JP2007012248A - Multilayer information storage medium and information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly reliable multi-layer information storage medium and an information apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A multilayer information storage medium 600 includes: a data-reading side surface; and eight recording layers 601 to 608 for recording data which is read out by using a blue-violet light beam. Each of the recording layers 601 to 608 has a user data area 610. A recording layer which is the most distant from the data-reading side surface 601 includes a disk information area 26 and a defect management area 27 for recording management information concerning all of the recording layers 601 to 608. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multilayer information recording medium and an information device.

  A known optical disc is an information recording medium having a sector structure. Optical discs can be roughly classified into three types according to their characteristics. The first is a read-only disc in which data is recorded by unevenness of the disc and the user cannot newly record data. The second is a write-once disc that has an organic dye as a recording film and can be recorded only once. The third type is a rewritable disc that includes a phase change material or the like as a recording film and can be recorded (rewritten) a plurality of times.

  In recent years, audio video data such as audio and video (hereinafter referred to as “AV data”) has been digitized and broadcasted or distributed, so that there is a demand for optical disks with higher density and larger capacity. . In order to increase the storage capacity, it is useful to use a plurality of recording layers. For example, in a DVD read-only disc, the capacity can be doubled by forming two recording layers on one optical disc.

  In addition, as the capacity of optical disks is increased, the application is expanded for video recording such as DVD. Data for computer data recording (hereinafter referred to as “PC data”) does not allow even slight errors, and therefore needs to be recorded with high reliability. For example, the PC data is a data file, file management information, program management information, or the like. On the other hand, AV data used for video recording and audio recording needs to record continuously input data in real time. However, it may be acceptable if the reproduced video or audio is perceptually permissible, and it may not be as reliable as a file for computer data recording, and instead the recording is not interrupted. is important. In other words, the PC data recording storage device requires different performance even if it takes some time, and the AV data recording storage device emphasizes continuous recording performance.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the principle of reproducing data from an optical disc having two recording layers will be described. The illustrated optical disc includes a pair of transparent substrates on which spiral track grooves are formed, and these transparent substrates support two recording layers. The transparent substrate is laminated with a transparent photo-curing resin filled between the two recording layers to constitute one optical disk.

  Here, for convenience of explanation, the longer distance from the data reading side surface is called the first recording layer, and the shorter distance is called the second recording layer. The thickness and composition of the second recording layer are adjusted so that the incident light is half reflected and half transmitted. The thickness and composition of the first recording layer are adjusted so as to reflect all incident light. By moving the objective lens for converging the laser light closer to or away from the optical disc, the beam spot (focus) of the laser light can be converged on the first recording layer or the second recording layer.

  FIG. 2 shows an area layout of the recording layer 21 provided in a conventional rewritable optical disc. In the recording layer 21 shown in FIG. 2, a disk information area 26 and a defect management area 27 (hereinafter referred to as DMA) are provided in the lead-in area 22. A defect management area 27 is provided in the lead-out area 25. Spare areas 23 are provided between the lead-in area 22 and the user data area 24 and between the user data area 24 and the lead-out area 25, respectively.

  The disc information area 26 stores information relating to parameters and physical characteristics necessary for recording / reproducing data of the optical disc.

  The defect management area 27 and the spare area 23 are prepared for defect management in which a sector in which recording / reproduction on the user data area 24 cannot be correctly performed (referred to as a defective sector) is replaced with another sector in good condition. It is an area.

  The spare area 23 is an area including a sector for replacing a defective sector (referred to as a spare sector. In particular, a sector that has been replaced with a defective sector is referred to as a replacement sector). In the DVD-RAM, spare areas 23 are arranged at two locations on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the user data area 24, and spare areas 23 arranged on the outer circumference side so as to cope with the case where the number of defective sectors increases more than expected. Can be expanded in size.

  The defect management area 27 includes a disk definition structure (DDS) 28 that holds a format relating to defect management including management of the size and arrangement location of the spare area 23, and a defect list that lists the positions of defective sectors and their replacement sectors. (DL) 29. With regard to the defect management area 27, in consideration of robustness, there are many optical discs with specifications that record the same contents in a double in each of the defect management areas 27 on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side (for example, patent document). 1).

  On the other hand, once recorded information cannot be erased on a write-once medium. Because of this property, instead of rewriting previously recorded information, new information is added (added) elsewhere. For this reason, the write-once medium has management information different from that of the rewritable medium.

  FIG. 3 shows an area layout of the recording layer 301 provided in a conventional write-once optical disc DVD-R. 3 includes an R information area 302 (hereinafter referred to as R-Info), a lead-in area 303, a user data area 304, and a lead-out area 305 from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery.

  In the lead-in area 303, a disc information area 320 is provided.

  The R-Info 302 is an area unique to the write-once disc, and the R-Info 302 includes a recording management area 310 (hereinafter referred to as RMA).

  The RMA 310 is composed of recording management data 311 (hereinafter referred to as RMD) representing the recording state of the disc. By acquiring the latest RMD 311, it is possible to acquire an address that can be additionally written.

  Further, in the case of DVD + RW, the above information is obtained by referring to the information of FDCB (Format Disc Control Block), and in the case of DVD + R, the information of SDCB (Session Disc Control Block).

  FIG. 4 shows an area layout of a recording layer 401 of a conventional write-once optical disc including defect management information. 4 includes a lead-in area 402, a spare area 403, a user data area 404, and a lead-out area 405 from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery.

  In the lead-in area 402, a disk information area 420, a defect management area 430, and a defect management work area group 440 (hereinafter referred to as TDMA) are provided. In the lead-out area 405, a defect management area 430 is provided. Spare areas 403 are provided between the lead-in area 402 and the user data area 404 and between the user data area 404 and the lead-out area 405, respectively.

  In the case of a write-once optical disc, recording to the DMA can be performed only once, so that the latest defect management information cannot always be recorded in the DMA at a predetermined position by the same method as the rewritable optical disc. Therefore, TDMA is provided for compatibility with rewritable optical disks.

  The TDMA 440 includes N defect management work areas 441 (hereinafter referred to as TDMS) (N is a positive number equal to or greater than 1). The TDMS 441 is updated before the finalization is performed on the write-once optical disc (the write-once optical disc is made to have a data structure compatible with the rewritable optical disc, and the latest TDMS 441 contents are DMA-recorded). Is a region for temporarily recording defect management information, a temporary defect list (hereinafter referred to as TDL) 442 listing the positions of defective sectors and their replacement sectors, and the head position of the temporary defect list 442 This is composed of a temporary disk definition structure (hereinafter referred to as TDDS) 443 including temporary defect list head position information and the like.

  Also, in the disc information area (26 in FIG. 2, 320 in FIG. 3, 420 in FIG. 4), information is recorded by uneven pits, or the same method as that used for recording in the data area before shipping the disc. Pre-recording is performed in the disc information area.

  Further, defect management information (DDS, DL, TDL, or TDDS) and recording management data (RMD, FDCB, or SDCB) are recorded by an optical disk drive or the like after the disk is shipped.

Patent Document 2 discloses a multilayer information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers. Patent Document 2 teaches that management information is provided in a specific recording layer.
JP 2003-288759 A JP 2004-206849 A

  In write-once or rewritable multilayer optical discs with multiple recording layers, the shorter the distance from the data reading surface, the lower the reliability of the disc surface when there are scratches, fingerprints, dust, etc. There is a problem that it may not be possible to play. This is because, as shown in FIG. 5, scratches, fingerprints, dust, etc. on the disk surface greatly affect the reproduction light.

  For example, when defect management information (DDS, DL, TDL, or TDDS) or a replacement sector cannot be reproduced, there is a problem that user data recorded on the information recording medium cannot be reproduced.

  As described above, the recording management data (RMD, FDCB, SDCB, etc.) is important management information indicating the recording state of the optical disk. If data cannot be reproduced, additional data is additionally recorded on the optical disk. I can't. As a result, it is impossible to take advantage of the feature of large capacity. The greater the storage capacity of the disk, the greater the loss.

  If the file management information cannot be reproduced, the file data itself cannot be accessed, and the file data cannot be used. Further, there is a problem that a data file (for example, a data file of a word processor) cannot be read completely unless a part of the data file can be read.

  Patent Document 2 discloses that a management information area is provided in a specific recording layer. As such a specific recording layer, a recording layer at a position where an adverse effect due to the tilt of the optical disk should be selected should be selected. Teaching. The adverse effect due to the tilt of the optical disk increases as the depth from the disk reading side surface increases. Therefore, based on the teaching of Patent Document 2, it is concluded that it is preferable to provide the management information area on the recording layer closest to the data reading side surface. However, as described above, there is a problem that the shorter the distance from the data reading surface to the recording layer, the more susceptible to scratches on the disk surface and fingerprints.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer information recording medium and an information device having high reliability.

  A multilayer information recording medium according to the present invention comprises a data reading side surface and three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam of the same wavelength is recorded, each recording layer having a user data area, Among the three or more recording layers, the recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface includes a management information area for recording management information regarding all the recording layers.

  In a preferred embodiment, among the three or more recording layers, the recording layer having the smallest distance from the data reading side surface is not provided with a management information area for recording management information relating to all the recording layers.

  In a preferred embodiment, the management information area includes a disk information area in which parameters relating to access to the recording layer and information relating to physical characteristics relating to the recording layer are stored.

  In a preferred embodiment, the management information area includes a defect management area for managing a defect location in the user data area, and the defect management area is associated with defect locations and alternative locations of all recording layers. Includes defect list.

  In a preferred embodiment, the management information area includes a defect management work area group capable of assigning at least one defect management work area for recording defect management information for managing a defect location in the user data area, and the defect The management work area includes a defect list in which defect locations of all recording layers are associated with alternative locations.

  In a preferred embodiment, the management information area includes a recording management area in which recording management information indicating recording states of the three or more recording layers is stored.

  In a preferred embodiment, the recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface includes at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the defect area when there is at least one defect area in the user data area. Further including at least one spare area.

  Another multilayer information recording medium according to the present invention comprises a data reading side surface and three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam of the same wavelength is recorded, and each recording layer has a user data area. Of the three or more recording layers, the recording layer in which the audio video data is recorded in the user data area is compared with the recording layer in which data other than the audio video data is recorded in the user data area. It is provided at a position where the distance from the data reading side surface is not large.

  In a preferred embodiment, the data other than the audio / video data is computer data.

  An information apparatus according to the present invention is an information apparatus that performs at least one of reproducing information from a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers and recording information on the multilayer information recording medium. A motor for rotating the information recording medium; an optical pickup for focusing a light beam on an arbitrary recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium; and detecting reflected light from the recording layer; and the multilayer based on the output of the optical pickup A signal processing unit that reproduces information recorded on the information recording medium, and the multilayer information recording medium includes three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam having the same wavelength is recorded. Management of all recording layers by moving the focal point of the light beam to the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface among the recording layers equal to or more than one layer Reading the management information from the management information area for recording broadcast.

  In a preferred embodiment, the focal point of the light beam is moved to the recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface among the three or more recording layers provided in the multilayer information recording medium, and the management information area Update the recorded management information.

  Another information device according to the present invention is an information device that performs at least one of reproducing information from a multilayer information recording medium having three or more recording layers and recording information on the multilayer information recording medium. A motor for rotating the multilayer information recording medium, an optical pickup for focusing a light beam on an arbitrary recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium and detecting reflected light from the recording layer, and an output of the optical pickup A signal processing unit that reproduces information recorded on the multilayer information recording medium based on the data, a means for determining whether or not the data to be written in the user data area of the multilayer information recording medium is audio-video data, and the data to be written If it is determined that the data is not audio-video data, the multi-layer information recording is made out of user data areas usable in the multi-layer information recording medium. When the recording area is allocated from the user data area of the recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface of the medium, and the data to be written is audio-video data, the distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium Means for allocating the recording area from the user data area of the smallest recording layer.

  The information reproducing method of the present invention is an information reproducing method for reading information from a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and the multilayer information recording medium reads and writes user data to one or more management information areas. The management information area is provided on at least one recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium, and the information reproducing method includes the multilayer information recording medium. A step of acquiring management information by causing the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the recording medium to follow the focal point of the laser beam.

  An information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, the multilayer information recording medium comprising one or more management information areas, a user A user data area for reading and writing data, and the management information area is provided in at least one recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium, and the information recording method comprises: A step of updating the management information by causing the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium to follow the focus of the laser beam.

  The information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, the multilayer information recording medium comprising: a user data area for reading and writing user data; One or more spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the user data area, the spare area comprising the multilayer The information recording medium is provided in the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the information recording medium, and the information recording method uses the one or more spare areas when there is a defect area in the user data area. Identifying at least one possible spare area, and replacement areas included in the identified at least one spare area; And a step of exchange.

  In a preferred embodiment, the information recording method further includes a step of specifying a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among the specified at least one spare area.

  The information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, the multilayer information recording medium comprising: a user data area for reading and writing user data; One or more spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the user data area, and the information recording method includes: (A) specifying at least one usable spare area among the one or more spare areas, and (b) at least one specified by the step (a) when there is a defective area in the user data area. Among the two spare areas, the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium can be used. Kutomo comprises identifying one of the spare area, and a step of alternating the replacement area is included in at least one spare area specified by (c) said step (b).

  In a preferred embodiment, the information recording method further includes a step of specifying a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among at least one spare area specified in the step (b).

The information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and the multilayer information recording medium includes a user data area for reading and writing user data. The information recording method includes a step of determining whether data to be written to the multilayer information recording medium is first data that requires reliability and second data that does not require reliability more than the first data; When it is determined that the data is the first data,
Of the usable user data areas, allocating a recording area from the user data area of the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium, and data to be written are the second data and If it is determined, a step of allocating a recording area from the user data area of the recording layer having the shortest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium among the usable user data areas is included.

  An information recording apparatus of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and the multilayer information recording medium includes a user data area for reading and writing user data, One or more spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the user data area, the spare area comprising the multilayer The information recording medium is provided in the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the information recording medium, and the information recording device is used among the one or more spare areas when there is a defect area in the user data area. A means for identifying at least one possible spare area, and a replacement area included in the identified at least one spare area; That and means.

  In a preferred embodiment, the information recording apparatus further includes means for specifying a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among the specified at least one spare area.

  An information recording apparatus of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and the multilayer information recording medium includes a user data area for reading and writing user data, One or more spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the user data area; (A) means for identifying at least one available spare area among the one or more spare areas, and (b) at least one identified by the means (a) when there is a defective area in the user data area. Among the two spare areas, at least the usable recording layer of the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium can be used. Means for identifying a One spare area, characterized in that it comprises a means for alternating the replacement area is included in at least one spare area specified by (c) said means (b).

  In a preferred embodiment, the information recording apparatus further includes means for specifying a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among at least one spare area specified by the means (b).

  According to the present invention, since there are three or more recording layers, the amount of data that can be recorded is increased, and management information reading errors due to scratches and dirt on the surface are less likely to occur. Media and information devices are provided.

  Since the amount of data to be recorded on one optical disk has increased, development of a multilayer optical disk having three or more recording layers is in progress. However, when the number of recording layers becomes three or more, management information for each recording layer How to handle is a very important issue.

  In the present invention, the management information of all the recording layers is recorded on the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface, not the recording layer having the shortest distance from the data reading side surface. In the configuration in which a large number of recording layers are stacked, the light beam crosses many recording layers as the distance from the data reading side surface increases, so that the light transmittance may fluctuate. As described, the influence of tilt also increases. For this reason, it is usually preferable to record the management information on the recording layer having the shortest distance from the surface on the data reading side, or to record the management information redundantly on each recording layer.

  However, according to the study of the present inventor, the influence of tilt is smaller on the inner circumference side than on the outer circumference side of the disk, and if a management area for recording management information is provided on the inner circumference side of the disk, the influence of tilt is reduced. Therefore, it has been found that even if the management area is provided in the recording layer away from the surface of the data reading side, no trouble is caused as expected. In addition, the greater the distance from the data reading side surface, the stronger the effect of reducing the effects of the scratches and dirt on the disk surface described above, and the advantage that it is easier to focus on the farthest recording layer. is there. That is, when the focus of the light beam is moved from the data reading side surface to the back while detecting the focus error signal for focus pull-in, the S-curve is counted so that the focus of the light beam is on which recording layer. However, it is easier to detect the recording layer located farthest than the recording layer located closest to the recording layer. This is because the disc surface itself may cause a small S-curve in the focus error signal, and an error may occur in the count of how many recording layers are crossed. Since no S-shaped curve appears in the back, it is possible to detect with higher accuracy than other recording layers.

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

(Embodiment 1)
First, a first embodiment of a multilayer information recording medium and information device according to the present invention will be described.

  Please refer to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 600 in the present embodiment. The multilayer information recording medium 600 includes eight recording layers 601, 602,. In the present specification, among the plurality of recording layers 601 to 608, the first recording layer, the second recording layer,..., Eighth in order from the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium 600. This is referred to as a recording layer.

  The recording layers 601 to 608 in the present embodiment have a laminated structure in which each recording layer 601 to 608 includes a recording film made of a known phase change recording material or organic dye material, and a reflective film. As shown in FIG. 21, the cross-sectional configuration of the multilayer information recording medium 600 includes at least one substrate 600a that supports eight recording layers, and a transparent layer 600b that protects the recording layers. Each of the eight recording layers 601 to 608 in the present embodiment has a distance from the surface of the data reading side in the range of, for example, 0 μm to 120 μm, preferably by a light beam having a wavelength of 410 nm or less (specifically, 405 nm). Data is played back.

  Each recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium in this embodiment and other embodiments described later has a structure in accordance with, for example, the Blu-ray standard or other next-generation DVD standards. That is, an uneven structure (land / groove structure) as shown in FIG. 21 exists in each recording layer. The multi-layer information recording medium 600 includes a recording layer in which data is recorded / reproduced with a light beam of another wavelength (for example, red light and / or infrared light) in addition to the eight recording layers 601 to 608. Also good. That is, as shown in FIG. 22, eight recording layers are provided at a position relatively close to the data reading side surface, and data is recorded and reproduced by a long wavelength laser beam at a position relatively far from the data reading side surface. There may be provided another recording layer capable of performing the above.

  Each of the recording layers 601 to 608 of the multilayer information recording medium 600 includes a user data area 610 for recording user data. The first recording layer 601 includes a lead-in area 620, a spare area 630, a first user data area 611 that is a part of the user data area 610, a spare area 631, A middle region 641 is included. The second recording layer 602 includes a middle area 642 arranged from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, a second user data area 612 that is a part of the user data area 610, and a middle area 643. The third to sixth recording layers have the same configuration. The seventh recording layer 607 includes a middle area 652 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side, a seventh user data area 617 that is a part of the user data area 610, and a middle area 653. The eighth recording layer 608 includes a middle area 654 arranged from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, an eighth user data area 618 that is a part of the user data area 610, and a lead-out area 627.

  The lead-in area 620 included in the first recording layer 601 includes a disk information area 26 and a defect management area 27. The disc information area 26 and the defect management area 27 function as a “management information area” for recording “management information”. “Management information” in this specification is information related to parameters and physical characteristics necessary for data recording / reproduction and defect management information, and information necessary for parameters recording / reproduction of data and physical characteristics is Each of the recording layers 601, 602,..., 608 may have different contents recommended individually.

  The parameters necessary for recording / reproduction include recommended irradiation power information at the time of reproduction, recommended irradiation power information at the time of recording, maximum irradiation power information, a pulse width at the time of recording, and the like. The physical characteristics information includes the disc name, disc size, version information, total number of recordable layers, total number of read-only layers, total number of all layers, transfer rate, recording / playback direction, and physical address start. Number, physical address end number, logical address start number, logical address end number, shortest mark length, recording speed, and the like.

  The middle area 621 includes a defect management area 27 and an area in which information of a predetermined bit for preventing tracking loss immediately before and after reproducing the user data area is recorded. The defect management area 27 includes the DDS 28 and DL 29 shown in FIG.

  In the disc information area 26 provided in the lead-in area 620 of the first recording layer 601, information relating to parameters and physical characteristics necessary for recording / reproduction regarding all the recording layers 601, 602,. Has been. The parameters necessary for recording / reproduction include recommended irradiation power information at the time of reproduction, recommended irradiation power information at the time of recording, maximum irradiation power information, a pulse width at the time of recording, and the like. The physical characteristics information includes the disc name, disc size, version information, total number of recordable layers, total number of read-only layers, total number of all layers, transfer rate, recording / playback direction, and physical address start. Number, physical address end number, logical address start number, logical address end number, shortest mark length, recording speed, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the reliability of data in the disc information area 26 by arranging the disc information area in the first recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface. It is possible to provide a highly reliable multilayer recording medium.

  The defect management area 27 provided in the lead-in area 620 of the first recording layer 601 includes defect management information relating to defect management of all the recording layers 601, 602,. The DL 29 in the defect management area 27 is associated with the positions of the defective sectors of all the recording layers 601, 602,..., 608 and the positions of the replacement sectors that are the replacement destinations. The By arranging the defect management area 27 in the first recording layer 601 having the longest distance from the data reading side surface, it becomes possible to improve the reliability of the data of the defect management information.

  The spare areas 630 and 631 are provided in the first recording layer 601, and include spare sectors of defective sectors of all the recording layers 601, 602,. By arranging the spare areas 630 and 631 in the first recording layer 601 having the longest distance from the data reading side surface, it becomes possible to improve the reliability of data in the alternate sector.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, reliability can be improved in a multilayer information recording medium having eight recording layers. The present invention is not limited to having eight recording layers, and can be applied to all information recording media having three or more recording layers.

  In the present embodiment, the disc information area 26 and the defect management area 27 are arranged only in the first recording layer, but may be arranged in a recording layer other than the first recording layer 601. However, from the viewpoint of improving the reliability, it is desirable to dispose the recording layer as long as possible from the data reading side surface. When the multilayer information recording medium includes (2 × N−1) layers or (2 × N) recording layers (N is an integer of 2 or more), the disc information area 26 and the defect management area 27 are first to first. It is preferably provided only in the N recording layer.

  The spare areas 630 and 631 may be arranged in at least one of the recording layers 602 to 608 other than the first recording layer 601. From the viewpoint of increasing the reliability, it is desirable that the spare areas 630 and 631 are arranged in a recording layer having a long distance from the data reading side surface. When the multilayer information recording medium includes (2 × N−1) layers or (2 × N) recording layers (N is an integer of 2 or more), the spare areas 630 and 631 also include only the first to Nth recording layers. It is preferable to be provided. Spare areas 630 and 631 are not indispensable, and their sizes may be 0 respectively. The size of the spare area 631 arranged on the outer peripheral side may be expandable.

  Furthermore, a recording protection information management area for storing protection information indicating that data can be recorded and cannot be recorded on the multilayer information recording medium may be arranged in at least the first recording layer 601.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information device according to the present invention. The information apparatus of this embodiment is an optical disk recording / reproducing system. This recording / reproducing system includes an information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 and a host computer 540.

  The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 7 includes an optical head device (optical pickup) that can optically access a multilayer information recording medium 600 rotated by a disk motor 502. This optical head device includes a lens 503 that focuses laser light (wavelength: about 405 nm) emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown), an actuator 504 that can change the position and orientation of the lens 503, and a multilayer information recording medium 600. A light detector 506 for detecting the reflected light, a laser drive circuit 505 for driving the semiconductor laser, and a transfer table 507 for supporting these components.

  The signal processing unit includes a preamplifier 508, a servo circuit 509, a binarization circuit 510, a modulation / demodulation circuit 511, an ECC circuit 512, a buffer 513, and a CPU 514 shown in FIG.

  The CPU 514 controls the overall operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 via the internal bus 534 according to a built-in control program. Further, the CPU 514 sends a transfer table drive signal 526 to the transfer table 507 in order to control the position of the transfer table 507 in the disk radial direction.

  In response to the laser emission permission signal 522 from the CPU 514, the laser driving circuit 505 drives the semiconductor laser and irradiates the multilayer information recording medium 600 with the laser light. The reflected light from the multilayer information recording medium 600 enters the photodetector 506, and the photodetector 506 generates a light detection signal 523 based on the reflected light. The preamplifier 508 generates a servo error signal 524 and an analog data signal 527 from the light detection signal 523 by adding and subtracting the light detection signal 523.

  The analog data signal 527 is A / D (analog / digital) converted by the binarization circuit 510 to become a binarized data signal 528, and the binarized data signal 528 is demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 511 and demodulated data signal. 529. The demodulated data signal 529 becomes an error-free corrected data signal 530 by the ECC circuit 512 and is stored in the buffer 513.

  The servo error signal 524 is fed back to the actuator 504 as an actuator drive signal 525 by the servo circuit 509. The actuator 504 drives the lens 503 based on the actuator drive signal 525 to execute focusing control and tracking control. A rotation detection signal 520 indicating the rotation state of the disk motor 502 is sent to the servo circuit 509. The servo circuit 509 also outputs a disk motor drive signal 521, and the operation of the disk motor 502 is controlled by the disk motor drive signal 521.

  The data stored in the buffer 513 is output from the buffer 513 as a stored data signal 531 and input to the ECC circuit 512. The stored data signal 531 is added with an error correction code by the ECC circuit 512 to become an encoded data signal 532. The encoded data signal 532 is modulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 511 to become a modulated data signal 533. The laser drive circuit 505 modulates the power of the laser beam based on the modulation data signal 533.

  When used as a computer peripheral device such as a DVD-ROM drive, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 includes a host interface circuit and a buffer with a host computer 540 via a host interface bus 541 such as a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). Data is exchanged between 513. On the other hand, when used as a consumer device such as a DVD player, it is provided with an AV decoder / encoder circuit (not shown) for expanding or compressing compressed video and audio, and exchanges data with the buffer 513.

  Next, a procedure for acquiring disc information and defect management information by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S801, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer. Next, in step S802, the sector in which the disc information is stored is reproduced, and information relating to parameters and physical characteristics necessary for recording / reproducing the disc is confirmed. In step S803, the sector storing the defect management information is reproduced, and the reproduced data is held in a predetermined location in the buffer 513.

  Next, a procedure for updating defect management information by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S901, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the focal point of the laser beam is following the track of the first recording layer. If the focus is following the track of the first recording layer, the process proceeds to step S903. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S902. In step S902, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer. In step S903, defect management information including the DDS 28 and DL 29 is recorded in a sector included in the defect management area 27.

  Next, spare sector assignment processing by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Spare sector allocation processing includes processing for identifying at least one spare area that can be used among one or more spare areas of the multilayer information recording medium 600, and processing from a defective sector among the identified at least one spare area. And selecting a spare area having the shortest distance.

  First, in step S <b> 1001, the CPU 514 determines whether there is an available spare area in the multilayer information recording medium 600. If there is no available spare area, it is determined that the allocation process is impossible, and the allocation process is terminated. If there is an available spare area, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  In step S1002, the CPU 514 determines whether the radius position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner peripheral side or the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side. When the radial position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner peripheral side, the process proceeds to step S1003, and when the radial position is close to the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side, the process proceeds to step S1004.

  In step S1003, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side is available. If the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side is available, the process proceeds to step S1005, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1006.

  In step S1004, the CPU 514 determines whether the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side can be used. If the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side is available, the process proceeds to step S1006, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1005.

  In step S1005, the CPU 514 assigns a spare sector included in the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of the first recording layer to the defective sector.

  In step S1006, the CPU 514 assigns a spare sector included in the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of the first recording layer to the defective sector.

  In the spare sector allocation procedure shown in FIG. 10, spare sectors included in a spare area having a radial distance as close as possible from the sector position of the defective sector are used. Since the radial distance is short, the seek operation time in the radial direction accompanying the movement of the transfer table 507 can be shortened. As long as the object of using a spare sector included in a spare area with a radial distance as close as possible from the sector position of the defective sector is achieved, a different allocation processing procedure may be used.

  If it is not necessary to shorten the seek operation time, it is not necessary to use a spare sector included in a spare area having a radial distance as close as possible from the sector position of the defective sector.

  Next, referring to FIG. 11, spare sector allocation processing by information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 for a recording information medium in which a spare area is arranged not only in the first recording layer but also in a recording layer other than the first recording layer. Will be explained.

  In the first step S1101 of the spare sector assignment process, the CPU 514 determines whether there is an available spare area in the multilayer information recording medium 600. If there is no available spare area, it is determined that the allocation process is impossible and the allocation process is terminated. If there is an available spare area, the process proceeds to step S1102.

  In step S1102, the CPU 514 preferentially uses the spare area of the first recording layer, so that the recording layer for searching for the spare sector is set as the first recording layer.

  In step S1103, the CPU 514 determines whether there is an available spare area in the recording layer for searching for a spare sector. If there is no available spare area, the process proceeds to step S1104. If there is an available spare area, the process proceeds to step S1105.

  In step S1104, the recording layer for searching for a spare sector is set as the next layer, and the process proceeds to S1103.

  In step S1105, the CPU 514 determines whether the radius position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner peripheral side or the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side. If the radius position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side, the process proceeds to step S1106. If the radial position is close to the spare area arranged on the outer circumference side, the process proceeds to step S1107.

  In step S1106, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the spare area arranged on the inner periphery side is available. If the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side is available, the process proceeds to step S1108; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1109.

  In step S1107, the CPU 514 determines whether the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side can be used. If the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side is available, the process proceeds to step S1109, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1108.

  In step S1108, the CPU 514 assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of the recording layer for searching for a spare sector to a defective sector.

  In step S1109, the CPU 514 assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the outer periphery side of the recording layer for searching for a spare sector to a defective sector.

  In the spare sector allocation procedure shown in FIG. 11, among the spare sectors included in the spare area of the recording layer that is as long as possible from the surface on the data reading side, the spare sector included in the spare area that is as close as possible to the radial position from the sector position of the defective sector. Is used.

  By arranging the spare area in the recording layer having a long distance from the data reading side surface, the reliability of the data in the replacement sector can be improved. In addition, by shortening the radial distance, it is possible to shorten the seek operation time in the radial direction accompanying the movement of the transfer table 507.

  In the present embodiment, a spare sector included in a spare area whose radial distance is close to the sector position of the defective sector is used, but the access time is the shortest in consideration of other factors such as the time required for changing the rotational speed of the motor. The spare sector allocation processing procedure may be used.

  When it is not necessary to shorten the seek operation time, it is not necessary to use a spare sector included in a spare area whose radial distance is as close as possible from the sector position of the defective sector.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The multilayer information recording medium of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is a write-once type optical disc.

  FIG. 12 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 1200 in the present embodiment. The multilayer information recording medium 1200 has basically the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 21, and includes eight recording layers 1201, 1202,. Since the multilayer information recording medium 1200 is a write-once type, the first recording layer includes a recording management area 310 and a disc information area 320 shown in FIG.

  Each recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium 1200 includes a user data area 1210 for recording user data. The first recording layer 1201 includes an R information area 1240, a lead-in area 1220, a first user data area 1211 that is a part of the user data area 1210, and a middle area 1221 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side. including. The second recording layer 1202 includes a middle area 1222 arranged from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, a second user data area 1212 that is a part of the user data area 1210, and a middle area 1223. The third to sixth recording layers have the same configuration. The seventh recording layer 1207 includes a middle area 1232 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side, a seventh user data area 1217 that is a part of the user data area 1210, and a middle area 1233. The eighth recording layer 1208 includes a middle area 1234 arranged from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, an eighth user data area 1218 which is a part of the user data area 1210, and a lead-out area 1235.

  The R information area 1240 provided in the first recording layer 1201 includes an RMA 310, and the RMA 310 is composed of RMD. The lead-in area 1220 includes a disk information area 320 for recording management information regarding the eight recording layers 1201 to 1208. By arranging the R information area 1240 in the first recording layer 1201 having the longest distance from the data reading side surface, the reliability of data in the R information area 1240 can be improved.

  In this embodiment, eight recording layers are provided, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where any number of three or more recording layers is provided.

  The R information area 1240 or the RMD 310 may be provided with a recording protection information management area for storing protection information indicating whether or not data can be recorded on the multilayer information recording medium 1200.

  The recording management data is not limited to RMD, but may be, for example, FDCB or SDCB, and may be arranged in the lead-in area 1220 of the first recording layer 1201.

  When the multilayer information recording medium 1200 includes (2 × N−1) or (2 × N) recording layers (N is an integer of 2 or more), the recording management data is provided only in the first to Nth recording layers. It is preferred that

  Next, a procedure for acquiring recording management data (RMD) from the RMA 310 of the multilayer information recording medium 1200 by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 of FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1301, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer 1201.

  In step S1302, the end of the recorded area of the RMA 310 is searched. The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 sequentially determines whether it is a recorded area or an unrecorded area based on a reproduction signal from a multilayer recording medium and searches for a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area.

  In step S1303, the recording apparatus determines that the final area of the recorded area is the latest RMD, and executes read processing. Based on the contents of the latest RMD area read from the multilayer recording medium, all the additionally writable addresses on the multilayer recording medium are acquired and held in a predetermined location in the buffer 513.

  Next, a procedure for updating the recording management data RMD by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 of FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1401, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the focus of the laser beam is following the track of the first recording layer 1201, and if the focus is following the track of the first recording layer 1201, the process proceeds to step S1403. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1402.

  In step S1402, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer 1201.

  In step S1403, the RMD to be updated is recorded in the head area of the unrecorded area in the RMA 310, that is, the area immediately after the latest RMD.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The multilayer information recording medium of this embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a spare area is provided in the recording layer farthest from the data reading side surface.

  FIG. 15 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 1500 in the present embodiment. The multilayer information recording medium 1500 has basically the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 21, and includes eight recording layers 1501, 1502,. The multilayer information recording medium 1500 is a write-once type multilayer information recording medium including the disc information area 420 and the defect management area 430 management work area group 440 shown in FIG. 4 in the first recording layer.

  Each recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium 1500 includes a user data area 1510 for recording user data. The first recording layer 1501 includes a lead-in area 1520, a spare area 1530, a first user data area 1511 that is a part of the user data area 1510, a spare area 1531, A middle area 1521 is included. The second recording layer 1502 includes a middle area 1522 arranged from the outer circumference side toward the inner circumference side, a second user data area 1512 which is a part of the user data area 1510, and a middle area 1523. The third to sixth recording layers have the same configuration. The seventh recording layer 1507 includes a middle area 1532 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side, a seventh user data area 1517 which is a part of the user data area 1510, and a middle area 1533. The eighth recording layer 1508 includes a middle area 1534 arranged from the outer circumference side toward the inner circumference side, an eighth user data area 1518 which is a part of the user data area 1510, and a lead-out area 1535.

  The lead-in area 1520 included in the first recording layer 1501 includes a disk information area 420 for recording management information related to the eight recording layers 1501 to 1508, a defect management area 430, and a defect management work area group 440. The middle area 1521 includes a defect management area 430. The defect management area 430 includes a DDS 431 and a DL 432 shown in FIG.

  The defect management work area group 440 is provided in the first recording layer 1501 and includes temporary defect management information related to defect management of all the recording layers 1501, 1502, and 1503. By arranging temporary defect management information in the first recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface, it becomes possible to improve the reliability of the data of the defect management information, and a highly reliable multilayer recording medium Can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the case where eight recording layers are provided has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to all information recording media provided with three or more recording layers.

  The disc information area 420, the defect management area 430, and the defect management work area group 440 are arranged only in the first recording layer 1501, but may be arranged in a recording layer other than the first recording layer 1501. When the multilayer information recording medium 1500 includes (2 × N−1) layers or (2 × N) recording layers (N is an integer of 2 or more), a disc information area 420, a defect management area 430, and a defect management work area The group 440 is preferably provided only in the first to Nth recording layers.

  For the spare areas 1530 and 1531, what has been described in the first embodiment also holds true in this embodiment.

  Next, a procedure for acquiring defect information from the TDMA 440 of the multilayer information recording medium 1500 by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 of FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1601, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer 1501.

  In step S1602, the end of the recorded area of the TDMA 440 is searched. The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 sequentially determines a recorded area or an unrecorded area based on a reproduction signal from the multilayer information recording medium 1500 and searches for a boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area.

  In step S1603, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 determines that the final area of the recorded area is the latest TDMS 441 (FIG. 4), and executes a reading process. Defect information is acquired based on the latest TDMS content read from the multilayer information recording medium 1500 and held in a predetermined location in the buffer 513.

  With reference to FIG. 17, the procedure for updating defect information of TDMA by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described.

  First, in step S1701, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the focal point of the laser beam is following the track of the first recording layer 1501, and if it is following the track of the first recording layer 1501, the process proceeds to step S1703. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1702.

  In step S1702, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to follow the focus of the laser beam on the track of the first recording layer.

  In step S1703, the defect information to be updated is recorded in the head area of the unrecorded area in the TDMA 440, that is, the area immediately after the latest TDMS 441 (FIG. 4).

(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The multilayer information recording medium of this embodiment is different from that of the third embodiment in that PC data is recorded on a recording layer relatively far from the data reading side surface as compared with AV data.

  FIG. 18 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 1800 in the present embodiment. The multilayer information recording medium 1800 has basically the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 21, and includes eight recording layers 1801, 1802,.

  Each recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium 1800 includes a user data area 1810 for recording user data. The first recording layer 1801 includes a lead-in area 1820 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side, a first user data area 1811 which is a part of the user data area 1810, and a middle area 1821. The second recording layer 1802 includes a middle area 1822 arranged from the outer circumference side toward the inner circumference side, a second user data area 1812 which is a part of the user data area 1810, and a middle area 1823. The third to sixth recording layers have the same configuration. The seventh recording layer 1807 includes a middle area 1832 arranged from the inner circumference side toward the outer circumference side, a seventh user data area 1817 which is a part of the user data area 1810, and a middle area 1833. The eighth recording layer 1808 includes a middle area 1834 arranged from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, an eighth user data area 1818 which is a part of the user data area 1810, and a lead-out area 1835.

  A lead-in area 1820 provided in the first recording layer 1801 includes a disc information area 420 in which management information regarding the eight recording layers 1801 to 1808 is recorded. Further, data (PC data) requiring high reliability is recorded up to the middle of the user data area 1811 of the first recording layer 1801 and the user data area 1812 of the second recording layer 1802. On the other hand, in the middle of the user data area 1812 of the second recording layer 1802, the user data area 1818 of the eighth recording layer 1808 requires data having relatively low reliability compared to the PC data (audio video data: AV data). ) Is recorded. The PC data is data for computer recording, such as a data file, file management information, program management information, and the like. AV data is, for example, video recording data or audio recording data.

  In this embodiment, PC data that does not allow a slight error is recorded on a recording layer that is relatively long from the data reading side surface, and AV data that does not require reliability compared to the PC data is recorded on the data reading side surface. By recording on a recording layer having a relatively short distance from the recording medium, the reliability of the multilayer information recording medium is enhanced.

  The PC data may be recorded on a recording layer whose distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium 1800 is not shorter than the recording layer on which AV data is recorded. Accordingly, PC data may be recorded from the user data area 1811 of the first recording layer 1801 to the user data area 1817 of the seventh recording layer, and AV data may be recorded in the user data area 1818 of the eighth recording layer 1808.

  In this embodiment, at least one of PC data and AV data is recorded on all recording layers, but a user data area that is not used may be left unrecorded, or dummy data may be recorded. .

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the first recording procedure.

  First, in step S1901, it is determined whether data to be recorded in the user data area 1810 of the multilayer information recording medium 1800 (hereinafter referred to as “recording data”) is PC data or AV data. In the present embodiment, when the recorded data is a data file, file management information, program management information, etc., it is determined that the data is “PC data”. On the other hand, when the recording data is video recording data or audio recording data, the data is determined as “AV data”. Such a determination can be made by the host computer 540 of FIG.

  If the recorded data is PC data, the process proceeds to step S1902. If the recorded data is AV data, the process proceeds to step S1906. In step S1902, the first recording layer 1801 having a long distance from the data reading side surface is selected as the recording layer for searching for the recording area. In step S1903, it is determined whether there is an available recording area in the recording layer for searching for the recording area. If there is no available recording area, the process proceeds to step S1904. If there is an available recording area, the process proceeds to step S1910.

  In step S1904, it is determined whether there is a recording layer immediately before the search recording layer. If there is no previous recording layer, it is determined that the recording process is impossible, and the recording process is terminated. If there is a recording layer, the process proceeds to step S1905. In step S1905, the recording layer to be searched for the recording area is set to the previous recording layer, and the process proceeds to S1903.

  In step S 1906, the final recording layer (eighth recording layer 1808) having a short distance from the data reading side surface is selected as the recording layer for searching the recording area. In step S1907, it is determined whether there is an available recording area in the recording layer for searching for the recording area. If there is no available recording area, the process proceeds to step S1908. If there is an available recording area, the process proceeds to step S1910.

  In step S1908, it is determined whether there is a recording layer one layer behind the search recording layer. If there is no recording layer at the back, it is determined that the recording process is impossible, and the recording process is terminated. If there is a recording layer, the process proceeds to step S1909. In step S1909, the recording layer for searching for the recording area is set to the recording layer at the back, and the process proceeds to step S1907.

  In step S1910, a recording area is allocated, and in step S1911, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 executes the recording process. When recording data on the multi-layer information recording medium 1800, the host computer 540 sends a command instructing them to the recording / reproducing apparatus 500 in accordance with the interface protocol.

  Next, the second recording procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S2001, a PC data area for recording PC data and an AV recording area for recording AV data are allocated. At this time, the PC data area is assigned to a recording layer whose distance from the data reading side surface is not shorter than the AV data area. For example, the PC data area and the AV data area are allocated by the host computer 540 by calculating the PC data area and the AV data area from the PC data recording size and the AV data recording size of all data to be recorded. assign.

  In step S2002, it is determined whether the recording data is PC data or AV data according to the method described above. If the recorded data is PC data, the process proceeds to step S2003. If the recorded data is AV data, the process proceeds to step S2005.

  In step S2003, it is determined whether there is an available recording area in the PC data area. If there is an available recording area, the process proceeds to step S2004. If there is no available recording area, it is determined that the recording process is impossible, and the recording process is terminated.

  In step S2004, a recording area is allocated to the PC data area, and the process proceeds to step S2007. Recording areas can be assigned to the PC data area in order from the inner circumference or the outer circumference of the recording layer having a long distance from the data reading side surface. Further, within the PC data area, the recording area may be assigned in order from the inner circumference or the outer circumference side of the recording layer having a short distance from the data reading side surface, or may be randomly assigned within the PC data area. Good.

  In step S2005, it is determined whether there is an available recording area in the AV data area. If there is an available recording area, the process proceeds to step S2006. If there is no available recording area, it is determined that the recording process is impossible, and the recording process is terminated.

  In step S2006, a recording area is allocated to the AV data area, and the process proceeds to step S2007. In the AV data area, recording areas are allocated in order from the inner circumference or the outer circumference side of the recording layer having a short distance from the data reading side surface. Further, in the AV data area, the recording area may be allocated in order from the inner circumference or the outer circumference of the recording layer having a long distance from the data reading side surface. Further, it may be randomly assigned within the AV data area.

  In step S2007, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is caused to execute a recording process. The host computer 540 sends commands to instruct the recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the interface protocol.

  In step S2003, instead of determining that the recording process is not possible if there is no available recording area and ending the recording process, a PC data area may be allocated again and a recording area may be allocated to that area. Alternatively, the AV data area may be reduced, a PC data area may be allocated, and a recording area may be allocated to that area.

  Similarly, in step S2005, instead of determining that the recording process is not possible if there is no available recording area and ending the recording process, an AV data area may be allocated again and a recording area may be allocated to that area. . Alternatively, the PC data area may be reduced, an AV data area may be allocated, and a recording area may be allocated to that area.

  When all recording is completed, dummy data may be recorded in the unused PC data area and AV data area.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the multilayer information recording medium, PC data is recorded in the user data area of the recording layer having a relatively long distance from the data reading side surface, and AV data is recorded on the data reading side. By recording in the user data area of the recording layer having a relatively short distance from the surface, a highly reliable multilayer recording medium can be provided.

  The number of recording layers is not limited to eight and may be three or more. The purpose of recording PC data in the user data area of the recording layer having a long distance from the data reading side surface and recording AV data in the user data area of the recording layer having a short distance from the data reading side surface is achieved. For example, a procedure different from the above-described recording processing procedure may be adopted.

  In addition, said Embodiment 1-4 can be implemented in arbitrary combinations.

  The multilayer information recording medium and information apparatus of the present invention can be applied to an optical disk recorder, a PC optical disk drive, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the reproducing principle of the optical disk which has two recording layers. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the recording layer with which the conventional rewritable optical disk is provided. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the recording layer with which DVD-R which is the conventional write-once optical disk is provided. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the recording layer of the conventional write-once type | mold optical disk containing defect management information. It is a figure which shows the double layer optical disk with a crack on the disk surface. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the multilayer information recording medium in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of the recording / reproducing system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition procedure of the disc information of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and defect management information. It is a flowchart explaining the update procedure of the defect management information of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. 7 is a flowchart illustrating spare sector allocation processing of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart for explaining spare sector allocation processing of a recording information medium in which a spare area of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is arranged not only in the first recording layer but also in a recording layer other than the first recording layer. is there. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the multilayer information recording medium in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition procedure of recording management data RMD from RMA of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the update procedure of the recording management data RMD of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the multilayer information recording medium in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition procedure of defect information from TDMA of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the update procedure of the defect information of TDMA of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the area | region layout of the multilayer information recording medium in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the recording procedure of the host computer in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the other operation example in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the cross-sectional structural example of the multilayer information recording medium by this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the example of another cross-sectional structure of the multilayer information recording medium by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

21 Recording layer 22 Lead-in area 23 Spare area 24 User data area 25 Lead-out area 26 Disc information area 27 Defect management area 28 DDS
29 DL
301 Recording layer 302 R-Info
303 Lead-in area 304 User data area 305 Lead-out area 310 Recording management area 311 RMD
320 Disc information area 401 Recording layer 402 Lead-in area 403 Spare area 404 User data area 405 Lead-out area 420 Disc information area 430 Defect management area 431 DDS
432 DL
440 Defect management work area group 441 Defect management work area 442 TDL
443 TDDS
502 disk motor 503 lens 504 actuator 505 laser drive circuit 506 photodetector 507 transfer table 508 preamplifier 509 servo circuit 510 binarization circuit 511 modulation / demodulation circuit 512 ECC circuit 513 buffer 514 CPU
520 Rotation detection signal 521 Disk motor drive signal 522 Laser emission enable signal 523 Light detection signal 524 Servo error signal 525 Actuator drive signal 526 Transfer table drive signal 527 Analog data signal 528 Binary data signal 529 Demodulated data signal 530 Correction data signal 531 Storage data signal 532 Encoded data signal 533 Modulated data signal 534 Internal bus 600 Multi-layer information recording medium 601 First recording layer 602 Second recording layer 603 Third recording layer 604 Fourth recording layer 605 Fifth recording layer 606 Sixth recording layer 607 7th recording layer 608 8th recording layer 610 User data area 611 1st user data area 612 2nd user data area 613 3rd user data area 614 4th user data area 615 5th user data area 616 6th user data area 617 7th user data area 618 8th user data area 620 Lead-in area 627 Lead-out area 630, 631 Spare area 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654 Middle area 1200 Multi-layer information recording medium 1201 First recording layer 1202 Second recording layer 1203 Third recording layer 1204 Fourth recording layer 1205 Fifth recording layer 1206 Sixth recording layer 1207 First 7 recording layer 1208 8th recording layer 1210 user data area 1211 first user data area 1212 second user data area 1213 third user data area 1214 fourth user data area 1215 fifth user data area 1216 sixth User data area 12 17 7th user data area 1218 8th user data area 1220 Lead-in area 1240 R information area 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1226, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234 Middle Area 1235 lead-out area 1500 multilayer information recording medium 1501 first recording layer 1502 second recording layer 1503 third recording layer 1504 fourth recording layer 1505 fifth recording layer 1506 sixth recording layer 1507 seventh recording layer 1508 eighth recording layer 1510 User data area 1511 1st user data area 1512 2nd user data area 1513 3rd user data area 1514 4th user data area 1515 5th user data area 1516 6th user data area 1517 1st User data area 1518 Eight user data area 1520 Lead-in area 1530, 1531 Spare area 1521, 1522, 1523, 1524, 1525, 1526, 1527, 1528, 1529, 1530, 1531, 1532, 1533, 1534 Middle area 1535 Lead-out area 1800 Multi-layer information recording medium 1801 First recording layer 1802 Second recording layer 1803 Third recording layer 1804 Fourth recording layer 1805 Fifth recording layer 1806 Sixth recording layer 1807 Seventh recording layer 1808 Eighth recording layer 1810 User Data area 1811 1st user data area 1812 2nd user data area 1813 3rd user data area 1814 4th user data area 1815 5th user data area 1816 6th user data area 1817 7 user data area 1818 user data area 1820 lead-in area 1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834 middle area 1835 Lead-out area of the eighth

Claims (12)

A data reading side surface;
Three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam of the same wavelength is recorded;
With
Each recording layer has a user data area,
The multi-layer information recording medium, wherein the recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface among the three or more recording layers includes a management information area for recording management information relating to all the recording layers.   The management information area which records the management information regarding all the recording layers is not provided in the recording layer having the shortest distance from the data reading side surface among the three or more recording layers. Multi-layer information recording medium.   2. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the management information area includes a disk information area in which parameters relating to access to the recording layer and information relating to physical characteristics relating to the recording layer are stored. The management information area includes a defect management area for managing a defect location in the user data area,
The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the defect management area includes a defect list in which defect locations and alternative locations of all recording layers are associated with each other. The management information area includes a defect management work area group capable of assigning at least one defect management work area for recording defect management information for managing a defect location in the user data area,
The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the defect management work area includes a defect list in which defect locations and alternative locations of all recording layers are associated with each other.   The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the management information area includes a recording management area in which recording management information indicating a recording state of the three or more recording layers is stored.   The recording layer having the largest distance from the data reading side surface includes at least one spare area including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the defective area when there is at least one defective area in the user data area. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a region. A data reading side surface;
Three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam of the same wavelength is recorded;
With
Each recording layer has a user data area,
Among the three or more recording layers, the recording layer in which the audio video data is recorded in the user data area is the data compared to the recording layer in which data other than the audio video data is recorded in the user data area. A multilayer information recording medium provided at a position where the distance from the reading side surface is not large.   The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 8, wherein the data other than the audio-video data is computer data. An information device that performs at least one of reproducing information from a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers and recording information on the multilayer information recording medium,
A motor for rotating the multilayer information recording medium;
An optical pickup that focuses a light beam on an arbitrary recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium and detects reflected light from the recording layer;
A signal processing unit for reproducing information recorded on the multilayer information recording medium based on the output of the optical pickup;
With
When the multilayer information recording medium includes three or more recording layers on which data read by a light beam having the same wavelength is recorded, the distance from the data reading side surface is the largest among the three or more recording layers. An information device that moves the focal point of the light beam to a recording layer and reads the management information from a management information area for recording management information on all the recording layers.   The management recorded in the management information area by moving the focal point of the light beam to the recording layer having the longest distance from the data reading side surface among the three or more recording layers provided in the multilayer information recording medium The information device according to claim 10, wherein the information is updated. An information device that performs at least one of reproducing information from a multilayer information recording medium having three or more recording layers and recording information on the multilayer information recording medium,
A motor for rotating the multilayer information recording medium;
An optical pickup that focuses a light beam on an arbitrary recording layer of the multilayer information recording medium and detects reflected light from the recording layer;
A signal processing unit for reproducing information recorded on the multilayer information recording medium based on the output of the optical pickup;
Means for determining whether data to be written in the user data area of the multilayer information recording medium is audio-video data;
If it is determined that the data to be written is not audio-video data, the recording having the largest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium in the usable user data area of the multilayer information recording medium When a recording area is allocated from the user data area of the layer and the data to be written is audio-video data, the recording area is allocated from the user data area of the recording layer having the smallest distance from the data reading side surface of the multilayer information recording medium. Means to assign;
An information device comprising:

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