JP2001273721A - Method for data recording, data recorder and optical recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a formatting time. SOLUTION: Null data 84 are recorded only in a portion of a program region rather than recording the Null data in the entire region. Then, user data 87 are recorded in a nonrecorded region 85 where no data such as the data 84 are recorded. The data 87 are randomly recorded in the region 85. Thus, reproducing interchangeability is made possible with a reproducing dedicated device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium on which data can be rewritten, a method of recording data on the optical recording medium, and a recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called compact disc (CD; Co)
In an optical recording medium such as a mpact disk, the content of recorded data is represented by the presence or absence of a small hole called a pit formed on the recording surface and the length of the pit.

[0003] By the way, a CD-RW disc (CD-Rewri
For the recording surface of a rewritable optical recording medium such as a table disk, a substance whose crystalline state changes by heating by irradiation with laser light is used. Therefore, when recording data, laser light is irradiated to form pits,
When erasing data, the original state can be restored by irradiating a laser beam. By repeating this operation, data recording and erasing can be repeated many times.

Until now, the CD-RW standard or CD-R
For an optical recording medium conforming to the (CD-Recordable Disk) standard, a method of recording user data in logical track units defined by the CD standard has been common. However, in the CD standard, the maximum number of logical tracks is 99. For this reason, when the user data is written in units of logical tracks as described above, there is an inconvenience that the storage capacity of the optical recording medium cannot be fully utilized due to limitations in the CD standard.

[0005] Optical recording media defined by the CD standard include:
A program area, a TOC (Table Of Contents) area, and a PMA area (Program Memory Area) are provided. The program area stores a maximum of 99 data to be recorded in units of logical tracks of an arbitrary size. The TOC area provides table of contents information for the program area. The PMA area temporarily stores information necessary for recording data in the program area.

When the recording / reproducing apparatus records user data on the above-described optical recording medium, first, the user data is recorded in the program area in units of logical tracks. When the recording of the user data ends, the number of the logical track on which the user data is recorded,
Information such as the recording start position of the track and the recording end position of the track is recorded in the PMA area.

When the recording / reproducing apparatus records new user data on the optical recording medium described above,
First, from the information recorded in the PMA area as described above, the next recordable track on the program area is detected. Then, the optical pickup for writing is moved to the position on the optical recording medium by a known address search method. Next, desired user data is written to the track detected as described above. Then, information such as the number of the logical track on which the user data is newly recorded, the recording start position of the track, and the recording end position of the track are recorded in the PMA area when the recording is completed.

When the user data has been recorded on the 99 tracks by the above method, the optical recording medium specified by the CD standard has a free space due to the restrictions on the CD standard. In addition, it becomes impossible to further record user data on the optical recording medium.

Therefore, in order to solve such inconvenience, recently, a so-called packet write method has
A method for recording user data on an optical recording medium defined by the D standard has been proposed. The packet write method is a method of recording user data of an arbitrary size in a unit called a packet which is smaller than a conventional track unit, and one track can be composed of a plurality of packets. . According to this packet write method, it is possible to perform recording many times in one track. Then, 99 or more additional recording operations can be performed.

There are two types of packet write systems, a fixed length packet write system and a variable length packet write system. A packet, which is a recording unit of the packet write system, is much smaller in size than a track. Therefore, thousands of packets can be formed on a CD, a CD-R, and a CD-RW.

[0011]

With the advent of the above-described packet write system, it has become possible to use the CD-ROM as simply as a floppy disk.
RW is rapidly spreading, and has exceeded the cumulative shipment of floppy disks.

However, a CD-RW is not as convenient as a floppy disk for the following reasons.

A CD-RW is often reproduced by a reproduction-only device such as a CD-ROM. In such a read-only device, in order to simplify the structure of the device, the tracking servo is often applied to the recorded pit row, and the spindle servo is applied to the clock extracted from the pit row in many cases.

When the head moves in the radial direction, it is general to count the number of times the reading head crosses a spiral data track on the optical recording medium. For this reason, if there is no pit row recorded on the optical recording medium, the target position cannot be reached. In other words, random access to the target position cannot be made.

For this reason, in an optical recording medium such as a CD-RW, a format (initialization) in which fixed-length packets are formed in advance over the entire program area in order to enable reproduction by a reproduction-only device. Processing had to be performed.

In order to form pits on an optical recording medium such as a CD-RW, it is necessary to perform cooling at a constant cooling rate after heating. CD-RW and the like can be reversibly changed in crystal state by cooling at a constant cooling rate after heating, and are made of a phase change material having transparency. Cooling at this constant cooling rate is performed using a laser. For this reason, it takes a long time to format the entire CD-RW disc, regardless of whether it is performed by the disc manufacturer or in the drive. Specifically, it takes about 40 minutes to about 80 minutes.

For this reason, a formatted CD-RW
Is very expensive for the customer. Also, having the customer's drive busy for about 40 to about 80 minutes to format the optical recording medium is inconvenient if the customer needs to record user data immediately, which is desirable. Absent. It is also likely that it will not be commercially acceptable.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and it is possible to shorten the time required for formatting a rewritable optical recording medium and to record user data quickly. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and a recording apparatus. Another object is to provide an optical recording medium on which user data is randomly recorded.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording method according to the present invention is a data recording method for recording data on a track of an optical recording medium in packet units. Is formatted with a predetermined width before and / or after the program area in which is recorded, and new data is recorded in an area of the program area where the format processing has not been performed. And / or format processing is performed with a predetermined width.

The recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording data on a track of an optical recording medium in packet units. Means for formatting the data area before and / or after the program area with a predetermined width, and recording new data in an area of the program area where the format processing has not been performed. And a means for formatting the new data before and / or after it with a predetermined width.

The optical recording medium according to the present invention is an optical recording medium on which data is recorded in packet units. And before the program area where the data is recorded and / or
Or, after the format processing is performed with a predetermined width later,
While recording new data in an unformatted area of the program area, formatting is performed with a predetermined width before and / or after the new data.

According to the recording method of the present invention configured as described above, the time required for formatting a rewritable optical recording medium can be shortened, and data can be recorded quickly.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an information recording apparatus 10 for recording data on an optical disk 1 by a recording method to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description,
The information recording apparatus 10 is described as being capable of not only recording an information signal on the optical disc 1 but also reproducing an information signal recorded on the optical disc 1.

In the information recording apparatus 10, the optical disk 1
Is rotated at a predetermined speed by the spindle motor unit 11. Incidentally, the spindle motor 11, the spindle drive signal S _SD from the spindle motor driving section 12 which will be described later, to rotate the optical disc 1 at a predetermined rotational speed.

The optical disc 1 on which user data is recorded / reproduced by the information recording apparatus 10 has a recording layer made of a substance whose crystal structure changes by heating by irradiation with laser light, and is irradiated with laser light from the optical pickup 13. Then, the crystal structure changes due to the heating by the laser light, and pits are formed in the recording layer. Various data are recorded by changing the presence / absence and length of the pits. Further, when the laser light from the optical pickup 13 is irradiated again on the portion where the pit is formed, the crystal state changed at the time of data recording returns to the original state by heating, and the pit disappears and the data is erased.

The optical disk 1 is irradiated with a light beam whose light amount is controlled from an optical pickup 13 of the information recording device 10. The light beam reflected by the optical disc 1 is applied to a light detection unit (not shown) of the optical pickup 13. The photodetector is configured using a split photodetector or the like, generates a voltage signal corresponding to the reflected light by photoelectric conversion and current-voltage conversion, and supplies the generated voltage signal to the RF amplifier 14.

In the RF amplifier section 14, the optical pickup 1
3, a read signal S _RF , a focus error signal S _FE , a tracking error signal S _TE , and a wobble signal S _WB are generated. The readout signal S _RF , the focus error signal S _FE , and the tracking error signal S _TE among the signals generated by the RF amplifier unit 14 are supplied to the clock generation / servo control unit 15. Also, the wobble signal S _WB
Is supplied to the ATIP decoder 16.

The clock generation / servo control unit 15 controls the objective lens of the optical pickup 13 based on the supplied focus error signal _{SFE so} that the focal position of the light beam becomes the position of the signal recording layer 3 of the optical disk 1. supplies (not shown.) to the focus control signal S _FC generated by the driver 17 for controlling. Further, based on the supplied tracking error signal S _TE, as the irradiation position of the light beam becomes the center of the recording track to be desired, and generates a tracking control signal S _TC for controlling the objective lens of the optical pickup 13 To the driver 17.

In the driver 17, the focus control signal S
_A focus drive signal S _FD is generated based on the _FC, and a tracking drive signal S _TD is generated based on the tracking control signal S _TC . By supplying the generated focus drive signal S _FD and tracking drive signal S _TD to an actuator (not shown) of the optical pickup 13, the position of the objective lens is controlled, and the desired center position of the recording track is obtained. Is controlled so that the light beam is focused.

Further, the clock generation / servo control unit 15, the supplied read signal S _RF asymmetry correction and 2
Performs binarization, and digital conversion, to the data processing unit 18 as a readout data signal D _RF. Further, a clock signal CK _RF synchronized with the digital signal obtained by the conversion is also generated, and the generated clock signal CK _RF is transmitted to the data processing unit 1.
8

Further, the clock generation / servo control unit 15
Then, a thread control signal S _SC for moving the optical pickup 13 in the radial direction of the optical disc 1 is generated and supplied to the thread unit 19 so that the irradiation position of the light beam does not exceed the tracking control range. The sled section 19 drives a sled motor (not shown) based on the sled control signal S _SC , so that the optical pickup 13 is driven.
Is moved in the radial direction of the optical disc 1.

In the ATIP decoder 16, R
After subjecting the wobble signal S _WB supplied from the F amplifier unit 14 to band pass filtering, a clock signal synchronized with the carrier component of the wobble signal S _WB is generated, and the wobble signal S _WB is binarized. Do. Then, the wobble signal S _WB binarized based on the clock signal
It performs a biphase-mark demodulation process to generate a ATIP information signal D _AD. Further, the obtained ATIP information signal D
_An ATIP synchronization detection signal _FSY is generated by detecting an _AD synchronization signal pattern. Then, while supplying the ATIP information signal D _AD to the control unit 20, the ATIP synchronization detection signal F _SY
Is supplied to the spindle motor drive unit 12.

In the data processing section 18, the read data signal D
_{In addition} to EFM modulating _RF , deinterleave processing and CIRC (Cross Interleave Reed-
Performs error correction processing using Solomon Code). In addition, descrambling and ECC (Error Correcting Code)
Error correction processing and the like. Here, the data signal subjected to the error correction processing is stored in a RAM 2 serving as a buffer memory.
2 and temporarily stored as a reproduction data signal RD.
The data is supplied to an external computer device or the like via the interface 23.

The data processing unit 18 extracts a subcode from the signal after the EFM demodulation and supplies it as a signal _DSQ to the control unit 20, and detects a frame synchronization signal F _SZ in the signal after the EFM demodulation. It is supplied to the spindle motor drive unit 12.

In the spindle motor drive unit 12, when recording an information signal on the optical disc 1, A
And those using ATIP synchronization detecting signal F _SY from TIP decoder 16, when reproducing the information signal recorded on the optical disc 1, the frame synchronization signal F _SZ from the data processing unit 18, or the AT from ATIP decoder 16
Using IP synchronization detection signal F _SY, and generates a spindle drive signal S _SD for rotating the optical disc 1 at a predetermined rotational speed. By supplying a spindle drive signal S _SD generated by the spindle motor driving section 12 to the spindle motor unit 11, the optical disk 1 is driven at a predetermined rotational speed.

Further, when the recording data signal WD is supplied from an external computer device or the like via the interface 23, the data processing section 18 temporarily stores the recording data signal WD in the RAM 22 and temporarily stores the recording data signal WD in the RAM 22. The signal WD is read out, encoded into a predetermined sector format, and an error correction E
Add CC. Further, it also performs CIRC encoding processing, EFM modulation, and the like, generates a write signal DW, and supplies the write signal DW to the write compensator 24.

The write compensator 24 generates a laser drive signal LDA based on the supplied write signal DW and supplies it to the laser diode of the optical pickup 13. Here, the write compensating section 24, based on the power compensating signal P _C from the control unit 20 described below, characteristics and light beam spot shape of the signal recording layer 3 of the optical disc 1, such as the relative linear velocity of the recording track , The signal level of the laser drive signal LDA is corrected. Thereby, in the information recording device 1,
The recording operation can be performed by optimizing the power of the light beam output from the laser diode of the optical pickup 13.

A ROM 25 is connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 controls the operation of the information recording device 10 based on the operation control program stored in the ROM 25. For example, A from the ATIP decoder 16
From the synchronization pattern of the TIP information signal D _AD, the optical disk 1
Is an existing optical disk or an optical disk with a higher recording density. Alternatively, for example, and the determination result, based on such the position information of the recording region indicated by ATIP information signal D _AD from the data processing unit 18 signals D _SQ subcode or the like which is generated by or ATIP decoder 16, It supplies a control signal C _TA to the clock generation / servo control unit 15 and a control signal C _TB to the data processing unit 18.

The control unit 20 controls the ATIP information signal D
Based on the setting information of the recording laser power indicated by _AD, and supplies the write compensating section 24 generates a power compensation signal P _C. Further, the control unit 20 supplies a control signal _CTC to the RF amplifier unit 14, and the RF amplifier unit 14 controls on / off of the laser diode of the optical pickup 13 and reduces disturbance to laser noise and a read signal. For the purpose, processing for superimposing a high frequency on the light beam is also performed.

Next, the optical disc 1 to be recorded by the recording method to which the present invention is applied will be described.

The optical disk 1 on which user data can be recorded is a CD-R (CD-Recordable).
e) and CD-RW (CD-Rewritable).
Before the user data is recorded on the optical disc 1, only a guide groove 27 for guiding a laser beam is formed in the recording film 26 on the substrate as shown in FIG.
By irradiating a laser beam modulated with user data with high power to this, the reflectance of the recording film changes.

On the CD-R, a recording film on which user data can be recorded only once is formed.
Standardized in ange Book Part 2. This recording film is formed of an organic dye. The recording method is a perforated recording using a high power laser.

A recording film capable of recording user data a plurality of times is formed on the CD-RW.
Standardized in the Ange Book Part 3. The recording film is made of a phase-change material having a transmissive state in which crystals can change its state reversibly. The recording method is a phase change method, in which user data is recorded by utilizing a difference in reflectance between a crystalline state and an amorphous state.

In terms of physical characteristics, the reflectance of the recording film is about 0.7 for CD and CD-R, and about 0.2 for CD-RW. For this reason, it is impossible to reproduce a CD-RW in a CD-only or CD-R reproduction-only device designed to expect a reflectance of 0.7 or more. For this reason, when reproducing a CD-RW in an apparatus exclusively for reproducing a CD and a CD-R, a weak signal is amplified.
Plays back with AGC function added.

The layout of the CD-R and CD-RW will be described below.

In an existing optical disc such as a CD-R or a CD-RW, a lead-in area, a program area, and a lead-out area are shown in FIG. It is set as shown. That is, in the existing optical disc, the diameter is φ
120mm, lead-in area is φ46mm
~ Φ50, and the program area is φ50mm ~ φ50
116mm, lead-out area is φ116m
m to φ118 mm.

In a CD-ROM, there are no pits on the inner periphery than in the read-in area. On the CD-R and CD-RW, a PMA (Power Memory Arrangement) is newly added inside the lead-in.
ea) and a PCA (Power Calibration Area). The Lead-in Area and the Program Area are recorded by a CD-R or CD-RW drive, and are used for reproducing recorded contents, similarly to a normal disk drive.

The PMA is an area in which the mode, start and end time information of the recording signal is temporarily recorded for each track. After all scheduled tracks are recorded, TOC (Table Of Conto
tents).

The PCA is an area for trial writing in order to obtain the optimum value of the laser power at the time of recording. In order to know the used part of the PCA, it is not shown.
Count Area is used.

The guide groove 27 is provided with a wobble (meander) for controlling the recording position and the spindle rotation, and time axis information (ATIP; Absolute Time).
In Pregroove), this is called a wobble signal. This time axis information is stored in Program Ar
The data is recorded in a simple increment from the beginning of ea toward the outer periphery of the disk, and is used for address control during recording. The center frequency is 22.05 kHz, and the meandering amount is about ±
0.03 μm. This is used for spindle rotation control.

The recommended recording laser power, application code, etc. are also encoded.

The recommended recording laser power is
Is the recommended value from the manufacturer when recording user data, but since the optimum power actually changes depending on various conditions, a process for determining the optimum recording power before recording is provided. . This is called OPC (Op
timum Power Control).

The application code is stored in the optical disk 1
The purpose of use is shown. The purpose of use is for general purposes (General Purpose), for specific purposes (Photo CD,
ke CD, etc.), for consumer audio. In addition,
General business and special use are regarded as Restricted Use,
For consumer audio, it is referred to as Unrestricted Use.

Next, the recording area of the optical disk will be described.

The optical disc 1 is recorded by a recording / reproducing device.
As shown in FIG. 4, PCA (Power Calibratio
n Area) 30 and PMA (Power Memory Area) 31
, A lead-in area 32, a track 33, and a lead-out area 34. And the track 33
Is composed of a pre-gap 35 and user data 36. Here, four tracks 33 are formed, but the number of tracks 33 may be any number from 1 to 99.

When data is recorded on the optical disk 1 by the packet write method, the track 33 is divided into a plurality of packets as shown in FIG.
Recording is performed for each packet 40. The packet 40 includes a link block 41 and a run-in block 42.
45, a user data block 46, and run-out blocks 47 to 48.

The PCA 30 is an area for trial writing in order to obtain the optimum value of the laser power at the time of recording. The PMA 31 is an area where recording mode, start and end time information of a recording signal is temporarily recorded for each track. The lead-in area 32 and the lead-out area 24
This is an area for recording table-of-contents information (TOC) such as a start address and an end address of the track 23 and various kinds of information on the optical disc 1. The track 33 includes a pre-gap 35 for recording track information,
A user data area 36 for recording user data.

The packet 40 includes a link block 41,
It comprises run-in blocks 42 to 45, a user data block 46, and run-out blocks 47 to 48. Link block 41 and run-in block 42-
The five link blocks consisting of 45 and the two link blocks consisting of run-out blocks 47 to 48 are blocks necessary for connecting packets.

There are two types of packet write systems, a fixed length packet write (Fixed Packed Size) system and a variable length packet (Variable Packed Size) system. In these packet write systems, one file is recorded in one packet.
The number of sectors to be recorded at one time is smaller than that of the At Once method. For this reason, a buffer under run (Buffer Under Run) error caused by poor system efficiency is unlikely to occur, and there is an advantage that the optical disk 1 can be handled like a floppy disk.

In the fixed length packet write system, a plurality of tracks 33 are recorded in a recording area of the rewritable optical disc 1.
Is formed, each track is divided into a plurality of packets 40, the number of user data areas 36 in each packet 40 in one track is fixed to the same number, and data is collectively recorded for each packet 40. .

Therefore, in the fixed length packet write system, the length of each packet 40 in one track 33 in the recording area (Information Area) of the optical disk 1 is made the same, and the number of user data areas 36 in each packet 40 is reduced. The same number.

When formatting is performed by the optical disk device, the entire recording area before formatting as shown in FIG. 6A or a designated area is filled with fixed-length packets as shown in FIG. 6B. .

Next, a method of formatting the entire disc will be described.

First, a conventional format method will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 7A, Null (0) data 60 is recorded on the entire optical disc. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the lead-in area 61 and the lead-out area 6 are located on the innermost and outermost circumferences of the optical disc.
Record 2. Next, as shown in FIG.
The UDF file data 63 is recorded at both ends of the l data 60. Finally, as shown in FIG. 7D, the UDF file data 63 and the Null data 60 are checked for defects (Verify), and the sparing table 64 is updated as necessary. Here, the format processing to which the present invention is applied is completed. Then, it becomes possible to record the user data in the portion where the null data 60 is recorded.

As described above, if the Null data 60 is first written into the entire optical disc, reproduction compatibility with a read-only optical disc apparatus can be ensured, but this process requires a long time.

Next, the format method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-320925 will be described. First,
As shown in FIG. 8A, only a part of the optical disc is Nu.
The ll data 70 is recorded. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, a lead-in area 71 and a lead-out area 72 are recorded on the innermost circumference and the outermost circumference of the optical disc. Note that N
An unrecorded skip-over data area 73 is provided between the UL data 70 and the lead-in area 71. Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, UDF file data 74 is recorded at both ends of the skip over data area 73. Note that the skip over data area 73 after writing the UDF file data 74 is referred to as an unrecorded area 75. Next, as shown in FIG. 8D, it is checked whether or not there is any defect in the UDF file data 74 and the Null data 70, and the sparing table 76 is updated as necessary. Here, the format processing to which the present invention is applied is completed. Next, as shown in FIG.
While the user data is recorded in the portion where the data 70 is written, the offline recording of the unrecorded area 75 is performed. As a result, a formatted area 76 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 8F, the user data 77 is recorded in the formatted area 76. During this time,
The offline format for the unrecorded area 75 is continued. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (G), while recording the user data 77 in the formatted area 76,
The offline format for the unrecorded area 75 is continued. Finally, the entire surface of the unrecorded area 75 is formatted.

According to this method, the format processing area is extremely small as compared with the conventional format processing, so that the format processing is completed in a short time. However, according to this method, there is little user data that can be recorded immediately after formatting is completed.

It is also conceivable that the optical disk is taken out before the end of the off-line format. Therefore, there is a possibility that a large unrecorded area 75 remains between the formatted area 76 existing on the inner circumference and the Null data 70 existing on the outer circumference. When the optical disk in this state is reproduced by the optical disk reproducing device,
It is conceivable that stable access to the area where the user data is recorded cannot be performed. It is also considered difficult to return from the unrecorded area 75 to the area where the user data is recorded within one second.

According to the formatting method to which the present invention is applied, the above-mentioned problems are solved, and more stable access is possible in the optical disk reproducing apparatus, and the present optical disk apparatus is also easy to cope with. Become.

Hereinafter, the format method according to the present invention will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, a lead-in area 80 and a lead-out area 81 are recorded on the innermost and outermost circumferences of the optical disc. Note that a space between the lead-in area 80 and the lead-out area 81 is a skip-over data area 82. Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, the UDF
File data 83 and Null data (guard area)
84 is recorded. At this time, the UDF file data 8
Either 3 or Null data 84 may be recorded first. Note that the skip over data area 82 after writing the UDF file data 83 and the null data 84 is referred to as an unrecorded area 85. Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, it is checked whether or not the UDF file data 83 and the Null data 84 have any defects.
The table 86 is updated as needed. Here, the format processing to which the present invention is applied is completed. As a result, the user data 87 can be recorded.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9D to 9F, the user data 87 is recorded in the unrecorded area 85. The user data 87 is randomly recorded in the unrecorded area 85. At this time, every time the user data 87 is recorded, Null data 84 is randomly recorded before and after the user data 87. As a result, guard areas 88 are formed before and after the user data 87. In addition,
The range in which the guard area 88 is formed is arbitrary.

As the user data 87 is recorded, the unrecorded area 85 gradually decreases. Finally, as shown in FIG. 9 (G), the user data 87 is recorded on the entire portion that was initially the unrecorded area 85, and no more user data 87 can be recorded on the optical disc.
It becomes a so-called disk full state.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the data recording method to which the present invention is applied, when user data is recorded, it is also recorded in an unrecorded area.
This is a method of gradually reducing the unrecorded area, and as the user data is recorded on the optical disc, the reproduction compatibility with the reproduction-only device is easily obtained. Also, when user data is recorded, only a small guard area is formed before and after the recorded area, so that the required time is short. For this reason, the time until the recording operation is started after the pickup is moved to a predetermined place becomes dominant.

In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-320925, data is recorded from a formatted area on the optical disk 1. Therefore, when the format processing in the background is insufficient, the data is recorded on the inner peripheral side. The unrecorded area is large, and there is concern about playback compatibility when playing back with a playback-only device. However, according to the data recording method to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to record user data even in an unrecorded unformatted area.

Further, since there are guard areas before and after the randomly recorded data, the optical disk to which the present invention is applied is easy to reproduce even in a reproduction-only device which performs an access operation by relying on recording pits.

According to the present invention, user data is recorded in an unrecorded area that has not been formatted, and an arbitrary guard area is recorded before and after the user data. No appropriate action can be expected without detecting the completed area. Otherwise, there is a possibility that already recorded user data will be overwritten.

Even when a known search method for detecting a boundary between a recorded area and an unrecorded area in the program area of the optical disc 1 is used, the data already recorded when the guard area is recorded is overwritten. That can be avoided.

As a simple method of detecting a recorded area, a user area recorded on the optical disk other than the program area after the completion of formatting and a range in which a guard area accompanying the user data is recorded are recorded. For example, a memo may be written in the lead-out area or the outer periphery of the lead-out area. These areas are not very meaningful areas, and have a strong role as a guard for preventing the reproduction-only device from jumping out. Table 1 below shows an example in which main data is recorded as an example of memo writing.

[0080]

[Table 1]

The information shown in Table 1 has a physical address of 0 on the disk surface of the optical disk as shown in FIG.
From 2: 00: 0 to 02:02:00, 02:00
3:60 to 02:05:45, and 79:59:
Data is recorded in three places from 74 to 99:59:74.

A case will be described as an example where such an optical disc is requested to record user data in an area from 2:07:25 frame to 2: 9: 25 frame with a physical address. 00:00:40 before and after this
When an attempt is made to add a guard area of a frame, $ 02: 07: 25-00: 00:
A continuous region from 40} to {02:07:25};
{02:09:25} to {02: 09: 25 + 00:
It is determined whether or not user data has already been written in the continuous area up to 00: 40 °.

If no user data is recorded, the guard area may be recorded as scheduled. If the user data is recorded, the length of the guard area to be added may be adjusted and recorded so as not to be overwritten.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show specific processing examples. First, when there is a user data recording request 90 from the interface 23 to the optical disc recording / reproducing device 10, the recording / reproducing device 10 receives data to be recorded together with the data recording start position X and the recording length Y. next,
In ST91, the position information of the data such as Table 1 recorded in the program area of the optical disc 1 is referred to.

In ST92, it is determined whether or not the referenced position record information exists (the number of entries: n = 0). If the number of entries is 0, that is, if n = 0, the process proceeds to ST100. If there are entries, the process shifts to ST93.

In ST93, recording start position information S1, S
The recording start position information of 2, S3 and S4 is rearranged in ascending order. Although n = 4 in FIGS. 11 and 12, the same processing is actually performed for the number n of entries. Also, the rearranged recording start position information S1, S2, S3, S
4, recording end position information E1 and E
2, E3 and E4 are similarly rearranged. For example, S1>
If it is S2, (S1, E1) is replaced with new (S2, E2)
In place of (S2, E2), the new (S2, E2)
1, E1).

In ST94, it is determined whether or not the recording start request position X is equal to or more than the recording start position 0 of the optical disk and less than the minimum recording start position information S1. If this condition is met, the process moves to ST110. And the parameter E
Is substituted for 0, and S1 is substituted for parameter S, and ST12
Move to zero. Here, the recording start position of the optical disk is set to 0, but may be changed according to the type of the optical disk. In other words, if the recording start position on the optical disk is 00:02:00, the value to be substituted into the parameter E is 00:02:00. If the condition of ST94 is not met, the process moves to ST95.

In ST95, it is determined whether or not the requested recording start position X is equal to or more than the minimum recording start position information S1 and less than the next smallest recording start position information S2. Thereby, the discretely recorded on the optical disc 1 is changed from S1 to E3 discretely recorded on the optical disc 1.
It is determined whether there is a data recording request between the recording area up to 1 and the recording area starting from S2. If this condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to ST111, and the parameter E is set to E.
ST1 by substituting 1 and substituting S2 into parameter S
Move to. If this condition is not met,
The process moves to ST96.

In ST96, the recording start request position X is equal to or more than the next minimum recording start position information S2, and S2
Then, it is determined whether or not the recording start position information S3 is smaller than the next smaller recording start position information S3. If this condition is met, the process proceeds to ST112, where E2 is substituted for parameter E, and S3 is substituted for parameter S.
To ST120. If the condition is not satisfied, the process shifts to ST97.

In ST97, the recording start request position X is equal to or more than the next minimum recording start position information S3, and S3
It is determined whether the recording start position information is smaller than the recording start position information S4, which is the next smallest. If this condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to ST113, where E3 is substituted for parameter E, and S4 is substituted for parameter S.
To ST120. If the condition is not satisfied, the process shifts to ST98.

In ST98, it is determined whether the recording start request position X is equal to or less than the maximum recording position EE that can be recorded in the program area. If this condition is satisfied, ST11
The process then proceeds to ST70, where E4 is substituted for the parameter E, EE is substituted for the parameter S, and the process proceeds to ST70. If the condition is not satisfied, the process shifts to ST99. Then, the recording becomes impossible because the data recording request cannot be satisfied, and the fact is notified to the interface 23 to terminate the data recording request.

In ST100, it is determined whether or not the recording start request position X is the data recording start position on the optical disk 1. If the recording start request position X matches the data recording start position on the optical disc 1, the process proceeds to ST140. If they do not match, the process proceeds to ST101, where X is substituted for the parameter E and the parameter S.
The process moves to T110.

In ST120, it is determined whether or not the position before the guard area length ΔL from the data recording start request position X is larger than the parameter E, using the default value ΔL of the recording length of the guard area. Thus, it is determined whether the guard area before the data recording request position X to be added overwrites existing data. If it is determined that the guard area before this does not overwrite the existing data, the process proceeds to ST121, and the recording / reproducing device 10 records that the guard area ΔL before the data for which recording is requested can be recorded. Keep it. And ST12
Move to 5. If it is determined in ST120 that the existing data will be overwritten, the process proceeds to ST122.

In ST122, it is determined whether or not there is an unrecorded area between the existing data and the recording request position X. If there is no unrecorded area 85, the process proceeds to ST123, where it is determined that recording of the guard area 88 in front is impossible, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 records that fact. Then, the process shifts to ST125. If there is an unrecorded area 85 between them, ST
The process proceeds to 124, where it is determined that recording of the front guard area 88 is possible, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 records that fact. Then, the process shifts to ST125.

In ST125, using the recording length default value ΔL of the guard area 88, the data recording start request position X +
It is determined whether or not the position obtained by adding the default recording length ΔL of the guard area 88 from Y is larger than the parameter E.
If it is determined that the user data 87 for which a recording request has been made is recorded, and the guard area 88 is subsequently recorded, existing data is not overwritten, the process proceeds to ST126. If the user data 87 with the recording request is recorded,
After that, if it is determined that the existing user data 87 is to be overwritten when the guard area 88 is continuously recorded, the process proceeds to ST12.
Move to 7.

In ST126, the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 records that it is determined that the recording length default value ΔL of the guard area 88 can be recorded from the position of X + Y + 1. In the measure 127, the unrecorded area 8 is added to the existing user data 87 recorded at the position after X + Y + 1.
It is determined whether or not 5 exists. If the unrecorded area 85
Exists, it is determined in ST129 that the unrecorded area 85 from X + Y + 1 to S-1 can be filled with the guard area 88, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 stores that fact. If it is determined in ST127 that the unrecorded area 85 does not exist, it is determined in ST128 that the guard area 88 cannot be recorded, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 stores that fact.

In ST130, processing for recording the user data 87 requested from the interface 23 and recording the guard area 88 determined in the above processing flow is performed. S
At T131, it is reported that the data recording request from the interface 23 has been satisfied, and this processing ends.

In ST140, user data 87 is recorded at positions from X to X + Y, and X + Y + 1 to X + Y + Δ
The guard area 88 is recorded in the area up to L, and the data recording process requested from the interface 23 ends.
In ST140, the guard area could not be recorded before the requested data recording start position.

[0099]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the data recording method to which the present invention is applied, a recording / reproducing request can be promptly accepted by formatting only a part of a recording area instead of the entire recording area. In addition, it is not necessary to make the interface wait for a long time to record and reproduce data for the format processing. Further, when recording data in an unrecorded area that has not been formatted, the guard area is recorded in an arbitrary range before and after the data to be recorded, so that the required time is short and reproduction compatibility with a reproduction-only device can be ensured. In addition, the format processing according to the present invention only modifies the firmware processing of the recording / reproducing apparatus, and therefore, it is easy to cope with the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an information recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a wobble signal provided on the optical disc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a recording area on a formatted optical disc.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a recording area on a formatted optical disk.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a track on a formatted optical disk.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a user data area on a formatted optical disc.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional format method.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a format method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-320925.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a format system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing physical addresses of an optical disk formatted by a format method to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a format method to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a format method to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

80 Lead-in area, 81 Skip-over area,
82 Lead-out area, 83 UDF file, 84
Null data, 85 unrecorded area, 86update spa
ring table, 87 user data, 88 formatted areas

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A data recording method for recording data on a track of an optical recording medium in a packet unit, wherein a format process is performed with a predetermined width in an area before and / or after a program area in which the data is recorded. While recording new data in an area of the program area where formatting has not been performed, the area before and / or after the new data is formatted with a predetermined width. Data recording method. 2. The data recording method according to claim 1, wherein packet position information indicating a position of a packet in which said new data is recorded is recorded in an area other than said program area of said optical recording medium. . 3. While changing the width of the area subjected to the format processing based on the packet position information,
3. The data recording method according to claim 2, wherein new data is recorded in an area of the program area where no format processing has been performed. 4. The data recording method according to claim 3, wherein the packet position information is erased after referring to the program area until there is no unformatted area in the program area. 5. A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording data on a track of an optical recording medium in packet units, wherein a format process is performed with a predetermined width on an area before and / or after a program area where the data is recorded. Means for recording new data in an area of the program area which has not been subjected to the format processing, and for formatting the area before and / or after the new data with a predetermined width. A data recording device, comprising: 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for recording packet position information indicating a position of a packet in which said new data is recorded, in an area other than said program area of said optical recording medium. Data recording device. 7. A method for recording new data in an unformatted area of the program area while changing a width of the format processing based on the packet position information. The data recording device according to claim 6, wherein 8. The data recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for deleting the packet position information after referring to the program area until there is no unformatted area in the program area. 9. An optical recording medium on which data is recorded in packet units, wherein an area before and / or after a program area in which the data is recorded is subjected to a format processing with a predetermined width, and the program New data is recorded in an area where the area has not been subjected to the format processing, and the area before and / or after the new data has been subjected to the format processing with a predetermined width. Optical recording medium. 10. The optical recording medium according to claim 9, wherein packet position information indicating a position of a packet in which said new data is recorded is recorded in an area other than said program area.