JP2000215446A - Information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the performance of a reproducing of information, which is recorded by a variable length packet writing system, on a recording medium, to clearly indicate the boundary of a packet at the end of a track and to prevent the occurrence of erasing at an abnormal position against an overwritable recording medium. SOLUTION: A driving controller 1 records packets in a variable length packet writing system against a recording medium, to which information is written only once, or an optical disk 12 that is a recording medium, to which an overwrite is possible on the same region. Then, the packet lengths are stored in a nonvolatile memory 7. During a reproducing of the information on the disk 12, a line block and a line out block in each packet are not read, based on the packet lengths of the packets that are the objects of the reproducing stored in the memory 7 and only user data are read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus such as an optical disk drive for recording and reproducing tracks composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art CD-ROMs on which information can be written only once
R disk (Compact Disc Record)
able) or a CD-ROM that can overwrite the same area
RW disc (Compact Disc Rewri)
An information recording / reproducing apparatus that divides information into a plurality of packets using a “table” and records the information on a disk supports a recording method called a packet write method (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-139052). .

[0003] A packet recorded by such a packet write method is very small in size as compared with a track, and a plurality of packets can be recorded in a track. Therefore, thousands of packets are recorded on a disk. can do. A track is composed of a pre-gap part and a user data part, and a packet is composed of a run-in block and a run-out block.

There are two types of packet write systems, a fixed-length packet write system in which the packet length is recorded to a fixed value and recording, and a variable-length packet write system in which the packet length is arbitrarily changed and recorded.

[0005] In the fixed-length packet write method,
The length of each packet (hereinafter, referred to as “packet length”) is determined by TDB (Track Description) in the pre-gap.
tor block), but not by the variable length packet write method.

When reading a recorded packet, it is necessary to skip other run-in blocks and run-out blocks in order to read only the data in the user data portion in the packet.

In the fixed-length packet write method, the length of a packet can be recognized from the TDB, so that the position of a run-in block or a run-out block can be calculated and skipped.

[0008]

However, in the conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus, when reproducing information recorded on the recording medium by the variable length packet write method, each packet is actually read and an error occurs in the run-out block. Since it is necessary to determine the length using this, there is a problem that the performance at the time of reproduction is reduced.

In addition, since the boundaries between packets at the end of a track are unclear, there is also a problem that when erasing information on a rewritable recording medium, erasing may occur at an abnormal position.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to improve the performance of reproducing information on a recording medium recorded by a variable length packet write method. It is another object of the present invention to make the packet at the end of the track clear in boundaries and to prevent erasure at an abnormal position on a rewritable recording medium.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention records and reproduces a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. In the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the packet length is recorded on the recording medium by the variable length packet write method, and then the packet length is stored in the packet length storing means when reproducing the recording medium. Read control means for reading only the user data in each packet based on the packet length.

Also, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten, a packet is already written in a variable length packet write system. When a recording medium on which is recorded is inserted, packet length storage means for reading all packets recorded on the recording medium and obtaining and storing each packet length, and when reproducing the recording medium, the packet length It is preferable to provide read control means for reading out only user data in each packet based on the packet length stored in the storage means.

Further, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten, packet length recording is performed in advance on the recording medium. Length recording track reserving means for reserving a recording track, and packet length recording means for recording each packet length in the packet length recording track each time a packet is recorded on the recording medium by the variable length packet writing method. It is preferable to provide read control means for reading only the user data in each packet based on the packet length recorded on the packet length recording track by the packet length recording means when reproducing the recording medium.

Further, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten, the recording capable of overwriting the same area Each time a packet is recorded on the medium by the variable length packet write method, the packet length of each packet is recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track containing the packet, and after the recording of the track is completed, the pre-gap portion of the track is recorded. And a read control means for reading only the user data in the packet based on the packet length recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track to be reproduced when reproducing the recording medium capable of overwriting the same area. It is good to provide.

Further, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten, packets are already written by a variable length packet write method. When an overwritable recording medium is inserted in the same area where the packet is recorded but the packet length is not recorded, all the packets in the track recorded on the recording medium are read and the respective packet lengths are obtained. Packet length recording means for recording the packet length of each packet in the pre-gap part of the track and rewriting the pre-gap part of the track, and when reproducing the recording medium capable of overwriting the same area, Based on the packet length recorded in the pre-gap part, the user data in the packet is It may be provided a read control means for reading out.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CD-RW drive according to one embodiment of the present invention.

This CD-RW drive is an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing tracks composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. 1, a motor 2, a rotation control unit 3, an optical pickup 4, an actuator control unit 5, a signal control unit 6, a nonvolatile memory 7, a buffer 8, a laser drive circuit 9, and an external interface 10.

The drive controller 1 includes a CPU, an RO,
It is realized by a microcomputer including an M, a RAM, and the like, controls the entire device of the CD-RW drive, and performs various functions related to the present invention. The motor 2 rotates the optical disc 12.

The rotation control unit 3 controls the motor 2. The optical pickup 4 irradiates the optical disc 12 with laser light and receives the reflected light during data recording and reproduction. The actuator control section 5 controls the optical pickup 4. The signal control section 6 controls a signal from the optical pickup 4.

The nonvolatile memory 7 is a storage area for storing various data such as a disk ID of the optical disk 12, a recording power value at the time of data recording, and a packet length of each packet recorded on the optical disk 12. The buffer 8 is a memory used by the drive controller 1 as a temporary storage area for storing data and the like.

The laser drive circuit 9 drives the laser beam irradiation of the optical pickup 4. External interface 10
Is used to transmit and receive commands, data, and the like to and from the host computer 11. Here, the interface with the host computer 11 is SCSI (Smal
l Computer System).

The host computer 11 is a device such as a personal computer with a built-in microcomputer, and controls a CD-RW drive. Optical disk 12
Means a CD-R disc that can be written only once, a CD-RW disc that can overwrite the same area, a DVD-R,
And a recording medium such as a DVD-RAM.

That is, after the drive controller 1 or the like records a packet on a recording medium by the variable length packet write method, the packet length storage means for storing the packet length and the packet length storage means for reproducing the recording medium are stored in the packet length storage means. It functions as a reading control unit that reads out only the user data in each packet based on the stored packet length.

When a recording medium on which packets are already recorded by the variable-length packet write method is inserted, all the packets recorded on the recording medium are read, and the packet length is stored by obtaining and storing each packet length. During the reproduction of the recording medium, it also functions as a read control unit that reads out only the user data in each packet based on the packet length stored in the packet length storage unit.

Further, a packet length recording track reserving means for pre-reserving a packet length recording track on the recording medium and a packet length recording track each time a packet is recorded on the recording medium by the variable length packet writing method. Packet length recording means for recording the packet length of the packet and read control means for reading out only the user data in each packet based on the packet length recorded on the packet length recording track by the packet length recording means during reproduction of the recording medium. Perform the function.

Further, each time a packet is recorded in the same area in a recording medium that can be overwritten by a variable-length packet write method,
Packet length recording means for recording the packet length of each packet in a pregap portion of a track including the packet and rewriting the pregap portion of the track after recording of the track is completed, and a recording medium capable of overwriting the same area At the time of reproduction, the function of a read control means for reading out only the user data in the packet based on the packet length recorded in the pre-gap portion of the reproduction target track is also performed.

Further, when a rewritable recording medium is inserted in the same area where a packet has already been recorded by the variable length packet write method but the packet length is not recorded, the track recorded on the recording medium is Reads all the packets in the packet, finds the length of each packet, records the packet length of each packet in the pre-gap part of the track, and rewrites the pre-gap part of the track. At the time of reproducing the medium, it functions as a read control unit that reads out only the user data in the packet based on the packet length recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track to be reproduced.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of a recording area of the optical disk 12. Fig. 2 shows the CD-RW drive.
Recording and reproduction of data on and from the optical disk 12 having the format shown in FIG.

The optical disk 12 has a power calibration area (Power Calib) from the inner circumference side.
ration Area: PCA 13, Program Memory Area
a: PMA) 14, Lead-in area (Lead-in)
Area 17 and a program area (Program)
Area 15).

The PCA 13 is an area for calibrating the recording power. The PMA 14 is an area for recording track information. The program area 15
This is an area for recording user data. Session (S
The session 16 is one unit area including a lead-in area, one or a plurality of tracks, and a lead-out area.

The lead-in area 17 is an area indicating the beginning of the session 16, and is an area for recording track information (TOC) in the session 16. Track 18
Is an area for recording various data such as user files and music. The lead-out area 19 is the session 1
6 is the area indicating the end of

The PCA 13 has 100 test areas and 100 count areas, respectively.
When the W drive performs recording for the first time on the optical disc 12, the laser power calibration (O
PC) to set an appropriate recording power for each optical disc.

In the program area 15, data is recorded in units of tracks 18, and the address,
Information such as the data mode is the PMA 14 or the lead-in area 1
7 recorded.

In the lead-in area 17, table of contents information (Ta
ble Of Contents (TOC) is recorded. The information of the track 18 included in the session 16 is recorded in the TOC.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of a track recorded on an optical disk by a track-at-once method.

The pre-gap (Pre-
The (Gap) section 20 is located at the beginning of the track and is a section corresponding to a silent section in terms of music (150 blocks, 2 blocks).
25 blocks).

Link Block
Reference numeral 21 denotes a block (one block) meaning a connection between tracks. Run-in block
-In Block) 22 is a block (4 blocks) meaning the head of the track.

User Data (User Data) Unit 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes an area for recording data transferred from the user (host computer 11). The run-out block (Run-out Block) 24 is a block (two blocks) indicating the end of the track.

In the case of recording information using the track-at-once method, the CD-RW drive uses the user data section 2
3 must be recorded at once. This is because, if the recording is interrupted during the recording operation, the continuity of the data on the optical disk 12 is lost, and that portion cannot be reproduced.

Therefore, a buffer 8 is provided in the CD-RW drive, and the data sent from the host computer 11 is temporarily stored in the buffer 8 so that the recording operation is not interrupted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a track format when data is recorded on an optical disk by a packet writing method.

Packet 2 in the track (Packet)
5 is a group of sectors existing in the track,
The minimum is one sector. In the packet write method, this packet is recorded with one or several data receptions.

Link Block
Reference numeral 26 denotes a block (one block) indicating a connection between packets. Run-in block
(In Block) 27 is a block (4 blocks) indicating the head of the packet.

User Data (User Data) Part 2
Numeral 8 is for recording data transferred from the user. Run Out Bloc
k) 29 is a block (2 blocks) indicating the end of the packet.

A track recorded by the packet write method is composed of a plurality of packets 25. CD-R
The W drive records the packet 25 with one or several data receptions. For example, the optical disk 12 is formed in such a manner that one packet 25 is contained in one file.
To record.

In the packet write method as described above, the number of sectors to be recorded at one time is smaller than that in the track-at-once method, so that the buffer underrun (Buffer Under R) generated due to poor system operation efficiency.
un) It is an advantage of the packet write method that an error hardly occurs and that it can be handled like a floppy disk.

In the packet write system, fixed-length packets (Fixed-length packets) recorded with the same packet size are used.
Packet) write method and a variable length packet (Variable Pac) in which the packet size changes for each recording.
ket) write method.

In general, fixed-length packets (Fixed P
The size of the variable-length packet (Variable Packet) is set widely from one sector to several thousands of sectors according to the size of the file, while the size of the packet is set to be smaller than the buffer size of the CD-RW drive. ing.

Next, the recording and reproduction processing of information in the CD-RW drive will be described. 5 to 8
3 is a flowchart showing a process of recording and reproducing information according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention. Claim 1 of the present invention
5 is that the variable length packet search process shown in FIG. 8 is executed as the process according to claim 2 in the process of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, in the processing according to claim 1 of the present invention, when the optical disk 12 is inserted in the CD-RW drive, a step (indicated by "S" in the figure) is performed.
In step 1, it is confirmed whether or not a variable-length packet has been recorded on the optical disk 12.

If the variable-length packet has not been recorded, the process proceeds to step 4 to proceed to the variable-length packet recording process. If the packet is recorded in the process, the process proceeds to step 3 to execute the variable-length packet reproduction process. , And this process ends.

If the variable length packet has been recorded on the inserted optical disc 12 in the judgment of step 1, the process proceeds to step 2 to check whether the packet length has been stored. If it has been stored, the process proceeds to step 3 to execute variable length packet reproduction processing, and this processing ends.

If it is determined in step 2 that the packet length has not been stored, the flow advances to step 5 to execute the variable length packet search processing according to claim 2 of the present invention, and the packet length is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7. I do. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 3, where the variable length packet reproducing process is executed, and the process ends.

Next, the variable length packet recording process (step 4), variable length packet reproduction process (step 3), and variable length packet search process (step 5) will be described in detail.

First, the variable length packet recording process is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Step 11
Then, a variable length packet recording process (variable length packet write) is started in response to a variable length packet recording command from the host computer 11.

Then, the process proceeds to step S12, where the packet data is received from the host computer 11, and the process proceeds to step S1.
Proceed to 3 to execute a packet write process. When the packet write processing is completed, the process proceeds to step 14 to store the packet length in the non-volatile memory 7, and proceeds to step 15 to end the variable length packet recording process.

Next, the variable length packet reproduction processing is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. At the time of variable length packet reproduction processing for reproducing the packet recorded in step 21, the process proceeds to step 22, and a packet read command is received from the host computer 11.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 23, at which the packet length corresponding to the packet to be reproduced is read from the packet lengths already stored in the nonvolatile memory 7, and the process proceeds to a step 24, at which the packet length corresponding to the packet length is read. Run-in block, run-out (Run-in)
-Out) While skipping the block, read only the user data in the user data section, and proceed to step 25 to end the variable length packet reproduction processing.

Next, the variable length packet search processing is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In a variable length packet search process for searching for a packet recorded with a variable length in step 31, the process proceeds to step 32, where the optical disk 12
Read the variable length packet already recorded in

Then, the process proceeds to a step 33, wherein a packet length corresponding to the variable length packet is obtained.
To store the packet length in the non-volatile memory 7;
Proceeding to step 35, the variable length packet search process ends.

As described above, after the variable length packet (Variable Packet) is recorded on the optical disc 12, the packet length is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 in the CD-RW drive, whereby the optical disc 1 is recorded.
When reading the packet recorded in No. 2, it is possible to skip unnecessary data such as run-in blocks and run-out blocks using the already stored packet length, and read only necessary user data.

Therefore, the complicated processing of deleting unnecessary data at the time of reproducing information in the CD-RW drive can be eliminated, the reproducing time can be shortened, and the reproducing performance can be improved.

Further, since the boundary of the packet at the end of the track becomes clear, when erasing information on the optical disk capable of overwriting the same area, occurrence of erasure at an abnormal position can be prevented. Can be improved at the time of erasing.

Further, when the optical disk 12 recorded by the variable length packet write method is inserted, all the packets are read and the respective packet lengths are obtained and stored in the non-volatile memory 7, so that the packet lengths are stored. When reproducing an optical disk 12 that has not been read, unnecessary data such as run-in blocks and run-out blocks can be automatically skipped, and only necessary user data can be read.

Therefore, for a normal optical disk on which packets are recorded by the variable-length packet write method (other than the optical disk on which the above-described packet length storage processing has been performed), unnecessary data is deleted at the time of information reproduction in the same manner as described above. Since the complicated processing is eliminated and the reproduction time is shortened, the performance at the time of reproduction can be improved.

Next, if the optical disk in which the packet length is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 is taken out from the CD-RW drive and another optical disk is inserted, the stored contents become useless. All variable-length packets on the optical disk must be read to obtain the packet length, which causes a problem that performance is reduced.

Also, since a track for recording the packet length is prepared even on an optical disk on which information can be overwritten in the same area, the characteristic that information can be rewritten cannot be utilized, and the capacity is wasted. There is also a problem that it will.

Further, for an optical disk capable of overwriting information already recorded by the variable length packet write method without recording the packet length, the packet length is unrecorded and cannot be known unless it is actually read. Therefore, the run-in block and the run-out block cannot be skipped when reading the variable-length packet portion, and there is a problem that the performance is reduced.

Next, a description will be given of information recording and reproduction processing in the CD-RW drive in which the above-mentioned problem has been solved. 9 to 12 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart showing recording and reproduction of information related to.

The difference between the processes according to claims 3 and 4 and 5 of the present invention resides in that a track reservation process (step 45) is executed as the process according to claim 3 in the process of FIG. The difference between 5 and 5 is that the variable length packet search process shown in FIG. 12 is executed as the process according to claim 5 in the process of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, the processing according to claim 3 of the present invention is as follows.
Check if the variable length packet has already been recorded. if,
If the variable length packet has not been recorded, step 44
Optical disk 1 that can overwrite information in the same area
Check if it is 2.

If it is determined in step 44 that the information cannot be overwritten, the flow advances to step 45 to execute a track reservation process. This track reservation process is a process of reserving a packet length recording track in the optical disc 12 in advance, and provides a packet length recording track in a predetermined area of the optical disc 12.

Then, the process proceeds to step 46 to execute the variable-length packet recording process. When a packet is recorded by the process, the process proceeds to step 43 to execute the variable-length packet reproducing process, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step 44 that the information can be overwritten, the flow advances to step 46 to execute a variable length packet recording process. If a packet is recorded by the process, the flow advances to step 43 to move to the variable length packet. A reproduction process is executed, and this process ends.

On the other hand, if the variable length packet has already been recorded on the inserted optical disc 12 in the judgment of step 41, the flow advances to step 42 to check whether the packet length corresponding to the variable length packet has been recorded on the optical disc 12. I do. If it has been recorded, the process proceeds to step 43 to execute variable length packet reproduction processing, and ends this processing.

If the packet length has not been recorded in the judgment at step 42, the flow advances to step 47 to execute the variable length packet search processing according to claim 5 of the present invention, and Record in the area. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 43 to execute a variable length packet reproduction process, and ends this process.

Next, the variable length packet recording process (step 46) and the variable length packet reproduction process (step 4)
3) and the variable length packet search process (step 47) will be described.

First, the variable length packet recording process is performed as shown in FIG.
It is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Step 51
Then, a variable length packet recording process (variable length packet write) is started in response to a variable length packet recording command from the host computer 11.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 52, wherein the packet data is received from the host computer 11, and a step 5
Proceed to 3 to execute a packet write process. When the packet write processing is completed, the process proceeds to step 54, where the recording of the packet length on the optical disk 12 is executed.

At this time, in the case of an optical disc (for example, a CD-R disc) in which information cannot be overwritten in the same area, the track length is recorded on a packet length recording track reserved in advance for recording the packet length.

In the case of an optical disk (for example, a CD-RW disk) in which information can be overwritten in the same area, the track length is recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track where the corresponding packet exists. Then, the process proceeds to a step 55, where the variable length packet recording process ends.

Next, the variable length packet reproducing process is performed as shown in FIG.
It is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Step 61
At the time of variable length packet reproduction processing for reproducing the packet recorded by the host computer 11, the processing proceeds to step 62 and
Receives a packet read command from

Then, the process proceeds to a step 63, at which the packet length for the packet to be reproduced is read from the packet lengths already recorded on the optical disk 12. At this time,
If the optical disc is capable of overwriting information in the same area, the packet length is read from the pre-gap portion of the track where the corresponding packet exists. If the optical disk cannot overwrite information in the same area, the data is read from the track where the packet length is recorded.

Then, the process proceeds to step 64, where only the user data is read out while skipping the run-in (Run-in) block and the run-out (Run-out) block of the packet corresponding to the packet length.
Proceeding to step S5, the variable length packet reproduction process is terminated.

Next, the variable length packet search process is performed as shown in FIG.
It is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Step 71
In the variable length packet search process for searching for a packet recorded with a variable length at step 72, the process proceeds to step 72 and the optical disk 1
2 is read.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 73, wherein a packet length corresponding to the variable length packet is obtained, and a step 74 is performed.
Then, the process proceeds to step 75, where the packet length is recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track on which the variable-length packet exists on the optical disc 12, and the process proceeds to step 75, where the variable-length packet search process ends.

As described above, by reading the track on which the packet length of each packet is recorded on the optical disc recorded by the variable length packet write method,
Since the packet length of each packet recorded on the optical disk is known, unnecessary run-in blocks and run-out blocks can be skipped when reading the variable-length packet part.
Only the necessary user data can be read, and the reproduction performance can be improved.

Further, since the packet length of each packet on the optical disk is recorded in each track on the same optical disk, it is not necessary to perform a wasteful process of acquiring the packet length every time the optical disk is replaced. Performance can be further improved. In addition, since the boundaries of the packet at the end of the track become clear, there is no possibility of erasing at an abnormal position when erasing an overwritable disc.

Also, for an optical disk on which information can be overwritten and which has been recorded by the variable length packet write method, the packet length is recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track containing the packet, so that the track for recording the packet length is recorded. It is no longer necessary to prepare a disk, which prevents waste of disk capacity.

Further, an optical disk capable of overwriting information in which a packet has already been recorded by the variable length packet write method but the packet length has not been recorded is used.
By obtaining the packet length of the packet and overwriting the pre-gap part of the track where the packet exists,
Unnecessary run-in blocks and run-out blocks can be easily skipped even on an optical disc on which a packet length is not recorded, so that the performance during reproduction can be further improved.

[0091]

As described above, according to the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the performance when reproducing information on a recording medium recorded by the variable length packet write method is improved, and the track It is possible to make the boundary of the packet at the end clear, thereby preventing occurrence of erasure at an abnormal position on the rewritable recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CD-RW drive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of a recording area of the optical disc shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of a track recorded on the optical disc shown in FIG. 1 by a track-at-once method.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a track format when recording on the optical disc shown in FIG. 1 by a packet write method.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording and reproducing process of information according to the first and second aspects of the present invention in the CD-RW drive shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet recording process shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet reproduction process shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet search process shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of recording and reproducing information in the CD-RW drive shown in FIG. 1 according to claims 3 to 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet recording process shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet reproduction process shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a variable length packet search process shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Drive controller 2: Motor 3: Rotation control unit 4: Optical pickup unit 5: Actuator control unit 6: Signal control unit 7: Non-volatile memory 8: Buffer 9: Laser drive circuit 10: External interface 11: Host computer 12: Optical disk 13: Power calibration area (PCA) 14: Program memory area (PMA) 15: Program area 16: Session 17: Lead-in area 18: Track 19: Lead-out area 20: Pre-gap section 21, 26: Link block 22, 27: run-in block 23, 28: user data part 24, 29: run-out block 25: packet

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. A packet length storing means for storing a packet length after recording a packet by a method, and reading out only user data in each packet based on the packet length stored in the packet length storing means at the time of reproducing the recording medium. An information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising read control means. 2. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. When a recording medium on which is recorded is inserted, packet length storage means for reading all packets recorded on the recording medium and obtaining and storing each packet length, and when reproducing the recording medium, the packet length An information recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: read control means for reading only user data in each packet based on a packet length stored in a storage means. 3. An information recording / reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. Length recording track reservation means for reserving a track for recording, and packet length recording means for recording each packet length in the packet length recording track each time a packet is recorded on the recording medium by the variable length packet write method. And reading control means for reading out only user data in each packet based on the packet length recorded on the packet length recording track by the packet length recording means when reproducing the recording medium. Information recording and playback device. 4. An information recording / reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. Each time a packet is recorded on the medium by the variable length packet write method, the packet length of each packet is recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track containing the packet, and after the recording of the track is completed, the pre-gap portion of the track is recorded. And a read control means for reading out only the user data in the packet based on the packet length recorded in the pre-gap portion of the track to be reproduced when reproducing the recording medium capable of overwriting the same area. An information recording / reproducing device, characterized in that it is provided. 5. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a track composed of a plurality of packets on a recording medium on which information can be written only once or on a recording medium on which the same area can be overwritten. When a rewritable recording medium is inserted in the same area where the packet length is recorded but the packet length is not recorded, all the packets in the track recorded on the recording medium are read and the respective packet lengths are obtained. Packet length recording means for recording the packet length of each packet in the pre-gap portion of the track, and rewriting the pre-gap portion of the track;
Information reproducing means for reading out only user data in a packet based on a packet length recorded in a pre-gap portion of a track to be reproduced when reproducing a recording medium capable of overwriting the same area. Recording and playback device.