HK1069249B - Method and apparatus for recording navigation data in a rewritable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for recording navigation data in rewritable recording medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to rewritable recording media, and more particularly, to a method for efficiently managing navigation data in a rewritable recording medium, which is referred to when editing and reproducing data in the recording medium or recording data on the recording medium.

Background

Since the advent of CD (compact disc), optical discs have been widely used, and the demand for optical discs is expected to steadily increase with the spread of DVD (digital versatile disc). The optical disk includes read-only optical disks such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, write-once disks such as CD-R and DVD-R, and rewritable disks such as CD-RW and DVD-RAM. The specifications of the standard write/read format DVD-RTRW for rewritable optical discs have not yet been released, and the standardization of DVD-RTRW is in progress.

As a rewritable optical disk such as a DVD-RAM has a very large capacity, a user can store a variety of data such as moving images, still images, audio data, and the like on a single recording medium. Every time a new data file is recorded on a rewritable recording medium, navigation information for locating the data file after recording is created and recorded on the recording medium together with the data file. The recorded navigation information is referenced whenever the associated data file is accessed.

The navigation information on all data files stored on the recording medium is contained in a navigation data table as shown in fig. 1, which is recorded on the recording medium as a single navigation data file. Accessing the recording medium requires loading the navigation data file into the memory, where the navigation data resides at all times. When recording a moving or still image on the recording medium, the area in which the image file is recorded will be determined with reference to the navigation information. Recording an image file is always accompanied by creating management information on the recorded image file and updating a navigation data file so as to include the newly created management information.

The navigation data attached to the moving picture includes moving picture video object information (M _ VOBI) and moving picture video object display sequence information (cell information or CI for short). It is assumed that one moving picture file is composed of n moving picture video objects (M _ VOB) M _ VOB #1 to M _ VOB # n as shown in fig. 3. Since one M _ VOBI and one CI are required per M _ VOB, n M _ VOBIs and n CIs are created in the same order as the n M _ VOBs recorded. In fig. 3, M _ VOBI #1 to M _ VOBI # n and C #3,.. C # k (shaded cell in the box labeled ORG _ PGC) correspond to M _ VOB #1 to M _ VOB # n. The created M _ VOBI and CI are stored in the animation a/V file information table (M _ AVFIT) and the initial program chain information table (ORG _ PGCIT), respectively, of the navigation data shown in fig. 1.

On the other hand, navigation data attached to a still picture includes still picture video object information (S _ VOBI) and still picture video object display sequence information (still picture unit information or CI for short). Assume that a still picture file is composed of n still picture video objects (S _ VOBs) S _ VOB #1 to S _ VOB # n as shown in fig. 3. Since one S _ VOBI and one CI are required per S _ VOB, n S _ VOBIs and n CIs are created in the same order as n S _ VOBs are recorded. In fig. 3, S _ VOBI #1 to S _ VOBI # n correspond to S _ VOB #1 to S _ VOB # n, C #1, C #2, C #4,. and C # (k-1) (the unshaded cells in the ten thousand boxes labeled ORG _ PGC) correspond to S _ VOB #1 to S _ VOB # n. The created S _ VOBI and CI are stored in the still image a/V file information table (S _ AVFIT) and the initial program chain information table (ORG _ PGCIT), respectively, of the navigation data shown in fig. 1.

When a rewritable recording medium is accessed for playback, a navigation data file is read from the recording medium and loaded into a memory. If playback of a moving image (still image) is requested, M _ VOBI (S _ VOBI) and CI associated with the requested moving image file (still image file) are read from M _ AVFIT (S _ AVFIT) and ORG _ PGCIT, respectively, of the navigation data table. Referring to M _ VOBI (S _ VOBI) and CI, a requested moving image file (still image file) can be found from the recording medium and played back.

When editing a moving or still image file recorded in a recording medium, the navigation data file is used in the same manner. If a user edits a play list of moving or still images to be played back in a desired order, management data on the changed play list is created with reference to navigation data loaded in a memory. The management data includes a new series of CIs corresponding to the selected images (e.g., C #1 'to C # m' of fig. 3), which form a user-defined PGC (UD _ PGC) to be stored in the user-defined PGC information (UD _ PGCI) of the UD _ PGCIT shown in fig. 1. UD _ PGC # i is stored in UD _ PGCI # i (i ═ 1, 2.

If the playback of the image file with the edited play sheet is requested, the UD _ PGC stored in the UD _ PGCI corresponding to the requested play sheet is read from the UD _ PGCIT of the navigation data in the memory. Then, M _ VOBI and S _ VOBI corresponding to CI in UD _ PGC can be read from M _ AVFIT and S _ AVFIT. For example, in fig. 3, S _ VOBI #2 to S _ VOBI #4, S _ VOBI #7 to S _ VOBI #8, M _ VOBI #6 to M _ VOBI #8 are read out. Finally, the VOB linked to the play list can be read out and the play list can be played back with reference to the VOBI and CI.

In the navigation data constructed as above, the video manager information management table (VMGI _ MAT) shown in fig. 2 includes: a video manager identifier (VMG _ ID) for representing a navigation data file; an address (RTRWI _ EA) for specifying an ending address of the navigation data table, represented by a relative logical block number from the beginning of the table; an address (VGMI _ EA) for specifying an end address of the video manager information (VGMI), which is represented by a relative byte number from the start of the VGMI; and a version number (VERN) of the rewritable recording medium.

As shown in fig. 1, each information table has a field indicating its end address: m _ AVFIT _ EA in the animation a/V file information table information (M _ AVFIT) specifies the end of M _ AVFIT, S _ AVFIT _ EA in the still image a/V file information table information (S _ AVFIT) is used for S _ AVFIT, ORG _ PGCIT _ EA in the initial PGC information table information (ORG _ PGCITI) is used for ORG _ PGCIT, UD _ PGCI _ EA in the user-defined PGC information table information (UD _ PGCITI) is used for UD _ PGCIT, TXT _ DT _ EA in the text data information (TXTDTI) is used for the text data manager (TXT _ DT _ MG), MNFIT _ EA in the producer information table information (mni) is used for the producer information table (MNFIT).

For example, to access the initial PGC information (ORG _ PGCI) of the navigation data of fig. 1, first, the end address of the VMGI (or VMGI _ EA) is read out from the VMGI _ MAT of the VMGI. Since M _ AVFIT is the next information table of VMGI, the location of M _ AVFIT can be determined with reference to VMGI _ EA. Then, M _ AVFIT _ EA is read out from M _ AVFIT of M _ AVFIT. In the same manner, the S _ AVFIT _ EA is obtained from the S _ AVFIT i of the S _ AVFIT with reference to the M _ AVFIT _ EA, and then the ORG _ PGCI is accessed by referring to the next address of the S _ AVFIT _ EA.

Therefore, for the navigation data file structure located using the information table end address such as VMGI _ EA, M _ AVFIT _ EA, S _ AVFIT _ EA, ORG _ PGCIT _ EA, UD _ PGCIT _ EA, TXT _ DT _ MG _ EA, MNFIT _ EA, in order to appropriately access each information table, the navigation data file must be loaded into the memory in such a manner that the information tables such as VMGI, M _ AVFIT, S _ AVFIT, ORG _ PGCIT, UD _ PGCIT, TXT _ DT _ MG, MNFIT are arranged in series.

Further, when some data, for example, a moving picture, is written to a rewritable recording medium, M _ VOBI # i and C # i are generated corresponding to M _ VOB # i to be newly recorded and then written to M _ AVFIT and ORG _ PGCIT, respectively. As shown in fig. 4A, since the information tables of the navigation data are arranged consecutively in the memory, writing the generated M _ VOBI # i into the M _ AVFIT requires that the information table after the M _ AVFIT be shifted backward by the size of the M _ VOBI # i (shaded area in the M _ AVFIT in fig. 4B), as shown in fig. 4B. After the writing of M _ VOBI # i is completed, the end address of the M _ AVFIT and the information table thereafter are updated. Similarly, in order to write C # i into ORG _ PGCIT, the information table located after ORG _ PGCIT needs to be shifted back by the size of C # i (shaded area in ORG _ PGCIT in fig. 4B). After writing C # i to ORG _ PGCIT, the end address of ORG _ PGCIT and the information tables thereafter is updated.

In other words, in the existing navigation data file structure, for management information generated when data is written to a rewritable recording medium, more read-write cycles to an information table in a memory are required to write the information to the navigation data. As a result, the updating of the navigation data requires more time for the memory operation.

Since in the existing navigation data file structure, access to the navigation data information tables such as M _ AVFIT, S _ AVFIT, ORG _ PGCIT, UD _ PGCIT, TXT _ DT _ MG, and MNFIT is made through a series of references to the end addresses of the preceding information tables, the access time is considerably long, and therefore it is a burden for real-time operations of writing/playing back data to/from the rewritable recording medium.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an effective management method for navigation data referred to when editing and reproducing data in a recording medium or recording data to a recording medium by providing a new navigation data structure capable of directly accessing an information table in the navigation data.

The method of managing navigation data for a rewritable recording medium according to the present invention comprises the steps of: recording navigation data on the recordable recording medium, which changes due to updating of user data recorded on the recordable recording medium, wherein the navigation data is related to an entry in a navigation data table, wherein the navigation data table includes at least one start address information related to at least one of the plurality of navigation information; the at least one start address information is recorded when the navigation data is changed in response to the recording of the user data.

The navigation data management method according to the present invention further comprises the steps of: loading the navigation data recorded in the rewritable recording medium into a memory; generating management data according to a data type and a type of display control when recording, playback, or editing is requested; reading the start address information of the information table related to the generated management data from the navigation data in the memory; based on the start address information, the generated management data is written in an appropriate position of each associated information table.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for recording navigation data on a recordable recording medium, the method comprising: recording navigation data on the recordable recording medium, which changes due to updating of user data recorded on the recordable recording medium, wherein the navigation data is referenced with entries in a navigation data table, wherein the navigation data table includes at least one start address information to indicate at least one of the navigation data; the at least one start address information is recorded when the navigation data is changed in response to the recording of the user data.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention for recording navigation data on a recordable recording medium, said recording apparatus comprising: a signal pickup unit adapted to record information onto a recordable recording medium; an analog signal processor adapted to generate an analog signal from the digital data; one or more memories adapted to load a navigation data table to refer to navigation data of user data recorded on the recordable recording medium; and a processor adapted to update the user data by referring to the loaded navigation data table; recording changed navigation data on a recordable recording medium using entries in a navigation data table, the navigation data table including at least one start address information to indicate at least one of the navigation data, wherein the processor records the at least one start address information when the navigation data is changed in response to the recording of the user data.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a table showing a navigation data file for managing data recorded in a rewritable recording medium;

fig. 2 is a table showing a conventional structure of the video manager information table (VGMI _ MAT) shown in fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a mechanism of creating and processing management information in the navigation data file of fig. 1 during recording, editing, and playing back a moving or still image;

fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a process of writing video object information and video object display sequence information generated by writing data to a rewritable recording medium into an information table in a navigation data file of the related art;

fig. 5 is a structure of a video manager information table (VMGI _ MAT) according to the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a process of writing video object information and video object display sequence information into an information table of a navigation data file having the structure of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention;

fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a navigation data management method for a rewritable recording medium according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 5 is an embodiment of VMGI _ MAT of the navigation data file structure of the rewritable recording medium according to the present invention. The VMGI _ MAT differs from the prior art VMGI _ MAT of fig. 2 in that it includes an additional field OTBL _ SA storing the start address of the information tables (i.e., M _ AVFIT, S _ AVFIT, ORG _ PGCIT, UD _ PGCIT, TXT _ DT _ MG, and MNFIT) other than VMGI _ MAT, in addition to VGM _ ID, RTRWI _ RA, VMGI _ EA, and VERN. The start addresses are labeled M _ AVFIT _ SA (for M _ AVFIT), S _ AVFIT _ SA (for S _ AVFIT), ORG _ PGCIT _ SA (for ORG _ PGCIT), UD _ PGCIT _ SA (for UD _ PGCIT), TXT _ DT _ MG _ SA (for TXT _ DT _ MG), and MNFIT _ SA (for MNFIT), respectively. Each start address may be represented by a relative number of bytes from the beginning of the navigation data table of fig. 1.

In the navigation data file constructed as above, each information table can be accessed only by reading the start address of the corresponding information table from the first information table or VMGI _ MAT and referring to the address.

Therefore, it is not necessary to continuously arrange each information table in the memory or the recording medium as in the navigation data structure of the related art. For example, as shown in fig. 6, the respective start addresses held in the OTBL _ SA of the VMGI _ MAT may be set such that the information tables in the navigation data are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval (shaded area in each information table of fig. 6). In this case, data can be written to one or more tables of information without the need to post-shift subsequent tables of information in order to give sufficient area to the data. The navigation data structure according to the invention comprises an existing navigation data structure. That is, the start address may be set so that the information tables are arranged in series, wherein when data is written to an information table in navigation data, it is inevitable to move backward an information table following the information table as in the existing navigation data structure. But in this case no operation on the end address of the previous information table is required to access the information table to be moved.

The player includes: an optical pickup 10 for writing/reading information to/from an optical recording medium; an analog signal processing unit 20 for filtering and digitizing a high-frequency analog signal reproduced from the recording medium and converting digital data to be recorded in the recording medium into an analog signal; a digital signal processing unit 30 for decoding and encoding digital data and generating a control signal for data synchronization; an a/V data processing unit 40 for decoding audio/video input data (hereinafter, referred to as a/V data) and encoding the audio/video input signal into a/V data; a control unit 50 for controlling a general operation of the player in response to a user request; and a plurality of memories M1, M2, and M3 for storing temporary data generated in each signal processing step. The navigation data file is loaded into the memory M1.

When recording a moving or still image in the recording medium of the player of fig. 7, first the control unit 50 loads the navigation data file recorded in the recording medium into the memory M1. Referring to the loaded navigation data, the control unit 50 records image data on a recording medium, creates management information containing M _ VOBI or S _ VOBI and CI corresponding to the VOB forming the image file, and writes it to the navigation data in the memory M1.

Specifically, in the case of writing a moving image to a recording medium, the control unit 50 generates a series of M _ VOBIs, i.e., M _ VOB #1 to M _ VOB # n of fig. 3, corresponding to the series of M _ VOBs to be written, i.e., M _ VOB #1 to M _ VOB # n of fig. 3. Then, the control unit 50 reads out the start address of M _ AVFIT, or M _ AVFIT _ SA, from VMGI _ MAT of VMGI in the navigation data, and then sequentially writes the generated M _ VOBI into M _ AVFI of M _ AVFIT accessed with reference to M _ AVFIT _ SA. Also, the control unit 50 generates a series of CIs, i.e., C # 3.., C # k in fig. 3, corresponding to each M _ VOB # i, respectively. ORG _ PGCIT is accessed by reading the start address of ORG _ PGCIT or ORG _ PGCIT _ SA from VMGI _ MAT, and then sequentially writing a series of CIs into ORG _ PGCI of ORG _ PGCIT.

The process of writing a still image to a recording medium is similar to the moving image writing process. The control unit 50 generates a series of S _ VOBIs, i.e., S _ VOBI #1 to S _ VOBI # n of fig. 3, corresponding to a series of S _ VOBs to be written, i.e., S _ VOB #1 to S _ VOB # n of fig. 3. Then, the control unit 50 reads out the start address of S _ AVFIT, or S _ AVFIT _ SA, from VMGI _ MAT of VMGI in the navigation data, and then sequentially writes the generated S _ VOBI into S _ AVFI of S _ AVFIT accessed with reference to S _ AVFIT _ SA. Also, the control unit 50 generates a series of CIs, i.e., C #1, C #2,. and C # (k-1) in fig. 3, corresponding to each S _ VOB # i, respectively. The ORG _ PGCIT is accessed by using the start address of the ORG _ PGCIT held in the VMGI _ MAT or the ORG _ PGCIT _ SA, and then a series of CIs are sequentially written to the ORG _ PGCI of the ORG _ PGCIT.

When writing a moving or still image to the recording medium, it is necessary for the control unit 50 to check whether the information table relating to the moving or still image has a sufficient spare writing area to accommodate the corresponding management information. This is because, as shown in fig. 6, even if each information table initially has its certain spare area in the navigation data structure, the spare area may be insufficient when the amount of management information becomes large. For each information table determined to be insufficient for spare area, all the information tables thereafter are sequentially shifted backward in the memory by a predetermined amount, and then the generated management information is written in the newly expanded write area of the information table. In addition, since the start addresses of those information tables that are moved are changed, the corresponding start addresses of those stored in the OTBL _ SA field in the VMGI _ MAT are changed.

When playback of a moving image (or still image) recorded in the recording medium is requested, the navigation data file in the recording medium is first loaded into the memory M1. The control unit 50 accesses the ORG _ PGCIT by obtaining the start address of the ORG _ PGCIT or the ORG _ PGCIT _ SA from the VMGI _ MAT in the loaded navigation data, and then sequentially reads out display sequence information corresponding to the requested VOB, i.e., C #1 to C # k in fig. 3, from the ORG _ PGCI. Meanwhile, after accessing the M _ AVFIT (or S _ AVFIT) by using the M _ AVFIT _ SA (or S _ AVFIT _ SA) stored in the VMGI _ MAT, a plurality of M _ VOBIs (or S _ VOBIs) corresponding to the display order information are sequentially read out from the M _ AVFI (or S _ AVFI) in the navigation data. Then, the control unit 50 searches the recording medium for the requested moving image (or still image), and plays it back with reference to CI and M _ VOBI (or S _ VOBI).

On the other hand, in the case where editing of the display order of moving images (or still images) in the recording medium is requested, the navigation data file in the recording medium is loaded into the memory M1. According to user editing of the display sequence of the M _ VOB (or S _ VOB) recorded in the recording medium, the control unit 50 creates a series of CIs, i.e., C #1 'to C # M' in fig. 3, representing a new display sequence of the M _ VOB (or S _ VOB). Then, the control unit 50 accesses the UD _ PGCIT by referring to the start address of the UD _ PGCIT, or the UD _ PGCIT _ SA, and writes a new series of CIs to the UD _ PGCI of the UD _ PGCIT. The generated CI constitutes user-defined program chain information (UD _ PGC) or a play list representing a playback order of the associated M _ VOB (or S _ VOB).

When playback according to the edited playlist is requested after the display order is edited, the UD _ PGCIT is first accessed using the start address of the UD _ PGCIT or the UD _ PGCIT _ SA read out from the VMGI _ MAT of the navigation data loaded into the memory M1, and then the CIs corresponding to the requested playlist, i.e., C #1 'to C # M' in fig. 3, are read out from the UD _ PGCI of the UD _ PGCIT. And, the S _ AVFIT and M _ AVFIT are accessed with reference to the S _ AVFIT _ SA and M _ AVFIT _ SA stored in the VMGI _ MAT, respectively. Then, VOBs corresponding to the CI, i.e., S _ VOBI #2 to S _ VOBI #4, S _ VOBI #7 to S _ VOBI #8 shown in fig. 3, are sequentially read out from the S _ AVFI and the M _ AVFI. Based on these CI and VOBI, VOBs corresponding to the requested play list are read out from the recording medium and played back.

A message description will be made below of a navigation data management method for a rewritable recording medium according to the present invention with reference to a flowchart shown in fig. 8.

If a rewritable recording medium is loaded into the player, the control unit 50 reads the navigation data file from the recording medium and stores it in the memory M1 (S11). Then, the control definition 50 checks whether the user requests writing of a moving or still image, i.e., whether the recording mode is set (S13). When it is determined that the player is in the recording mode, the control unit 50 starts executing the write control routine and creates management data corresponding to the data written to the recording medium (S15). When a moving or still image is written to the recording medium, the VOBI and the CI constitute management data. Then, the control unit 50 reads out the start address of the information table related to the generated management data from the VMGI _ MAT in the navigation data loaded in the memory M1 (S17). For example, if the management data is M _ VOBI and CI, M _ AVFIT _ SA and ORG _ PGCIT _ SA are read out.

The control unit 50 then accesses the relevant information table in the navigation data table by using the start address obtained in step S17, and then writes the generated management data in the relevant information table (S19). For example, in the case of writing a moving picture to a recording medium, M _ AVFIT is accessed by using M _ AVFIT _ SA and then the associated M _ VOBI is written to M _ AVFI of M _ AVFIT. Similarly, ORG _ PGCIT is accessed through ORG _ PGCIT _ SA and then CI is written to ORG _ PGCI of ORG _ PGCIT.

Once the operation of writing the management data into the navigation data is completed, the control unit 50 checks whether the recording mode is ended (S21). If not, the above writing process of S15 through S19 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the recording mode is ended, the control unit 50 reads the navigation data saved in the memory M1 and writes it to the recording medium (S23), thereby completing the write control routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the recording mode is not set, the control unit 50 checks whether the playback mode is set (S25). If the player is in the playback mode, the start address of the information table relating to the requested playback data is read out from the navigation data in the memory M1 (S27). By referring to the start address, the relevant information table is accessed and then management data corresponding to the requested data in the recording medium is extracted from the information table (S29). For example, if playback of a moving image in the display order of the original PGC is requested, M _ AVFIT _ SA and ORG _ PGCIT _ SA are read out from VMGI _ MAT of the navigation data, and then M _ VOBI and CI are extracted from the two information tables M _ AVFIT and ORG _ PGCIT.

Then, the control unit 50 executes a control routine for reading out and playing back the data recorded in the recording medium (S31). The control unit 50 checks whether the playback mode is finished (S33). If not, the above process of S27-S31 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the playback mode is ended, the control unit 50 executes step S23, i.e., writes the navigation data in the memory M1 to the recording medium in order to save the management data in the navigation data that has been changed by editing the data and/or changing the display order in the playback mode, thereby completing the control routine.

Although it is mainly described in detail in the foregoing embodiments that the information tables such as M _ AVFIT, S _ AVFIT, ORG _ PGCIT, and UD _ PGCIT in the navigation data are directly accessed by using the start address in VMGI _ MAT of the navigation data, the start addresses thereof such as TXT _ DT _ MG _ SA and MNFIT _ SA may be used for access to other information tables such as TXT _ DT _ MG _ SA and MNFIT _ SA, respectively.

The navigation data management method for rewritable recording media according to the present invention provides a way to quickly access each information table in the navigation data table compared to prior art methods, facilitating real-time playback and write operations. The present invention can locate each information table of the navigation data table by holding the start address of each information table even in the case where the information tables are not arranged continuously in the memory or the recording medium. Moreover, unlike the prior art in which all the information tables of the navigation data table are loaded into the memory, the present invention can selectively load the information table currently required for the requested operation into the memory, thereby improving the use efficiency of the memory. In this case, each time a new operation is requested, for example, replay or write, it is checked whether the information table relating to the requested operation is different from the information table already loaded into the memory. Preferably, the information table is loaded into the memory only if it is not the same.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative and explanatory only of preferred embodiments of the invention, and changes, variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A method for recording navigation data on a recordable recording medium, the method comprising:

recording navigation data on the recordable recording medium, which changes due to updating of user data recorded on the recordable recording medium, wherein the navigation data is referenced with entries in a navigation data table, wherein the navigation data table includes at least one start address information to indicate at least one of the navigation data;

the at least one start address information is recorded when the navigation data is changed in response to the recording of the user data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation data is written as a single file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one start address is represented by relative position information from a start of the first navigation data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the start addresses of the navigation data table is updated to correspond to the navigation data in response to the recording of the user data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

it is determined whether at least one of the start addresses in the navigation data table needs to be updated according to the changed navigation data.

6. A recording apparatus for recording navigation data on a recordable recording medium, said recording apparatus comprising:

a signal pickup unit adapted to record information onto a recordable recording medium;

an analog signal processor adapted to generate an analog signal from the digital data;

one or more memories adapted to load a navigation data table to refer to navigation data of user data recorded on the recordable recording medium; and

a processor adapted to update the user data by referring to the loaded navigation data table; recording changed navigation data on a recordable recording medium using entries in a navigation data table, the navigation data table including at least one start address information to indicate at least one of the navigation data, wherein the processor records the at least one start address information when the navigation data is changed in response to the recording of the user data.

7. The recording apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor records the navigation data as a single file.

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor records the at least one start address represented by the relative position information from the start of the first navigation data.

9. The recording apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor updates at least one of the start addresses of the navigation data table to correspond to the navigation data in response to the recording of the user data.

10. Recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said processor determines whether at least one start address in the navigation data table needs to be updated according to the changed navigation data.