JP2003281829A - Information recording and reproducing device and format program for this device and recording medium for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve working efficiency for format processing without performing verify processing as far as possible when a write instruction comes to an unformatted region of an information recording and reproducing device having a background format function. <P>SOLUTION: The information recording and reproducing device which can perform the background format is provided with a controller 9 for automatically restarting wiring (deicing) and reproducing (verifying) by specific patterns to and from the region of the uncompleted format even if the format instruction is not received from a host device 12 when the recording medium (optical disk 1) uncompleted of the format under interruption of the background format is inserted into the device and for prohibiting periodic updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific patterns onto the optical disk 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is capable of recording and reproducing.
Particularly, the present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus suitable for use in a CD-RW, a format program in the apparatus, and a recording medium thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording medium (disk) capable of recording / reproducing at a random address, such as a CD-RW.
There is a background format method as a means for formatting the. This is because after receiving a format command from a host device such as a host computer, the minimum necessary information is recorded on the disc so that recording / playback is possible, and then writing to an unrecorded portion by a specific pattern (hereinafter referred to as de-icing). ) And reproduction (hereinafter referred to as “verify”) to detect a defective sector and replace the defective sector with a predetermined replacement area (replacement processing).
Say.

This de-icing or verify operation is performed in the background while the disk access command from the host computer does not arrive. When a disk access command arrives from the host computer, the deicing or verify operation is temporarily interrupted to access the disk, and then the deicing or verify operation is performed again.

By the way, when a command to record information in an unrecorded portion is received, it is necessary to perform a write operation and then a verify operation for the recorded sector. This is the process for finding potential defects in the disc as described above. The normal write operation only stores write data coming from the host computer in the buffer memory, and does not perform the write operation until a predetermined threshold value is reached. This is a measure to avoid buffer underrun errors.

[0005]

However, at the time of a command to write information to the unrecorded area, after the data transferred from the host computer is stored in the buffer memory, the data is immediately recorded and the recorded sector is reproduced. Therefore, if this is repeated many times, there is a problem that the performance is lowered and the system work efficiency is deteriorated. In the background format described above, in response to an instruction from the host computer, the de-icing or verify operation is stopped, and the CD-ROM can be reproduced by a general user. After that, the lead-out is recorded and the unfinished formatted disc (Partially Formatted
Disc) can be ended. When this disc is inserted into a disc drive such as a CD-ROM, the de-ice cannot be started unless a format restart command is sent from the host computer, so that the recording frequency inevitably increases in the unrecorded area. Therefore, the verify operation is entered and the work efficiency of the system is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when a write command arrives from a host device to an unformatted area of an optical disk, an incompletely formatted optical disk is inserted into the apparatus without performing verification processing as much as possible. Then, even if the format restart request does not come from the host device, the de-ice or verify process is automatically started from the outside of the lead-out area to improve the work efficiency, the information recording / reproducing device and the format program in the device. The purpose is to provide the recording medium.

Further, by leaving the lead-out area and performing de-ice or verify processing from the outside, if the background format is normal, if the host apparatus requests to take out the optical disk 1, the format proceeds as little as possible. If it is necessary to update the lead-out area and then take out the optical disc, the lead-out area is updated unless the background format restart command comes from the host device and the lead-out area is updated. Since there is no need, an information recording / reproducing apparatus, a format program in the apparatus, and a recording medium for the same can be taken out by storing an interruption address of de-ice and verify in a predetermined area of the disk or a nonvolatile memory. Provide It is also of interest.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is written and reproduced by a specific pattern to detect a defective sector, and the defective sector is replaced with a predetermined replacement area. An information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing a background format for performing the alternative process when there is no access command from a higher-level device, and when an unfinished recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted. A control means for automatically resuming writing and reproducing by the specific pattern in the unformatted area and prohibiting periodic updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium. It is characterized by

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means writes the specific format in the unformatted area when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted into the apparatus. By automatically resuming the reproduction and prohibiting the writing and reproducing operation information of the specific pattern from being updated on the recording medium at regular intervals, it is possible to automatically restart the information without waiting for the format restart command from the host computer. Since a specific pattern is written and reproduced in the format area, the time required to complete the full-formatting is shortened. As a result, it is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means restarts the format from the upper level apparatus during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area. When a command arrives, the writing and reproducing of the specific pattern are temporarily interrupted, the specific format pattern is recorded in the area indicating the final recording area of the recording medium, and then the format after the interrupted address is restarted. It is characterized by

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means writes and writes the specific pattern when the format restart command arrives from the host device during the writing and reproduction of the specific pattern to the unformatted area. After the reproduction is temporarily stopped and a specific format pattern is recorded in the area indicating the final recording area of the recording medium, the area after the interrupted address is restarted to format the area in which the specific pattern has been written and reproduced. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus with a shortened format time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the control means is controlled by a host device or a user while writing and reproducing a specific pattern in the unformatted area. When there is a request for taking out the recording medium, the read-only device permits the taking out of the recording medium after recording the interrupted address information in a predetermined area of the recording medium that is not accessed. And

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the control device requests the recording medium to be taken out from the host device or the user while writing and reproducing the specific pattern in the unformatted area, By recording the interrupted address information in a predetermined area of a recording medium that is not accessed and then permitting the recording medium to be taken out, when the recording medium is inserted into the device again, that location is reproduced. Since the interruption address can be obtained by the above, it is possible to provide the information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of writing and reproducing the specific pattern from the correct position to the unformatted area of the recording medium.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect, the control means sets an interruption address of writing and reproducing processing of a specific pattern to the unformatted area, which is unique to the recording medium. It is characterized in that it is stored in a non-volatile memory together with the ID.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means sets the interruption address of the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern to the unformatted area as the ID unique to the recording medium.
By storing it in the non-volatile memory together with the recording medium, when the recording medium is inserted into the device again, the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing the location, so that a specific pattern from the correct position to the unformatted area of the recording medium can be obtained. It is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing device capable of writing and reproducing processing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the control means finishes the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern in the unformatted area, the control medium is recorded in the recording medium. The unique ID and the format completion address information are erased from the nonvolatile memory.

According to the invention described in claim 5, when the control means finishes the writing and reproducing processing of the specific pattern in the unformatted area, the ID unique to the recording medium.
If the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern to the unformatted area is completed by erasing the address information and the format completion address from the nonvolatile memory, it is no longer the recording medium in the background format. It is not necessary to store the address information in the memory. Therefore, in this case, the non-volatile memory can be effectively used.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an alternative process is performed, in which a recording medium is written and reproduced by a specific pattern to detect a defective sector, and the defective sector is replaced with a predetermined alternative area. Is a format program used in an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing background formatting performed when there is no access command from, when a format-unfinished recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted, A first step of automatically resuming writing and reproduction by the specific pattern in an unformatted area;
A second step of prohibiting the recording and reproducing operation information based on the specific pattern from being regularly updated on the recording medium is executed by the computer.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above format program, when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted into the apparatus, the unformatted recording medium is unformatted. By automatically restarting the writing and reproducing by the specific pattern in the area of and the prohibiting the updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium regularly, the format restart command from the host computer arrives. Since the specific pattern is automatically written to and reproduced from the unformatted area without waiting for, the time required to complete the full-formatting is shortened. As a result, the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the format program according to the sixth aspect, in the first step, a format restart command is issued from the host device during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area. When the writing comes to the end, the step of temporarily interrupting the writing and reproducing of the specific pattern, recording the specific format pattern in the area indicating the final recording area of the recording medium, and restarting the format after the interrupted address. And a computer is caused to perform the steps.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned format program, when a format restart command is received from a higher-level device during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in an unformatted area. The writing and reproducing of the specific pattern is performed by temporarily interrupting the writing and reproducing of the specific pattern, recording the specific format pattern in the area indicating the final recording area of the recording medium, and restarting the format after the interrupted address. Since the formatted area is not formatted, the format time can be shortened.

The invention according to claim 8 is the format program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein:
In the step of (1), when there is a request to take out the recording medium from a higher-level device or a user during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area, a predetermined area in the recording medium that is not accessed by the reproduction-only device. It is characterized by including the step of recording the interrupted address information in the area and then permitting the removal of the recording medium, and causing the computer to execute the step.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned format program, a request for taking out the recording medium is issued from the host device or the user during writing and reproducing of the specific pattern in the unformatted area. If so, the recording medium is inserted into the apparatus again by recording the interrupted address information in a predetermined area of the recording medium that is not accessed by the read-only device and then permitting the recording medium to be taken out. In this case, since the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing that location, it becomes possible to write and reproduce the specific pattern from the correct position to the unformatted area of the recording medium.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, an alternative process is performed, in which a writing process and a reading process are performed on a recording medium to detect a defective sector, and the defective sector is replaced with a predetermined alternative area. A computer-readable recording medium recording a format program used in an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing background formatting performed when there is no access command from the computer, in which the background format is interrupted. When a recording medium is inserted, a step of automatically restarting writing and reproducing with the specific pattern in an unformatted area, and periodically updating writing and reproducing operation information with the specific pattern on the recording medium The computer to perform the steps It is characterized in.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted into the apparatus by reading the format program from the recording medium and causing the computer to execute the format program. In addition, by automatically restarting the writing and reproducing by the specific pattern in the unformatted area and prohibiting the updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium regularly, the format from the host computer is changed. Since a specific pattern is written and reproduced in the unformatted area automatically without waiting for the arrival of the restart command, the time required to complete the full-formatting is shortened. As a result, the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

[0026]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. Here, a CD-R / RW drive apparatus is illustrated. In FIG. 1, a spindle motor 2 for rotating the optical disc 1 and an optical pickup 4 for irradiating the optical disc 1 with a laser are provided around the optical disc inserted into the apparatus as a recording medium. The rotation control system 3 controls the rotation of the spindle motor 2, and the optical pickup control system 8 controls the optical pickup 4. The coarse motor 5 is
A coarse movement motor control system 6 controls the coarse movement motor 5 by a motor that moves the optical pickup 4 in the radial direction of the optical disc 1. Further, the signal processing system 7 processes signals from the optical pickup 4 and transmits / receives data for recording on the optical disc 1.

The controller 9 controls the entire apparatus. A program for operating the controller 9 is recorded in the non-volatile memory 11, and in addition to this, an ID (identifier) unique to the optical disk 1, the optical disk 1 is stored. Has a specific area in which start address information, end address information, etc. are recorded. The buffer memory 10 is an area for temporarily storing data for recording and reproduction. A host device 12 such as a host computer is connected to the CD-R / RW drive device via the controller 9.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrams quoted to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, in which the data structure of the formatted (completed, unfinished) optical disk, the operation flowchart, and the formatting process are performed. It is a figure which shows each of the data structure of the optical disk in the inside. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 shows the processing procedure of the format program of the present invention in addition to the flow of operation. Below, FIG.
The operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the present invention, when a disk eject command is received from the host computer 12 or other higher-level device 12 or the user during the background format processing, the de-icing or verify operation is temporarily stopped and general CD-ROM reproduction is performed. The address up to the point when deicing is completed is used as the user data area so that the device can be played back, and the lead-out is recorded after that.
Disc) to end. For example, when de-icing is performed up to the address (X) and a command for ejecting the optical disc 1 is received, a lead-out is recorded immediately after the address (X) to eject the optical disc 1. At this time, the data structure of the optical disc 1 taken out is as shown in FIG.

When such an unfinished format disk 1 is re-inserted into the device and a format restart request is issued from the host device 12, the device will receive the address (X) in FIG. 2B.
It has a mechanism to format the following. It should be noted that FIG. 2A shows the data structure of the complete format disc which has been completely formatted.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, first, when the optical disc 1 is inserted into the apparatus, the controller 9 judges whether or not the optical disc 1 is completely formatted (S31). Only when it is determined that the entire format of the optical disc 1 has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S32, and if the formatting of the optical disc 1 is completed, the apparatus ends without doing anything. Next, read / read from the host device 12 such as a host computer.
Only when the write command has not arrived for a certain period of time, the processing proceeds to S33, and the area after the area indicating the recording end position is formatted. When there is a read / write access request from the host device 12 to the optical disc 1, the request process is given priority, and after this process is completed, the process of S32 is performed again.

In S33, deice or verification after the area indicating the recording end position of the optical disc 1 is started. In the case of a normal background format, the operation status of deice and verify at this time is updated in a predetermined area of the optical disk 1, but the operation status of the present invention is not reflected on the optical disk 1. Specifically, in the case of the CD-R / RW drive device, in the case of a normal background format, the formatting is started so as to overwrite the lead-out area, and the format operation status is read-in at regular intervals. However, in the case of the device of the present invention, de-ice or verify is performed from the subsequent area without overwriting the lead-out area.

If a write command to the unformatted area arrives from the host device 12 during the deice or verify in S33, S34, S35, the controller 9
If the address is verified by the process of S33, only the write operation is performed (S36), and if the address is not verified, the verify operation is performed after writing (S37).

In FIG. 4, when a format restart request is issued from the host device 12 such as the host computer during de-authentication of the format area of the optical disc 1 or verify, the de-ice or verify process is temporarily interrupted (here, The interruption address is the address (Y)), the area indicating the final area of the optical disc 1 is de-iced, and then the formatting process is restarted from the previous address (Y). Therefore, if the device of the present invention completes the de-ice and verification of the entire unformatted area, only the format completion processing is performed. In the case of the CD-RW, for example, when a format restart command is sent to the controller 9 from the higher-level device 12 during de-authentication of the unformatted area, the controller 9 de-ices the lead-out area.
Even in the unformatted area, the de-iced or verified area is skipped and the address (Y) and the subsequent areas are continuously formatted.

By the way, in the embodiment of the present invention described above,
When there is a request to eject (eject) the optical disc 1 from the host device 12 or the user during de-authentication or verification of the unformatted area, the device of the present invention ends the processing and ejects the optical disc 1. When the optical disc 1 is reinserted after the removal process, the deice-verified region information before the removal of the optical disc or the verified region information is not stored, and therefore the region where the de-ice verification is performed before the removal of the optical disc is not performed. It is regarded as the format area and the deice or verify is performed again. Therefore, here, the controller 9 is performing the deice or verify on the unformatted area while the host device 1
2 or when the user requests to take out the optical disc 1, the suspended address information is recorded in a predetermined area of the optical disc 1 which is not accessed by the read-only device such as a CD-ROM, and then the taking out of the optical disc 1 is permitted. is doing.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views quoted for explaining the operation of the other embodiment of the present invention described above.
An operation flowchart and an example of management of an optical disc ID and a de-ice or verify interruption address are shown.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 shows the processing procedure of the format program of the present invention in addition to the flow of operation.

In FIG. 5, the processing shown in S51 to S53 is the same as the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and will not be described here for the purpose of avoiding duplication. The following is a description of only the differences in processing. That is,
When a command for ejecting (ejecting) the optical disk 1 is received from the host device 12 or the user during de-authentication of the unformatted area (S54), the de-ice or verify interruption address is accessed by a device other than the device of the present invention. Optical disc 1
Is recorded in a predetermined area (S55). If a CD-RW drive device is taken as an example, it may be recorded in the lead-out area, for example. In the case of a normal background format, the read-out is recorded and the optical disc 1 is taken out in order to have compatibility with the CD-ROM drive device, but in the case of the present invention device, the read-out is performed without erasing the read-out. Since icing or verification is performed, the optical disc 1 can be taken out as it is without the need to record the lead-out.

In the process of taking out the optical disc 1 described above, instead of recording the deice or verify interruption address to the unformatted area in a predetermined area of the optical disc 1, the ID unique to the optical disc and the interruption address information are stored in a non-volatile manner. Stored in the sex memory 11.
The optical disk ID, the de-ice suspending address and the verify suspending address are managed in the non-volatile memory 11 in the table format shown in FIG. In this way, by storing the interruption address of the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern for the unformatted area in the non-volatile memory together with the ID unique to the recording medium, when the recording medium is inserted into the apparatus again, its location can be determined. Since the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing, it is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of writing and reproducing a specific pattern from the correct position to the unformatted area of the recording medium.

When the optical disk 1 is no longer an incompletely formatted disk, such as when the formatting process is completed, the disk ID, de-ice, and verify interruption address information of the optical disk are deleted from the nonvolatile memory 11. Once the unformatted area has been completed with the diath or verify process, it is no longer a disk that is in the background format, so it is not necessary to store address information in the non-volatile memory 11, and the non-volatile memory 11 can be effectively used. .

As described above, according to the present invention, the host device 12
When a write command arrives at the unformatted area of the optical disc 1 from the optical disc 1 and the unformatted optical disc 1 is inserted into the device without performing the verify process as much as possible,
It is possible to automatically start the deice or verify process from the outside of the lead-out area even if the format restart request does not come from the host device 12. Further, when the lead-out area is left and de-ice or verify processing is performed from outside the lead-out area, in the case of a normal background format, when there is a request for ejecting the optical disk 1 from the host device 12, or when the format has advanced a little. Had to take out the optical disk 1 after updating the lead-out area.
If the background format restart command comes from 2 and the lead-out area is not updated, it is not necessary to update the lead-out area.
The optical disc 1 can be taken out as it is by storing the verification interruption address in a predetermined area of the disc or a non-volatile memory.

In the present invention, the procedure shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 executed by the controller 9 shown in FIG. 1 is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, here a non-volatile memory 11, and recorded in this recording medium. The program thus read is read and executed by the controller 9 constituting the computer system, and the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is realized by this.

The computer-readable recording medium means, in addition to ROM, a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. . Further, the computer-readable recording medium is, for example, a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system which is a system or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. , Including those holding the program for a certain period of time.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. further,
It may be a so-called difference program that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0044]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a specific pattern is automatically written (de-ice) and reproduced (verify) to an unformatted area without waiting for a format restart command from a host computer or the like. ) Because the process is performed, the time until the full format is completed is shortened. As a result, it is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the area in which the specific pattern has been written and reproduced has been eliminated, it is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus with a shortened format time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the recording medium is inserted into the apparatus again, the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing that location, so that the correct position is changed to the unformatted area of the recording medium. It is possible to provide an information recording / reproducing device capable of writing and reproducing a specific pattern.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the interruption address of the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern with respect to the unformatted area is stored in the non-volatile memory together with the ID unique to the recording medium, so that the recording medium can be recorded again. Provided is an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of writing and reproducing a specific pattern from a correct position to an unformatted area of a recording medium since the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing the location when the apparatus is inserted into the apparatus. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern for the unformatted area is completed, the ID unique to the recording medium and the format completion address information are erased from the non-volatile memory. , Once the writing and reproducing process of the specific pattern to the unformatted area is completed, it is not necessary to save the address information in the non-volatile memory since it is no longer the recording medium in the background format, and therefore, In this case, the non-volatile memory can be effectively used.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-described format program, when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted into the device, the unformatted recording medium is unformatted. By automatically restarting the writing and reproducing by the specific pattern in the area of and the prohibiting the updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium regularly, the format restart command from the host computer arrives. Since the specific pattern is automatically written to and reproduced from the unformatted area without waiting for, the time required to complete the full-formatting is shortened. As a result, the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned format program, when a format restart command arrives from a higher-level device during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in an unformatted area. The writing and reproducing of the specific pattern is performed by temporarily interrupting the writing and reproducing of the specific pattern, recording the specific format pattern in the area indicating the final recording area of the recording medium, and restarting the format after the interrupted address. Since the formatted area is not formatted, the format time can be shortened.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned format program, during the writing and reproducing of the specific pattern in the unformatted area, a request for taking out the recording medium is issued from the host device or the user. If so, the recording medium is inserted into the apparatus again by recording the interrupted address information in a predetermined area of the recording medium that is not accessed by the read-only device and then permitting the recording medium to be taken out. In this case, since the interruption address can be obtained by reproducing that location, it becomes possible to write and reproduce the specific pattern from the correct position to the unformatted area of the recording medium.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted into the apparatus by reading the format program from the above recording medium and causing the computer to execute the format program. In addition, by automatically restarting the writing and reproducing by the specific pattern in the unformatted area and prohibiting the updating of the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium regularly, the format from the host computer is changed. Since a specific pattern is written and reproduced in the unformatted area automatically without waiting for the arrival of the restart command, the time required to complete the full-formatting is shortened. As a result, the recording performance of the system is improved because the probability of not performing the reproduction is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram cited for explaining a data configuration of a formatted (completed, unfinished) optical disc.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart cited to explain an operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram cited for explaining a data structure of an incompletely formatted disc realized in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a disk ID managed in the embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a deice or verify interruption address.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical disc 2 spindle motor 3 Rotation control system 4 Optical pickup 5 coarse motor 6 Coarse motor control system 7 Signal processing system 8 Optical pickup control system 9 Controller 10 buffer memory 11 Non-volatile memory 12 Host device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. When there is no access command from a higher-level device, an alternative process is performed in which a defective sector is detected by executing writing and reproducing with a specific pattern on a recording medium and replacing the defective sector with a predetermined alternative area. An information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing background formatting performed on a recording medium, wherein when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted, writing and reproducing with the specific pattern in an unformatted area. The information recording / reproducing apparatus, further comprising: a control unit for automatically resuming the operation of the recording medium and for periodically updating the writing and reproducing operation information according to the specific pattern on the recording medium. 2. The control means, when a format restart command is received from the higher-level device during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area, temporarily suspends writing and reproducing of the specific pattern and then performs the recording. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the specific format pattern is recorded in the area indicating the final recording area of the medium, the format after the interrupted address is restarted. 3. The control means will not be accessed by the read-only device if a higher-order device or a user requests removal of the recording medium during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area. 3. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suspended address information is recorded in a predetermined area of the recording medium, and then the recording medium is allowed to be taken out. 4. The control unit stores an interruption address for writing and reproducing a specific pattern in the unformatted area in a non-volatile memory together with an ID unique to the recording medium. Information recording / reproducing device. 5. The control means erases the ID and format completion address information unique to the recording medium from the non-volatile memory when the writing and reproducing processing of the specific pattern for the unformatted area is completed. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4. 6. When there is no access command from a higher-level device, an alternative process is performed in which writing and reproduction are performed on a recording medium by a specific pattern to detect a defective sector and the defective sector is replaced with a predetermined alternative area. A format program used in an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing background formatting performed in, wherein when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted, the identification is performed in the unformatted area. The computer is provided with a first step of automatically restarting writing and reproducing by a pattern, and a second step of prohibiting periodically updating the writing and reproducing operation information by the specific pattern on the recording medium. A format program characterized by being executed. 7. The first step, when a format restart command is received from the higher-level device during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area, temporarily suspends writing and reproducing of the specific pattern, 7. A step of restarting a format after the interrupted address after recording a specific format pattern in an area indicating a final recording area of the recording medium, the step of causing a computer to execute the step. Formatting program described in. 8. The first step is to be accessed by a read-only device when a higher-order device or a user requests removal of the recording medium during writing and reproducing of a specific pattern in the unformatted area. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a step of permitting the recording medium to be taken out after recording the interrupted address information in a predetermined area of the recording medium without a recording medium. The described format program. 9. An alternative process for executing a writing and reproducing operation on a recording medium with a specific pattern to detect a defective sector and replacing the defective sector with a predetermined alternative area when there is no access command from a host device. A computer-readable recording medium recording a format program used in an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing the background formatting performed in, when the unformatted recording medium in which the background format is interrupted is inserted. A step of automatically restarting writing and reproducing with the specific pattern in an unformatted area, and a step of prohibiting periodically updating the writing and reproducing operation information with the specific pattern on the recording medium, Format program that causes the computer to execute A recording medium that records a program.