio obtained in the step (c1) and the ratio of the recorded area in the use management progress management area can be correlated A step of calculating the number of blocks to be recorded in the use progress management area,
The step (d)
30. The information recording method according to claim 29, wherein recording is performed for the number of blocks obtained in step (c2) from the beginning of an unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the usage degree information. The step (c)
(C1) calculating recorded area ratio information which is a ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area;
The step (d)
30. The information recording according to claim 29, wherein the recorded information is the recorded area ratio information obtained in step (c1) from the beginning of the unrecorded area in the usage progress management area as the usage degree information. Method. The step (c)
(C1) calculating boundary position information relating to a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area;
The step (d)
30. The information recording method according to claim 29, wherein the boundary position information obtained in step (c1) is recorded from the beginning of an unrecorded area in the use progress management area as the use degree information. The step (a)
(A1) selecting a head of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The step (b)
(B1) Position information with reference to the record management work area selected in step (a),
Step (b2) of recording management information position information which is position information of recording management information indicating a recording state of the user data area. (B2) From the head side of the recording management work area selected in step (a), the recording management information. The information recording method according to claim 29, 30, 31, or 32, further comprising: a step of recording the DDS including the recording management information position information after the recording. The step (a)
(A1) selecting a head of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The step (b)
(B1) The position information based on the record management work area selected in step (a1) is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) A step of recording the recording management information at a position indicated by the recording management information position information. (b3) A step of determining whether or not the recording management information has been normally recorded in the step (b2). (b4) A normal operation in the step (b3). When it is determined that recording is not possible, the step returns to the step (a1). (B5) When it is determined that the recording has been normally performed in the step (b3), the next area to the area recorded immediately before is recorded. A step of recording the DDS including the recording management information position information (b6) a step of determining whether or not the recording was successfully performed in the step (b5) 7) The method further comprises the step of returning to the step (b5) when it is determined in the step (b6) that the recording is not normally performed. Item 33. The information recording method according to Item 32. The step (a)
(A1) selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The step (b)
(B1) The position information based on the record management work area selected in step (a1) is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) further comprising the step of recording from the head of the recording management work area selected in step (a1) in such a manner that the recording management information is arranged next to the DDS including the recording management information position information. An information recording method according to claim 29, claim 30, or claim 31 or claim 32. The step (a)
(A1) selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The step (b)
(B1) The position information based on the record management work area selected in step (a1) is set as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) A step of recording the recording management information at a position indicated by the recording management information position information. (b3) A step of determining whether or not the recording management information has been normally recorded in the step (b2). (b4) A normal operation in the step (b3). A step of returning to step (a1) when it is determined that recording is not possible (b5) When it is determined that recording was successful in step (b3), an area before the area recorded immediately before is recorded; A step of recording the DDS including the recording management information position information (b6) a step of determining whether or not the recording was successfully performed in the step (b5) 7) The method further comprises the step of returning to the step (b5) when it is determined in the step (b6) that the recording is not normally performed. Item 33. The information recording method according to Item 32. An information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area capable of assigning at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area;
A use progress management area including use degree information indicating a recording progress degree of the record management area,
The information recording device includes:
(A) means for selecting an unrecorded area in the record management area as a record management work area; (b) means for recording the management information in the record management work area selected by the means (a); c) Means for calculating the usage level information based on the recording progress level of the recording management area. (d) Based on the usage level information obtained by the means (c), an unrecorded area in the usage progress management area. An information recording apparatus comprising: means for recording from the top of the head. Said means (c) comprises:
(C1) Means for calculating the ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area (c2) The ratio calculated in the means (c1) and the ratio of the recorded area in the use management progress management area are correlated. Means for calculating the number of blocks to be recorded in the use progress management area,
Said means (d) comprises:
38. The information recording apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said usage degree information is means for recording the number of blocks obtained by said means (c2) from the beginning of an unrecorded area in said usage progress management area. Said means (c) comprises:
(C1) means for calculating recorded area ratio information which is a ratio of the recorded area in the recording management area;
Said means (d) comprises:
38. The information recording according to claim 37, characterized in that said recorded area ratio information obtained by said means (c1) is recorded as said usage degree information from the beginning of an unrecorded area in said usage progress management area. apparatus. Said means (c) comprises:
(C1) means for calculating boundary position information relating to a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the recording management area;
Said means (d) comprises:
38. The information recording apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said use degree information is means for recording said boundary position information obtained by said means (c1) from the beginning of an unrecorded area in said use progress management area. Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for selecting, as the record management work area, the head of an unrecorded area in the record management area;
The means (b)
(B1) Means for using the position information on the basis of the record management work area selected in the means (a) as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) further comprising means for recording in a form in which a DDS including the recording management information position information is arranged next to the recording management information from the head side of the recording management work area selected in the means (a). 41. The information recording apparatus according to claim 37, claim 38, claim 39, or claim 40. Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for selecting, as the record management work area, the head of an unrecorded area in the record management area;
The means (b)
(B1) Means for using the position information on the basis of the record management work area selected in the means (a1) as record management information position information which is position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) Means for recording the record management information at the position indicated by the record management information position information (b3) Means for judging whether or not the means (b2) has been recorded normally (b4) Normal for the means (b3) Means for returning to the means (a1) when it is judged that recording is not possible (b5) When it is judged that the means (b3) was able to record normally, the area next to the area recorded immediately before, Means for recording the DDS including the record management information position information (b6) Means for judging whether or not the means (b5) was able to record normally (b7) If the means (b6) is not able to record normally When it is cross-sectional, it said means (b5) further comprises means for returning to said claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 the information recording apparatus according. Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The means (b)
(B1) Means for using the position information on the basis of the record management work area selected in the means (a1) as the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) further comprising means for recording in a form in which the recording management information is arranged next to the DDS including the recording management information position information from the head of the recording management work area selected in the means (a1). 41. The information recording apparatus according to claim 37, claim 38, claim 39, or claim 40. Said means (a) comprises:
(A1) means for selecting the end of an unrecorded area in the record management area as the record management work area;
The means (b)
(B1) Means for using the position information on the basis of the record management work area selected in the means (a1) as record management information position information which is position information of the record management information indicating the recording state of the user data area. b2) Means for recording the record management information at the position indicated by the record management information position information (b3) Means for judging whether or not the means (b2) has been recorded normally (b4) Normal for the means (b3) Means for returning to the means (a1) when it is judged that recording is not possible (b5) When it is judged that the means (b3) has been successfully recorded, the area before the area recorded immediately before is recorded, Means for recording the DDS including the record management information position information (b6) Means for judging whether or not the means (b5) was able to record normally (b7) If the means (b6) is not able to record normally When it is cross-sectional, it said means (b5) further comprises means for returning to said claim 37 or claim 38 or claim 39 or claim 40 the information recording apparatus according. A write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are units of recording and reproduction,
The write-once information recording medium is
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The write-once information recording medium, wherein the recording management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship. The record management area includes a DDS including a next record management information position which is position information for recording the management information next time.
46. The write-once information recording medium according to claim 45, comprising: The DDS is further
Update counter information indicating the number of updates of the record management information in the record management area,
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 45 or 46, wherein (P-2), (Q- (P + 2)), and (R- (Q + 2)) are equal to each other. The write-once information recording medium according to claim 45 or 46, wherein each of the zones has a fixed size. The record management work area is allocated in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
Consists of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and DDS,
The DDS is
Including record management information position information which is position information of the record management information,
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 45, 46, 47, or 48, wherein the recording management information and the DDS are arranged in this order from the top of the recording management work area. . The record management work area is allocated in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Consists of recording management information indicating the recording state of the user data area and DDS,
The DDS is
Including record management information position information which is position information of the record management information,
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 45, 46, 47, or 48, wherein the DDS and the record management information are arranged in this order from the top of the record management work area. . A search method for obtaining a boundary position between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The record management work area includes:
Next, a DDS including the next recording management information position information, which is the position information of the recording management work area for recording the management information,
The DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area,
The search method is:
(A) A step of retrieving a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of the reference zone and acquiring the position information (b) The DDS is determined based on the position indicated by the position information acquired in the step (a). A step of reading (c) a step of acquiring the next recording management information position information from the DDS read in step (b); and (d) a step of acquiring the next recording management information position information acquired in step (c). (E) A boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area in the search target zone is performed using the search start position calculated in step (d) as a reference. A search method comprising the steps of: An information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
With
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The record management work area includes:
Consists of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area and DDS,
The DDS is
Record management information position information which is position information of the record management information;
Next, the next recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management work area for recording the management information,
The DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area,
The search method is:
(A) A step of retrieving a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area of the reference zone and acquiring the position information (b) The DDS is determined based on the position indicated by the position information acquired in the step (a). A step of reading (c) a step of acquiring the next recording management information position information from the DDS read in step (b); and (d) a step of acquiring the next recording management information position information acquired in step (c). (E) A boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area in the search target zone is performed using the search start position calculated in step (d) as a reference. A step of acquiring recorded boundary position information. (F) When the search target zone searched in the step (e) is in an unrecorded state, the step The step of setting the position information obtained in a) as the recorded boundary position information (g) The DDS based on the position indicated by the recorded boundary position information obtained in the step (e) or the step (f) A step of reading (h) a step of acquiring the recording management information position information from the DDS read in step (g); (i) a latest information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired in step (h); An information reproducing method comprising: reading out the recording management information. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
Arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management area,
The step (a) is a step of searching for a recorded region end position of the reference zone and obtaining the position information thereof,
The step (e) is a step of searching for a recorded region end position in the search target zone based on the search start position calculated in the step (d) and acquiring recorded boundary position information. 53. The information reproducing method according to claim 52, wherein the information reproducing method is characterized in that: The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Arranged in the order of the DDS and the recording management information from the top of the recording management area,
The step (a) is a step of searching for the recorded region start position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information.
The step (e) is a step of searching for a recorded region start position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated in the step (d) and acquiring recorded boundary position information. 53. The information reproducing method according to claim 52, wherein the information reproducing method is characterized in that: An information reproducing apparatus for reading information from a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The record management work area includes:
Consists of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area and DDS,
The DDS is
Record management information position information which is position information of the record management information;
Next, the next recording management information position information which is position information of the recording management work area for recording the management information,
The DDS is arranged at a predetermined position in the record management work area,
The search device includes:
(A) means for searching for a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the reference zone and acquiring the position information; (b) the DDS based on the position indicated by the position information acquired by the means (a); Means for reading (c) means for acquiring the next recording management information position information from the DDS read by the means (b); (d) including the next recording management information position information acquired by the means (c); And (e) performing a boundary search between the recorded area and the unrecorded area in the search target zone based on the search start position calculated by the means (d). , Means for acquiring recorded boundary position information (f) When the search target zone searched by the means (e) is in an unrecorded state, the position information obtained by the means (a) is recorded boundary (G) means for reading out the DDS with reference to the position indicated by the recorded boundary position information obtained by the means (e) or the means (f) (h) read by the means (g) Means for acquiring the recording management information position information from the DDS; (i) means for reading the latest recording management information from the position indicated by the recording management information position information acquired by the means (h). Information reproducing apparatus. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
Arranged in the order of the recording management information and the DDS from the top of the recording management area,
The means (a) is a means for searching for a recorded area end position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information.
The means (e) is means for searching for a recorded region end position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated by the means (d), and acquiring recorded boundary position information. 56. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 55, characterized in that it is characterized in that: The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Arranged in the order of the DDS and the recording management information from the top of the recording management area,
The means (a) is a means for searching for the recorded area start position of the reference zone and acquiring the position information thereof.
The means (e) is a means for searching for a recorded region start position in the search target zone with reference to the search start position calculated by the means (d) and acquiring recorded boundary position information. 56. An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 55, characterized in that it is characterized in that: An information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
With
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The information recording method includes:
(A) calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information (b) selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone (c) the step (b) Position information based on the record management work area selected in
(D) The recording management information position information which is the position information of the recording management information indicating the recording state in the user data area. (D) The recording to be recorded next to the previous recording management work area selected in the step (b). (E) The recording management work area selected in step (b) includes the recording management information and the positional information of the recording management information. And recording the DDS including the record management information position information and the next record management information position information so as to arrange the DDS at a predetermined position in the record management work area. Method. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
The step (e)
From the head of the recording management work area selected in step (b), next to the recording management information, recording management information position information that is position information of the recording management information, and the next recording management information position information, 59. The information recording method according to claim 58, wherein the information recording step is a step of recording so as to arrange a DDS including The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
The step (e)
Next to the DDS including the record management information position information, which is the position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information, from the beginning of the record management work area selected in the step (b). 59. The information recording method according to claim 58, wherein the information recording method is a step of recording so as to arrange the recording management information. An information recording method for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
With
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The information recording method includes:
(A) calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information (b) selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone (c) the step (b) Position information based on the record management work area selected in
(D) recording management information position information which is position information of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area; (d) recording the recording management information in the previous recording management work area selected in step (b); Step (e) A step of determining whether or not the recording is normally performed in the step (d) (f) A step of returning to the step (c) when it is determined that the recording is not normally performed in the step (e) (G) If it is determined in step (e) that the recording was successful, the position information of the recording management work area to be recorded next to the previous recording management work area selected in step (b) is recorded next. Step for setting management information position information (h) In the previous period record management work area selected in step (b), record management information position information which is position information of the record management information A step of recording the DDS including the next recording management information position information so as to be arranged at a predetermined position in the recording management work area; (i) a step of determining whether or not the recording can be normally performed in the step (h); (J) An information recording method comprising a step of returning to step (g) when it is determined in step (i) that recording has not been normally performed. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
The step (d)
Recording so as to arrange the record management information on the top side of the previous period record management work area selected in step (b);
In the step (h), a DDS including recording management information position information, which is position information of the recording management information, and the next recording management information position information is added to the previous recording management work area selected in the step (b). 62. The information recording according to claim 61, wherein said information recording is a step of recording in the recording management work area so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the end side of said recording management information recorded in said step (d). Method. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Said means (d) comprises:
Means for recording so as to arrange the record management information on the tail side of the previous record management work area selected in the means (b);
The means (h) includes a DDS including record management information position information, which is position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information in the previous record management work area selected by the means (b). 62. Information recording according to claim 61, characterized in that said information recording means is means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the front side of said recording management information recorded by said means (d) in said recording management work area. Method. An information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
With
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The information recording device includes:
(A) Means for calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information (b) Means for selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone (c) The means (b) Position information based on the record management work area selected in
(D) recording management information position information which is position information of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area; (d) the recording for recording next to the previous recording management work area selected by the means (b); (E) The record management work area selected by the means (b) includes the record management information and the position information of the record management information. An information record comprising: means for recording the DDS including the record management information position information and the next record management information position information so as to arrange the DDS at a predetermined position in the record management work area. apparatus. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
Said means (e) comprises:
From the head of the recording management work area selected in the means (b), the recording management information position information, which is the position information of the recording management information, and the next recording management information position information, next to the recording management information, 65. An information recording apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the information recording apparatus records the DDS including the DDS. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Said means (e) comprises:
Next to the DDS including the record management information position information which is the position information of the record management information and the next record management information position information from the head side of the record management work area selected by the means (b), The information recording apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the information recording apparatus is a means for recording so as to arrange the recording management information. An information recording apparatus for writing information to a write-once information recording medium,
The write-once information recording medium is
Recording / playback is performed in block units, which is the unit of recording / playback,
A user data area for recording user data; and
A recording management area comprising at least two zones to which at least one recording management work area for recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area can be allocated;
With
Among the at least two zones, one reference zone serving as a reference disposed at a predetermined position is provided.
In the reference zone, the first recording management work area, the (P + 1) th recording management area, the (Q + 1) th recording management area, the (R + 1) th recording management area,... ,
In the second zone, the second record management work area, ..., the Pth record management work area are arranged,
In the third zone, the (P + 2) th record management work area, ..., the Qth record management work area are arranged,
In the fourth zone, the (Q + 2) th record management work area,..., The Rth record management work area are arranged.
(P, Q and R are integers of 2 or more satisfying P ≦ (Q−2) and Q ≦ (R−2), respectively)
The record management work area is arranged in the zone so as to satisfy the above relationship,
The information recording device includes:
(A) Means for calculating a recording target zone for recording the management information (b) Means for selecting an unrecorded area as a recording management work area in the recording target zone (c) The means (b) Position information based on the record management work area selected in
(D) recording management information position information which is position information of recording management information indicating a recording state in the user data area. (D) record the recording management information in the previous recording management work area selected by the means (b). Means (e) Means for determining whether or not the recording was normally performed by the means (d) (f) Means for returning to the means (c) when it is determined that the recording could not be normally performed by the means (e) (G) When it is determined that the recording can be normally performed by the means (e), the position information of the recording management work area to be recorded next to the previous recording management work area selected by the means (b) is recorded next. Means for setting management information position information (h) In the previous period record management work area selected by means (b), the record management information position information as the position information of the record management information and the next record management information position information are Including DDS, before Means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position in the recording management work area (i) Means for determining whether or not recording was normally performed by means (h) (j) Recording was not normally performed by means (i) An information recording apparatus comprising: means for returning to the means (g) when it is determined. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the beginning to the end of the zone,
Said means (d) comprises:
Means for recording the recording management information so as to be arranged at the head of the previous-term recording management work area selected by the means (b);
The means (h) includes a DDS including record management information position information, which is position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information in the previous record management work area selected by the means (b). 68. Information recording according to claim 67, characterized in that said information recording means is a means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the end side of said recording management information recorded by said means (d) in said recording management work area. apparatus. The record management work area includes:
Assigned in order from the end of the zone to the beginning,
Said means (d) comprises:
Means for recording so as to arrange the record management information on the tail side of the previous record management work area selected in the means (b);
The means (h) includes a DDS including record management information position information, which is position information of the record management information, and the next record management information position information in the previous record management work area selected by the means (b). 68. Information recording according to claim 67, characterized in that said information recording means is a means for recording so as to be arranged at a predetermined position on the head side of said recording management information recorded by said means (d) in said recording management work area. apparatus.

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