JP2003346429A - Information recording medium, recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus, recording method and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defect list of a 2ECC size or more, and an information recording medium capable of dealing with the delete of a defect entry in the defect list. <P>SOLUTION: The information recording medium 100 is provided with a data area 102 for recording user data, and at least one defect management area 104 (105, 108, 109) for recording a defect list 112 for managing N defect areas (integer of N≥0). The defect list includes a header 121 arranged at a fixed position, N defect entries 122 to 125 containing information regarding the positions of the defect areas, and an anchor 126. The header, the N defect entries and the anchor area arrayed in this order. The header a defect list identifier 131 for identifying the defect list, and first updating number-of-time information 133, and a defect entry number 132 indicating the number of defect entries. The anchor includes an anchor identifier 151 for identifying the anchor of the defect list, and second number of update time information 152. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium, a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, a recording method and a reproducing method with improved reliability for information. More specifically, 2ECC
The present invention relates to an information recording medium, a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, a recording method, and a reproducing method corresponding to update of a defect list having a size equal to or larger than (Error Correction Code) and deletion of a defect entry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a large-capacity exchangeable information recording medium and a disk drive device for driving the information recording medium have begun to spread. As an information recording medium having a large capacity and exchangeable, a DVD (Digital Ver.
Optical discs such as satile discs are well known. A disk drive unit records information by irradiating an optical disk with laser light and forming minute pits on the optical disk, and irradiates the optical disk with laser light to reproduce changes in reflectivity caused by the pits as information. To do. A large capacity and exchangeable information recording medium is suitable for a disk drive device for recording / reproducing information in this way. However, since the optical disk is replaceable, there may be defects due to dust or scratches on the recording surface of the optical disk.

Therefore, in the disk drive apparatus, it is necessary to perform defect management for managing defects existing in the optical disk in order to guarantee the reliability of information in recording / reproduction. Defect management used in a conventional disk drive device is described in a physical standard of DVD-RAM (referred to as DVD-RAM standard) (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). Chapter 5 of the DVD-RAM standard describes the disk layout.

FIG. 12 shows a data structure diagram of an information recording medium 1200 according to the DVD-RAM standard.

The information recording medium 1200 includes a lead-in area 1201 for recording information about the disc, a data area 1202 for recording user data, and a lead-out area 1203 indicating the recording end position of the user data.

The lead-in area 1201 is a data area 1
DMA 1 (Defect Management) in which defect management information for managing a defect area existing in 202 is recorded.
ment Area) and DMA2, and reserved areas 1204 and 1205 for future scalability.

Data area 1202 includes a user area 1206 in which user data is recorded and a spare area 1207. When a defective area exists in the user area 1206, user data to be recorded in the defective area is recorded in the spare area 1207 instead of the portion of the user area 1206 corresponding to the defective area.

In the lead-out area 1203, like the lead-in area 1201, defect management information for managing the defect area existing in the data area 1202 is recorded.
Includes MA3 and DMA4 and reserved areas 1208 and 1209 for future expandability.

In the DMAs 1 to 4, the same defect management information is recorded multiple times. This is because the information itself recorded in the DMAs 1 to 4 cannot be targeted for defect management. In other words, even if there is a defective area in any of the DMAs 1 to 4 and normal reproduction cannot be performed, if there is a DMA in which even one of the DMAs 1 to 4 does not have a defective area, it is recorded there. The defect management information that is present can be reproduced normally. Therefore,
Reliability is improved without losing user data.

DMA 1 is a DDS (Data Defi).
(Night Structure) 1210 and PD
L (Primary Defect List) 121
1 and SDL (Secondary Defect L
ist) 1212.

The DDS 1210 contains information regarding the PDL 1211 and SDL 1212 partitions.

The PDL 1211 stores position information (list) of defective areas (for example, defective sectors) existing in the user area 1206 and the spare area 1207 detected when the information recording medium is shipped, that is, when the information recording medium is initialized.
It is. This list basically does not change unless the information recording medium is physically formatted.

According to the DVD-RAM standard, DDS12
The size obtained by combining the size of 10 and the size of PDL1211 is one ECC (Error Correctin).
gCode) is a size that fits in a block. SDL1
The size of 212 is also large enough to fit in one ECC block. Here, the ECC block is a DVD-R.
The AM is a unit for error correction, and has a size of 32 Kbytes composed of 16 sectors (each sector is 2 Kbyte size). The size of this ECC block is hereinafter referred to as 1 ECC size.

FIG. 13 is a detailed data structure diagram of the SDL 1212.

Unlike the PDL 1211, the SDL 1212 is information (list) that changes according to detection of a defective area (for example, a defective sector) at the time of recording / reproducing processing. S
The contents of DL1212 are as follows when a defective area is detected:
The data is written in the DMAs 1 to 4 of the information recording medium 1200 at an appropriate timing by the disk drive device.

The SDL 1212 includes a header 1301, a first defect entry 1302, and a second defect entry 13.
03,..., An Nth defect entry 1304, and an unused area 1305.

The header 1301 includes an identifier indicating the SDL 1212, the total number of defect entries (N in the case of FIG. 13), the number of updates of the SDL 1212, and the like.

The first defect entry 1302 includes first defect position information 1306 indicating the position of the defect area existing in the user area 1206 and a part of the spare area 1207 in which user data is recorded instead of the defect area (for example, , First replacement position information 1307 indicating the position of the replacement sector). The second defect entry 1303 also includes second defect position information and second replacement position information. The Nth defect entry 1304 also includes Nth defect position information and Nth replacement position information. The defect position information and the replacement position information are generally sector numbers.

The unused area 1305 exists when the total size of the size of the header 1301 and the sizes of the first to Nth defect entries 1302 to 1304 is less than 1 ECC size. In this case, the unused area 1305 has padding data that has no meaning as information (for example,
0) is recorded.

The disk drive apparatus is SDL1212.
While the data is being written in the DMAs 1 to 4 of the information recording medium 1200, there is a possibility that the power of the disk drive device is turned off at a bad timing and the processing is interrupted. In such a case,
The disk drive device performs a defect management area (D
The update result of MA1-4) is determined. (1) Error correction is performed on the SDL 1212 having a 1 ECC size. If error correction is done correctly,
It is determined that this SDL 1212 has been updated normally. (2) Perform (1) for all SDLs included in each of DMA1-4. (3) For all the SDLs determined to be normal in (2), the number of updates included in the header in the SDL is compared with each other. As a result of the comparison, the SDL having the largest number of updates
Are determined to be correct SDL (latest SDL).

Thus, the size of the SDL 1212 is 1
If the ECC size is used, the correct SDL is determined even if the power of the disk drive device is turned off. Therefore, data reliability can be ensured without losing user data.

In recent years, with the increase in the amount of information to be recorded on an information recording medium, improvement in high density recording technology and large capacity technology has been remarkable. For example, an information recording medium having a larger capacity than a conventional optical disk using a blue laser as a laser is being developed. Since it is possible to record a larger capacity than the conventional capacity, the SDL size is the same as the conventional 1E.
It becomes larger than CC size. S like DVD-RAM
There is no problem if the DL size is equal to or smaller than 1 ECC size, but the following problem occurs when the DL size exceeds 1 ECC size. Here, it is assumed that the size of the SDL is 4 ECC size.

SDL is 4EC from the conventional 1ECC size
When it becomes C size, one DMA (for example, DM
Assume that the following case occurs for A1).・ The header update is complete.・ Up to 2 ECC blocks of SDL are completed and 3
The disk drive device was turned off at the exact timing when the ECC block was updated.

In this case, in the conventional SDL update result determination method, error correction in units of 1 ECC is normally performed.
Furthermore, the number of SDL updates in DMA1 and other DMAs
When the number of updates in each of the SDLs 2 to 4 is compared, the number of updates of DMA1 is the largest. For this reason, D
Although the MA1 SDL update failed midway,
If this SDL is normal and the latest SDL, it is erroneously determined.

One way to solve this is as follows:
A method of adding a header to each ECC block of 4 ECC size SDL can be considered. Each header includes an identifier indicating SDL, the total number of defect entries, and SDL.
Including the number of updates.

FIG. 14 shows SDL1 having a 4 ECC size.
400 shows a data structure diagram.

The SDL 1400 includes a first ECC block 1401, a second ECC block 1402, a third ECC block 1403, and a fourth ECC block 14.
04.

The first ECC block 1401 includes a header 1405, a first defect entry 1406, a second defect entry 1407,..., M−1th defect entry 1.
408 and an Mth defect entry 1409.

The second ECC block 1402 includes a header 1410, an M + 1th defect entry 1411,.
It includes an Nth defect entry 1412 and an unused area 1413.

The third ECC block 1403 includes a header 1414 and an unused area 1415.

The fourth ECC block 1404 includes a header 1416 and an unused area 1417.

Each of headers 1405, 1410, 1414 and 1416 includes an identifier indicating SDL, the number of defective entries, the number of SDL updates, and the like.
First to Nth defect entries 1406 to 1409 and 1
Reference numerals 411 to 1412 each include defect position information and replacement position information. In unused areas 1413, 1415 and 1417, padding data (for example, 0) having no meaning as information is recorded.

In this case, the disk drive apparatus determines the update result of the defect management area (DMA1 to DMA4) according to the following procedure. (1) Error correction is performed on the first ECC block 1401 for the SDL 1400 having a 4 ECC size. When the error correction is correctly performed, it is determined that the first ECC block 1401 has been updated normally. This processing is performed on the second to fourth ECC blocks 1402 to 1404 in the SDL 1400. 1st to 4th ECC
When the error correction of the blocks 1401 to 1404 is correctly performed, the process (2) is performed. (2) First to fourth ECC blocks 1401 to 140
4 headers 1405 and 141 added to each of 4.
Compare the update counts of 0, 1414 and 1416. If the update counts of the headers 1405, 1410, 1414 and 1416 are all the same value, this SDL 1400 is
It is determined that the update was successful. (3) Perform (1) to (2) for all SDLs of DMA2 to DMA4. (4) For SDL determined to be normal in (3), S
The number of updates included in the header in the DL is compared with each other.
As a result of comparison, S having the highest number of recording times is recorded.
The DL is determined as the correct SDL (latest SDL).

Thus, the size of the SDL 1400 is 1
When the size is larger than the ECC size, by providing a header for each ECC in the SDL, even if the power of the disk drive device is turned off, the correct SDL can be determined, and the reliability of data without losing user data. Can be secured.

There is another conventional technique for improving the reliability of data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 15 shows a data structure diagram of another information recording medium 1500 according to the conventional technique.

The information recording medium 1500 is an SDL 1501.
Information recording medium 120 except that the structure of SDL 1501 and the size of SDL 1501 are not necessarily one ECC size.
Same as 0. Therefore, in FIG.
The same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those shown in FIG.

The SDL 1501 has a defect list identifier 1502 indicating that it is an SDL 1501, a hold field 1503 for future extensibility, first update information 1504 and second information for determining whether the defect management information is new or old.
Update information 1510, defect registration number 1505 indicating the number of defective sectors registered in SDL 1501, first defect position information 1506 and second defect position information 1508 indicating the position of the defective sector, and a defective sector First replacement position information 1507 indicating the position of the replacement sector and second
Replacement position information 1509 and an unused field 1511 for registering a defective sector detected in the future.
First update information 1504 and second update information 1510
Is, for example, the number of times of recording. As long as the SDL 1501 is updated normally, the content of the first update information 1504 and the content of the second update information 1510 are the same.

In this case, the disk drive apparatus determines the update result of the defect management area (DMA1 to DMA4) according to the following procedure. (1) First update information 15 for SDL 1501
The content of 04 and the content of the second update information 1510 are compared. As a result of the comparison, the contents of the first update information 1504 and the second
If the content of the update information 1510 is the same, SDL1
501 is determined to be normal. (2) Perform (1) for all SDLs of DMAs 2-4. (3) For SDL determined to be normal in (2), S
The contents of the update information in the DL are compared with each other. As a result of comparison, the SDL having the most updated information is the correct SDL.
(Latest SDL).

Thus, one of DMA1 to DMA4
As long as the first update information and the second update information added in the SDL included in one DMA are read, SD
Whatever the size of L, the correct SDL
Can be determined.

[0040]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-8-293187

[0041]

[Non-Patent Document 1] "DVD Specialfiatio"
ns for Rewritable Disc (DV
D-RAM) Part1 PHYSICAL SPE
CIFICATIONS Version 2.0 "

[0042]

However, FIG.
In the information recording medium SDL1400 shown in FIG.
Headers must be added to all four ECC blocks constituting 00. As a result, the processing efficiency of updating the SDL 1400 decreases. Furthermore, since a header (for example, header 1410) is included between a defect entry (for example, Mth defect entry 1409) and a defect entry (for example, M + 1th defect entry 1411), the defect entry search is performed. There is a disadvantage that operations such as addition and deletion become complicated.

On the other hand, the information recording medium 1500 shown in FIG.
Then, the second update information 1511 may not be read correctly.

FIG. 16 shows the information recording medium 15 shown in FIG.
(A) Defect list before update of 00 SDL1501,
The data structure figure with (b) defect list updated normally and (c) defect list which failed to update is shown. FIG.
Referring to FIG. 6, the SD in the case where it was previously determined as a defect and the registered sector is determined again as a normal sector.
The update of L1501 will be described.

FIG. 16A shows the SDL 15 shown in FIG.
This is the same data structure as 01. In FIG. 16 (a),
Contents of first update information 1504 and second update information 1
The contents of 510 are both M, and the number of registered defects 1505.
Is 2.

FIG. 16B shows the data structure of the updated SDL 1501 when the SDL 1501 is updated normally. The content of the first update information 1504 is updated from M to M + 1. The number of registered defects 1505 is 2 to 1
Updated. The position information of the defective sector determined as normal (second defect position information 1508) and the position information of the replacement sector in place of the defective sector (second replacement position information 1509) are deleted, and the first defect position information 1506 and first replacement position information 1507 remain. Similarly to the first update information 1504, the content of the second update information 1510 is also updated from M to M + 1. Second update information 151
0 is also arranged following the first replacement position information 1507. The unused field 1511 includes the deleted second defect position information 1508 and second replacement position information 150.
The size is increased by a size corresponding to 9.

FIG. 16C shows the data structure of the updated SDL 1501 when the SDL 1501 has not been updated normally. Assume that immediately after the defect registration number 1505 is updated, the power of the disk drive device is turned off.
In this case, the first update information 1504 and the defect registration number 1
505 is updated normally as in FIG. However, the second defect position information 1508, the second replacement position information 1509, the second update information 1510, and the unused field 1511 remain the data structure of FIG. 16A before update.

In the case of the data structure shown in FIG.
The update result is determined. For example, the disk drive device reads the second defect position information 1508 as the second update information 1510 using the updated defect registration number 1505. The disk drive device compares the content of the updated first update information 1504 with the content of the second defect position information 1508 read as the second update information 1510. If the contents of the first update information 1504 and the contents of the second defect position information 1508 unfortunately match, the disk drive device has successfully updated the SDL 1501 despite the SDL 1501 update failure. It will be judged.

The information recording medium 1500 shown in FIG.
ECC size error correction is considered, and SD
When the size of L1501 does not exceed 1 ECC size, the problem shown in FIG. 16C does not occur. However, when it exceeds 1 ECC size, the above problem occurs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium, a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, and a defect list in which the size of an SDL (defect list) is 2 ECC size or more, and the deletion of defect entries in the defect list. It is to provide a recording method and a reproducing method.

[0051]

The recording medium according to the present invention comprises a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) existing in the data area. A defect management area for recording a defect list to be managed, and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and position information on each position of the N defect areas, respectively. Including N defect entries and an anchor, and the header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes the defect list. A defect list identifier to be identified; first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list;
A number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list and second update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list. This achieves the above object.

The defect list may be composed of two or more blocks, and the defect list may be recorded one block at a time.

In the recording apparatus for recording information on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N is A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing an integer satisfying N ≧ 0),
The defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas, and an anchor, The N defect entries and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a number of updates of the defect list. 1 update count information, and the number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries,
A recording section for recording the information on the information recording medium, and a recording section for recording the information on the information recording medium; A storage unit that stores the information to be stored and the latest defect list; and a control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the recording unit and the storage unit. The latest defect list includes a latest header, P Latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠ N,
P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor, the latest header includes first latest update count information and the latest defect entry count P, and the latest anchor includes the first latest update count information and Including the second latest update count information having the same content, and the defect management processing includes: (a) a further defect area exists in the data area or a normal defect area among the N defect areas. Or (b) there is a further defect area in said step (a), or
If it is determined that a normal defect area exists, the P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ latest defect entries (P =
Updating P ′ or P ≠ P ′ and an integer satisfying P ′ ≧ 0), and updating the latest entry number P to P ′, (c) the first and second latest updates Incrementing the count information by 1 each;
(D) recording the latest defect list updated in step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area, thereby achieving the above object.

The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries,
In the order of the updated latest anchor, or the updated latest anchor, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest header, in that order,
The method may include a step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area.

The step (b) may include a step of adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list when it is determined in the step (a) that a further defect area exists.

In step (b), when it is determined in step (a) that a normal defect area exists, a defect entry including position information on the position of the normal defect area from the P latest defect entries. A step of deleting may be included.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further defect management area. You may control execution of the said step (d) about an area | region.

In the recording method for recording information on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing an integer satisfying N ≧ 0),
The defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas, and an anchor, The N defect entries and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a number of updates of the defect list. 1 update count information, and the number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries,
Including an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list and second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and the recording method is performed using the latest defect list, Latest header and P latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠ N and P ≧ N
0) and the latest anchor, the latest header includes first latest update count information and latest defect entry count P, and the latest anchor is the same as the first latest update count information. A second latest update count information having contents, and (a) there is a further defect area in the data area, a normal defect area among the N defect areas, or any of them And (b) if it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area or that there is a normal defect area, the P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ Latest defect entry (P = P ′ or P ≠ P ′, P ′ ≧
An integer satisfying 0) and updating the latest defect entry number P to P ′, (c) incrementing the first and second latest update count information by 1, respectively, (d) And (b) recording the latest defect list updated in step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area, thereby achieving the above object.

The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries,
In the order of the updated latest anchor, or the updated latest anchor, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest header, in that order,
The method may include a step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area.

The step (b) may include a step of adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list when it is determined in the step (a) that a further defect area exists.

In step (b), when it is determined in step (a) that a normal defect area exists, position information relating to the position of the normal defect area is recorded from the P latest defect entries. A step of deleting the defect entry may be included.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step ( The step of performing d) may further be included.

In a reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (in the data area). N is a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing N), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N pieces of defect lists. N defect entries each including position information relating to each position of the defect area, an anchor, the header, and the N
The defect entries and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a first update indicating the number of times the defect list has been updated. A number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list, and a second update count indicating the number of updates of the defect list. A reproduction unit that reproduces the information recorded on the information recording medium, a storage unit that stores the reproduced information, and a defect management process that uses the reproduction unit and the storage unit. A control unit for controlling, comprising a unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a unique anchor identifier for identifying the anchor of the defect list. The defect management process (a) reproduces the defect list identifier, the defect entry number, and the first update count information included in the header, and the contents of the unique defect list identifier and the reproduced defect list identifier A step of determining whether or not the content of the defect list identifier matches, and (b) when it is determined in step (a) that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier. Calculating the position of the anchor in the defect list using the reproduced number of defect entries; and (c) calculating the anchor identifier and the second update count information based on the calculated anchor position. Replaying and determining whether the content of the unique anchor identifier matches the content of the replayed anchor identifier; and (d) the step If it is determined in (c) that the content of the unique anchor identifier matches the content of the reproduced anchor identifier, the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. And (e) if it is determined in step (d) that the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information, the defect management Identifying the defect list recorded in the area as the latest defect list, thereby achieving the above object.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further defect management area. Controlling the execution of the defect management process for the region, and the step (e)
(E ₁ ) performing steps (a) to (d) for the further defect management area, and (e ₂ ) specifying a defect list having update count information with the maximum update count as the latest defect list. Steps may be included.

In the reproducing method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (in the data area). N is a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing N), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N pieces of defect lists. N defect entries each including position information relating to each position of the defect area, an anchor, the header, and the N
The defect entries and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a first update indicating the number of times the defect list has been updated. A number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list, and a second update count indicating the number of updates of the defect list. (A) reproducing the defect list identifier, the number of defect entries, and the first update count information included in the header, and reproducing the content of the unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list Determining whether the content of the defect list identifier matches,
(B) If it is determined in step (a) that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier, the number of the reproduced defect entries is used to determine the content in the defect list. A step of calculating an anchor position; and (c) content of a unique anchor identifier for reproducing the anchor identifier and the second update number information based on the calculated anchor position and identifying an anchor of the defect list. Determining whether or not the content of the reproduced anchor identifier matches, and (d) if the content of the unique anchor identifier matches the content of the reproduced anchor identifier in step (c). If determined, the step of determining whether or not the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information; (e) before If it is determined in step (d) that the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information, the defect list recorded in the defect management area is specified as the latest defect list. To achieve the above object.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step (e) includes (e ₁ ) including the steps (a) to (d) for the further defect management area; and (e ₂ ) identifying the defect list having the update count information with the maximum update count as the latest defect list. May be.

The information recording medium according to the present invention has a defect list for managing a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) existing in the data area. An information recording medium comprising a defect management area for recording, wherein the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N
N defect entries each including position information relating to the position of each defect area; and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list; the header; the N defect entries; The anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list, and the N items. Including the number of defect entries indicating the number of defect entries of
The anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, thereby achieving the object.

The defect list may be composed of two or more blocks, and the defect list may be recorded block by block.

In the recording apparatus for recording information on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing an integer satisfying N ≧ 0),
The defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, N defect entries each including position information regarding the positions of the N defect areas, and fixed positions in the defect list. The header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header is a defect list identifier that identifies the defect list. A first update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list, and a defect entry number indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor indicates a second number of updates of the defect list. A recording unit that includes update number information and records the information on the information recording medium; a storage unit that stores the information and the latest defect list to be recorded on the information recording medium; A control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the recording unit and the storage unit, and the latest defect list includes a latest header and P latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠ N). And an integer satisfying P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor, the latest header includes first latest update count information and the latest defect entry number P, and the latest anchor is the first latest update. Including the second latest update count information having the same content as the update count information, and the defect management processing includes: (a) whether there is a further defect area in the data area or a normal defect among the N defect areas; Determining whether a region exists or none of the region; and (b) if it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defective region or a normal defective region, P The latest defect entry P 'number of latest defect entries (P = P' or P ≠
P ′, an integer satisfying P ≧ 0), and updating the latest defect entry number P to P ′, (c)
A step of incrementing each of the first and second latest update count information by 1; and (d) a step of recording the latest defect list updated in step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area. To achieve the above objectives.

The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries,
In the order of the updated latest anchor, or the updated latest anchor, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest header, in that order,
The method may include a step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further defect management area. You may control execution of the said step (d) about an area | region.

In the recording method for recording information on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N is A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing an integer satisfying N ≧ 0),
The defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, N defect entries each including position information regarding the positions of the N defect areas, and fixed positions in the defect list. The header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header is a defect list identifier that identifies the defect list. A first update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list, and a defect entry number indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor indicates a second number of updates of the defect list. Including the update count information, the recording method is performed using a latest defect list, and the latest defect list includes a latest header and P latest defect entries (P
Is an integer that satisfies P = N or P ≠ N and satisfies P ≧ 0)
And the latest anchor, the latest header includes first latest update count information and latest defect entry count P, and the latest anchor has the same content as the first update count information. And (a) determining whether there is a further defect area in the data area, a normal defect area among the N defect areas, or none of them. (B) If it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area or that there is a normal defect area, the P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ latest defect entries (P =
Updating P ′ or P ≠ P ′, an integer satisfying P ′ ≧ 0), and updating the latest defect entry number P to P ′, and (c) the first and second latest update counts. Incrementing each of the information by one;
(D) recording the latest defect list updated in step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area, thereby achieving the above object.

The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries,
In the order of the updated latest anchor, or the updated latest anchor, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest header, in that order,
The method may include a step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step ( The step of performing d) may further be included.

In the reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (in the data area). N is a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing N), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N pieces of defect lists. N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the defect area, and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list, the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors Are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a first update count indicating the update count of the defect list. And the number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and is recorded on the information recording medium. A reproduction unit that reproduces information, a storage unit that stores the reproduced information, and a control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the reproduction unit and the storage unit, and identifies the defect list A controller that stores a unique defect list identifier, and the defect management process (a) reproduces the defect list identifier, the defect entry number, and the first update count information included in the header, Determining whether the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier; and (b) identifying the unique defect list in step (a). If the contents of and the contents of the reproduced defect list identifier are determined to match, reproducing the second update times information included in the anchor, the content and the second of said first update times information
A step of determining whether or not the contents of the update count information of the first and second updates coincide with each other; (c) the first in step (b)
And determining the defect list recorded in the defect management area as the latest defect list when it is determined that the contents of the update number information and the contents of the second update number information match. This achieves the above objective.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further defect management area. Controlling the execution of the defect management process for the region, and the step (c)
(C ₁ ) performing the steps (a) to (b) for the further defect area, and (c ₂ ) identifying the defect list having the update count information having the highest update count as the latest defect list; May be included.

In the reproducing method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to the present invention, the information recording medium has a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (in the data area). N is a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing N), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N pieces of defect lists. N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the defect area, and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list, the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors Are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list and a first update count indicating the update count of the defect list. And the number of defect entries indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and (a) the header included in the header The defect list identifier, the number of defect entries, and the first update count information are reproduced, and whether or not the content of the unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier. And (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier, the second update included in the anchor Reproducing the number of times information, determining whether or not the contents of the first update number information and the contents of the second update number information match, and (c) the step ( ), It is determined that the content of the first update count information and the content of the second update count information match, and the defect list recorded in the defect management area is specified as the latest defect list; This achieves the above objective.

The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step (c) includes (c) It includes ₁₎ and the step of performing said steps for further defect management area (a) ~ (b), and identifying the defect list as the latest defect list having more update times information most updated count (c ₂₎ May be.

[0079]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) (1) Information Recording Medium FIG. 1 shows a data structure diagram of an information recording medium 100 according to Embodiment 1.

The information recording medium (optical disk) 100 can be, for example, a rewritable optical disk. Optical disc 100
It is assumed that error correction is performed in units of 1 ECC block. An ECC block is a unit for error correction in an optical disc. For example, one ECC block is
It has a size of 32 Kbytes composed of 16 sectors (each sector is 2 Kbyte size). This EC
The size of the C block is hereinafter referred to as 1 ECC size.
Information recording / updating on the optical disc 100 is performed for each ECC block.

The data structure shown in FIG. 1 shows the structure of the optical disc 100 after normally recording position information regarding N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) in the defect management area. The defective area is, for example, a defective sector.

The optical disc 100 includes a data area 102 in which user data is recorded, and a recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown).
Includes a lead-in area 101 and a lead-out area 103 that serve as a buffer area when overrun by movement of an optical head (not shown).

The data area 102 includes a user area 106 for recording user data and a spare area 107.
When a defective area (for example, a defective sector) exists in the user area 106, user data to be recorded in the defective area is recorded in the spare area 107 instead of the portion of the user area 106 corresponding to the defective area.

The lead-in area 101 is a data area 10
The first defect management area 104 and the second defect management area 10 in which information for managing the defect area existing in 2 is recorded.
5 and the like.

As in the lead-in area 101, the lead-out area 103 has a third defect management area 108 and a fourth defect management area 109 in which information for managing the defect area existing in the data area 102 is recorded. Including.

The first defect management area 104, the second defect management area 105, the third defect management area 108, and the fourth defect management area 109 are respectively arranged at specific physical positions in the optical disc 100. Is done.

In the first defect management area 104, the second defect management area 105, the third defect management area 108, and the fourth defect management area 109, information for the same defect management is recorded in a multiplexed manner. As described above, this is because the information itself recorded in the first defect management area 104, the second defect management area 105, the third defect management area 108, and the fourth defect management area 109 is defect managed. This is because it cannot be the target of. That is, a defect area exists in any one of the first defect management area 104, the second defect management area 105, the third defect management area 108, and the fourth defect management area 109, and is normally reproduced. If there is a defect management area in which at least one of the four defect management areas does not have a defect area,
Information for defect management recorded there can be reproduced normally. Therefore, reliability is improved without losing user data. In the first embodiment, the optical disc 100 has four defect management areas 104, 105,
The number of defect management areas is arbitrary as long as the optical disc 100 has at least one defect management area.

In the first defect management area 104, a disk definition structure 111 and a defect list 112 for managing N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) existing in the data area 102 are recorded. Is done. First defect management area 10
4 includes an unused area 113.

The disk definition structure 111 is an optical disk 1
This is information indicating the disk structure, such as whether 00 is a disk subjected to defect management. This information also includes information regarding the spare area 107. Disk definition structure 111
Are arranged at a physically specific position in the first defect management area 104. The size of the disk definition structure 111 is also a predetermined size.

In the unused area 113, information that has no meaning at the present time is recorded. In the unused area 113, padding data 127 (for example, 0) is generally recorded. When a new defect area is detected in the user area 106, a defect entry for managing the new defect area is added to the defect list 112. Accordingly, an unused area 1 corresponding to the size of the added defect entry.
The size of 13 will be reduced.

The defect list 112 includes a header 121, a first defect entry 122, a second defect entry 123,
..., the N-1th defect entry 124, the Nth defect entry 125, and an anchor 126 are included. Header 121
The first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125 and the anchor 126 are arranged in this order in the defect list 112.

In the first embodiment, the defect list 112
And the size of the unused area 113 is 4ECC. Total size is 4ECC
It is not limited to, It is arbitrary size.

The header 121 includes a defect list identifier 131 for identifying the defect list 112 and a defect entry number 132 indicating the number of defect entries included in the defect list 112.
The updated defect list is displayed in the first defect management area 104.
1st update number information 133 indicating the number of times recorded in. In FIG. 1, the defect entry number 132 is N (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0), and the first update count information 13
The content of 3 is M (M is an integer satisfying M ≧ 0). For example, the defect list identifier 131 can be arranged at the head of the header 121 as shown in FIG.

The header 121 is disposed at a physically determined position. In the first embodiment, the header 121 is arranged at the top of the defect list 112. However,
The position of the header 121 in the defect list 112 is the header 1
21, first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125,
As long as the anchor 126 is arranged in this order in the defect list 112, it is optional.

In the case of the optical disc 100 shown in FIG. 1, since the defect entry number 132 is N, the defect list 11
2 includes a first defect entry 122,..., And an Nth defect entry 125. First defect entry 12
2 includes first defect position information 141 that is position information related to the position of the defect area, and first replacement position information 142 that is position information related to the position of a portion of the spare area 107 instead of the defect area. Second defect entry 12
3 also includes second defect position information and second replacement position information. Hereinafter, the N-1th defect entry 1
The same applies to the 24th and Nth defect entries 125. Here, the first defect position information 141 and the first replacement position information 142 are generally sector numbers.

The defect entries are generally arranged so that the defect position information included is in ascending order. Specifically, for example, when the defect position information is a sector number, the defect position information having the smallest sector number is represented by the first defect position information 14.
1 is placed in the first defect entry 122. Less than,
Sequentially performed in the order of sector numbers. The defect position information having the largest sector number is arranged in the Nth defect entry 125 as Nth defect position information.

It should be noted that the defect entries in the defect list 112 are not necessarily arranged in ascending order. For example, the defect entries may be arranged so that the sector numbers are in descending order. Alternatively, the defect entries may be arranged randomly.

The anchor 126 includes an anchor identifier 151 for identifying the anchor of the defect list 112, second update number information 152 indicating the number of times the updated defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 104, and the future. And preliminary information 153 for the extensibility. In FIG. 1, the content of the second update count information 152 is M (M is an integer satisfying M ≧ 0), and has the same content as the first update count information 133.
As long as the update of the first defect management area 104 is normally performed, the content of the first update count information 133 and the content of the second update count information 152 are the same. Anchor identifier 15
1 may be placed at the head of the anchor 126, for example, as shown in FIG.

In the present specification, the first and second update count information 133 and 152 are the number of times the updated defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 104 (that is, the defect list 112 is updated in the optical disc 100). And
The first and second update count information 133 and 152 may indicate the number of times the defect list has been updated (that is, the number of times the defect list has been updated in the storage unit described later). Good. Hereinafter, the first and second update count information 133 and 152 will be described as indicating the number of times the updated defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 104.

The anchor 126 is the Nth defect entry 12.
5 is arranged. Note that since the size of the defect list 112 is variable, the position where the anchor 126 is placed is also variable.

Next, the header 121, the first defect entry 122, the anchor 126, and the unused area 113 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed data structure diagram of the header 121, the first defect entry 122, the anchor 126, and the unused area 113.

In FIG. 2, BP indicates a bit position,
Val is a value representing a value corresponding to each BP in binary. In the example shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the sizes of the header 121, the first defect entry 122, the anchor 126, and the unused area 113 are all 8 bytes (bit position 0 to bit position 63).

FIG. 2A shows an exemplary structure of the header 121. In this example, only the bit position 62 of the defect list identifier 131 is Val = 1, and 0 when expressed in hexadecimal.
x4000.

FIG. 2B is an exemplary structure of the first defect entry 122. Of the sectors that can be used in the data area 102, the maximum sector number is represented as 0 in hexadecimal.
Assume that x07FFFFFF. When the maximum value that may be registered as the first defect position information 141 of the first defect entry 122 is expressed in hexadecimal, it is 0x07FFFFFF as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2C is an exemplary structure of the anchor 126. In this example, all bit positions 59 to 63 of the anchor identifier 151 are Val = 1, and 0xFFFF is expressed in hexadecimal.

FIG. 2D shows an exemplary structure of the unused area 113. In the unused area 113, padding data 127 is generally recorded. In the unused area 113,
Val = 0. In FIG. 2D, 0 is recorded as padding data, but the padding data is not limited to 0.

As the defect list identifier 131 and the anchor identifier 151, values that can identify any defect entry or unused area 113 are employed. FIG.
As shown in (c), a defect entry or unused area 113 is displayed.
Bit positions 59 to 6 which are never 1 in FIG.
3 is set to Val = 1.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2A, one of the bit positions 59 to 63 that never becomes 1 in the defect entry or the unused area 113 is set to Val = 1, and These bit positions 59 to 63 may be set to values different from the anchor identifier 151.

With this setting, the defect list identifier 131 becomes a value that can be identified from the anchor identifier 151, any defect entry, and the unused area 113. Similarly, the anchor identifier 151 is also the defect list identifier 13.
1. It is a value that can be identified from any defect entry and unused area 113.

Incidentally, the defect list identifier 1 shown in FIG.
The values of 31 and the anchor identifier 151 are merely examples, and are not limited to these values.

The optical disc 100 according to Embodiment 1 is
The content of the defect list identifier 131 and the content of the anchor identifier 151 include any defect entry and unused area 11.
3 also has an identifiable value. As a result, the anchor 12
6, even if an arbitrary defect entry is read out as the anchor identifier 151 included in FIG.
It is not determined. Therefore, defect list 112
It can be easily determined whether or not the update has been normally performed.

Since it is not necessary to add a header for each ECC block, the processing efficiency for updating the defect list is improved. Since a header is not sandwiched between defect entries, it is possible to easily perform processing such as search, addition, and deletion of defect entries.

In the following description, the optical disk 100 is shown in FIG.
The description will be made assuming that the data structure is as follows.

(2) Playback / Recording (Update) FIG. 3 shows a recording / playback apparatus 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of 0. The recording / reproducing apparatus 300 records information on the optical disc 100 according to the first embodiment and / or reproduces information recorded on the optical disc 100.

The recording / reproducing apparatus 300 includes a control unit 301,
A recording / reproducing unit 302 and a storage unit 303 are provided.

The control unit 301 controls the operation of the recording / reproducing unit 302. The control unit 301 can be, for example, a CPU. The control unit 301 displays the defect list 1 of the optical disc 100.
12 and a unique defect list identifier for identifying the optical disc 1
A unique anchor identifier for identifying the anchor 126 of the 00 defect list 112 is stored in advance. The contents (values) of these unique defect list identifiers and unique anchor identifiers are:
It is a correct value and cannot be rewritten. Control unit 3
01 uses the recording / reproducing unit 302 and the storage unit 303 to store the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 10.
Defect management processing for specifying the latest defect list among the defect lists recorded in 8, 109, and the defect list recorded in the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 108, 109 are the latest defects. Controls execution of defect management processing updated to a list.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 records information on the optical disc 100 and / or reproduces information recorded on the optical disc 100. Such recording / playback is
For example, a laser is emitted to write information on the optical disc 100 as a signal and / or the information recording medium 1
This is done by reading the information written as a signal at 00.

The storage unit 303 stores information to be recorded on the optical disc 100 and / or the optical disc 1.
The information reproduced from 00 is stored. The storage unit 303
For example, it may be a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 303 stores a defect list 112 reproduced from the defect management area (for example, the first defect management area 104) of the optical disc 100 or a defect list for storing the latest defect list to be recorded in the defect management area. The area is
Secured by the control unit 301.

(2-1) Defect Management Processing for Specifying Latest Defect List Next, the defect management processing operation for specifying the latest defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 will be described.

The control unit 301 executes defect management processing. The control unit 301 follows the defect management processing procedure.
The information of the disc definition structure 111 arranged at the head of the first defect management area 104 is reproduced, and the information of the reproduced disc definition structure 111 is stored in the storage unit 303.
Requests to the recording / reproducing unit 302.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces information of the disc definition structure 111 from the optical disc 100 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301 and stores it in the storage unit 303.
The recording / playback unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the playback and storage of the information in the disk definition structure 111 has been completed.

Upon receiving the reproduction and storage completion report from the recording / reproducing unit 302, the control unit 301, based on the information of the disk definition structure 111 stored in the storage unit 303,
It is confirmed whether the optical disc 100 is a disc on which defect management has been performed.

When the control unit 301 confirms that the optical disc 100 is a disc on which defect management has been performed, the control unit 301 performs the first operation.
The header 121 arranged at the fixed position (the top in FIG. 1) of the defect list 112 recorded in the defect management area 104
And the recording / playback unit 302 is requested to store the played back header 121 in the storage unit 303.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 is arranged at the head of the defect list 112 recorded in the first defect management area 104 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301.
1 is reproduced, and the reproduced header 121 is stored in the storage unit 303. The recording / reproducing unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the reproduction and storage of the header 121 has been completed.

Upon receiving the reproduction and storage completion report from the recording / reproducing unit 302, the control unit 301 stores the contents of the inherent defect list identifier stored in advance in the storage unit 30.
3 is compared with the contents of the defect list identifier 131 included in the header 121 stored in the table 3, and it is confirmed that the stored information is the header 121 in the defect list 112.

If the comparison results match, the control unit 301 determines that the stored information is the header 121 in the defect list 112, and continues the defect management process. If the comparison results do not match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 104 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area), and ends the defect management process.
Examples of cases where the comparison results do not match include a case where a defect area exists in the first defect management area 104 itself and information cannot be read out.

The control unit 301 controls the first defect management area 10.
4, the header 121 stored in the storage unit 303 is used to identify the anchor 126 in the defect list 112 recorded in 4.
Is used to calculate the leading position of the anchor 126 in the defect list 112. The head position of the anchor 126 is obtained by multiplying the defect entry number 132 by the size of one defect entry which is a fixed value.

The control unit 301 reproduces the anchor 126 in the defect list 112 based on the calculated position, and stores the reproduced anchor 126 in the storage unit 303.
Requests to the recording / reproducing unit 302.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces information existing at a designated position in the defect list 112 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301, and stores the reproduced information in the storage unit 303.
To store. The recording / reproducing unit 302 indicates that the reproduction and storage of the information existing at the designated position has been completed.
Report to 01.

Upon receiving the reproduction and storage completion report from the recording / reproducing unit 302, the control unit 301 is positioned at the head of the contents of the unique anchor identifier stored in advance in the information and the information stored in the storage unit 303. The information stored is compared with the contents of the information to be stored, and the stored information is the anchor 1
Confirm that it is 26. Here, the information located at the head of the information stored in the storage unit 303 is the anchor 1
26, the anchor identifier 151 included in the information is predicted.

If the comparison results match, the control unit 301 determines that the stored information is the anchor 126 in the defect list 112, and continues the defect management process. If the comparison results do not match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 104 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area), and ends the defect management process.
In the case where the comparison results do not match, the information present at the position calculated using the defect entry number 132 is the anchor 1.
This is the case when it is not 26. Specifically, for example, when the first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125 in the defect list 112 are updated, the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 is turned off. As a result, the defect entry number 132 included in the header 121 does not match the total number of the first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125.

The control unit 301 stores the first update count information 1 included in the header 121 and stored in the storage unit 303.
The contents 33 are compared with the contents of the second update count information 152 included in the anchor 126.

If the comparison results match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 104 is a normally updated defect management area, and continues the defect management process.

If the comparison results do not match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 104 has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area), and ends the defect management process. . If the results of the comparison do not match,
For example, when the first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125 in the defect list 112 are updated, the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 is turned off and the update is not completed until the end. As a result, the first update count information 133 included in the header 121 is displayed.
And the content of the second update count information 152 included in the anchor 126 do not match.

The control unit 301 controls the second defect management area 10.
5. The same processing is performed for each of the third defect management area 108 and the fourth defect management area 109.

The control unit 301 determines whether each of the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 108 and 109 is normal after checking whether or not the defect management area is a normal defect management area. The latest defect management area is identified from the defect management areas. The control unit 301 compares the first update count information 133 recorded in the defect management area determined to be normal with each other, and determines the defect management area having the update count information with the maximum update count as the latest defect management area. As specified. The defect list recorded in the specified latest defect management area is specified as the latest defect list.

Note that the update count information used to specify the latest defect management area is the first update count information 13.
Instead of 3, the second update number information 152 included in the anchor 126 may be used.

The control unit 301 reproduces the defect list recorded in the latest specified defect management area, and stores the reproduced defect list in the defect list area secured in the storage unit 303 in advance. Requests to the recording / reproducing unit 302.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces the defect list recorded in the latest specified defect management area in accordance with a request from the control unit 301, and stores the reproduced defect list in the defect list area of the storage unit 303. Store. The recording / reproducing unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the defect list has been reproduced and stored.

In this way, the defect management processing operation for specifying the latest defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 ends.

For example, user data recorded in the data area 102 can be reproduced using the specified latest defect list. In this case, the control unit 301 requests the recording / reproducing unit 302 to reproduce the user data based on the latest defect list and store the reproduced user data in the storage unit 303.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces user data from the data area 102 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301, and stores the reproduced user data in the storage unit 303.

Note that information may be recorded using the specified latest defect list.

FIG. 4 shows a defect management processing procedure for specifying the latest defect list according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The defect management process is executed by the control unit 301. Less than,
The defect management processing procedure will be described for each step. The defect management processing procedure is started after confirming that the optical disk 100 is subjected to defect management. Optical disc 100
Whether or not defect management is applied to the optical disc 10
Judged from 0 disk definition structure 111.

Step S401: The defect list identifier 131, the defect entry number 132, and the first update count information 133 included in the header 121 are reproduced. The content of the reproduced defect list identifier 131 is compared with the content of the unique defect list identifier. The unique defect list identifier identifies the defect list 112 of the optical disc 100. The unique defect list identifier also has a correct value that cannot be rewritten. The unique defect list identifier can be stored in the control unit 301 in advance. As a result of the comparison, the defect list identifier 131
If the contents of the file and the contents of the unique defect list identifier match, the defect management process proceeds to step S402. As a result of the comparison, when the content of the defect list identifier 131 does not match the content of the unique defect list identifier, the defect management process proceeds to step S406.

Step S402: If it is determined in step S401 that the content of the defect list identifier 131 matches the content of the unique defect list identifier, it is confirmed that the reproduced information is the header 121 in the defect list 112. Is done. Using the number of defect entries 132 included in the header 121, the top position of the anchor 126 in the defect list 112 is calculated. The head position of the anchor 126 is obtained by multiplying the defect entry number 132 by the size of one defect entry which is a fixed value. The defect management process proceeds to step S403.

Step S403: Based on the position obtained in step S402, the anchor identifier 151 and the second update count information 15 included in the expected anchor 126 are displayed.
2 is played back. The content of the expected information with the anchor identifier 151 is compared with the content of the unique anchor identifier. The unique anchor identifier identifies an anchor in the defect list 112.
The unique anchor identifier also has a correct value that cannot be rewritten. The unique anchor identifier can be stored in the control unit 301 in advance. As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the content of the anchor identifier 151 matches the content of the unique anchor identifier, the defect management process proceeds to step S404. As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the content of the anchor identifier 151 does not match the content of the unique anchor identifier, the defect management process proceeds to step S406.

Step S404: If the content of the information expected to be the anchor identifier 151 matches the content of the unique anchor identifier in step S403, it is confirmed that the stored information is the anchor 126 in the defect list 112. Is done. The contents of the first update count information 133 included in the header 121 are compared with the contents of the second update count information 152 included in the anchor 126. As a result of the comparison, if the content of the first update count information 133 matches the content 152 of the second update count information, the defect management process proceeds to step S405. As a result of the comparison, the first update count information 13
When the content of 3 and the content 152 of the second update count information do not match, the defect management process proceeds to step S406.

Step S405: If the contents of the first update count information 133 match the contents of the second update count information 152 in step S404, the first defect management area 104 has been updated normally. The defect management area is determined. The defect management process proceeds to step S407.

Step S406: If it is determined in Step S401, Step S403, or Step S404 that the comparison results do not match, the first defect management area 104 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area). As a result of the determination, the defect management process for the first defect management area 104 is terminated. The defect management process is step S4.
Proceed to 07.

Step S407: Step S40 is performed for all defect management areas existing on the optical disc 100.
It is determined whether 1 to S406 have been performed. If steps S401 to S406 have not been performed for all defect management areas, the defect management process is performed again in step S401.
Return to. Step S40 for all defect management areas
If 1 to S406 are performed, the defect management process proceeds to step S408.

Step S408: The latest defect list is specified. Specifically, the latest defect management area among the defect management areas determined to be normal is specified. The first update count information (or second update count information) recorded in the defect management area determined to be normal is compared with each other, and the defect management area having the update count information with the maximum update count is updated to the latest. It is specified as a defect management area. The defect list recorded in the specified latest defect management area is specified as the latest defect list.

When the latest defect list of the optical disk 100 is specified in steps S401 to S408, the defect management process ends. For example, the user data recorded in the data area 102 can be reproduced using the latest defect list obtained in step S408.

(2-2) Defect Management Processing for Updating the Defect List Referring again to FIG. 3, the defect management processing operation for updating the defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 will be described. Here, user data is stored in the data area 10 of the optical disc 100.
2 when a further defective area is detected at the time of recording, or when the portion of the user area 106 previously determined as a defective area is reproduced as a normal defective area when the user data recorded in the data area 102 is reproduced. If determined,
An example in which the defect list is updated will be described. In the present specification, the “normal defect area” means an area that has been previously determined as a defect area, but has no defect that can record and / or reproduce information at the present time. To do. An example will be described in which a defective area is determined again as a normal defective area. For example, the defective area is caused by dirt such as dust or fingerprints present on the surface of the optical disk. In this case, when the user wipes the surface of the optical disc to remove dust or dirt on the optical disc, an area where dust or dirt exists (an area previously determined as a defective area) is recorded / reproduced. It is determined again as a normal area that can be used.

The storage unit 303 stores the latest defect list. The latest defect list may be arranged in the defect list area of the storage unit 303. The latest defect list includes the latest header and P latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠
N, an integer satisfying P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor. In the first embodiment, the latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor are arranged in this order in the latest defect list. The latest header is located at a fixed position in the latest defect list. The latest anchor is arranged following the Pth latest defect entry among the P latest defect entries. The latest header contains the latest defect list identifier,
The first latest update count information and the latest defect entry count P are included. The content of the latest defect list identifier is always the same as the content of the unique defect list identifier stored in the control unit 301. The latest anchor includes a latest anchor identifier and second latest update count information having the same content as the first latest update count information. The content of the latest anchor identifier is the control unit 30
1 is always the same as the content of the unique anchor identifier stored in 1. Assume that the P latest defect entries are arranged in ascending order in the order of defect position information (defective sector number). The latest defect list may include unused areas. The latest header does not necessarily include the latest defect list identifier. Similarly, the latest anchor need not necessarily include the latest anchor identifier.

It should be noted that the placement of the latest header, P latest defect entries, and latest anchor described above is merely illustrative. Arrangement of the latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor in the latest defect list is arbitrary.

The control unit 301 executes defect management processing. The controller 301 determines that the further defective area is the data area 1
The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to determine whether the defect area existing in 02, or the defect area previously determined as a defective area is a normal defect area, or none of them. The determination of the presence or absence of a further defect area is, for example,
This is performed by comparing a signal obtained by reproduction immediately after recording user data with a signal indicating user data to be recorded. If these signals match, it is determined that the user data has been normally recorded in the data area 102. If these signals do not match, it is determined that the user data is not normally recorded in the data area 102 and there is a further defective area in the data area 102.

When the control unit 301 determines that there is a further defect area in the data area 102 or that the defect area is normal, the control unit 301 updates the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303.

A specific procedure for updating the latest defect list will be described. There are three update procedures. Ie adding defect entries, deleting defect entries, and
A defect entry change. Each case will be described.

Addition of Defect Entry When it is determined that a further defect area exists in the user area 106, a defect entry including position information regarding the position of the further defect area is added to the latest defect list. The control unit 301 determines the position of the defect entry to be added based on the defect position information regarding the detected defect area. The control unit 301 shifts other defect entries and the latest anchor existing after the determined position toward the unused area, and adds a defect entry including position information regarding a further defect area to the determined position. As a result, the P latest defect entries are updated to P ′ defect entries (P ≠ P ′, P <P ′).

The control unit 301 updates the latest defect entry number P to P ′ with the addition of defect entries. In this case, the number of latest defect entries is increased by the number of added defect entries (ie, the number of detected defective sectors).

The control unit 301 updates the contents of the first latest update count information included in the latest header after the P latest defect entries and the latest defect entry number P are updated, and
The content of the second latest update count information included in the latest anchor is incremented by one.

When it is determined again that the area determined to be a defective area before deletion of the defect entry is a normal defective area, the control unit 301 obtains positional information regarding the position of the defective area determined to be normal. Delete the defect entry that contains it. Next, the control unit 301 shifts the defect entry following the deleted defect entry and the latest anchor toward the latest header by the size of the deleted defect entry. The control unit 301 records padding data (for example, 0) in an unused area that is increased by the size of the defect entry by deleting the defect entry. As a result, the P latest defect entries become P ′ defect entries (P ≠ P ′, P> P ′).

As the defect entry is deleted, the control unit 301 updates the number P of latest defect entries included in the latest header.
Is updated to P ′. In this case, the latest defect entry count is
The number is reduced by the number of deleted defect entries (that is, the number of defective sectors determined to be normal).

The control unit 301 updates the contents of the first latest update count information included in the latest header after the P latest defect entries and the latest defect entry number P are updated, and
The content of the second latest update count information included in the latest anchor is incremented by one.

Change of Defect Entry When it is determined that a further defect area exists in the spare area 107, the control unit 301 rewrites replacement position information corresponding to the further defect area in the latest defect list. The replacement position information corresponding to the further defective area is rewritten to replacement position information indicating a part of the spare area 107 other than the further defective area.

In this case, since the defect entry is not added to or deleted from the latest defect list, the control unit 301 updates the latest defect entry number P to P ′ (where P = P ′). That is, P latest defect entries remain P latest defect entries. However, the included replacement position information is different. In this specification, “update of defect list” includes not only changing the number of defect entries included in the defect list but also not changing it.

The control unit 301 updates the contents of the first latest update count information included in the latest header after the P latest defect entries and the latest defect entry number P are updated, and
The content of the second latest update count information included in the latest anchor is incremented by one.

It should be noted that in any of the cases, the control unit 3
01 is performed on the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303. 1st and 2nd update frequency information 133, 1
When 52 indicates the number of times the updated latest defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 104, the first and second latest update count information indicates that the updated latest defect list is the first defect Only once before being recorded in the management area 104,
Each can be incremented by one. On the other hand, when the first and second update count information 133, 152 indicates the number of times the latest defect list has been updated in the storage unit 303, each time the latest defect entry and the latest defect entry count are updated, The first and second latest update count information may be incremented by one.

The control unit 301 records / reproduces the new defect list updated in the storage unit 303 in the first defect management area 104 of the optical disc 100.
To request. For example, the control unit 301 requests the recording / reproducing unit 302 to record in the first defect management area 104 in the order of the updated latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 records the updated latest defect list in the first defect management area 104 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301. The updated latest defect list in place of the defect list 112 includes the first defect in the order of the latest header in place of the header 121, the latest defect entry in place of the first to Nth defect entries 122 to 125, and the latest anchor in place of the anchor 126. Recorded in the management area 104. The recording / reproducing unit 302 reports that the recording of the updated latest defect list in the first defect management area 104 is completed.

The control unit 301 stores the latest defect list updated in the storage unit 303 in the second to fourth defect management areas 1.
The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to record in each of 05, 108, and 109. Again, the control unit 3
01 is the second to fourth defect management areas 105, 10 in the order of the updated latest header, the latest defect entry, and the latest anchor.
The recording / reproducing unit 3
Request to 02.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 sends the updated latest defect list to the second to fourth in accordance with a request from the control unit 301.
Are recorded in the defect management areas 105, 108 and 109.

In this way, the defect management process is executed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300.

The recording order of the updated latest defect list is as follows:
The order is not limited to the above-mentioned latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor. As long as the header 121, the N defect entries 122 to 125, and the anchor 126 are arranged in this order in the defect list 112, the control unit 3
01 is the first to fourth defect management areas 10 in the order of the updated latest anchor, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest header.
4, 105, 108, and 109, the recording / playback unit 302 is requested to record,
In accordance with a request from the control unit 301, the updated latest defect list is displayed in the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 1
You may record in each of 08 and 109.

FIG. 5 shows a defect management processing procedure for updating the defect list according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The defect management process is executed by the control unit 301. Hereinafter, the defect management recording procedure will be described for each step.

Step S501: It is determined whether a further defect area exists in the data area 102, an area previously determined to be a defect area is a normal defect area, or none of them. If it is determined that a further defect area exists in the data area 102 or that an area previously determined to be a defective area is a normal defect area, the defect management process proceeds to step S502. If it is determined that neither of these is the case, the defect management process ends. Such a determination is performed, for example, when user data is recorded in the data area 102 and when user data recorded in the data area 102 is reproduced.

Step S502: The latest defect entry and the latest defect entry number P are updated. The P latest defect entries are updated to P ′ defect entries, and the latest defect entry number P is updated to P ′.

Specifically, when it is determined that there is a further defect area in the user area 106, a further defect entry is added to the latest defect list. Next, the number of latest defect entries is increased by the number of added defect entries (in this case, P ≠ P ′, P <P ′).

When it is determined that there is a further defect area in the spare area 107, the replacement position information corresponding to the further defect area in the latest defect list is rewritten. The replacement position information corresponding to the further defective area is the spare area 107.
This is rewritten with replacement position information indicating a part other than the defective area. The number of latest defective entries is not changed (in this case, P = P ′).

If it is determined again that the area previously determined as a defective area is a normal defective area, the defect entry including the position information regarding the position of the defective area determined as normal is deleted. Next, the number of latest defect entries is reduced by the number of deleted defect entries (that is, the number of defective areas (sector number) determined to be normal) (in this case,
P ≠ P ′, P> P ′).

When the latest defect entry and the latest defect entry number P are updated, the defect management process proceeds to step S503.
Proceed to

Step S503: Each of the first and second latest update count information is incremented by one. Next, the defect management process proceeds to step S504.

Step S504: The latest defect list updated in step S502 and step S503 is recorded in the first defect management area 104 of the optical disc 100. For example, the first defect management area 10 in the order of the updated latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor.
Record in 4. Next, the defect management processing is step S50.
Go to 5. The header 121, N defect entries 122 to 125, and the anchor 126 are included in the defect list 11.
2 may be recorded in the first defect management area 104 in the order of the updated latest anchor, P ′ latest defect entry, and latest header.

Step S505: It is determined whether or not the updated latest defect list is recorded in all the defect management areas (in this case, the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 108, and 109) of the optical disc 100. To do. When the updated latest defect list is recorded in all the defect management areas of the optical disc 100, the defect management process is terminated. If the updated latest defect list is not recorded in all the defect management areas of the optical disc 100, the defect management process returns to step S504.

As described above, the arrangement of the latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor in the latest defect list is arbitrary. In this case, the updated latest defect list is the first to first lists of the optical disc 100 as follows.
They are recorded in the fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 108, and 109, respectively. Updated latest header is header 1
The updated latest anchor is the anchor 12 so that the updated P ′ latest defect entries are arranged at the positions of the defect entries 122 to 125 so as to be arranged at the position 21.
Updated latest header to be placed at position 6,
P 'latest defect entry, last anchor, or
The updated first anchor, P ′ latest defect entry, and latest header are recorded in the first to fourth defect management areas 104, 105, 108, and 109 in this order.

In the above description, the object on which the updated latest defect list is recorded is the optical disk 10 shown in FIG.
It has been described that it is 0 (that is, the optical disk is managed for defects). Next, recording of the latest defect list (updated) when the optical disc is in an initial state immediately after shipment from the factory will be described.

The optical disk in the initial state is assumed to have the same structure as that shown in FIG. 1 except that the defect list 112 shown in FIG. 1 has no information. In such an optical disc, a defect list identifier for identifying a defect list and an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list are not recorded. Accordingly, when the latest defect list does not include the latest defect list identifier and the latest anchor identifier, the defect management process for recording the latest defect list for the optical disk in the initial state records the latest defect list in the defect management area. In addition, it is necessary to record the defect list identifier and the anchor identifier in the defect management area. When the latest defect list includes the latest defect list identifier and the latest anchor identifier, it is as described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 301 records the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303 in the defect management area of the optical disc, and uses the unique defect list identifier and the unique anchor identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 itself. The recording / reproducing unit 302 records the information in the defect management area of the optical disc.
To request. Specifically, the unique defect list identifier is recorded in the defect management area so as to be positioned at the head of the header 121. The unique anchor identifier is recorded in the defect management area so as to be positioned at the head of the anchor 126. In this case, the defect entry number 132 and the first to Nth defect entries 12 are displayed.
Arbitrary values are recorded as the latest defect entry number and the latest defect entry in the latest defect list corresponding to 2 to 125, respectively. For example, 0 or 1 is recorded in each of the first and second latest update count information. It should be noted that the values recorded as the first and second update count information are both the same value, and any value can be used as long as it can be identified that the recording has been performed only once on the optical disk in the initial state. It is.

The method for recording the defect list identifier and the anchor identifier in the defect management area is not limited to the method described above. For example, the unique defect list identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 is assigned as the latest defect list identifier to the head position of the latest header of the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303. Similarly, a unique anchor identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 is assigned as the latest anchor identifier to the head position of the latest anchor in the latest defect list.
As defect management processing for the optical disk in the initial state, the latest defect list including the latest defect list identifier and the latest anchor identifier obtained in this way may be recorded in the defect management area.

This defect management processing is performed in step S5 in FIG.
04 and S505.

Next, it will be described using three different update states that the determination of whether or not the defect management area has been successfully updated when the optical disc 100 of the first embodiment is used is successful.

(Specific example 1: When a defect entry is added) FIG. 6 shows (a) a defect list before update, (b) a defect list updated normally, and (c) failed to update. The data structure figure with a defect list | wrist is shown.

FIG. 6 shows a case where one additional defect area (defective sector) is detected in the user area 106 and one defect entry is added. Adding defect entries
This is as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

FIG. 6A shows the data structure of the defect list before the defect list is updated. The defect list shown in FIG. 6A is the same as the state of the defect list 112 in FIG. Here, the defect list includes a first defect entry,..., An Nth defect entry. The number of defect entries is N, and the contents of the first update count information and the second update count information are M, respectively.

FIG. 6B shows the data structure of the defect list after the defect list is normally updated (addition of a defect entry). When one defect entry is successfully added to the defect list, the defect list is the first defect entry,
..., Nth defect entry, N + 1th defect entry. Compared with FIG. 6A, the number of defect entries is increased by one, and the number of defect entries is updated from N to N + 1. The contents of the first update number information and the second update number information are updated from M to M + 1, respectively.

With the addition of the defect entry, the anchor arrangement position is shifted from the anchor arrangement position shown in FIG. 6A toward the unused area by the size of the added defect entry. In order to calculate the position where the anchor is arranged, the number N + 1 of defect entries included in the header
Is multiplied by the size of one defect entry, and can be obtained as a position advanced from the final position in the header toward the unused area by the multiplication result. At this time, the information read from the calculated position matches the unique anchor identifier value stored in advance by the control unit 301 itself. This confirms that the anchor has been read. Furthermore, the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. Thereby, it can be determined that the defect list has been updated normally.

FIG. 6C shows the data structure of the defect list when the defect list update fails in the middle. FIG.
(C) shows the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 in the middle of updating the defect list.
Indicates a case where the update fails before recording the anchor due to the power off of the. In FIG. 6C, the defect list includes the first defect entry as in FIG.
..., including the Nth defect entry. The defect list is shown in FIG.
The same defect entries as in (a) are included, but the number of defect entries is updated from N to N + 1. The content of the first update count information is also updated from M to M + 1. However, the content of the second update count information remains M as in FIG. In this case, there is no anchor at the position calculated using the result of multiplying the number of defect entries N + 1 included in the header by the size of one defect entry.
At this time, the information read from the position calculated as the anchor position is padding data (0 in FIG. 6C) recorded in the unused area and meaningless as information. Therefore, since the information read as the anchor position is different from the unique anchor identifier value stored in advance by the control unit 301, it can be determined that the defect list has failed to be updated.

(Specific Example 2: When Defect Entry is Deleted) FIG. 7 shows (a) a defect list before update, (b) a defect list updated normally, and (c) update failed. The data structure figure with a defect list | wrist is shown.

FIG. 7 deletes a defect entry including position information relating to the position of a defect area determined to be normal when it is determined again that the area previously determined to be a defect area is a normal defect area. It is an example. Deletion of defect entries
This is as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

FIG. 7A shows the data structure of the defect list before the defect list is updated. The defect list shown in FIG. 7A is the same as the state of the defect list 112 in FIG.

FIG. 7B shows the data structure of the defect list after the defect entry is normally deleted. When one defect entry is successfully deleted from the defect list, the defect list includes the first defect entry, ..., the (N-1) th defect entry. Compared to FIG. 7A, the defect entry is 1
The number of defect entries is updated from N to N-1. The contents of the first update number information and the second update number information are updated from M to M + 1, respectively.

As the defect entry is deleted, the anchor arrangement position is shifted from the anchor arrangement position shown in FIG. 7A to the header side by the size of the deleted defect entry. In order to calculate the position where the anchor is arranged, as in the first specific example, the number N-1 of defect entries included in the header is multiplied by the size of one defect entry, and the multiplication result is calculated from the final position in the header. It is obtained as a position advanced to the unused area side by that amount. The information read from the calculated position matches the unique anchor identifier value stored in advance by the control unit 301 itself. This confirms that the anchor has been read. Furthermore, the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. Thereby, it can be determined that the defect list has been updated normally.

FIG. 7C shows the data structure of the defect list when the update of the defect list fails in the middle. FIG.
(C) shows the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 in the middle of updating the defect list.
Indicates a case where the update fails before recording the anchor due to the power off of the. In FIG. 7C, the defect list includes the first defect entry as in FIG.
..., including the Nth defect entry. The defect entry is shown in FIG.
Same as (a), but the number of defect entries is N to N-1.
Has been updated. The content of the first update count information is also
It is updated from M to M + 1. However, the content of the second update count information remains M as in FIG. In this case, the number of defect entries N− included in the header
There is no anchor at the position calculated using the result of multiplying the size of 1 and one defect entry. At this time, the information read from the position calculated as the anchor position is
This is N-th defect position information included in the N-th defect entry. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the value of the unique anchor identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 is different from any of the defect list identifier, the defect entry, and the padding data. Therefore, the content of the Nth defect position information coincides with the value of the unique anchor identifier by chance, and it is not erroneously determined that this defect list has been updated normally.

(Specific Example 3: When Defect Entry is Changed) FIG. 8 shows (a) a defect list before update, (b) a defect list updated normally, and (c) update failed. The data structure figure with a defect list | wrist is shown.

In FIG. 8, there is a further defective area in the spare area 107 used as a replacement area (replacement sector) of the defect area (defective sector) indicated by the N-1th defect position information. As a result, the replacement position information in the N-1th defect entry changes. The defect entry is changed as described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8A shows the data structure of the defect list before the defect list is updated. The defect list shown in FIG. 8A is the same as the state of the defect list 112 in FIG.

FIG. 8B shows the data structure of the defect list after the defect list is normally changed (change of replacement position information). As neither defect entry is added nor deleted, the defect list includes the first defect entry,..., The Nth defect entry, as in FIG. The number of defect entries is also N, as in FIG. The contents of the first update count information and the second update count information are updated from M to M + 1, respectively.

Therefore, the position where the anchor is arranged after the update is the same as the position where the anchor was arranged before the update. In order to calculate the position where the anchor is arranged, as in the first specific example, the number N of defect entries included in the header is multiplied by the size of one defect entry, and only the multiplication result is obtained from the final position in the header. It is determined as the position advanced to the unused area side. The information read from the calculated position matches the unique anchor identifier value stored in advance by the control unit 301 itself. This confirms that the anchor has been read. Furthermore, the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. Thereby, it can be determined that the defect list has been updated normally.

FIG. 8C shows the data structure of the defect list when the update of the defect list fails in the middle. FIG.
(C) shows the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 in the middle of updating the defect list.
Indicates a case where the update fails before recording the anchor due to the power off of the. In FIG. 8C, the defect list includes the first defect entry, as in FIG.
..., including the Nth defect entry. The number of defect entries is N as in FIG. The content of the first update count information is updated from M to M + 1. However, the content of the second update count information remains M as in FIG. In this case, the position calculated using the result of multiplying the number N of defect entries included in the header and the size of one defect entry is the correct position of the anchor. However, since the content of the first update count information and the content of the second update count information are different, it is not erroneously determined that the defect list has been updated normally.

In the first embodiment, the header 121 is used.
Has been described as having a defect list identifier 131. However, the header 121 is the optical disc 1.
The defect list identifier 131 does not necessarily have to be included because it is arranged at a physically determined position of 00. Even when there is no defect list identifier 131, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the information recording medium 100 includes the data area 102 for recording user data and the data area 10.
2, defect management areas 104, 105, 108, and 109 for recording a defect list for managing N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0). The defect list 112 includes a header 121, N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas, and an anchor 126. A header 121;
N defect entries and anchors 126 are arranged in this order in the defect list 112.

As a result, the size of the defect list 112 is variable. Since the size of the defect list 112 is variable according to the number of detected defective areas (defective sectors),
When the number of defect areas is small, the size of the defect list 112 is small. That is, the defect list 112 fits in a small ECC size (for example, 1 ECC size).
If the size of the defect list 112 is small, the recording time when recording the defect list 112 in the defect management area is shortened.
Processing speed is improved. Even if a defect area exists in the remaining ECC blocks (unused areas) excluding the defect list 112 in the defect management area, the defect management area can be processed as a normal defect management area. Therefore, the defect management area can be reproduced normally.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the header 121 of the information recording medium 100 includes the defect list identifier 131 for identifying the defect list 112 and the first update count information 133 indicating the update count of the defect list 112. And the number of defect entries 132 indicating the number of defect entries. The anchor 126 includes an anchor identifier 151 for identifying the anchors of the defect list 112 and second update count information 152 indicating the number of updates of the defect list 112. Including.

As a result, even if the size of the defect list 112 does not fit in the 1ECC size, 1EC
Since it is not necessary to add a header for each C block, the processing efficiency of updating the defect list 112 is improved. Since a header is not sandwiched between defect entries, it is possible to easily perform processing such as search, addition, and deletion of defect entries.

Also, the contents of the anchor identifier 151 are different from the contents of the defect list identifier 131, the defect entry number 132, the first update count information 133, the defect entry, and the second update count information 152. Since the information content read as the anchor identifier 151 does not match the content of the unique anchor identifier, it is erroneously assumed that the defect list 112 has been updated normally. There is no judgment.

Embodiment 2 (1) Information Recording Medium FIG. 9 shows a data structure diagram of an information recording medium 900 according to Embodiment 2.

The information recording medium (optical disk) 900 can be, for example, a rewritable optical disk. Optical disc 900
It is assumed that error correction is performed in units of 1 ECC block. An ECC block is a unit for error correction in an optical disc. The size of this ECC block is hereinafter referred to as 1 ECC size. Information recording / updating on the optical disc 900 is performed for each ECC block.

The data structure of the optical disc 900 in FIG.
A normal data structure after recording position information on N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) in the defect management area is shown. The defective area is, for example, a defective sector.

The optical disc 900 includes a data area 902 for recording user data and a recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown).
Includes a lead-in area 901 and a lead-out area 903 that serve as a buffer area when overrun by movement of an optical head (not shown).

Data area 902 includes a user area 906 for recording user data and a spare area 907.
When a defective area (for example, defective sector) exists in the user area 906, user data to be recorded in the defective area is recorded in the spare area 907 instead of the portion of the user area 906 corresponding to the defective area.

The lead-in area 901 is a data area 90
The first defect management area 904 and the second defect management area 90 in which information for managing the defect area existing in 2 is recorded.
5 and the like.

As with the lead-in area 901, the lead-out area 903 has a third defect management area 908 and a fourth defect management area 909 in which information for managing the defect area existing in the data area 902 is recorded. Including.

The first defect management area 904, the second defect management area 905, the third defect management area 908, and the fourth defect management area 909 are arranged at specific physical positions in the optical disc 900, respectively. Is done.

In the first defect management area 904, the second defect management area 905, the third defect management area 908, and the fourth defect management area 909, the same defect management information is recorded in a multiplexed manner. As described above in the first embodiment, this is because the first defect management area 904 and the second defect management area 9.
05, because the information itself recorded in the third defect management area 908 and the fourth defect management area 909 cannot be targeted for defect management. That is, the first defect management area 904 and the second defect management area 90
5. Even if a defect area exists in any of the third defect management area 908 and the fourth defect management area 909 and cannot be normally reproduced, at least one of the four defect management areas If there is a defect management area in which no defect area exists, the information for defect management recorded there can be reproduced normally. Therefore, reliability is improved without losing user data. In the second embodiment, the optical disc 900 has four defect management areas 904, 905, 908, and 909, but the number of defect management areas is arbitrary as long as the optical disc 900 has at least one defect management area.

In the first defect management area 904, a disk definition structure 911 and a defect list 912 for managing N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0) existing in the data area 902 are recorded. Is done.

The disc definition structure 911 is an optical disc 9.
This is information indicating the disk structure, such as whether 00 is a disk subjected to defect management. This information also includes information regarding the spare area 907. Disk definition structure 911
Are arranged at a physically specific position in the first defect management area 904. The size of the disk definition structure 911 is also a predetermined size.

The defect list 912 includes a header 921, a first defect entry 922, a second defect entry 923,
..., the N-1th defect entry 924 and the Nth defect entry 925, and an anchor 927 arranged at a fixed position in the defect list 912. Unlike the first embodiment, the defect list 912 includes an unused area 926. Header 921 and first to Nth defect entries 922 to 925
The anchors 927 are arranged in this order in the defect list 912.

In the second embodiment, the defect list 912
Is assumed to be 4ECC. Defect list 912
The size of is not limited to 4ECC, but is an arbitrary size.

The header 921 includes a defect list identifier 931 for identifying the defect list 912, and a defect entry number 932 indicating the number of defect entries included in the defect list 912.
The updated defect list is the first defect management area 904.
1st update number information 933 indicating the number of times recorded in. In FIG. 9, the number of defect entries 932 is N (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0), and the first update count information 93
The content of 3 is M (M is an integer satisfying M ≧ 0). For example, the defect list identifier 931 can be arranged at the head of the header 921 as shown in FIG.

The header 921 is arranged at a physically determined position. In the second embodiment, the header 921 is arranged at the head of the defect list 912. However,
The position of the header 921 in the defect list 912 is the header 9
21, first to Nth defect entries 922-925,
The anchor 927 is optional as long as it is arranged in this order in the defect list 912.

In the case of the optical disk 900 shown in FIG. 9, since the defect entry number 932 is N, the defect list 91
2 includes a first defect entry 922,..., And an Nth defect entry 925. First defect entry 92
2 includes first defect position information 941 that is position information related to the position of the defect area, and first replacement position information 942 that is position information related to the position of the spare area 907 instead of the defect area. Second defect entry 92
3 also includes second defect position information and second replacement position information. Hereinafter, N-1th defect entry 9
The same applies to the 24th and Nth defect entries 925. Here, the first defect position information 941 and the first replacement position information 942 are generally sector numbers.

The defect entries are generally arranged so that the defect position information included is in ascending order. Specifically, for example, when the defect position information is a sector number, the defect position information with the smallest sector number is represented by the first defect position information 94.
1 is placed in the first defect entry. Thereafter, the processing is performed sequentially in the order of sector numbers. The defect position information with the largest sector number is arranged in the Nth defect entry 925 as the Nth defect position information.

Note that the defect entries in the defect list 912 are not necessarily arranged in ascending order. For example, the defect entries may be arranged so that the sector numbers are in descending order. Alternatively, the defect entries may be arranged randomly.

In the unused area 926, information having no meaning at the present time is recorded. In the unused area 926, padding data 952 (for example, 0) is generally recorded. When a new defect area is detected in the user area 906, a defect entry for managing the new defect area is added to the defect list 912. Accordingly, the size of the unused area 926 is reduced by the size of the added defect entry.

The anchor 927 is a second field indicating the number of times the updated defect list has been recorded in the first defect management area 904.
Update number information 951. In FIG. 9, the content of the second update count information 951 is M (M is an integer satisfying M ≧ 0), and has the same content as the first update count information 933. As long as the update of the first defect management area 904 is normally performed, the contents of the first update count information 933 and the contents of the second update count information 951 are the same.

In this specification, the first and second update count information 933 and 951 are the number of times the updated defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 904 (that is, the defect list 912 is updated in the optical disc 900). And
The first and second update count information 933 and 951 may indicate the number of times the defect list has been updated (that is, the number of times the defect list has been updated in the storage unit to be described later). Good. Hereinafter, the first and second update count information 933 and 951 will be described as indicating the number of times the updated defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 904.

Unlike the first embodiment, the anchor 927 is arranged at a fixed position in the defect list 912. The anchor 927 is preferably arranged at a position uniquely determined from the position where the header 921 is arranged. In the second embodiment, the anchor 927 is arranged at the final position of the defect list 912, that is, the final position of the first defect management area 904. Since the size of the defect list 912 is fixed at 4 ECC size, the anchor 927 is replaced with the defect list 912.
In the last position of 4 ECC blocks from the beginning. However, the anchor 927 has a header 921
As long as the first to Nth defect entries 922 to 925 and the anchor 927 are arranged in this order in the defect list 912, they are fixed at arbitrary positions in the defect list 912.

In the optical disc 900 according to the second embodiment, the anchor 927 is disposed at a physically fixed position in the defect list 912. The header 921 includes first update number information 933, and the anchor 927 includes second update number information 95.
1 is included. Since the position of the anchor 927 is fixed, the content of the first update count information 933 is reliably compared with the content of the second update count information 951. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the defect list 912 has been updated normally.

In the following description, the optical disk 900 is shown in FIG.
The description will be made assuming that the data structure is as follows.

(2) Playback / Recording (Updating) Recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 for recording information on optical disc 900 and / or reproducing information recorded on optical disc 900 according to the second embodiment. 30
0 is used. The difference from the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the control unit 301 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 stores only a unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list 912 of the optical disc 900. The content (value) of this unique defect list identifier is a correct value and cannot be rewritten. The description of the configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 in FIG. 3 is omitted because it has been described in detail in the first embodiment.

(2-1) Defect Management Processing for Specifying Latest Defect List Next, the defect management processing operation for specifying the latest defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 again.

The controller 301 executes defect management processing. The control unit 301 follows the defect management processing procedure.
The information of the disk definition structure 911 arranged at the head of the first defect management area 904 is reproduced, and the information of the reproduced disk definition structure 911 is stored in the storage unit 303.
Requests to the recording / reproducing unit 302.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces the information of the disc definition structure 911 from the optical disc 900 according to the request from the control unit 301 and stores it in the storage unit 303.
The recording / playback unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the playback and storage of the information in the disk definition structure 911 has been completed.

Upon receiving the reproduction and storage completion report from the recording / reproducing unit 302, the control unit 301, based on the information of the disk definition structure 911 stored in the storage unit 303,
It is confirmed whether or not the optical disc 900 is a disc on which defect management has been performed.

When the control unit 301 confirms that the optical disc 900 is a disc on which defect management has been performed, the control unit 301 performs the first operation.
Header 921 arranged at a fixed position (the top in FIG. 9) of the defect list 912 recorded in the defect management area 904
And the recording / playback unit 302 is requested to store the played back header 921 in the storage unit 303.

In response to a request from the control unit 301, the recording / reproducing unit 302 has a header 92 arranged at the head of the defect list 912 recorded in the first defect management area 904.
1 is reproduced, and the reproduced header 921 is stored in the storage unit 303. The recording / playback unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the playback and storage of the header 921 has been completed.

Upon receiving the reproduction and storage completion report from the recording / reproducing unit 302, the control unit 301 and the contents of the inherent defect list identifier stored in advance in the storage unit 3
The contents of the defect list identifier 931 included in the header 921 stored in 03 are compared, and it is confirmed that the stored information is the header 921 in the defect list 912.

When the comparison results match, the control unit 301 determines that the stored information is the header 921 in the defect list 912, and continues the defect management process. If the comparison results do not match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 904 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area), and ends the defect management process.
Examples of cases where the comparison results do not match include a case where a defect area exists in the first defect management area 904 itself and information cannot be read out.

The control unit 301 uses the first defect management area 90.
4 to confirm the content of the first update count information 933 and the content of the second update count information 951 (defect list 912 in FIG. 9).
The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to reproduce the anchor 927 arranged at the last position of the 4 ECC block) from the beginning and store the reproduced anchor 927 in the storage unit 303.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces the anchor 927 existing at the designated position in the defect list 912 according to the request of the control unit 301, and the reproduced anchor 92 is reproduced.
7 is stored in the storage unit 303. The recording / reproducing unit 302 indicates that the reproduction and storage of the anchor 927 has been completed.
Report to 01.

The control unit 301 stores the first update count information 9 included in the header 921 and stored in the storage unit 303.
The content 33 is compared with the content of the second update count information 951 included in the anchor 927.

If the comparison results match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 904 is a defect management area that has been updated normally, and continues the defect management process.

If the comparison results do not match, the control unit 301 determines that the first defect management area 904 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area), and ends the defect management process. . If the results of the comparison do not match,
For example, when the first to Nth defect entries 922 to 925 in the defect list 912 are updated, the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 is turned off and the update is not completed until the end. As a result, the first update count information 933 included in the header 921.
And the content of the second update count information 951 included in the anchor 927 do not match.

The control unit 301 controls the second defect management area 90.
5. The same processing is performed for each of the third defect management area 908 and the fourth defect management area 909.

The control unit 301 determines that each of the first to fourth defect management areas 904, 905, 908 and 909 is normal after checking whether the defect management area is a normal defect management area. The latest defect management area is identified from the defect management areas. The control unit 301 compares the first update count information 933 recorded in the defect management area determined to be normal with each other, and determines the defect management area having the update count information with the maximum update count as the latest defect management area. As specified. The defect list recorded in the specified latest defect management area is specified as the latest defect list.

Note that the update count information used for specifying the latest defect management area is the first update count information 93.
Instead of 3, the second update count information 951 included in the anchor 927 may be used.

The control unit 301 reproduces the defect list recorded in the latest specified defect management area, and stores the reproduced defect list in the defect list area secured in the storage unit 303 in advance. Requests to the recording / reproducing unit 302.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces the defect list recorded in the latest specified defect management area in accordance with the request of the control unit 301, and the reproduced defect list is stored in the defect list area of the storage unit 303. Store. The recording / reproducing unit 302 reports to the control unit 301 that the defect list has been reproduced and stored.

In this way, the defect management processing operation for specifying the latest defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 ends.

For example, user data recorded in the data area 902 can be reproduced by using the specified latest defect list. In this case, the control unit 301 requests the recording / reproducing unit 302 to reproduce the user data based on the latest defect list and store the reproduced user data in the storage unit 303.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 reproduces user data from the data area 902 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301, and stores the reproduced user data in the storage unit 303.

Note that information may be recorded using the specified latest defect list.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
A defect management processing procedure for specifying the latest defect list will be described. The defect management process is executed by the control unit 301. Hereinafter, the defect management processing procedure will be described for each step. The defect management processing procedure is started after confirming that the optical disk 900 is subjected to defect management. Optical disc 9
Whether or not defect management is applied to 00 is determined from the disk definition structure 911 of the optical disk 900.

Step S1001: The defect list identifier 931, the defect entry number 932, and the first update count information 933 included in the header 921 are reproduced. The content of the reproduced defect list identifier 931 is compared with the content of the unique defect list identifier. The unique defect list identifier identifies the defect list 912 of the optical disc 900. The unique defect list identifier also has a correct value that cannot be rewritten. The unique defect list identifier can be stored in the control unit 301 in advance. As a result of the comparison, the defect list identifier 93
If the content of 1 matches the content of the unique defect list identifier, the defect management process proceeds to step S1002. As a result of the comparison, when the contents of the defect list identifier 931 and the contents of the unique defect list identifier do not match, the defect management process proceeds to step S1003.

Step S1002: Step S1001
When the content of the defect list identifier 931 and the content of the unique defect list identifier match, the reproduced information is
The header 921 in the defect list 912 is confirmed. The anchor 927 arranged at a fixed position in the defect list 912 (in FIG. 9, the last position of 4 ECC blocks from the beginning of the defect list 912) is reproduced. The contents of the first update count information 933 included in the header 921 and the contents of the second update count information 951 included in the anchor 927 are compared. As a result of the comparison, the first update count information 933 is obtained.
If the contents of the second update count information 951 match, the defect management reproduction process proceeds to step S1004. As a result of the comparison, if the contents of the first update count information 933 and the contents of the second update count information 951 do not match, the defect management process proceeds to step S1003.

Step S1003: Step S1001
In step S1002, it is determined that the content of the defect list identifier 931 and the content of the unique defect list identifier do not match, or in step S1002, the first update count information 9
If it is determined that the content of the 33 and the content of the second update count information 951 do not match, it is determined that the first defect management area 904 is an area that has failed to be updated (an abnormal defect management area). The defect management process for one defect management area 904 is terminated. The defect management process proceeds to step S1005.

Step S1004: Step S1002
If the contents of the first update count information 933 coincide with the contents of the second update count information 951, the first defect management area 904 is determined to be a normally updated defect management area. The The defect management reproduction process is step S10.
Proceed to 05.

Step S1005: Step S1 is performed for all defect management areas existing on the optical disc 900.
It is determined whether 001 to S1004 have been performed. Steps S1001 to S100 for all defect management areas
If 4 is not performed, the defect management process returns to step S1001 again. When steps S1001 to S1004 are performed for all defect management areas,
The defect management process proceeds to step S1006.

Step S1006: The latest defect list is specified. Specifically, the latest defect management area among the defect management areas determined to be normal is specified. The first update count information (or second update count information) recorded in the defect management area determined to be normal is compared with each other, and the defect management area having the update count information with the maximum update count is updated to the latest. It is specified as a defect management area. The defect list recorded in the specified latest defect management area is specified as the latest defect list.

When the latest defect list of the optical disc 900 is specified in steps S1001 to S1006, the defect management process ends. Using the latest defect list obtained in step S1006, for example, the data area 9
User data recorded in 02 can be reproduced.

(2-2) Defect Management Processing for Updating the Defect List Referring again to FIG. 3, the defect management processing operation for updating the defect list by the recording / reproducing apparatus 300 will be described. Here, user data is stored in the data area 90 of the optical disc 900.
2 when a further defective area is detected at the time of recording, or when the user area 906 previously determined as a defective area is reproduced as a normal defective area at the time of reproducing the user data recorded in the data area 902 If determined,
An example in which the defect list is updated will be described. In the present specification, the “normal defect area” means an area that has been previously determined as a defect area, but has no defect that can record and / or reproduce information at the present time. To do. An example will be described in which a defective area is determined again as a normal defective area. For example, the defective area is caused by dirt such as dust or fingerprints present on the surface of the optical disk. In this case, when the user wipes the surface of the optical disc to remove dust or dirt on the optical disc, an area where dust or dirt exists (an area previously determined as a defective area) is recorded / reproduced. It is determined again as a normal area that can be used.

Here, the storage unit 303 stores the latest defect list. The latest defect list may be arranged in the defect list area of the storage unit 303. The latest defect list includes the latest header, P latest defect entries (P is an integer satisfying P = N or P ≠ N, P ≧ 0), and the latest anchor. The latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor are arranged in this order in the latest defect list. The latest header is located at a fixed position in the latest defect list. The latest anchor is also located at a fixed position in the latest defect list. The latest header includes the latest defect list identifier, the first latest update count information, and the latest defect entry number P.
Including. The contents of the latest defect list identifier are stored in the control unit 30.
1 is always the same as the content of the unique defect list identifier stored in 1. The latest anchor includes second latest update count information having the same content as the first latest update count information. Assume that the P latest defect entries are arranged in ascending order in the order of defect position information (defective sector number). The latest defect list may also include unused areas. The latest header does not necessarily include the latest defect list identifier.

It should be noted that the placement of the latest header, P latest defect entries, and latest anchor described above is merely illustrative. Arrangement of the latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor in the latest defect list is arbitrary.

The control unit 301 executes defect management processing. The controller 301 determines that the further defective area is the data area 9.
The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to determine whether the defect area existing in 02, the defect area previously determined to be a defective area, is a normal area, or none of them. The presence / absence of a further defect area in the data area 902 is determined by, for example, comparing a signal obtained by reproduction immediately after recording user data with a signal indicating user data to be recorded. If these signals match, it is determined that the user data has been normally recorded in the data area 902. If these signals do not match,
User data is not normally recorded in the data area 902,
It is determined that a further defect area exists in the data area 902.

When the control unit 301 determines that there is a further defective region in the data region 902 or that the defective region is normal, the control unit 301 updates the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303.

A specific procedure for updating the latest defect list will be described. There are three update procedures. Ie adding defect entries, deleting defect entries, and
It is an update of a defect entry. Each case will be described.

Addition of Defect Entry If it is determined that a further defect area exists in the user area 906, a defect entry including position information regarding the position of the further defect area is added to the latest defect list. The control unit 301 determines the position of the defect entry to be added based on the defect position information regarding the detected defect area. The control unit 301 shifts other defect entries existing after the determined position toward the unused area, and adds a defect entry including position information regarding a further defect area to the determined position. As a result, the P latest defect entries are updated to P ′ defect entries (P ≠
P ′, P <P ′).

The control unit 301 updates the latest defect entry number P to P ′ with the addition of defect entries. In this case, the number of latest defect entries is increased by the number of added defect entries (ie, the number of detected defective sectors).

The control unit 301 updates the contents of the first latest update count information included in the latest header after the P latest defect entries and the latest defect entry number P are updated, and
The content of the second latest update count information included in the latest anchor is incremented by one.

If it is determined again that the area determined to be a defective area before deletion of the defect entry is a normal defect area, the control unit 301 obtains positional information regarding the position of the defective area determined to be normal. Delete the defect entry that contains it. Next, the control unit 301 shifts the defect entries subsequent to the deleted defect entry toward the latest header by the size of the deleted defect entry.
The control unit 301 records padding data (for example, 0) in an unused area that is increased by the size of the defect entry by deleting the defect entry. This
The P latest defect entries become P ′ defect entries (P ≠ P ′, P> P ′).

The control unit 301 updates the number of latest defect entries included in the latest header with the deletion of the defect entry. In this case, the number of latest defective entries is reduced by the number of deleted defective entries (that is, the number of defective sectors determined to be normal).

The control unit 301 updates the contents of the first latest update count information included in the latest header after the P latest defect entries and the latest defect entry number P are updated, and
The content of the second latest update count information included in the latest anchor is incremented by one.

Modification of Defect Entry In this case, since it is the same as the modification of the defect entry in the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

It should be noted that in any of the cases, the control unit 3
01 is performed on the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303. As in the first embodiment, when the first and second update number information 933 and 951 indicate the number of times the updated latest defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 904, the first and second The latest update count information of 2 can be incremented by 1 each time before the updated latest defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 904. On the other hand, the first and second update count information 933, 9
When 51 indicates the number of times the latest defect list has been updated in the storage unit 303, the first and second latest update count information is incremented by 1 each time the latest defect entry and the latest defect entry number are updated. Can be done.

[0288] The control unit 301 records and reproduces the latest defect list updated in the storage unit 303 in the first defect management area 904 of the optical disc 900.
To request. For example, the control unit 301 requests the recording / reproducing unit 302 to record in the first defect management area 904 in the order of the updated latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor.

The recording / playback unit 302 records the updated latest defect list in the first defect management area 904 in accordance with a request from the control unit 301. The updated latest defect list in place of the defect list 912 includes the first defect in the order of the latest header in place of the header 921, the latest defect entry in place of the first to Nth defect entries 922-925, and the latest anchor in place of the anchor 927. Recorded in the management area 904. The recording / reproducing unit 302 reports that the recording of the updated latest defect list in the first defect management area 904 has been completed. Unlike the first embodiment, in the optical disc 900 of the second embodiment, the anchor 927 is at a fixed position (that is, the last position of 4 ECC blocks from the beginning of the defect list 912).
Placed in. Therefore, even if the size of the header 921 and the size of the defect entry is within one ECC size in the defect list 912, 1E
It is necessary to record at least 2 ECC blocks of the CC block and the 4 ECC block in which the latest anchor is arranged.

The control unit 301 stores the latest defect list updated in the storage unit 303 in the second to fourth defect management areas 9.
The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to record in each of 05, 908, and 909. Again, the control unit 3
01 is the second to fourth defect management areas 905 and 90 in the order of the updated latest header, the latest defect entry, and the latest anchor.
8 and 909 so as to record in each of the recording and reproducing units 3
Request to 02.

The recording / reproducing unit 302 sends the updated latest defect list to the second to fourth in accordance with the request from the control unit 301.
Are recorded in the defect management areas 905, 908, and 909, respectively.

In this way, the defect management process by the control unit 301 is executed.

The recording order of the updated latest defect list is as follows:
The order is not limited to the above-mentioned latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor. As long as the header 921, the N defect entries 922-925, and the anchor 927 are arranged in this order in the defect list 912, the control unit 3
01 is the first to fourth defect management areas 90 in the order of the updated latest anchor, P ′ latest defect entry, and latest header.
4, 905, 908, and 909, the recording / playback unit 302 requests the recording / playback unit 302.
In accordance with a request from the control unit 301, the updated latest defect list is stored in the first to fourth defect management areas 904, 905, 9
You may record in each of 08 and 909.

Referring again to FIG. 5, a defect management processing procedure for updating the defect list according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The defect management process is executed by the control unit 301. Steps S501 to S503 and S505 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Step S504: The updated latest defect list is recorded in the first defect management area 904 of the optical disc 900. For example, the updated latest header, P ′ latest defect entries, and latest anchor are recorded in the first defect management area 904 in this order. A header 921, N defect entries 922 to 925, and an anchor 927 are included in the defect list 9.
12 may be recorded in the first defect management area 904 in the order of the updated latest anchor, P ′ latest defect entry, and latest header. In the optical disc 900 according to the second embodiment, the anchor 927 has a fixed position in the defect list 912 (in FIG. 9, the defect list 912).
The information is arranged at the last position of 4 ECC blocks from the top of the. Therefore, even when the size of the header 921 and the size of the defect entry in the defect list 912 is within one ECC size, 1EC
Recording is performed for at least 2 ECC blocks of the C block and the 4 ECC block in which the latest anchor is arranged.

As described above, the arrangement of the latest header, the P latest defect entries, and the latest anchor in the latest defect list is arbitrary. In this case, the updated latest defect list includes the first to first discs of the optical disc 900 as follows.
They are recorded in the fourth defect management areas 904, 905, 908, and 909, respectively. The updated latest header is header 9
21 so that the updated P latest defect entries are arranged at the positions of the defect entries 922 to 925 so that the updated latest anchors are arranged at the position 21.
Updated latest header, P
The first to fourth defect management areas 904 and 905 in the order of the latest defect entry, the latest anchor, or the updated latest anchor, the P ′ latest defect entry, and the latest header. , 908, and 909, respectively.

In the above description, the object on which the updated latest defect list is recorded is the optical disk 90 shown in FIG.
It has been described that it is 0 (that is, the optical disk is managed for defects). Next, recording of the latest defect list (updated) when the optical disc is in an initial state immediately after shipment from the factory will be described.

Assume that the optical disk in the initial state is the same as the structure shown in FIG. 9 except that the defect list 912 shown in FIG. 9 has no information. Such an optical disc is not recorded with a defect list identifier for identifying a defect list. Therefore, if the latest defect list does not include the latest defect list identifier, the defect management process for recording the latest defect list for the optical disc in the initial state is in addition to recording the latest defect list in the defect management area. The defect list identifier needs to be recorded in the defect management area. When the latest defect list includes the latest defect list identifier, it is as described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 301 records the latest defect list stored in the storage unit 303 in the defect management area of the optical disc, and uses the inherent defect list identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 itself for defect management of the optical disc. The recording / reproducing unit 302 is requested to record in the area. In detail
The unique defect list identifier is recorded in the defect management area so as to be positioned at the head of the header 921. In this case, the number of defect entries 932 and the first to Nth defect entries 922
Arbitrary values are recorded as the latest defect entry number and the latest defect entry in the latest defect list corresponding to .about.925. For example, 0 or 1 is recorded in each of the first and second latest update count information. It should be noted that the values recorded as the first and second update count information are both the same value, and any value can be used as long as it can be identified that the recording has been performed only once on the optical disk in the initial state. It is.

The method for recording the defect list identifier in the defect management area is not limited to the above-described method. For example, the storage unit 3
The unique defect list identifier stored in advance in the control unit 301 is assigned as the latest defect list identifier to the head position of the latest header of the latest defect list stored in 03.
As the defect management process for the optical disk in the initial state, the latest defect list including the latest defect list identifier obtained in this way may be recorded in the defect management area.

This defect management processing is performed in step S5 in FIG.
04 and S505.

Next, it will be described below that when the optical disc 900 according to the second embodiment is used, it is reliably determined whether or not the defect management area has been successfully updated.

(Specific example 1: When a defect entry is added) FIG. 11 shows (a) a defect list before update, (b) a defect list updated normally, and (c) update failed. The data structure figure with a defect list | wrist is shown.

FIG. 11 shows a case where one additional defect area (defective sector) is detected in the user area 906 and one defect entry is added. The addition of the defect entry is as described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11A shows the data structure of the defect list before the defect list is updated. The defect list shown in FIG. 11A is the defect list 912 in FIG.
It is the same as the state. Here, the defect list includes a first defect entry,..., An Nth defect entry. The number of defect entries is N, and the contents of the first update count information and the second update count information are M, respectively.

FIG. 11B shows the data structure of the defect list after the defect list is normally updated (addition of defect entry). When one defect entry is successfully added to the defect list, the defect list includes a first defect entry, ..., Nth defect entry, N + 1th defect entry. Compared to FIG. 11A, the number of defect entries is increased by one, and the number of defect entries is updated from N to N + 1. The contents of the first update number information and the second update number information are updated from M to M + 1, respectively.

[0307] As the defect entry is added, the size of the unused area is reduced by the size of the added defect entry, but the anchor arrangement position is fixed. The content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. Thereby, it can be determined that the defect list has been updated normally.

FIG. 11C shows the data structure of the defect list when the update of the defect list fails in the middle. FIG.
1 (c) is a recording / reproducing apparatus 30 in the middle of updating the defect list.
This indicates a case where the update fails before the anchor is recorded due to a power off of 0 or the like. In FIG. 11C, the defect list includes the first defect entry,..., The Nth defect entry as in FIG. The defect list includes the same defect entries as in FIG. 11A, but the number of defect entries is updated from N to N + 1. The first update count information is also updated from M to M + 1. However, the content of the second update count information remains M as in FIG. Since the content of the first update count information and the content of the second update count information are different, it can be determined that the defect list has failed to be updated.

Similarly, when the defect entry is changed and when the defect entry is deleted, the defect list is updated by comparing the contents of the first update count information with the contents of the second update count information. It can be determined whether or not has been successfully performed.

In the second embodiment, an anchor 927 is used.
Has been described as having only the second update count information 951. However, as in the first embodiment, an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor in the defect list 912 may be included. In this case, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

In the second embodiment, the header 921
Has been described as having a defect list identifier 931. However, since the header 921 is disposed at a physically determined position, the defect list identifier 931 does not necessarily have to be included. In this case, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the information recording medium 900 includes the data area 902 for recording user data, and the data area 90.
2, defect management areas 904, 905, 908, and 909 for recording a defect list for managing N defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0). The defect list 912 includes a header 921, N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas, and an anchor 927 arranged at a fixed position in the defect list 912. The header 921 includes first update number information 933, and the anchor 927 includes second update number information 951.

Since the anchor 927 is always arranged at a fixed position, other information is not reproduced by mistake as the anchor 927. That is, the first update count information 933
Can be reliably compared with the content of the second update count information 951. Therefore, it can be easily determined whether or not the defect list 912 has been normally updated.

Since the anchor 927 is always arranged at a fixed position, when the anchor 927 is played back, the position of the anchor 927 shown in the first embodiment is calculated, and the anchor 927 exists at the calculated position. There is no need to check whether or not. Therefore, the defect management process can be simplified and speeded up.

Even if the size of the defect list 912 does not fit into one ECC size, it is not necessary to add a header for each ECC block, so the defect list 91
The processing efficiency of the second update is improved. Since a header is not sandwiched between defect entries, it is possible to easily perform processing such as search, addition, and deletion of defect entries.

[0316]

As described above, the information recording medium according to the present invention includes a data area for recording user data and N defect areas (N is greater than or equal to N ≧) present in the data area.
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing (integer satisfying 0). The defect list includes a header,
N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas and an anchor are included. The header, N defect entries, and anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list. Thereby, since the size of the defect list becomes variable, the processing speed is improved according to the size of the defect list.

According to the information recording medium of the present invention, the header includes the defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, the first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and the number of defect entries indicating the number of defect entries. Including. The anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor in the defect list and second update number information indicating the number of times the defect list is updated. Even if the size of the defect list does not fit in one ECC size, it is not necessary to add a header for each ECC block, so that the processing efficiency of updating the defect list 112 is improved. Furthermore, since no header is sandwiched between defect entries, it is possible to easily perform processing such as search, addition, and deletion of defect entries.

Further, since the contents of the anchor identifier are different from the contents of the defect list identifier, the number of defect entries, the first update count information, the defect entry, and the second update count information, the defect entry is deleted. Even so, the content of the information erroneously read as the anchor identifier and the content of the unique anchor identifier do not match, so that it is not erroneously determined that the defect list has been updated normally. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a data structure diagram of an information recording medium 100 according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a detailed data structure diagram of a header 121, a first defect entry 122, an anchor 126, and an unused area 113.

FIG. 3 shows a recording / reproducing apparatus 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Block diagram of 0

FIG. 4 is a defect management processing procedure for specifying a latest defect list according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a defect management processing procedure for updating a defect list according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a case where a defect list is updated by adding a defect entry according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
(A) Data structure diagram of defect list before update, (b) defect list updated normally, and (c) defect list failed to update

FIG. 7 shows a case where a defect list is updated by deleting a defect entry according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
(A) Data structure diagram of defect list before update, (b) defect list updated normally, and (c) defect list failed to update

FIG. 8 shows a case where a defect list is updated by changing a defect entry according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
(A) Data structure diagram of defect list before update, (b) defect list updated normally, and (c) defect list failed to update

9 is a data structure diagram of an information recording medium 900 according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a defect management processing procedure for identifying the latest defect list according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show (a) a defect list before update and (b) a defect list updated normally when a defect list is updated by adding a defect entry according to the second embodiment of the present invention; And (c) data structure diagram with the defect list that failed to be updated.

FIG. 12 shows an information recording medium 12 according to the DVD-RAM standard.
00 data structure diagram

FIG. 13 is a detailed data structure diagram of SDL1212.

FIG. 14 is a data structure diagram of SDL1400 of 4 ECC size.

FIG. 15 is a data structure diagram of another information recording medium 1500 according to the prior art.

16 is an SDL of the information recording medium 1500 shown in FIG.
Data structure diagram of 1501 (a) defect list before update, (b) defect list updated normally, and (c) defect list failed to update

[Explanation of symbols]

100 optical disc 101 Lead-in area 102 Data area 103 Lead-out area 104 First defect management area 105 Second defect management area 108 Third defect management area 109 Fourth defect management area 106 User area 107 Spare area 111 Disk definition structure 112 Defect List 113 Unused area 121 header 122, 123, 124, 125 Defect entry 126 Anka 131 Defect list identifier 132 Number of defective entries 133 First update count information 152 Second update count information 141 First defect position information 142 Second replacement position information 151 Anchor identifier

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ueda             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric             Within Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5D044 BC04 CC06 DE03 DE37 DE53                       DE62 DE64 DE70 DE73 EF05                       FG18

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. A data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N
Is an information recording medium including a defect management area for recording a defect list that manages N ≧ 0), and the defect list is a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list. And N defect entries each including position information regarding the position of each of the N defect areas, and an anchor, wherein the header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are included in the defect list. Are arranged in this order, and the header indicates a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and the number of the N defect entries. A number of defect entries, and the anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list, and second update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list, Broadcast recording medium. 2. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the defect list is composed of two or more blocks, and the defect list is recorded block by block. 3. A recording apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium, wherein the information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N is a data area). , An integer satisfying N ≧ 0), a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing the defect list, the defect list including a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and the N defect areas Including N defect entries each including position information on each position, and an anchor, and the header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list. The header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and a defect entry indicating the number of the N defect entries. The anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list, and second update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list, and the recording device includes the information recording medium, A recording unit that records information; a storage unit that stores the information to be recorded on the information recording medium and a latest defect list; a control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the recording unit and the storage unit; The latest defect list includes a latest header, P latest defect entries (P is an integer satisfying P ≧ N or P ≠ N and P ≧ 0), and a latest anchor. The header includes first latest update count information and the latest defect entry count P, and the latest anchor includes second latest update count information having the same content as the first latest update count information, and the defect management place (A) determining whether there is a further defect area in the data area, a normal defect area among the N defect areas, or none of them; (b) When it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area or that there is a normal defect area, the P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ latest defect entries (P = P ′ or P ≠). P ′ and P ′ ≧ 0
And the latest number of entries P
(C) a step of incrementing each of the first and second latest update count information by 1; and (d) a latest defect updated in steps (b) and (c). Recording a list in the defect management area. 4. The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest anchor in order, or the updated latest anchor, 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area in any of the order of the updated P ′ latest defect entries and the updated latest header. 5. The device described. 5. The step (b) includes adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list if it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area. Equipment. 6. The step (b) includes position information regarding the position of the normal defect area from the P latest defect entries when it is determined in the step (a) that a normal defect area exists. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising deleting a defect entry. 7. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the execution of step (d) is controlled for a defect management area. 8. The step (b) includes adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list if it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area. Equipment. 9. The step (b) includes position information on the position of the normal defect area from the P latest defect entries when it is determined in the step (a) that a normal defect area exists. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising the step of deleting a defect entry. 10. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein execution of the step (d) is controlled for a defect management area. 11. A recording method for recording information on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N existing in the data area.
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list; N defect entries each including position information relating to the position of each of the N defect areas;
The header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list, the header including a defect list identifier that identifies the defect list; Including first update number information indicating the number of updates of the defect list and a defect entry number indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor includes an anchor identifier for identifying an anchor of the defect list, and the defect Second update count information indicating the update count of the list, and the recording method is performed using a latest defect list, and the latest defect list includes a latest header and P latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠ N and an integer satisfying P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor, and the latest header is
Including the first latest update number information and the latest defect entry number P, and the latest anchor includes second latest update number information having the same content as the first latest update number information, and the recording method includes: (A) determining whether there is a further defect area in the data area, a normal defect area among the N defect areas, or none of them; (b) the step If it is determined in (a) that there is a further defect area or that there is a normal defect area, the P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ latest defect entries (P = P ′ or P ≠ P ′). , An integer satisfying P ′ ≧ 0) and updating the latest defect entry number P to P ′, and (c) a step of incrementing each of the first and second latest update count information by one. If, comprising a step of recording the latest defect list updated in; (d) Step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area, methods. 12. The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest anchor order, or the updated latest anchor, 12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area in any order of the updated P ′ latest defect entries and the updated latest header. The method described. 13. The step (b) includes adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list if it is determined in step (a) that there is a further defect area. the method of. 14. In step (b), when it is determined in step (a) that there is a normal defect area, position information relating to the position of the normal defect area is recorded from the P latest defect entries. The method of claim 12, comprising deleting the created defect entry. 15. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the further defect management area The method of claim 12, further comprising performing step (d). 16. The step (b) includes adding a further defect entry to the latest defect list if it is determined in the step (a) that there is a further defect area. the method of. 17. In the step (b), when it is determined in the step (a) that a normal defect area exists, position information regarding the position of the normal defect area is recorded from the P latest defect entries. The method of claim 11, comprising deleting the created defect entry. 18. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the further defect management area The method of claim 11, further comprising performing step (d). 19. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N defect areas existing in the data area. (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0)
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing the defect list, and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and positional information regarding each position of the N defect areas. Each including N defect entries and anchors, wherein the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes the defect list A defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor is an anchor of the defect list. And the second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and the playback device includes the information recorded on the information recording medium. A reproduction unit that reproduces, a storage unit that stores the reproduced information, and a control unit that controls execution of a defect management process using the reproduction unit and the storage unit, and the inherent defect that identifies the defect list A controller that stores a list identifier and a unique anchor identifier for identifying the anchor of the defect list, and the defect management process includes: (a) the defect list identifier included in the header, and the number of defect entries And reproducing the first update count information and determining whether or not the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier; and (b) the step (a) When it is determined that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier, the number of reproduced defect entries is used to Calculating the position of the anchor in the defect list; and (c) reproducing the anchor identifier and the second update count information based on the calculated anchor position, and the contents of the unique anchor identifier and the Determining whether or not the content of the reproduced anchor identifier matches, and (d) determining in step (c) that the content of the unique anchor identifier matches the content of the reproduced anchor identifier. A step of determining whether or not the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information; and (e) the first update count in step (d). If it is determined that the content of the information matches the content of the second update count information, a step of identifying the defect list recorded in the defect management area as the latest defect list. Including the door, equipment. 20. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. Controlling the execution of the defect management process for the defect management area, wherein the step (e) comprises: (e ₁ ) performing the steps (a) to (d) for the further defect management area; and (e ₂ ) updating 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: identifying a defect list having update count information having a maximum number of times as a latest defect list. 21. A reproducing method for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N defect areas existing in the data area. (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0)
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing the defect list, and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and positional information regarding each position of the N defect areas. Each including N defect entries and anchors, wherein the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes the defect list A defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor is an anchor of the defect list. And (a) the defect list identifier included in the header, the defect identifier, and the second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list. Reproducing the number of fault entries and the first update count information, and determining whether the content of the unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier; (B) If it is determined in step (a) that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier, the number of the reproduced defect entries is used to determine the content in the defect list. (C) content of the unique anchor identifier for reproducing the anchor identifier and the second update number information based on the calculated anchor position and identifying the anchor of the defect list. Determining whether or not the content of the reproduced anchor identifier matches, (d) in step (c), the unique anchor If it is determined that the content of the bespoke child matches the content of the reproduced anchor identifier, it is determined whether the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information. (E) If it is determined in step (d) that the content of the first update count information and the content of the second update count information match, the content recorded in the defect management area Identifying the defect list as a current defect list. 22. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step (e) includes: (E ₁ ) performing the steps (a) to (d) for the further defect management area; and (e ₂ ) identifying as a latest defect list a defect list having update count information with the maximum number of updates. The method of claim 21, comprising: 23. A data area for recording user data, and N defect areas (N
Is an information recording medium including a defect management area for recording a defect list that manages N ≧ 0), and the defect list is a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list. And N defect entries each including position information regarding each position of the N defect areas, and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list, the header, and the N defects The entry and the anchor are arranged in this order in the defect list, and the header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, and first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list; A defect entry number indicating the number of N defect entries, and the anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list. 24. The information recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the defect list is composed of two or more blocks, and the defect list is recorded block by block. 25. A recording apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N existing in the data area.
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list; N defect entries each including position information relating to the position of each of the N defect areas;
Including an anchor disposed at a fixed position in the defect list, the header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are disposed in this order in the defect list. A defect list identifier for identifying a defect list; first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list; and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor includes the defect list Second update number information indicating the number of update times, and the recording device stores the information to be recorded on the information recording medium, the information to be recorded on the information recording medium, and the latest defect list A storage unit; and a control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the recording unit and the storage unit, wherein the latest defect list includes a latest header and P latest defect entries. (P is an integer satisfying P = N or P ≠ N and P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor, and the latest header includes the first latest update count information and the latest defect entry number P. The latest anchor includes second latest update number information having the same content as the first latest update number information, and the defect management processing includes: (a) whether there is a further defect area in the data area, A step of determining whether or not a normal defect region is present among the N defect regions; or (b) a further defect region is present in step (a) or is normal. If it is determined that a defect area exists, the P latest defect entries are updated to P ′ latest defect entries (P = P ′ or P ≠ P ′, an integer satisfying P ≧ 0), and P 'is the latest number of defect entries (C) a step of incrementing each of the first and second latest update count information by 1; and (d) the latest defect list updated in the steps (b) and (c). Recording in the defect management area. 26. The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest anchor order, or the updated latest anchor, 26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area in any order of the updated P ′ latest defect entries and the updated latest header. The device described. 27. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein execution of step (d) is controlled for a defect management area. 28. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein execution of step (d) is controlled for a defect management area. 29. A recording method for recording information on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and an N existing in the data area.
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing defect areas (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0), and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list; N defect entries each including position information relating to the position of each of the N defect areas;
Including an anchor disposed at a fixed position in the defect list, the header, the N defect entries, and the anchor are disposed in this order in the defect list. A defect list identifier for identifying a defect list; first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list; and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries, wherein the anchor includes the defect list Second update count information indicating the update count of the latest update list, wherein the recording method is performed using a latest defect list, and the latest defect list includes a latest header and P latest defect entries (P is P = N or P ≠ N and an integer satisfying P ≧ 0) and the latest anchor, and the latest header includes:
Including the first latest update count information and the latest defect entry count P, the latest anchor includes second update count information having the same content as the first update count information, and the recording method includes: And (b) determining whether there is a further defect area in the data area, a normal defect area among the N defect areas, or none of them. ), It is determined that there is a further defect area or that there is a normal defect area. The P latest defect entries are changed to P ′ latest defect entries (P = P ′ or P ≠ P ′, An integer satisfying P ′ ≧ 0) and updating the latest defect entry number P to P ′; (c) incrementing each of the first and second latest update count information by 1; , (D And (b) recording the latest defect list updated in step (b) and step (c) in the defect management area. 30. The step (d) includes the updated latest header, the updated P ′ latest defect entries, the updated latest anchor order, or the updated latest anchor, 30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of recording the updated latest defect list in the defect management area in the order of one of the updated P ′ latest defect entries and the updated latest header. The method described. 31. The information recording medium further comprises a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the further defect management area 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising performing step (d). 32. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the further defect management area 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising performing step (d). 33. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N defect areas existing in the data area. (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0)
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing the defect list, and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and positional information regarding each position of the N defect areas. Each including N defect entries and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list, wherein the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list. The header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries. The anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and the playback device plays back the information recorded on the information recording medium. A storage unit that stores the reproduced information, and a control unit that controls execution of defect management processing using the reproduction unit and the storage unit, and includes a unique defect list identifier that identifies the defect list. The defect management processing includes: (a) reproducing the defect list identifier, the number of defect entries, and the first update count information included in the header; (B) determining whether or not the content of the reproduced defect list identifier matches, and (b) the content of the unique defect list identifier and the content of the reproduced defect list identifier in step (a). Is reproduced, the second update count information included in the anchor is reproduced, and the content of the first update count information and the second update count information are included. (C) When it is determined in step (b) that the content of the first update count information and the content of the second update count information match, Identifying the defect list recorded in the defect management area as a latest defect list. 34. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same content as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the control unit includes the further control section. Controlling the execution of the defect management process for the defect management area, wherein the step (c) includes: (c ₁ ) performing the steps (a) to (b) for the further defect area; and (c ₂ ) most updated 35. The apparatus according to claim 33, comprising: specifying a defect list having frequent update count information as a latest defect list. 35. A reproducing method for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information recording medium comprising: a data area for recording user data; and N defect areas existing in the data area. (N is an integer satisfying N ≧ 0)
A defect management area for recording a defect list for managing the defect list, and the defect list includes a header arranged at a fixed position in the defect list, and positional information regarding each position of the N defect areas. Each including N defect entries and anchors arranged at fixed positions in the defect list, wherein the header, the N defect entries, and the anchors are arranged in this order in the defect list. The header includes a defect list identifier for identifying the defect list, first update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, and a defect entry count indicating the number of the N defect entries. And the anchor includes second update count information indicating the update count of the defect list, (a) the defect list identifier included in the header, and the number of defect entries And reproducing the first update count information and determining whether the content of the unique defect list identifier for identifying the defect list matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier; and (b) When it is determined in step (a) that the content of the unique defect list identifier matches the content of the reproduced defect list identifier, the second update count information included in the anchor is reproduced, and the first Determining whether the content of the first update count information matches the content of the second update count information; and (c) the content of the first update count information in step (b) And a step of specifying the defect list recorded in the defect management area as a latest defect list when it is determined that the content of the second update count information matches. 36. The information recording medium further includes a further defect management area for recording a defect list having the same contents as the defect list recorded in the defect management area, and the step (c) includes: (C ₁ ) performing the steps (a) to (b) for the further defect management area; and (c ₂ ) identifying as a latest defect list a defect list having update count information having the highest update count. 36. The method of claim 35, comprising.