JP2013054792A - Write-once information recording medium, information recording device, information reproducing device, information recording method, and information reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an information recording medium from falling into a non-reproducible state even when an area in which latest management information of a write-once information recording medium is recorded becomes unreadable due to contamination or damage.SOLUTION: A system, such as a disk array (RAID) used associated with a plurality of information recording media, records management information in a certain information recording medium in TDMA (Temporary Disk Management Area) in another information recording medium besides TDMA in the certain information recording medium so as to improve redundancy.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus that records management information on an information recording medium or reproduces management information from the information recording medium, and in particular, an optical disc drive apparatus that uses a write-once optical disc as an information recording medium, Alternatively, the present invention relates to a system device such as a disk array that uses a combination of a plurality of optical disk drive devices.

  In recent years, large-capacity exchangeable information recording media and disk drive devices that handle them have become widespread. Optical disks such as DVDs and BDs (Blu-ray Discs) are well known as large-capacity exchangeable information recording media. The optical disc drive apparatus performs recording and reproduction by forming minute pits on the optical disc using laser light, and is therefore suitable for information recording that can be exchanged with a large capacity. However, since the optical disk is a replaceable information recording medium, there is a defect on the recording surface due to dust or scratches. For this reason, in an optical disc drive apparatus, a method of performing defect management for ensuring the reliability of recording / reproducing data is considered. In other words, a replacement area (spare area) for a defective block is provided, and when a defective block is detected, a block in the replacement spare area is allocated instead of the defective block, and the replacement recording is performed there. is there.

  In order to correctly realize repetitive recording / reproducing with respect to an information recording medium such as an optical disk, management information for managing the current state of the information recording medium, including the state of a defective block, is provided. This is a common method.

  As a method for recording management information indispensable for recording / reproducing of an optical disc, a method of redundantly recording a plurality of management information recording areas has been considered (for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 18 is an area configuration diagram of a general optical disc. A disk-shaped optical disk 1 has a large number of tracks 2 formed in a spiral shape, and each track 2 has a large number of finely divided blocks 3 formed therein. The block 3 is a unit for error correction and is the minimum unit for performing recording and reproduction operations, and is sometimes called a cluster or an ECC block. For example, in the case of a BD, the size of the block 3 is 32 sectors (one sector is 2 Kbytes, that is, one block is 64 Kbytes). An area in a recording layer of the optical disc 1 is roughly divided into a lead-in area 4, a data area 5, and a lead-out area 6. Recording / reproduction of user data is performed on the data area 5. The lead-in area 4 and the lead-out area 6 serve as margins so that the optical head (not shown) can follow the track 2 even if the optical head overruns when accessing the end of the data area 5. Fulfill. In the case of the optical disc 1 having a plurality of recording layers, an inner peripheral area corresponding to the lead-in area 4 is also called an inner zone, and an outer peripheral area corresponding to the lead-out area is called an outer zone. .

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing details of a region structure in a conventional rewritable optical disc having only one recording layer.

  The data area 5 includes a user data area 14 for recording / reproducing user data, an ISA 15 and an OSA 16. Here, the ISA 15 and the OSA 16 are spare areas prepared in advance as blocks used instead of defective blocks in the user data area 14 (hereinafter also referred to as replacement blocks or replacement destination blocks). They are called an ISA (Inner Spare Area) 15 provided on the inner peripheral side of the optical disc 1 and an OSA (Outer Spare Area) 16 provided on the outer peripheral side.

  The lead-in area 4 and the lead-out area 6 include a lead-in area as a management information area (DMA: Disc Management Area) for writing management information such as information on defective blocks in the optical disc 1. 4 includes DMA1 and DMA2, and the lead-out area 6 includes DMA3 and DMA4. Each of DMA1 to DMA4 is an area arranged at a predetermined position. Information recorded in the DMA has a disk definition structure including recording management information such as DFL (Defect List) 21 which is defect management information, an area structure of the data area 5 and position information where the DFL 21 is recorded. There is a certain DDS (Disc Definition Structure) 20 and the like, and these may be collectively referred to as management information (DMS: Disc Management Structure or Defect Management Structure). The size of the management information (DMS) recorded in the DMA is variable because the DFL 21 is variable depending on the number of defective blocks, for example. Since actual recording / reproduction to / from the optical disc 1 is performed in units of block 3, recording / reproduction is performed in the form of an integral multiple of the size of block 3 in combination with padding data having no meaning.

  The same information is multiplexed and recorded in all of DMA1 to DMA4. This is in preparation for the case where the DMA1 to DMA4 themselves are affected by a defect, and management information can be acquired if there is a DMA that can be correctly reproduced even if there is a DMA that is not correctly reproduced. In this way, the management information indispensable for recording / reproducing of the optical disk is made redundant, and the management information is protected.

  In the optical disc 1 having a plurality of recording layers, the area structure of each recording layer is basically the same as that shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, as another method for protecting management information, there is also considered a method in which management information to be updated is provided in a nonvolatile memory so that the management information is not destroyed even if the power is shut off during recording (for example, Patent Document 2).

  On the other hand, as with the above-described rewritable optical disk, a method of updating and recording management information has been considered for a write-once optical disk that can be recorded only once (see, for example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4).

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing details of a region structure in a conventional write-once optical disc having only one recording layer. The area structure of the write-once optical disc is the same as that of the rewritable optical disc described above with reference to FIG.

  In the case of a write-once optical disc, recording can be performed only once, so that it is not possible to use such as updating and recording management information in a DMA at a predetermined position as in a rewritable optical disc. Therefore, in the case of a write-once optical disc, a TDMA 17 is provided. In FIG. 20, the case where only one TDMA 17 is provided is described as an example. However, for example, the TDMA 17 may be provided discretely in a part of the ISA 15 or the OSA 16.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining how management information is additionally recorded in the TDMA 17. As shown in FIG. 21, the write-once optical disc 1 is a temporary management information area TDMA (Temprature Management) for recording TDMS (Temporary Disc Management Structure Structure or Temporary Defect Management Structure) which is transient management information. Area or Temporary Defect Management Area) 17 is provided. When the management information needs to be updated, the management information (TDMS) is additionally recorded in the TDMA 17 one by one. The TDMS, like the rewritable optical disc, is an SRRI (Sequential Recording Range Information) for managing the recording state of the user data area 14 that is additionally used in addition to the TDFL (Temporary DFL) 31 that is defect management information. 32 includes recording management information, and further includes a TDDS (Temporary DDS) 30 that is a disk definition structure. Here, TDMS means Temporary DMS that is transiently (temporarily) recorded in TDMA 17, and similarly, TDFL31 and TDDS30 also mean Temporary DFL21 and DDS20 that are temporarily recorded in TDMA. . Although the size of the TDMS is variable as with the DMS, since the optical disc 1 is recorded and reproduced in units of blocks 3, when it is actually recorded on the optical disc 1, it includes padding data or the like that has no meaning. Etc., and is recorded in units of block 3. Therefore, for example, the sizes of TDMS # 1 and TDMS # 2 in FIG.

  FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the TDDS 30, the TDFL 31, and the SRRI 32 in the conventional write-once optical disc 1.

  The SRRI 32 includes an SRRI header 60, m SRR entries 61 (m is a positive number of 1 or more), and an SRRI terminator 62. The SRRI header 60 is information arranged at the head of the SRRI. The SRRI identifier 63 indicating that the information is the SRRI, the first SRRI update number 64 that is the number of times the SRRI is updated and recorded, and an SRR entry 61 described later. The number of SRR entries 69 indicating the number is included. The SRR entry 61 is information indicating an area range in which continuous recording is performed. The SRR start position 65 that is address information related to the start position of the SRR, and the SRR final recording position 66 that is address information related to the final position of the recorded position in the SRR. Etc. The SRRI terminator 62 is information arranged at the end of the SRRI, and the SRRI terminator 67 that is an identifier indicating that it is a terminator, and the second SRRI update count that is the same value as the first SRRI update count 64 included in the SRRI header 60. 68 and the like. The sizes of the SRRI header 60, the SRR entry 61, and the SRRI terminator 62 are all fixed sizes. That is, the size of the SRRI 32 is a variable size according to the number of SRR entries 61, for example, 31 sectors at the maximum.

  The TDFL 31 includes a DFL header 50, n DFL entries 51 (n is a positive number greater than or equal to 0), and a DFL terminator 52, and has the same configuration as the DFL 21. The DFL header 50 is information arranged at the head of the DFL, and includes a DFL identifier 53 indicating that the information is a DFL, a first DFL update count 54 that is the number of times the DFL is updated and recorded, and a DFL entry 51 described later. The number of DFL entries 59 indicating the number is included. The DFL entry 51 is information related to defective blocks and replacement recording, and includes a replacement source position 55 that is address information related to a replacement source block such as a defective block, a replacement destination position 56 that is address information related to a replacement destination block, and the like. The DFL terminator 52 is information arranged at the end of the DFL, and is a DFL terminator 57 that is an identifier indicating that it is a terminator, and a second DFL update number 58 that is the same value as the first DFL update number included in the DFL header 50. Etc. The sizes of the DFL header 50, the DFL entry 51, and the DFL terminator 52 are all fixed sizes. That is, the size of the TDFL 31 is a variable size according to the number of DFL entries 51, for example, 7 blocks and 31 sectors at the maximum.

  The TDDS 30 has the same configuration as the DDS 20 and is arranged at the head of the DDS. The DDS header 40 includes a DDS identifier 48 indicating that the information is the DDS, a DDS update count 49 that is the number of times the DDS has been updated, and the like. Logical sector number 0 position 41 which is address information relating to the head position of the user data area 14 which is a logical space, the last sector address of the user data area 14, that is, the last logical sector number 42 which can be said to be the size of the user data area 14, and the ISA 15 , The ISA size 43 which is the size of the OSA 16, the OSA size 44, the SRRI start position 45 which is address information related to the position (for example, the start position) where the latest SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 are recorded, and the management information are recorded. Recording device that is information about the recording device It provided with the information and services related 47.

  Strictly speaking, for example, the TDFL 31 may have a plurality of block sizes depending on the number of DFL entries 51 that changes in accordance with the number of defective blocks. Therefore, the maximum number of blocks that the TDFL 31 can take (for example, eight). Only the TDFL head position 46 included in the DDS 30 is provided. However, in this specification, for simplification of description, the description will be made assuming that there is only one TDFL head position 46. The size of the TDDS 30 is a fixed size, for example, one sector.

  Here, the size of the TDMA 17 is naturally finite. In other words, the number of TDMSs that can be recorded in the TDMA 17 (that is, the number of update recordings) is limited, and it is desirable to use the TDMA 17 as effectively as possible. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, the TDMS to be recorded may be limited to only the management information elements that need to be recorded. That is, when data recording is further performed in the user data area 14 from the state of (a) shown in FIG. 21 and the recording state has changed, but no defect has been detected (= defect management information has not been updated). Since TDFL 31 has not changed, only SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 may be recorded as TDMS # 2 to be newly recorded. In this case, since the latest information of the TDFL 31 that has not been recorded this time is the information that was previously recorded, the TDDS 30 that includes information on the position where the latest management information of each type is recorded is used as the latest SRRI position. While indicating the position of # 2, the latest TDFL position is recorded so as to indicate the position of TDFL # 1 recorded last time. In any case, the TDDS 30 including information related to the recording position of each management information is placed in the recorded end block of the TDMA 17 so that it is always located at a predetermined position (for example, the last sector) of the last block of the TDMS. It is recorded in a form including TDDS30. In this way, it is possible to immediately grasp the position where the latest management information is recorded.

  Since the TDMS is added to the TDMA 17 one by one, information constituting the latest management information (TDMS) on the optical disc exists only in one place on the optical disc. That is, they are the TDDS 30 included in the TDMS arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the TDMA 17, and the TDFL 31 and SRRI 32 arranged at the position indicated by the TDDS 30. Then, in the finalizing process (also referred to as a closing process) in which the write-once optical disk is not recorded anymore (that is, the reproduction-only state), the latest management information at that time is stored in the same way as the rewritable optical disk. Multiplex recording is performed as DMS in DMA10, DMA11, DMA12, and DMA13, which are DMA areas arranged on the peripheral side and the outer peripheral side.

JP 2003-346429 A JP-A-11-203828 JP 2005-56542 A JP 2008-282435 A

  However, in the conventional recording method of management information on a write-once optical disc, the management information is multiplexed and recorded in the DMA at the time of finalization, so that the redundancy is increased. Since there is only one recording location, there is no redundancy. In particular, when the TDDS 30 in the latest TDMS cannot be acquired, the position where the SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 constituting the latest TDMS are recorded is not known. If the latest management information (TDMS) cannot be obtained correctly and lost, the disc cannot be correctly recorded / reproduced thereafter. In other words, in the conventional method, the management information can be read correctly because the position where the latest management information is recorded is repeatedly used thereafter and is later affected by subsequent defects such as fingerprints and scratches. There was a problem that the risk of disappearing was high. Alternatively, even if management information that can be repaired by inspecting the entire area of the optical disc 1 exists, the latest management information cannot be read correctly, and thus it takes a lot of time for the repair. The user's convenience may be deteriorated.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and even in a write-once information recording medium such as a write-once optical disc, management information can be recorded with redundancy so as to be more reliable. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording medium having a high quality and an information recording / reproducing method.

  The information recording medium of the present invention is a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and a plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other. The medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium. The temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium includes The first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium is combined with the second management information that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association, and The first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area, thereby achieving the above object.

  The management information includes a disk definition structure including recording management information for managing a recording state in a data area, layout information on the write-once information recording medium, and position information regarding the recording management information, and the disk definition structure May be recorded in a form including information that can identify the first management information or the second management information.

  The information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method to a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium is used in association with a plurality of The write-once information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium, and the information recording method includes the write-once information recording medium In the temporary management information area in the medium, the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium and the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium that is used in association with the first management information. 2 in combination with the management information, the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area. Ri, to achieve the above purpose.

  The management information includes a disk definition structure including recording management information for managing a recording state in a data area, layout information on the write-once information recording medium, and position information regarding the recording management information, and the disk definition structure In addition, it may be recorded in a form including information capable of identifying the first management information or the second management information.

  The information reproducing method of the present invention is an information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium is used in association with a plurality. The write-once information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information on the information recording medium, In the management information area, in addition to the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium, the second management that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the write-once information recording medium Information is combined and the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area. In the information reproduction method, when acquiring the latest management information, (a) acquiring the latest first management information from the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium; b) At least another write-once recording in which the management information of the write-once information recording medium is recorded as the second management information when acquisition of the first management information fails in step (a). A step of obtaining the latest second management information from the temporary management information area of the medium is provided, thereby achieving the object.

  The management information includes a disk definition structure including recording management information for managing a recording state in a data area, layout information on the write-once information recording medium, and position information regarding the recording management information, and at least the step ( In step b), the second management information may be acquired based on information recorded in the disk definition structure that can identify the first management information or the second management information.

  The information recording apparatus of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are units of error correction, and the write-once information recording medium is used in association with a plurality thereof. The write-once information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information on the information recording medium, and the information recording apparatus includes the write-once information recording medium. In the temporary management information area in the medium, the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium and the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium that is used in association with the first management information. Management information recorded so that the first management information is arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area. A recording control section, thereby achieving the above object.

  The management information includes a disk definition structure including recording management information for managing a recording state in a data area, layout information on the write-once information recording medium, and position information regarding the recording management information, and the management information recording The control unit may record the disc definition structure in a form including information capable of identifying the first management information or the second management information.

  The information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus that reads information from a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium is used in association with a plurality. The write-once information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information on the information recording medium, In the management information area, in addition to the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium, the second management that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the write-once information recording medium Information is combined and the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area. The information reproducing apparatus includes a management information acquisition control unit that acquires the latest management information, and the management information acquisition control unit is updated from the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium. The other write-once recording medium in which the management information of the write-once information recording medium is recorded as the second management information when acquiring the first management information and at least when acquisition of the first management information fails The latest second management information is acquired from the temporary management information area, thereby achieving the above object.

  The management information includes a disc definition structure including recording management information for managing a recording state in a data area, layout information on the write-once information recording medium, and position information regarding the recording management information, and acquiring the management information The control unit may acquire at least the second management information based on information recorded in the disk definition structure that can identify the first management information or the second management information.

  The information recording medium of the present invention is a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are error correction units, the write-once information recording medium including a data area for recording user data, and the information recording A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information relating to the medium, the management information including recording management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area, and layout information in the write-once information recording medium And a disc definition structure having position information related to the recording management information, and the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuous in the temporary management area. The position information included in the disk definition structure included in each of the management information recorded multiple times and recorded in the plurality of times It said recording management information in the management information indicates the recorded said block, thereby, to achieve the above object.

  The information recording method of the present invention is an information recording method for recording information on a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in block units, which are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium stores user data. A data area to be recorded, and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information relating to the information recording medium, the management information including record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area; Including a disc definition structure having layout information in the write-once information recording medium and position information related to the recording management information, and the information recording method has the same information for managing a recording state in the data area as the temporary management area The management information including the recording management information of the contents is continuously added a plurality of times, and the data included in each of the management information recorded a plurality of times. The location information contained in the disk definition structure, the recording management information in each of the management information indicates the recorded said block, thereby, to achieve the above object.

  The information reproducing method of the present invention is an information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium stores user data. A data area to be recorded, and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information relating to the information recording medium, the management information including record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area; The disc management structure includes a disc definition structure having layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information related to the recording management information, and the temporary management area includes information for managing the recording state in the data area. When the management information including information is continuously added a plurality of times and the information reproduction method acquires the latest management information, (a The step of acquiring the management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area, (b) at least when the acquisition of the management information failed in the step (a) The management information includes a step of acquiring other management information different from the management information arranged at the recorded end position, thereby achieving the object.

  The information recording apparatus of the present invention is an information recording apparatus that records information on a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in block units that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium stores user data. A data area to be recorded, and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information relating to the information recording medium, the management information including record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area; Including a disc definition structure having layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information relating to the recording management information, and the information recording apparatus includes a management information recording unit for recording management information, and the management information recording unit includes: In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added a plurality of times. The location information included in the disc definition structure included in each of the management information added to the plurality of times indicates the block in which the recording management information in each of the management information is recorded. Achieving the above objectives.

  The information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus that reads information from a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and the write-once information recording medium stores user data. A data area to be recorded, and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information relating to the information recording medium, the management information including record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area; The disc management structure includes a disc definition structure having layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information related to the recording management information, and the temporary management area includes information for managing the recording state in the data area. The management information including information is continuously added a plurality of times, and the information reproducing apparatus includes a management information reproducing unit that acquires the management information. The management information reproducing unit obtains the management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area and at least fails to obtain the management information arranged at the recorded end position. In addition, among the management information recorded a plurality of times, other management information different from the management information arranged at the recorded end position is acquired, thereby achieving the above object.

  According to the information recording medium, information recording / reproducing apparatus, and information recording / reproducing method of the present invention, the latest management information necessary for the recording / reproducing of the write-once information recording medium is redundantly recorded with higher reliability. it can. In other words, even when acquisition of the latest management information fails, it is possible to acquire other management information that has been multiplexed and recorded, so that recording and reproduction can be continuously performed on the write-once information recording medium. I can do it. As a result, even when an information recording medium in use is damaged by a later defect (such as a fingerprint, dust, or scratch), the possibility that the information recording medium can be reliably and immediately recorded and reproduced can be increased. I can do it.

Explanatory drawing which shows the recording method of the management information to TDMA17 of the optical disk 1 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Device configuration diagram of optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and optical disc drive 230 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data structure hold | maintained in the memory 150 in Embodiment 1 of this invention Processing flow chart showing a management information recording procedure to the TDMA 17 of the write-once type optical disc 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Processing flow chart showing the latest management information reading procedure from TDMA 17 of write-once type optical disc 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the latest management information read-out operation from TDMA17 of the write-once type optical disk 1 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Flow chart showing the latest management information read procedure from the conventional TDMA 17 Device configuration diagram of optical disc array system 200 in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data structure hold | maintained in the memory 220 in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the recording method in the case of recording management information on TDMA17 of all the optical disks 1 which comprise a disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the recording method in the case of recording management information in TDMA17 of the one part optical disk 1 which comprises a disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing shown in the management information element unit about the TDMS recording method to TDMA17 of the optical disk 1 which comprises a disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the update recording processing procedure of the new management information to the optical disk 1 which comprises the disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the management information update method to TDMA17 of the optical disk 1 which comprises the disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Processing flow chart showing the latest management information read procedure from the TDMA 17 of the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array in the first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the latest management information read-out operation from TDMA17 of the optical disk 1 which comprises the disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the recording method in the case of changing the management information update rule to the optical disk 1 which comprises the disk array in Embodiment 2 of this invention. General optical disk area configuration diagram Explanation of area structure in a recording layer of a general rewritable optical disc Explanation of area structure in a recording layer of a typical write-once optical disc Explanatory drawing which shows the recording method of the management information to TDMA17 of the write-once type optical disk 1 by the conventional procedure. Explanatory drawing about the data structure of TDDS30, TDFL31, and SRRI32 in a general write-once optical disc

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

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a write-once optical disc will be described as an example of the information recording medium. In the following description, “management information” will be used as a general term for all of TDFL 31, SRRI 32, TDDS 30 and the like, and each individual element such as TDFL 31 and SRRI 32 constituting management information will be described. It will be called “management information element”.

(Embodiment 1)
In the first embodiment of the present invention, a management information multiplex recording method that can be realized by one optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 and one optical disc 1 will be described.

  The area structure in a recording layer of the write-once optical disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the conventional write-once optical disc described with reference to FIG. .

1) Recording / Reproducing Device First, the configuration of the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be briefly described.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information on the write-once optical disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is connected to a host controller (not shown) via an I / O bus 180. The host control device is, for example, a host computer (host PC).

  The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is output from an instruction processing unit 110 that processes an instruction from the host controller, an optical pickup 120 that irradiates a laser beam to perform recording / reproduction on the optical disc 1, and an optical pickup 120. A laser control unit 130 for controlling laser power, a mechanical control unit 140 for moving the optical pickup 120 to a target position and performing servo control, and managing recorded and reproduced user data and other information as a buffer Temporary storage memory 150, management information elements (TDDS30, TDFL31, SRRI32, etc.) constituting the latest management information read from TDMA17 or DMA, and the latest management information recorded on the optical disc 1 A management information storage memory 160 for storing information elements; And a drive control unit 170 that performs overall control of the drive process in general, such as recording and reproduction processing from 1.

  The drive control unit 170 further includes a recording unit 171 and a reproducing unit 172 that perform recording and reproduction of data such as user data and management information, and a position where the management information and user data are read based on the management information of the optical disc 1 and the next recording. An access location management unit 173 that manages the location to be managed, a management information update unit 174 that updates each management information element stored in the management information storage memory 160, and various management information elements stored in the management information storage memory 160 The management information generation unit 175 generates a TDMS for recording in the TDMA 17 and a DMS for recording in the DMA by combining data that needs to be updated.

  The management information storage memory 160 may be composed of a non-volatile memory in order to prevent information from being lost due to a power failure before the management information update recording. Alternatively, a nonvolatile memory may be further provided. This is effective in terms of strengthening the management information protection level.

  In FIG. 2, the memory 150 and the management information storage memory 160 are described as different components, but this is for ease of explanation and may be implemented using physically the same components. good.

2) Recording Method FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording method in the case where management information is recorded on the TDMA 17 of the write once optical disc 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Since the optical disk 1 is recorded and reproduced in units of block 3, the size of the TDMS shown in FIG. That is, for example, the sector addresses A, D, G, I, and K in FIG. In other words, although not specifically illustrated, each TDMS shown in the figure has no meaning so that the size of the TDMS is a unit of the block 3 in addition to the management information elements TDDS30, TDFL31, and SRRI32. Can contain padding data.

  The feature of this method is that TDMS including management information elements having the same contents except for a part is repeatedly recorded multiple times (in this case, twice). Here, description will be made assuming that the number of times of multiple recording is two.

  Subscripts following # in the figure indicate update count information (for example, DDS update count 49). Before the update recording, the number of updates of the TDFL 31 is a-1, the number of updates of the SRRI 32 is b-1, and the number of updates of the TDDS 30 is c-1 (all of a, b, and c are positive numbers of 1 or more). Suppose that In the TDMA 17, the next recording (additional writing) position is assumed to be the position of the sector address: A that is the real address (physical address) on the optical disc 1.

  In this case, when the TDMS is recorded next, when the SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 are both updated and recorded, the number of times of updating including the TDDS 30 is increased by one. Specifically, the first DFL update count 54 and the second DFL update count 58 of the TDFL 31 are set to “a”, the first SRRI update count 64 and the second SRRI update count 68 of the SRRI 32 are set to “b”, and the DDS update count of the TDDS 30 49 is changed to “c”. In addition, the TDFL head position 46 of the TDDS 30 is set to the sector address: A, and the SRRI head position 45 is set to the sector address: B. Then, TDMS # d (d is a positive number of 0 or more) obtained by combining these management information elements is first recorded in the TDMA 17 as the first multiplex recording. Subsequently, the update count is further increased by 1, the first DFL update count 54 and the second DFL update count 58 of the TDFL 31 are set to “a + 1”, the first SRRI update count 64 and the second SRRI update count 68 of the SRRI 32 are set to “b + 1”, The DDS update count 49 of the TDDS 30 is set to “c + 1”. In addition, the TDFL head position 46 of the TDDS 30 is set to the sector address: D, and the SRRI head position 45 is set to the sector address: E. Then, TDMS # (d + 1) in which these management information elements are combined is continuously recorded in the TDMA 17 as the second multiplex recording. That is, TDMS # d and TDMS # (d + 1) are record management information except that the value of the number of updates of each management information element is different (however, it is always a relationship between consecutive odd and even values). In the TDFL 31 and the SRRI 32, the same information is multiplexed and recorded. The TDDS 30 having the disc definition structure also records the same information in a multiplexed manner except that the values of the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46, which are the position information where the recording management information is actually recorded, are further different. .

  FIG. 1B shows a state in which recording is further performed on the optical disc 1 from the state of FIG. 1A and management information is newly updated and recorded. Here, during the period from (a) to (b), no new defective block is detected, and only SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 are recorded as TDMS. In the case of FIG. 1B as well, as in the case of FIG. 1A, multiple recording is performed in the form of TDMS # (d + 2) and TDMS # (d + 3) having the same contents. Specifically, the number of updates of SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 to be updated is increased by 1 as TDMS # (d + 2). That is, the first SRRI update count 64 and the second SRRI update count 68 of the SRRI 32 are set to “b + 2”, and the DDS update count 49 of the TDDS 30 is set to “c + 2”. In addition, the TDFL head position 46 of the TDDS 30 is set to the sector address: A, and the SRRI head position 45 is set to the sector address: G. Then, TDMS # (d + 2), which is a combination of these management information elements, is recorded from the position of sector address: G, which is the next recording position of TDMA 17, as the first multiplex recording. Here, the TDFL head position 46, which is the position of the TDFL that has not been updated and recorded at this time, refers to a position where the TDFL 31 is correctly recorded first. Therefore, recording is performed in a manner indicating the sector address “A” that is the position where the TDFL 31 is recorded in the first TDMS in the previous multiple recording set. Subsequently, the number of updates is further increased by one. That is, the first SRRI update count 64 and the second SRRI update count 68 of the SRRI 32 are set to “b + 3”, and the DDS update count 49 of the TDDS 30 is set to “c + 3”. In addition, the TDFL head position 46 of the TDDS 30 is set to the sector address: D, and the SRRI head position 45 is set to the sector address: I. Then, TDMS # (d + 3), which is a combination of these management information elements, is continuously recorded in the TDMA 17 as the second multiplex recording. In other words, TDMS # (d + 2) and TDMS # (d + 3) are different from each other in the value of the number of update times of each management information element (however, the record management information is always in a relationship of consecutive odd / even values). In the TDFL 31 and the SRRI 32, exactly the same information is multiplexed and recorded. Also, the same information is multiplexed and recorded on the TDDS 30, which is a disc definition structure, except that the values of the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46, which are position information where the recording management information is actually recorded, are different.

  Here, in the case of FIG. 1B, since update recording of the TDFL 31 is not performed, the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30 to be multiplexed is the same (for example, the TDFL head of TDDS # (c + 2)). Both the position 46 and the TDFL head position 46 of TDDS # (c + 3) can be recorded as a sector address (position “D”), but the above-described recording method is preferable. The reason is that an abnormal jump (for example, track jump) may occur during recording due to scratches or defects on the disc, and the data in the recorded area may be overwritten. is there. If the TDFL head position 46 in the TDDS 30 of the latest TDMS set (TDMS # (d + 2) and TDMS # (d + 3) in the case of FIG. 1B) points to the same sector address: D, If the sector (block) is overwritten due to a jump or the like, the correct TDFL 31 cannot be read from the latest TDMS set (in the case of FIG. 1B, TDMS # (d + 2) and TDMS # (d + 3)). It will end up. Therefore, it can be said that it is more preferable to record the information indicating the position information such as the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 indicated by the TDDS 30 included in the multiplex recording set so that the information points to different positions.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which TDMS is multiplex-recorded twice, the number of times TDMS is multiplex-recorded is arbitrary. Specifically, if the number of times of multiplexing is increased, the consumption speed of the TDMA 17 is increased, and the number of times that update recording can be performed decreases. That is, the number of multiple recordings may be determined from the protection strength of the management information and the number of times that update recording can be performed.

  The effect obtained by adopting such a recording method will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, the TDMA 17 that records the management information of the write-once optical disc is often present mainly on the inner circumference side. Generally, the size of the TDFL 31 is not so large unless many defective blocks are detected and replacement processing is performed. Therefore, the TDMS combining the TDFL 31, SRRI 32, and TDDS 30 is often one block size. Here, the area on the inner periphery side where the TDMA 17 exists is composed of approximately two blocks per track. In other words, if the area on the inner peripheral side of the optical disk 1 where the TDMA 17 is placed is unlucky and is later affected by a defect (such as a fingerprint, dust, or scratch), the latest management information has a 50% probability. There is a possibility that the block 3 in which is placed will be affected by a subsequent defect. Even in such a case, it is highly possible that one of the management information can be read out by continuously recording the latest management information having the same contents, and the optical disc 1 has failed to acquire the latest management information. It is possible to reduce the risk of falling into a record-disabled state (Write Protect) or a data garbled state during playback. In the worst case, if the previously recorded management information acquisition fails, it becomes unreproducible, but it cannot be replayed by continuously recording the latest management information with the same contents. The risk of falling into a state can also be reduced. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even in an outer peripheral region where one track has 5 blocks or more.

3) Recording (Latest Management Information Recording) Procedure FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 newly updates and records management information in the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1.

  Step 401: Determine management information elements (TDFL 31, SRRI 32 and TDDS 30) to be updated and recorded. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 updates each management information element managed in the management information storage memory 160 by the management information update unit 174, and updates and records it as new management information in the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1. Determine if it is necessary. The timing of updating each management information element is determined by the drive control unit 170 when, for example, the optical disc 1 is ejected from the optical disc information recording / reproducing apparatus or when the access to the optical disc 1 does not occur for a predetermined time or more. It can be controlled at an arbitrary timing. Depending on the nature of the management information element, switching may be performed for each management information element (for example, the SRR final recording position 66 of the SRRI 32 is lost due to a power interruption or the like before being updated and recorded in the TDMA 17 to the latest state). However, if the DFL entry 51 of the TDFL 31 is lost, it can be regenerated by performing a search for the end of the recorded area with respect to the optical disc 1. On the other hand, if the DFL entry 51 of the TDFL 31 is lost, it cannot be regenerated. Therefore, the update recording timing to the TDMA 17 is controlled so that the TDFL 31 can be updated and recorded with higher priority than the SRRI 32).

  Step 402: The following steps 403 to 406 are repeated k times (k is a positive number of 1 or more). Here, k is the number of times of TDMS multiple recording, for example, twice as shown in FIG.

  Step 403: In the TDMA 17, the position where the management information (TDMS) is recorded next is determined. Specifically, the access position management unit 173 in the drive control unit 170 searches for the start position in the TDMA 17 in which TDMS can be recorded next, that is, the boundary position between recorded and unrecorded in the TDMA 17 (recorded end search). The head position of an unrecorded block adjacent to the boundary position is determined as the position where TDMS is recorded next. Details of the recorded terminal search method will be described in step 501 in FIG. 5 described later.

  Note that the recording position is not necessarily determined at this timing, but may be determined before this position. Specifically, for example, when the optical disc 1 is started, as shown in “4) Reproduction procedure” described later, the latest management information is read based on the recorded and unrecorded boundary positions in the TDMA 17. Therefore, the next recording position in the TDMA 17 is determined at that time. Therefore, if the TDMA recording start position 70 is stored as internal information in the memory 150 (or the management information storage memory 160) as shown in FIG. 3 based on this boundary position information, it is calculated again at the time of update recording. There is no need. Thereafter, each time a new TDMS is recorded, if the value of the memory 150 is updated with the next block start position after recording as the TDMA recording start position 70, it becomes the next recording start position.

  Step 404: The update count information in the management information element to be updated and recorded is incremented by one. Specifically, the management information updating unit 174 in the drive control unit 170 sets information corresponding to the update count information in the management information element to be updated and stored in the management information storage memory 160 to a value that is one greater than the current value. Update to More specifically, for example, when SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 are updated and recorded as TDMS, the information corresponding to the first SRRI update count 64, the second SRRI update count 68, and the DDS update count 49 is updated to a value one larger than the current value. To do.

  Step 405: Update the recording position information of each management information element included in the TDDS. Specifically, the management information update unit 174 in the drive control unit 170 uses the SRRI head position 45 and / or the information corresponding to the TDDS 30 stored in the management information storage memory 160 based on the recording position obtained in step 403. The value of the TDFL head position 46 is updated. For at least the updated SRRI head position 45 and TDFL head position 46, k values that are multiplexed and recorded as TDMS are stored in the memory 150 as SRRI recording positions 75 and TDFL recording positions 76, as shown in FIG. Remember inside. Alternatively, it may be stored separately for k pieces of TDDS 30 that are multiplexed and recorded. As shown in FIG. 1B, the information indicating the position information such as the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 indicated by the TDDS 30 included in the TDMS multiplex recording set is used in the next TDMS recording. This is because when the corresponding management information element is not recorded, the previously recorded position is stored so that it can be controlled to indicate different positions.

  Step 406: The new TDMS is updated and recorded in the TDMA 17. Specifically, the management information generation unit 175 in the drive control unit 170 generates a TDMS that is a combination of the management information elements updated in steps 404 and 405, and the buffer area in the memory 150 or the management information storage memory 160. To store. Then, the drive control unit 170 sets recording conditions such as laser power and strategy for recording in the laser control unit 130, and uses the mechanical control unit 140 to set the optical pickup 120 to the recording position calculated in step 403. The new management information is recorded in the TDMA 17 by the recording unit 171. Here, if the recorded block is affected by a defect or the like and the recording fails, steps 405 and 406 are repeated until the succeeding block is normally recorded.

  Step 407: Steps 403 to 406 described above are repeated k times (k is a positive number of 1 or more).

  With the above procedure, recording of new management information in the TDMA 17 is completed.

4) Reproduction (Latest Management Information Reading) Procedure FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 reads the latest management information recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1. This process is performed, for example, at a timing such as when the optical disk 1 is first started after being mounted on the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 100.

  In order to manage the latest management information read state, a TDDS acquisition flag 71, an SRRI acquisition flag 72, and a TDFL acquisition flag 73 are provided in the memory 150 as shown in FIG. ) Set to the state.

  Step 501: The recorded end position of TDMA 17 is searched. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 uses the amplitude (envelope) signal of the reflected light of the laser beam irradiated from the optical pickup 120 toward the optical disc 1 to the TDMA 170, and records from the change in the amplitude signal. The boundary position between the completed area and the unrecorded area is determined. As for the boundary position information obtained here, for example, the head block position of the unrecorded area is stored in the memory 150 (or the management information storage memory 160) as the TDMA recording start position 70 as shown in FIG. . Note that the boundary position management method does not necessarily have to be in this form, and may be managed with content equivalent to the boundary position, such as a recorded end block position.

  Step 502: Determine a read block. Specifically, the access position management unit 173 in the drive control unit 170 determines a reference block 3 from which management information is read. More specifically, when the first reading is performed, the recorded end block arranged at the boundary position calculated in step 501 is not the case (for example, the case is executed again from step 504 described later). ) Is set to the block immediately before the previously determined read block.

  Step 503: The block 3 is read. Specifically, reproduction conditions such as laser power to perform reproduction are set in the laser control unit 130, and the optical pickup 120 is moved using the mechanical control unit 140 to the position of the block 3 where the reading determined in step 502 is performed. Then, the block 3 is read by the reproduction unit 172 and stored in the buffer area in the memory 150. Hereinafter, when it is described that reading is performed, it is assumed that the setting of the laser power and the movement of the optical pickup 120 are all included, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 504: It is determined whether the reading is successful. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 reads the block 3 read in step 502 and reproduces the error including error correction. Further, the drive control unit 170 further selects a predetermined position (for example, the last sector position) of the reproduced block 3 data. ) Is TDDS30, for example, it is determined whether or not the top data of the last sector of the read block matches the DDS identifier 48, and if the playback is OK and the TDDS30 is confirmed, the read is successful. Judge.

  Subsequently, when it is determined that the reading is successful, step 505 is performed. If it is determined that reading has failed, the processing is repeated from step 502.

  Step 505: It is determined whether or not the read TDDS 30 is the latest. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 determines that the read TDDS 30 is the latest when the read block 3 is a recorded end block arranged at the boundary position calculated in step 501. At this time, the read update count information is stored as the latest update count 74 in the memory 150 as shown in FIG. When the read block 3 is not a recorded end block, that is, when retrying from step 502, if the value of the latest update count 74 is p (p is a positive number of 0 or more), multiple recording If the value of the DDS update count 49 is a value between (p−k + 1) and p based on the number k (k is a positive number of 1 or more), the TDDS 30 in the latest TDMS set, that is, the latest TDDS 30 It is judged that. In the event that the recorded end block is damaged by dirt or the like and cannot be read out, for example, the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 100 further includes a nonvolatile memory, and the DDS in the latest TDDS 30 in the optical disk 1 is provided. The update count 49 and the like may be stored and this value may be used as p.

  Step 506: The latest TDDS 30 is secured. Specifically, when the TDDS acquisition flag 71 is FALSE (not acquired), the drive control unit 170 arranges at the predetermined position (for example, the last sector position) of the block 3 read into the buffer area of the memory 150 in step 503. The fixed size data is stored in the management information storage memory 160 as the latest TDDS 30. As a result, the SRRI 32 that is another management information element constituting the latest TDMS and the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 that are position information in which the TDFL 31 is recorded are determined. Further, the TDDS acquisition flag 71 provided in the memory 150 is set to TRUE (acquired).

  On the other hand, if the TDDS acquisition flag 71 has already been TRUE (acquired), such as in the case of a retry from step 502, the management information storage memory 160 is stored as the latest TDDS 30 as in the case of FALSE. Of the TDDS 30 already overwritten or reserved in the management information storage memory 160, at least the SRRI start position 45 and the TDFL start position 46, which are the start positions where the SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 are recorded, are newly read. Update (overwrite) with a value.

  Step 507: The latest SRRI 32 is read. Specifically, the playback unit 172 in the drive control unit 170 plays back the block 3 including the sector pointed to by the SRRI head position 45 included in the TDDS 30 acquired in step 506 and stores it in the buffer area of the memory 150. When the block 3 including the sector indicated by the SRRI head position 45 included in the TDDS 30 acquired in step 506 is the same as the block 3 read in step 503, it is not necessary to perform reading from the optical disc 1 again. . In this case, it may be determined whether the data of the block 3 read into the buffer area of the memory 150 in step 503 is SRRI 32 or not. If the SRRI acquisition flag 72 is already TRUE (acquired), such as in the case of a retry from step 502, step 507 to step 509 may be skipped and the process may proceed to step 510.

  Step 508: It is determined whether or not the latest SRRI 32 has been successfully read. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 reads the block 3 read in step 507, including the error correction and the reproduction OK. Further, the drive control unit 170 further stores the sector data indicated by the SRRI head position 45 in the reproduced block 3. It is determined whether or not the data is SRRI 32 based on whether or not the leading data matches the SRRI identifier 63. If the reproduction is OK and the SRRI 32 is confirmed, it is determined that the reading is successful.

  Subsequently, when it is determined that the reading is successful, step 509 is performed. If it is determined that reading has failed, the processing is repeated from step 502.

  Step 509: The latest SRRI 32 is secured. Specifically, the drive controller 170 determines from the number of SRRI entries 69 included in the SRRI header 60 arranged at the head of the sector indicated by the SRRI head position 45 in the block 3 read into the buffer area of the memory 150 in step 507. The size of the SRRI 32 is calculated, and the data for the size calculated from the position indicated by the SRRI head position 45 is stored in the management information storage memory 160 as the latest SRRI 32. Further, the SRRI acquisition flag 72 provided in the memory 150 is set to TRUE (acquired).

  Step 510: Read the latest TDFL 31. Specifically, the playback unit 172 in the drive control unit 170 plays back the block 3 including the sector pointed to by the TDFL head position 46 included in the latest TDDS 30 acquired in step 506 and stores it in the buffer area of the memory 150. When the block 3 including the sector indicated by the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30 acquired in step 506 is the same as the block 3 read in step 503, it is not necessary to read from the optical disc 1 again. As described above, strictly speaking, the size of the TDFL 31 may exceed one block size. The size of the TDFL 31 can be calculated from the number 59 of DFL entries included in the TDFL header 50. When the size of the TDFL 31 exceeds one block, in step 510, the block 3 including the data constituting the TDFL 31 is also read. If the TDFL acquisition flag 73 is already TRUE (acquired), such as in the case of a retry from step 502, step 510 to step 512 may be skipped and the process may proceed to step 513.

  Step 511: It is determined whether or not the latest TDFL 31 has been successfully read. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 reads the block 3 read in step 510 including the error correction and the reproduction OK, and further the data of the sector indicated by the TDFL head position 46 in the reproduced block 3 is read. Whether or not it is the TDFL 31 is determined based on whether or not the top data matches the DFL identifier 53, and if the reproduction is OK and the TDFL 31 is confirmed, it is determined that the reading is successful.

  Subsequently, if it is determined that the reading is successful, step 511 is performed. If it is determined that reading has failed, the processing is repeated from step 502.

  Step 512: The latest TDFL 32 is secured. Specifically, the drive control unit 170 determines from the number 59 of DFL entries included in the TDFL header 50 arranged at the head of the sector indicated by the TDFL head position 46 in the block 3 read into the buffer area of the memory 150 in step 510. The size of the TDFL 31 is calculated, and the data for the size calculated from the position indicated by the TDFL head position 46 is stored in the management information storage memory 160 as the latest TDFL 31. Further, the TDFL acquisition flag 73 provided in the memory 150 is set to TRUE (acquired).

  Step 513: Assuming that all management information elements constituting the latest TDMS have been successfully acquired, the reading process is terminated. When this step is performed, the TDDS acquisition flag 71, the SRRI acquisition flag 72, and the TDFL acquisition flag 73 provided in the memory 150 are all TRUE.

  Step 514: Assuming that the management information element constituting the latest TDMS could not be acquired correctly, the reading process is terminated with the recording / reproduction prohibited state or the restricted reproduction enabled state. At the time when this step is performed, at least one of the TDDS acquisition flag 71, the SRRI acquisition flag 72, and the TDFL acquisition flag 73 provided in the memory 150 is FALSE.

  This completes the process of reading the latest management information shown in FIG.

  The movement of this process will be briefly described by taking the case of FIG. 6 as an example. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), TDDS # 3, which is TDDS30 that normally exists in the recorded end block of TDMA17, is acquired, and SRRI # 3 and SRRI # 3 and TDFL start position 46 included therein are indicated. TDFL # 1 is acquired as the latest management information.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, even if the recorded end block is unsuccessfully read due to contamination or the like, TDDS # 2 included in another TDMS recorded in multiple recording is searched and acquired. SRRI # 2 and TDFL # 0 indicated by the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 included therein are acquired as the latest management information.

  Here, for reference, the conventional latest management information reading process is compared with the processing procedure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a conventional management information read processing procedure.

  Step 701: The recorded end position of TDMA 17 is searched. This process is the same as step 501 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 702: A predetermined block 3 is read. The predetermined block is a recorded end block in the TDMA 17. This process is the same as step 503 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 703: It is determined whether the reading is successful. This process is the same as step 504 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted. If it is determined that the reading has succeeded, the process proceeds to step 703. If it is determined that reading has failed, the process proceeds to step 711.

  Step 704: The latest TDDS 30 is secured. This process is the same as step 506 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 705: The latest SRRI 32 is read. This process is the same as step 507 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 706: It is determined whether or not the latest SRRI 32 has been successfully read. This process is the same as step 508 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted. If it is determined that the reading is successful, the process proceeds to step 707. If it is determined that reading has failed, the process proceeds to step 712.

  Step 707: The latest SRRI 32 is secured. This process is the same as step 509 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 708: The latest TDFL 31 is read. This process is the same as step 510 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 709: It is determined whether or not the latest TDFL 31 has been successfully read. This process is the same as step 511 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted. If it is determined that the reading is successful, the process proceeds to step 710. If it is determined that reading has failed, the process proceeds to step 712.

  Step 710: The latest TDFL 32 is secured. This process is the same as step 512 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 711: Assuming that all management information elements constituting the latest TDMS have been successfully acquired, the reading process is terminated. This process is the same as step 513 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 712: Assuming that the management information element constituting the latest TDMS has not been correctly acquired, the reading process is terminated with the recording / reproduction prohibited state or the restricted reproduction enabled state. This process is the same as step 514 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As can be seen by comparing the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG. 5, if an error occurs in any one of steps 703, 706, and 709 in the conventional read processing, the latest Failed to get management information. However, according to the method of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, basically by combining some of the new procedures with the same processing as that included in the conventional processing procedure, the conventional method can be used. It can be seen that the risk of management information acquisition failure can be greatly reduced.

  In the flow of FIG. 5, for example, when the TDFL 31 and the SRRI 32 can be acquired based on the TDDS 30 included in the recorded end block of the TDMA 17, the process is described so as to be completed. Even so, the acquisition of the latest TDDS 30 shown in steps 503 to 506 may be performed for all the multiple recording sets. More specifically, in “3) Recording procedure”, as described in Step 405 of FIG. 4, the SRRI recording position 75 and the TDFL recording position 76 may be provided in the memory 150 for the multiple recording. In this case, at the time of the first TDMS recording after the optical disk 1 is started, there is a possibility that recording is performed based on the SRRI recording position 75 and the TDFL recording position 76 acquired and set at the time of reproduction. Therefore, the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30 included in the latest multiplex recording set may be controlled to be read out.

  Alternatively, for example, at the time of the first TDMS recording after the optical disc 1 is started, control may be performed so that TDMS including all the management information elements is always recorded regardless of whether or not the management information elements are updated. If this method is used, it is not necessary to acquire all the TDDSs 30 included in the latest multiplex recording set at the time of activation.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, an example in which TDMS multiplex recording is performed in the TDMA 17 is shown. However, a dedicated area for multiplex recording is prepared separately from the TDMA 17, and update recording to the normal TDMA 17 is performed. In addition, it is needless to say that the same effect as described above can be obtained by redundantly recording the same data in the multiple recording dedicated area.

  Note that the management method for the type and contents of the internal information in the memory 150 described with reference to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment of the present invention is merely an example, and is not limited to this.

  As described above, when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is provided with a nonvolatile memory, it is possible to read the management information more by providing the location information in which the latest TDMS is recorded together with the identification information of the optical disc 1 therein. It is also possible to increase the reliability in For example, when new management information is recorded on the optical disc 1, at least information regarding the TDDS recording position is stored for the number of TDMSs to be multiplexed. In addition, the SRRI recording position 75 and the TDFL recording position 76 provided in the memory 150 may be stored. This makes it possible to more efficiently read out the management information, such as omitting or simplifying step 501 shown in FIG. 5 and correctly determining whether the management information read from the TDMA 17 is in the latest state. Is possible.

  As described above, the information recording medium, the information recording method, the information recording apparatus, the information reproducing method, and the information reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment mainly have the following configurations.

  That is, the information recording medium in the first embodiment is a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are error correction units, and includes a data area for recording user data, and management information related to the information recording medium Is provided with a temporary management information area for transient recording. The management information includes a disc definition structure including recording management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area, and position information regarding layout information and recording management information in the write-once information recording medium. At this time, in the temporary management area, management information including the record management information having the same content as the information managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added a plurality of times. At this time, the position information included in the disk definition structure included in each of the management information recorded a plurality of times indicates a block in which the recording management information in each management information is recorded.

  In addition, in the information recording method according to the first embodiment, management information including recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added to the temporary management area of the information recording medium a plurality of times. To do. At this time, the position information included in the disk definition structure included in each of the management information recorded a plurality of times indicates a block in which the recording management information in each management information is recorded.

  In addition, the information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a management information recording unit that records management information. At this time, the management information recording unit continuously appends management information including the recording management information having the same contents as the information for managing the recording state in the data area to the temporary management area of the information recording medium a plurality of times. At this time, the position information included in the disk definition structure included in each piece of management information added a plurality of times indicates a block in which the recording management information in each management information is recorded.

  In addition, in the information reproducing method according to the first embodiment, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added to the temporary management area a plurality of times. Step (a) for acquiring management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area when acquiring the latest management information for the recording medium, and at least management information in step (a) And (b) obtaining another management information different from the management information arranged at the recorded end position among the management information recorded a plurality of times.

  In addition, the information reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a management information reproducing unit that acquires management information. At this time, the management information reproducing unit is recorded on the information recording medium in which the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added to the temporary management area a plurality of times. On the other hand, management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area is acquired, and at least when management information arranged at the recorded end position fails, the management information recorded a plurality of times Among them, other management information different from the management information arranged at the recorded end position is acquired.

  With the information recording medium, information recording method, and information recording apparatus described above, it is possible to reduce the risk that the optical disc will be in a record-disabled state due to failure in obtaining the latest management information.

  Further, with the above information reproducing method and information reproducing apparatus, it is possible to reduce the risk of management information acquisition failure (the occurrence of data corruption during reproduction or the risk of falling into a non-reproducible state in the worst case).

  Thus, according to the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to redundantly record the latest management information necessary for recording / reproducing of the write-once information recording medium with higher reliability. In other words, even when acquisition of the latest management information fails, it is possible to acquire other management information that has been multiplexed and recorded, so that recording and reproduction can be continuously performed on the write-once information recording medium. I can do it. As a result, even when an information recording medium in use is damaged by a later defect (such as a fingerprint, dust, or scratch), the possibility that the information recording medium can be reliably and immediately recorded and reproduced can be increased. I can do it.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a management information multiplex recording method that can be realized by a plurality of optical disc recording / reproducing apparatuses 100 (details will be described later) and a plurality of write once optical discs 1 will be described.

  Since the area structure in a certain recording layer of the write-once optical disc according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the conventional write-once optical disc described with reference to FIG. 20, detailed description thereof is omitted here. .

1) Recording / playback device (system)
First, a model case of the system configuration in Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be briefly described.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the system configuration of the optical disk array system 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The optical disk array system 200 includes a controller 210 that performs system control, a memory 220 such as a DRAM that plays a role of saving and buffering various information, and a plurality of optical disk drives 230 controlled by the controller 210 (in this figure). 4 cases).

  The controller 210 further includes a RAID control unit 211 for controlling a plurality of optical disk drives as RAID, a management information recording control unit 212 for controlling recording of management information of the optical disk 1 mounted in the optical disk drive 230, and an optical disk. A management information update unit 213 that updates the management information of the optical disk 1 loaded in the drive 230 to the latest state, and a management information IO control unit 214 that controls transfer of management information between each optical disk drive 230 and the memory 220. A management information acquisition control unit 215 that acquires the latest management information of the optical disc 1 mounted in a certain optical disc drive 230, or controls restoration of the latest management information when acquisition fails.

  The optical disc drive 230 has basically the same configuration as the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  It is assumed that the optical discs 1 mounted on the plurality of optical disc recording / reproducing apparatuses 100 are managed as, for example, RAID 5 by the RAID control unit 211 in the controller 210.

  The optical disk drive 230 may be, for example, a magazine drive in which a magazine cartridge having a plurality of optical disks 1 can be attached or detached, or a magazine slot drive in which a plurality of optical disks 1 can be inserted. May include a plurality of optical disks 1 at the same time.

  In this figure, it is described that a memory 220 such as a DRAM is provided. However, if the memory 220 is a nonvolatile memory such as an SSD, the redundancy can be further increased. Specifically, management information redundancy can be increased by saving and storing the latest management information in each optical disk 1 loaded in each optical disk drive 230. Further, since the capacity can be increased as compared with the DRAM, more information can be saved and saved, and by using it as a buffer, the recording / reproducing performance with respect to the optical disc drive 230 can be improved.

2) Recording Method FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a recording method in the case where management information is recorded in the TDMA 17 of each optical disk 1 constituting the array in the optical disk array system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. For example, RAID 5 is composed of four optical discs 1 (optical disc (A), optical disc (B), optical disc (C) and optical disc (D)) mounted on four optical disc drives 230 constituting an array. And Here, it is assumed that the size of the user data area 14 in each optical disk 1 and the sizes of the ISA 15 and OSA 16 that are spare areas are the same for the four optical disks 1. In other words, it is assumed that the logical sector number 0 position 41, the final logical sector number 42, the ISA size 43, and the OSA size 44 included in the TDDS 30 recorded on each optical disc 1 are the same.

  The feature of this method is that the management information (TDMS) in each optical disk 1 is recorded in its own TDMA 17 and is also distributed and multiplexed in the TDMA 17 of the related optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). The point is to record. Since the multiple optical disks 1 are combined to form a RAID, it is basically guaranteed to be used simultaneously. Among them, by dispersing information on different optical discs 1, it is possible to reduce the risk of being simultaneously tainted by dirt and scratches as compared with the case of multiple recording in the same optical disc 1, so that more reliability is achieved. Can be increased.

  As shown in (1) TDMS initial recording in FIG. 10, at initialization, each TDMS is recorded on the TDMA 17 of each optical disc 1 in the same manner as the conventional method. As described above, the sizes of the user data areas 14, ISA15, and OSA16 of the four optical disks 1 that constitute RAID 5 are the same, the contents of the TDDS 30 are the same except for the position information, and recording management information such as the TDFL 31 and SRRI 32 is also included. Since it is the same because of the initial state before the start of recording, the TDMS recorded at the time of initialization has the same contents in all the optical discs 1. In other words, it can be said that recording TDMS in the TDMA 17 in the conventional manner has the same effect as that in which multiplex recording has already been performed. Therefore, multiplex recording as described later need not be performed.

  On the other hand, as shown in (2) TDMS update recording in FIG. 10, a case is considered where user data is recorded on the optical disc 1 and each management information element in each optical disc 1 is updated. In this case, in addition to the latest management information (that is, first management information) of the optical disc 1, the latest management information (that is, second management information) of another related optical disc 1 is stored in the TDMA 17 of each optical disc 1. Multiple recording is performed in combination.

  For example, the latest TDMS of the optical disc (A) to be recorded is A (1), the latest TDMS of the optical disc (B) to be recorded is B (1), and the latest TDMS of the optical disc (C) to be recorded is C (1). Assume that the latest TDMS in (D) is D (1). The contents of management information elements included in the latest TDMS are not particularly conscious in FIG. In this case, A (1) is multiplexed and recorded in two locations: TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A) which is its own TDMA and TDMA 17 of the optical disk (B) adjacent in the RAID configuration. Similarly, B (1) is the TDMA17 of the optical disc (B), (C), C (1) is the TDMA17 of the optical disc (C), (D), and D (1) is the optical disc (D), (A). Multiple recording is performed on each TDMA 17.

  Here, at the time of multiplex recording, the latest TDMS of its own is always recorded at the recorded end position of the TDMA 17. Specifically, for example, A (1) and D (1) are recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A), but D (1) is recorded first, and the optical disk ( It records so that A (1) which is the latest TDMS of A) is arranged. As a result, as with the conventional write-once optical disc 1, normally, the latest management information arranged at the recorded end position of the TDMA 17 is obtained to obtain the latest of all the optical discs 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). Management information can be obtained. In other words, even when the conventional general optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is used, it is possible to obtain the effect that the optical disc 1 can be correctly reproduced while maintaining the same reliability as the conventional one. That is, it is possible to efficiently acquire the first management information that is always required rather than the second management information that is preliminarily recorded.

  Here, FIG. 10 (2) shows an example in which management information is multiplexed and recorded in a total of two locations on different optical disks 1, but this example has the same data loss prevention effect as T5 in RAID 5. I can do it. Specifically, even if reading of the TDMA 17 from one of the four optical disks 1 fails for some reason, the latest management information can be restored from the remaining three optical disks 1. In other words, in this example, when reading of the TDMA 17 from two or more of the four optical disks 1 fails, the latest management information cannot be restored. Note that the level of redundancy can be increased by increasing the number of multiple recording locations. For example, if a method of multiple recording in a total of three locations on different optical disks 1 is employed, the same data loss prevention effect as RAID 6 can be obtained.

  Although FIG. 10 shows an example in which the latest management information is recorded in the TDMA 17 of the adjacent optical disk 1 due to the configuration of the disk array (RAID) in addition to its own TDMA 17, the multiplex recording method is limited to this. It is not a thing. Specifically, as long as the latest management information of an optical disc 1 is recorded at the recorded end position of its own TDMA 17 and is recorded on the TDMA 17 of one or more other related optical discs 1 The subsequent recording method is arbitrary as long as it is carried out according to a predetermined rule. In extreme terms, the latest TDMS of all optical disks 1 constituting the RAID may be recorded in the TDMAs 17 of all optical disks 1. Specifically, in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A), the latest management information of the optical disk (A) is used as the first management information, and the latest information of each of the optical disks (B), (C), and (D) is used as the second management information. The management information may be recorded.

  The management information recording is always performed in accordance with this predetermined rule except for the TDMS initial recording (initialization) shown in FIG. 10 (1). Of course, the management information recording is also shown in FIG. 10 (2). As described above, multiple recording may be performed according to a predetermined rule.

  In FIG. 10, the management information is updated in all the optical disks 1 constituting the RAID and the latest TDMS is updated and recorded. However, depending on the use, only the TDMS of a specific optical disk 1 is updated and recorded. There may be cases. Specifically, for example, each optical disk drive 230 of the optical disk array system 200 has a function of detecting deterioration of recorded data of the mounted optical disk 1, and when the deterioration is detected, alternate recording is performed before data cannot be read. Further, it is assumed that data copying to the spare optical disk 1 is performed. At this time, for example, when the optical disk drive 230 (No. 1) is in the process of detecting deterioration of recorded data of the optical disk (A), partial deterioration is detected in a certain area (or block 3), and a spare area in the optical disk 1 is detected. Assume that replacement recording to (ISA15 or OSA16) is performed and the TDFL 31 is updated.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which only the management information of the optical disk (A) constituting the disk array (RAID) is updated from the state of FIG. The TDMS indicated by the dark color in the figure indicates the latest TDMS at that time. The contents of the management information element included in the latest TDMS are not particularly conscious in FIG.

  As an initial state, it is assumed that the latest TDMS before update of each optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) is A (1), B (1), C (1), and D (1), respectively. Only the management information of the optical disc (A) is updated from this state, and the latest TDMS of the optical disc (A) becomes A (2). In this case, since the TDMS that needs to be updated and recorded is only A (2), the TDMS recording is performed on the TDMAs 17 of all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) as in the case of FIG. This is not preferable because TDMA 17 is consumed in vain. Therefore, in this case, recording is performed only on the optical disk (A) for recording the management information of the optical disk (A) and the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (B). More specifically, in addition to the latest TDMS of the optical disk (A), the latest TDMS of the optical disk (D) that is the related optical disk 1 is recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A). In addition to the latest TDMS of the optical disk (B), the latest TDMS of the optical disk (A) that is the related optical disk 1 is recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (B).

  Therefore, as shown in (2) of FIG. 11, the TDMA 17 of the optical disc (A) includes the latest TDMSs A (2) and D (1) of the optical disc (A) and the optical disc (D) at that time. Combined and recorded so that A (2) is placed at the recorded end position. The TDMA 17 of the adjacent optical disk (B) in the RAID configuration is combined with the latest TDMS A (2) and B (1) of the optical disk (A) and the optical disk (B) at that time, and the recorded end Recording is performed so that B (1) is arranged at the position.

  Although not updated as management information, TDMS is recorded (specifically, in the case of (2) in FIG. 11, D (1) and optical disc (B) recorded on the optical disc (A)). B (1)) may be recorded with exactly the same structure as the TDMS recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk 1 last time, or at least only the TDDS 30 may be recorded. . More specifically, management information elements that have not been updated need not be recorded again. Although this concept is applied and management information is not updated, as a management information element included in the recorded TDMS, a TDDS 30 indicating the position of the latest management information element recorded before may be recorded as a minimum. It will be.

  Note that the update recording is not performed on the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (C) and the optical disk (D) that do not require update recording, and the previous state can be maintained. That is, it is not necessary to waste the consumption of TDMA17.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the TDMS recording method recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk 1 constituting the RAID in units of management information elements. Here, the optical disk (A) of the four optical disks 1 constituting the RAID 5 will be described as an example.

  As described above, when a change occurs in one of the management information elements and a new TDMS is recorded in the TDMA 17, the management information element that has not changed is not recorded, and the recording position information provided in the TDDS 30 is recorded last time. You may make it point to a different position. In other words, as a TDMS recording method, any of the following two patterns can be considered.

  The first is a method in which all management information elements constituting the TDMS, including updated management information and non-updated management information, are recorded every time TDMS recording is performed. (Pattern 1) in FIG. It corresponds to. In this case, among the latest management information recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A), the SRRI position information 45 and the TDFL position information 46 included in the TDDS 30 included in the TDMS of the optical disk (D) are recorded together with D ( 2) SRRI position information 45 and TDFL position information 46 recorded in the TDDS 30 included in the TDMS of the optical disc (A), which are recorded to indicate the positions of the SRRI 32 (D) # 2 and TDFL 31 (D) # 2 in Recorded to indicate the positions of SRRI 32 (A) # 2 and TDFL 31 (A) # 2 in A (2) recorded together.

  The second method is to update and record only management information elements that need to be updated, and corresponds to FIG. 12 (pattern 2). For example, both the SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 change as the management information element of the optical disc (A), and it is necessary to update and record all the management information elements including the TDDS 30, but the TDFL 31 changes as the management information element of the optical disc (D). It is assumed that only the SRRI 31 and the TDDS 30 need to be updated because there is no such information. In this case, A (2) which is the TDMS of the optical disk (A) is recorded in the same manner as in the case of (Pattern 1) described above. On the other hand, as the TDDS 30 included in D (2) which is the TDMS of the optical disk (D), the SRRI head position 45 indicates the position of SRRI 32 (D) # 2 recorded together as D (2), but the TDFL head position 46 is recorded to indicate the position of TDFL 31 (D) # 1 included in D (1) which is TDMS previously recorded as management information of the optical disc (D).

  It should be noted in this method that the most recently recorded TDMS on the optical disk (A) before the new TDMS update is A (1), but it is not sufficient to manage only this position information. It is a point. Specifically, in order to update the management information in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A), not only A (1) but also the position information where D (1) is recorded must be managed together. . Therefore, for example, internal information managed by the controller 210 is provided in the memory 220 in the form shown in FIG. Specifically, the recording position of each management information element constituting the latest TDMS is updated by the management information element recording position 81 for every optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) by the management information element update request flag 82. Manage the management information elements that need to be recorded. For example, consider the case of the example shown in FIG. 10 in which the management information of each optical disc 1 is multiplexed and recorded at two locations. In this case, as the management information element recording position 81, for each of the optical discs (A), (B), (C), and (D), the number of management information recorded on the optical disc 1 (for example, the optical disc (A)) In this case, the position information where the latest information of the TDDS 30, TDFL 31, and SRRI 32 is recorded is managed for the management information of the optical disc (D) and the management information of the optical disc (A). The detailed usage and update method of the management information element recording position 81 will be described later.

  The effect obtained by adopting such a recording method will be described. Since the optical disks (A), (B), (C), and (D) on which each management information is multiplexed and recorded constitute, for example, RAID 5 as a disk array, user data is recorded on any one of the optical disks 1. When performing reproduction, it is always set and used in the optical disk drive 230 at the same time. In other words, even when management information of a certain optical disc 1 is arranged in the TDMA 17 of a different optical disc 1, a state in which the management information can be used at the same time is guaranteed. However, it can be suppressed to a level that has almost no effect. In addition, since the management information in a certain optical disk 1 is multiplexed and recorded in the TDMA 17 of different optical disks 1, redundant recording with higher reliability is possible compared to the case of multiple recording in the same optical disk 1. That is, compared with the conventional management information recording method, it is possible to increase the possibility that the latest management information of the optical disc 1 can be read, and a certain optical disc 1 cannot record due to the latest management information acquisition failure (Write Protect), Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the risk of falling into a garbled state during reproduction. In the worst case, if the previously recorded management information acquisition fails, the reproduction becomes impossible. However, the latest management information having the same contents, including different optical disks 1, can be recorded in a multiplexed manner. It is also possible to reduce the risk of falling into a non-reproducible state.

  Further, by using this recording method, in the optical disk array system that can only improve the reliability of the user data area 14 by RAID5, the management information area has the same level of redundancy and reliability as RAID5. It becomes possible to provide an array system having the characteristics.

  Further, while recording management information with increased redundancy using a plurality of optical disks 1 constituting a disk array (RAID), the latest management of the optical disk 1 is recorded at the recorded end position of the TDMA 17 of each optical disk 1. Since the information is arranged, the latest management information can be read from the optical disc 1 in a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus that does not support the method described in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Further, as a method for increasing redundancy, it is possible to employ a method in which the optical disk array system 200 is provided with a nonvolatile memory and the latest management information is saved there when recording the management information. However, when only this method is used, the redundancy of the plurality of optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) can be increased only by the optical disk array system 200 including the nonvolatile memory. When a plurality of optical disks 1 constituting a disk array (RAID) are mounted on the optical disk array system 200, the redundancy is not different from the conventional case. However, by performing multiple recording of management information in the form as shown in the second embodiment of the present invention, these apparatuses can be used in apparatuses other than the optical disk array system 200 that records a plurality of optical disks 1 constituting a disk array (RAID). Even when the optical disk 1 is used, the same redundancy can be ensured.

3) Recording (Latest Management Information Recording) Procedure FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the optical disk array system 200 newly records management information on the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). . Here, a case will be described as an example in which the management information element shown in FIG. 12 (pattern 2) described above is updated and recorded only.

  In order to manage the necessity of update recording of management information, as shown in FIG. 9, a management information element update request flag 82 is provided in the memory 220, and before the first recording is started as an initial state (that is, The management information element update request flag 82 is set to FALSE (update unnecessary) at the time when recording is possible as the optical disk array system 200. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the management information element update request flag 82 is described as information indicating two states (TRUE: update required or FALSE: update not required). For example, the update required state is further detailed. For example, status management such as immediate update necessary, appropriate update necessary, and update unnecessary may be performed.

  Step 1301: The following step 1302 is performed on the optical discs 1 mounted in all the optical disc drives 230 constituting the system. For example, in the case of the system configuration as shown in FIG.

  Step 1302: Obtain management information that needs to be recorded. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 acquires management information that needs to be updated and recorded from among the management information of the optical disc 1 loaded in the optical disc drive 230 at a predetermined timing. The acquired management information is stored and managed in the management information saving area 83 in the memory 220 for each optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). At the same time, the management information element update request flag 82 in the memory 220 corresponding to the management information (management information element) acquired as needing update is set to TRUE (update required) state.

  Here, the predetermined timing is, for example, a case where a certain amount or more of data is recorded on the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) in the optical disk array system 200. More specifically, the controller 210 knows how much recording has been performed on the optical disk 1 constituting the system by the RAID control unit 211. If the recording is performed, at least the SRRI 32 (the SRR final recording position 66 included) is updated. Therefore, for example, when the SRRI 32 (the SRR final recording position 66 included in the SRRI 32) changes more than a certain amount from the previous management information recording timing, it is considered as the update timing, and the optical disk constituting the disk array (RAID) in the optical disk array system 200 When a certain amount of abnormal data recording is performed on 1, the latest management information on the optical disc 1 loaded in each optical disc drive 230 is acquired.

  The predetermined timing is not limited to this. For example, it is necessary to update the management information from the timing when the management information was acquired last time, when the optical disc 1 is ejected from the optical disc drive 230, or when the management information is updated from the optical disc drive 230 to the controller 210. It may be when there is a notification.

  Step 1303: The above-described step 1302 is performed on the optical discs 1 mounted on all the optical disc drives 230 constituting the system. For example, in the case of the system configuration as shown in FIG.

  It should be noted that the processing from step 1301 to step 1303 described above does not necessarily have to be performed continuously with the processing after step 1304 described later. More specifically, for example, step 1301 to step 1303 are performed at the above-described predetermined timing, whereas the processing after step 1304 described later is the management information update record in step 1301 to step 1303 described above. The procedure may be performed only when the controller 210 determines that it is necessary.

  Step 1304: The following steps 1305 to 1306 are performed on all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). For example, in the case of a RAID configuration as shown in FIG.

  Step 1305: It is determined whether or not an update record of management information is necessary. Specifically, the management information recording control unit 212 in the controller 210 determines whether or not management information needs to be newly updated and recorded for each optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). More specifically, for example, it is determined whether or not the information on the corresponding optical disc 1 is set to TRUE (update required) in the management information element update request flag 82 provided in the memory 220. If it is determined that update recording is necessary, the process proceeds to step 1306. If it is determined that update recording is unnecessary, step 1306 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 1307.

  Step 1306: The management information element update count information that needs to be updated is incremented by one. Specifically, the management information update unit 213 in the optical disk array system 200 requires update recording among the management information elements included in the management information for each optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) stored in the memory 220. Update number information (for example, in the case of SRRI32, the first SRRI update number 64 and the second SRRI update number 68) are incremented by one.

  Note that step 1306 may be performed between step 1308 and step 1309 described later, for example.

  In addition to incrementing the number-of-updates information of the management information element of the optical disc 1 determined to be updated in this step 1306 by one, it is combined with the management information that is not required to be updated but is determined to be updated. For the management information of the optical disc 1 recorded in this way, the update count information may be incremented by one.

  Step 1307: The above steps 1305 to 1306 are executed for all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). For example, in the case of a RAID configuration as shown in FIG.

  Step 1308: It is determined whether or not there is an optical disk 1 that requires management information update recording in the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). Specifically, the controller 210 determines whether or not the optical disc 1 that needs to be updated based on the result of the presence / absence determination of the optical disc 1 that needs to be newly updated and recorded with the management information performed by the management information recording control unit 212 in step 1305. It is determined whether or not even one sheet exists. More specifically, for example, in the management information element update request flag 82 provided in the memory 220, it is determined whether or not there is an optical disc 1 that is set to TRUE (need to be updated). If there is an optical disc 1 that needs to be updated, the process proceeds to step 1309. If not, the subsequent process is skipped and the process is terminated.

  Step 1309: Steps 1310 to 1313 described below are performed in accordance with the optical disk 1 (or the optical disk 1) in which management information is determined to be newly updated and recorded in step 1305 among the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). To the optical disc drive 230) that performs recording and reproduction. For example, if the management information needs to be updated and recorded on all four optical disks 1 from the optical disk (A) to the optical disk (D), the process is repeated four times.

  Step 1310: A TDMS to be updated and recorded on the optical disc 1 is generated. Specifically, the controller 210 acquires the management information element of the related optical disk 1 to be updated and recorded on the optical disk 1 and the management information element of its own disk from the management information save area 83 in the memory 220 and generates a TDMS. Then, the optical disk drive 230 can be transferred (for example, copied to the transfer buffer). Further, the management information update management unit 213 in the controller 210 includes the position information (for example, updated and recorded) of management information elements that are not actually updated and recorded among the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 in the TDDS 30 included in the transfer data. When the management information elements to be recorded are only SRRI 32 and TDDS 30, the TDFL head position 46) is updated to the position where the latest management information element is recorded on the optical disc 1 using the management information element recording position 81 provided in the memory 220. To do.

  Information relating to the optical disk drive 230 to be recorded on the optical disk 1 is set in the recording device related information 47 of the TDDS 30 in the TDMS of the own optical disk 1 as the first management information. On the other hand, in the recording device related information 47 of the TDDS 30 in the TDMS of the related optical disk 1 as the second management information, information related to the optical disk drive 230 that records the management information as the first management information is set. More specifically, taking FIG. 10 (2) as an example, among the management information recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (A), the recording device related information 47 of the TDDS 30 included in A (1) includes the optical disk Information related to the device of the drive 230 (No. 1) (for example, the serial number of the drive) is recorded in the recording device related information 47 of the TDDS 30 included in D (1). For example, set the serial number of the drive). This makes it possible to use the TDMS recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1 to determine which optical disc 1 is associated with the TDMS in the later-described 4) playback procedure.

  Step 1311: The TDMS of the related optical disk is transferred to the optical disk drive 230 and recorded. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 controls the related optical disk 1 generated in step 1310 (for example, in the case of management information recording on the optical disk (A) in the example of FIG. TDMS data of the latest management information (D) is transmitted to the optical disc drive 230 (for example, in the case of recording on the optical disc (A), the optical disc drive 230 (No. 1)). Then, the controller 210 requests the optical disk drive 230 to record the transmitted data in the TDMA 17.

  The optical disk drive 230 that has received the management information data records the received management information from the position of the next recordable TDMA 17 on the mounted optical disk 1 (for example, the position indicated by the TDMA recording start position 70 included in the memory 150). To do. When the optical disk drive 230 performs recording on the TDMA 17, the position of the management information element that is actually updated and recorded among the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30 in the received management information data. Information (for example, SRRI head position 45 when the management information elements to be updated and recorded are SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 only) is updated according to the recording position and then recorded. In this case, the TDMA 17 block to be recorded may be damaged by a defect and re-recorded in a subsequent block, which is managed by the optical disk drive 230 rather than the upper layer controller 210. This is because it is preferable.

  Step 1312: The TDMS of its own optical disc 1 is transferred to the optical disc drive 230 and recorded. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 controls the related optical disk 1 generated in step 1310 (for example, in the case of management information recording on the optical disk (A) in the example of FIG. TDMS data of the latest management information (A) is transmitted to the optical disc drive 230 (for example, in the case of recording on the optical disc (A), the optical disc drive 230 (No. 1)). Then, the controller 210 requests the optical disk drive 230 to record the transmitted data in the TDMA 17.

  The optical disk drive 230 that has received the management information data records the received management information from the position of the next recordable TDMA 17 on the mounted optical disk 1 (for example, the position indicated by the TDMA recording start position 70 included in the memory 150). To do. When the optical disk drive 230 performs recording on the TDMA 17, the position of the management information element that is actually updated and recorded among the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30 in the received management information data. Information (for example, SRRI head position 45 when the management information elements to be updated and recorded are SRRI 32 and TDDS 30 only) is updated according to the recording position and then recorded. In this case, the TDMA 17 block to be recorded may be damaged by a defect and re-recorded in a subsequent block, which is managed by the optical disk drive 230 rather than the upper layer controller 210. This is because it is preferable.

  Step 1313: The latest management information recorded on the optical disc 1 is acquired. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 acquires the latest TDMS recorded on the optical disc 1 in steps 1311 and 1312. Then, the latest TDMS in the own optical disc 1 is stored in the management information saving area 83 in the memory 220 as it is. Note that the information acquired here does not have to acquire all the latest TDMS information, and at least information on the recording position of each management information element included in the TDDS 30 (that is, SRRI head position 45 and TDFL head position 46). Of these, it is only necessary that the position information regarding the management information element actually recorded in the TDMA 17 can be acquired. Therefore, for example, only the latest TDDS 30 may be acquired and the data in the management information save area 83 of the memory 220 may be rewritten. At this time, the management information request recording position 81 provided in the memory 220 is also updated based on the acquired position information. In addition, for the latest TDMS of the related optical disc 1, information on the recording position of each management information element included in the TDDS 30 (that is, the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46) is acquired, and the management information request recording provided in the memory 220 is acquired. Update position 81.

  Here, the purpose of step 1313 is that, as described in step 1311 and step 1312, the position where the management information element is actually recorded on the optical disk 1 is managed in the optical disk drive 230.

  Step 1314: The optical disk 1 (or the optical disk 1) in which the management information is determined to be newly updated and recorded in step 1305 among the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) in the above steps 1310 to 1313. To the optical disc drive 230) that performs recording and reproduction. For example, if the management information needs to be updated and recorded on all four optical disks 1 from the optical disk (A) to the optical disk (D), the process is repeated four times.

  With the above procedure, the optical disk array system 200 completes the update recording of new management information on the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID).

  In step 1310, information related to the recording device to which the management information is to be recorded is added to the recording device related information 47 of the TDDS 30 to determine which optical disc 1 is related to the management information recorded in the TDMA 17. Although an example of enabling determination is shown, a method for determining which optical disc 1 is management information is not limited to this. For example, in the case of double recording in which management information is recorded at two locations, the value of the DDS update count 49 of the TDDS 30 included in the TDMS is an odd number or an even number based on the same idea as described in the first embodiment of the present invention. However, it may be identified whether the first management information about the optical disc 1 or the second management information about the related optical disc 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, the latest management information of the related optical disc 1 is provided in the form of the related SRRI head position 90 and the related TDFL head position 91 which are the position information related to the management information element of the related optical disk 1 in the TDDS 30. A similar effect can be obtained by a method in which a TDMS is formed and combined with the latest management information element of the optical disc 1 and recorded in the TDMA 17.

4) Reproduction (Latest Management Information Reading) Procedure FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the optical disk array system 200 acquires the latest management information from the optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). This process is performed, for example, at a timing such as the first activation after the optical disk 1 is loaded in the optical disk drive 230.

  In order to manage the latest management information reading state from each optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID), a management information acquisition flag 80 is provided in the memory 220 as shown in FIG. Set to FALSE (unacquired) state.

  Step 1501: The following steps 1502 to 1504 are performed on the optical discs 1 mounted in all the optical disc drives 230 constituting the system. For example, in the case of the system configuration as shown in FIG.

  Step 1502: The optical disc 1 loaded in the optical disc drive 230 is searched for the latest management information of the optical disc 1 itself. Specifically, the controller 210 requests the optical disc drive 230 to obtain the latest management information from the loaded optical disc 1, and the optical disc drive 230 obtains the latest management information from the TDMA 17 of the loaded optical disc 1. The processing result is reported to the controller 210. Here, the latest management information search process performed by the optical disk drive 230 is the same as the process performed by the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 7 described above, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Step 1503: It is determined whether or not the latest management information search process is successful. Specifically, the controller 210 determines whether or not the search for the latest management information on the optical disc 1 has succeeded based on the processing result report notified from the optical disc drive 230 in step 1502. Subsequently, if it is determined that the search is successful, step 1504 is performed. If it is determined that the search has failed, step 1504 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 1505.

  Step 1504: The latest management information is acquired. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 requests the optical disk drive 230 that requested the management information search in step 1502 to acquire and transfer the latest management information of the loaded optical disk 1. The transferred data is stored in the management information saving area 83 provided in the memory 220 as the latest management information. Then, the management information acquisition flag 80 of the corresponding optical disk 1 provided in the memory 220 is set to a TRUE (acquired) state.

  Step 1505: The above steps 1502 to 1504 are performed on the optical discs 1 mounted in all the optical disc drives 230 constituting the system. For example, in the case of the system configuration as shown in FIG.

  Step 1506: It is determined whether unacquired management information exists. Specifically, the controller 210 determines whether or not the latest management information has been acquired from all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) in steps 1501 to 1505. More specifically, for example, if all the management information acquisition flags 80 provided in the memory 220 are TRUE (acquired), it is determined that there is no unacquired management information, and if not, there is unacquired management information. Judge that. Subsequently, if unacquired management information exists, step 1507 is performed. If all the management information has been acquired, the process proceeds to step 1511.

  Step 1507: The related optical disc 1 (optical disc drive 230) on which unacquired management information is recorded is determined. Specifically, the management information acquisition control unit 215 in the controller 210 records the optical disc 1 in which the management information of the optical disc 1 that has failed to acquire the latest management information as the management information of the related optical disc 1 is recorded. Judgment based on the predetermined rules. More specifically, for example, in the example of FIG. 10, when the optical disc 1 that has failed to acquire management information is the optical disc (A), the optical disc (B) is determined as the related optical disc 1.

  Step 1508: Search for the latest management information from the related optical disk 1 for the management information of the optical disk 1 that failed to obtain the latest management information. Specifically, the management information acquisition control unit 215 in the controller 210 searches for management information of the optical disc 1 that has been multiplexed and recorded in the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1 determined in step 1507 and failed to acquire the latest management information. Request to the optical disk drive 230 to perform. Then, the optical disk drive 230 searches for the latest management information of the related optical disk 1 from the TDMA 17 of the loaded optical disk 1. Then, the processing result is reported to the controller 210. More specifically, for example, the block preceding the recorded end block of TDMA 17 (here, the latest TDMS of the optical disc 1 is arranged) (toward the recorded area side) is traced one block at a time and reproduced. On the other hand, the TDDS 30 is arranged at a predetermined position (for example, the last sector) of the reproduced block 3, and the recording device related information 47 included therein relates to the optical disk drive 230 that originally records the management information of the related optical disk 1. The information is searched, and if the search is successful, the information is acquired and the search is successful. At this time, the optical disk drive 230 also reads the searched TDDS 30, the SRRI position information 45 included in the TDDS 30, and the SRRI 32 and the TDFL 31 existing at the positions indicated by the TDFL position information 46. Here, the management information search processing of the related optical disc 1 performed by the optical disc drive 230 includes the processing executed by the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 7 described above, and the block searched in step 701 is the recorded end block. However, since it is the same except that it is a block including the TDDS 30 of the related optical disc 1 described above, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Step 1509: It is determined whether or not the search is successful. Specifically, the controller 210 determines whether or not the search for the latest management information of the related optical disc 1 by the optical disc drive 230 in step 1508 is successful. Subsequently, if the search is successful, step 1510 is performed. If the search fails, the process proceeds to step 1512.

  Step 1510: The management information searched from the related optical disc 1 is acquired. Specifically, the management information IO control unit 214 in the controller 210 includes the TDDS 30 read by the optical disk drive 230 in step 1508, the SRRI 32 included in the TDDS 30 and the SRRI 32 present at the position indicated by the TDFL position information 46, and The TDFL 31 is acquired as the latest management information of the related optical disc 1, that is, the management information of the optical disc 1 that should have been recorded as the first management information. The acquired management information is stored in the management information save area 83 in the memory 220.

  Step 1511: Assuming that the latest management information has been successfully acquired from all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID), the reading process is terminated. When this step is performed, the management information acquisition flag 80 provided in the memory 220 is TRUE (acquired) for all the optical discs 1.

  Step 1512: Since at least one of the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) cannot correctly acquire the latest management information, the disk array (RAID) system is in a recording / reproduction prohibited state or restricted. The reading process is terminated with the state that only reproduction is possible. At the time when this step is performed, at least one of the management information acquisition flags 80 provided in the memory 220 is FALSE (not acquired).

  This completes the process of reading the latest management information shown in FIG.

  The movement of this process will be briefly described by taking the case of FIG. 16 as an example. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, it is assumed that the TDMA 17 of the optical disc (A) is in a state where it cannot be correctly reproduced due to being invaded by defects such as dirt and scratches.

  At this time, first, until step 1505 described above, as shown in FIG. 16A, among the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID), each of the optical disk (B), the optical disk (C), and the optical disk (D). The latest management information (B (1), C (1), D (1)) of the optical disc 1 placed at the recorded end position of the TDMA 17 is acquired. However, acquisition of A (1) which is the latest management information of the optical disc (A) fails.

  Then, in step 1507, the optical disk (B) (optical disk drive 230 (No. 2)) for recording management information is selected as the related optical disk 1 in step 1507, and in step 1508, the TDMA 17 of the optical disk (B) is selected. A (1), which is the latest management information of the optical disc (A) recorded in (1), is searched. In step 1510, A (1) which is the latest management information of the optical disc (A) is acquired. As a result, the latest management information on all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) is acquired, and the disk array (RAID) becomes usable as a recordable / reproducible state. As described above, the management information read process shown in FIG. 15 is characterized only by the optical disk drive 230 including the optical disk 1 in order to acquire management information acquisition of a certain optical disk 1 constituting the disk array (RAID). Instead, reading is also performed on the optical disk drive 230 provided with another optical disk 1 as necessary.

  Note that the processing from step 1507 to step 1510 has been described as processing that is performed only once in FIG. 15, but this is an example of the case of dual recording of management information as shown in FIG. This is because the description has been made on the assumption that the management information acquisition failure of one of the four optical disks 1 constituting the array (RAID) can be handled. If the number of times of multiple recording is increased and the number of optical disks that can cope with management information acquisition failure increases, Steps 1507 to 1510 are repeated accordingly.

  In the flow of FIG. 15, when the latest management information can be acquired from all the optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) in steps 1501 to 1505, the process proceeds to step 1511 and the process is completed. Even in this case, the management information (that is, the second management information) of the related optical disk 1 shown in steps 1507 to 1511 is acquired for all the optical disks 1. Also good. More specifically, in “3) Recording procedure”, as described in step 1310 in FIG. 13, the position information provided in the TDDS 30 included in the newly recorded TDMS is correctly set for the management information element that does not need to be updated. In order to do this, the management information element recording position 81 provided in the memory 220 needs to be set correctly even immediately after the system is operated (that is, immediately after the optical disk 1 is started). Therefore, in order to update the management information element recording position 81 to the correct state, not only the latest first management information recorded on all the optical discs 1 but also a spare when starting up, that is, when reading the latest management information. The latest recorded second management information (of which at least the SRRI head position 45 and the TDFL head position 46 included in the TDDS 30) are read out, and the management information element recording position 81 is updated based on the result. You may control to.

  Alternatively, for example, at the time of the first TDMS recording immediately after system operation (that is, immediately after activation of the optical disc 1), the first management information including all the management information elements and the second management are always included regardless of whether or not the management information elements are updated. You may control to record information. If this method is used, it is not necessary to acquire the second management information (included in TDDS 30) from all the optical discs 1 described above.

  In the “2) recording method” according to the second embodiment of the present invention, management information is recorded on the TDMAs 17 of the plurality of optical disks 1 constituting the disk array (RAID) according to a predetermined rule. The contents of the rules may be partially changed during use of the optical disc 1. Specifically, for example, as described with reference to FIG. 11, an example is shown in which new management information is updated and recorded only for the TDMA 17 of the optical disc 1 corresponding to the management information that needs to be updated. In the case of FIG. 11, the case where only the management information of the optical disc (A) is updated is shown as an example. However, consider the case where the management information of the optical disc (A) and the optical disc (C) is updated from the same state. .

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram when the management information of the optical disc (A) and the optical disc (C) is updated. In this case, there are only two pieces of management information to be updated, A (2) and C (2). However, when the second management information recording method shown in FIG. 11 is used, as shown in FIG. Eventually, the management information needs to be updated and recorded in the TDMAs 17 of all the optical disks 1. Therefore, in such a case, it is considered that there is a high possibility that the management information in the same set will be updated in the future, and the second management information update rule is changed as shown in FIG. Also good. Specifically, until then, the adjacent optical disk 1 in the disk array (RAID) configuration is used as the related optical disk 1, and the latest management information is preliminarily multiplexed and recorded as the second management information of the TDMA 17 of the optical disk 1. However, the relationship may be rearranged. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 17 (3), two sets of two optical discs 1 that need to be updated are paired to form a set by two units, from the conventional management information recording method for scoring. Multiple recording may be performed in the form. Alternatively, when the management information of some of the optical disks 1 needs to be updated, the management information for updating the optical disk 1 having a large remaining recordable size is updated by looking at the remaining recordable capacity of the TDMA 17 in each optical disk 1. 2 The management information may be rearranged so that the optical disc 1 is preliminarily multiplexed and recorded. When the management information update rule is changed in this way, the management information is recorded again in a new form on all of the plurality of optical disks 1 forming the disk array (RAID).

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, a case has been described in which multiple pieces of management information are recorded in such a manner as to straddle each optical disk 1 in a plurality of optical disks 1 constituting a disk array (RAID). The same effect can be obtained even when the array is not used. Specifically, for example, in a magazine including a plurality of optical disks 1, management information may be multiplexed and recorded so as to straddle a plurality of optical disks 1 in the magazine.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, the second management information to be multiplexed and recorded in reserve has been shown to be implemented in the TDMA 17, but a dedicated area for multiplex recording is prepared separately from the TDMA 17, and the first Even if a method is used in which the management information is updated and recorded in the TDMA 17 as usual, and the second management information is updated and recorded in the multiple recording dedicated area, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Needless to say.

  Note that the management method for the type and contents of internal information in the memory 220 described with reference to FIG. 9 in the second embodiment of the present invention is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, the case where RAID 5 is configured as a disk array (RAID) has been described as an example, but the configured RAID level is not limited to RAID 5. For example, in the case of configuring RAID 0 that does not include a parity drive, or in the case where the parity drive configures a fixed RAID 4, it is needless to say that the same effect as in the case of configuring RAID 5 described above can be obtained.

  As described above, the information recording medium, the information recording method, the information recording apparatus, the information reproducing method, and the information reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment mainly have the following configurations.

  That is, the information recording medium according to the second embodiment is a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are error correction units, and a plurality of write-once information recording media are used in association with each other. The write-once information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data and a temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium.

  At this time, in the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium, in the at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium The management information is combined with the second management information, and the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area.

  In the information recording medium in the second embodiment, the management information may include recording management information for managing the recording state in the data area. Further, the management information may include a disk definition structure including position information regarding layout information and recording management information in the write-once information recording medium. Further, the disk definition structure may include information capable of identifying whether the management information is the first management information or the second management information.

  Further, the information recording method according to the second embodiment has at least one used in association with the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium in the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium. The first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area in combination with the second management information that is the management information in another write-once information recording medium.

  In addition, the information recording apparatus according to the second embodiment has at least one used in association with the first management information, which is management information in the write-once information recording medium, in the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium. A management information recording control unit that records the first management information in such a manner that the first management information is arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area in combination with the second management information that is the management information in another write-once information recording medium Prepare.

  Further, in the information recording method or the information recording apparatus according to the second embodiment, the disc definition structure may be recorded in a form including information capable of identifying whether the management information is the first management information or the second management information.

  In addition, the information reproducing method in the second embodiment is management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the first management information that is management information in the write-once information recording medium. The latest management information for the recordable information recording medium in which certain second management information is combined and the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area When acquiring the latest management information from the temporary management information area in a write-once information recording medium, and at least acquiring the first management information in step (a) In this case, the latest second management information is obtained from the temporary management information area of another write-once recording medium in which the management information of the write-once information recording medium is recorded as the second management information. Comprising the step (b) to Tokusuru.

  In addition, the information reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a management information acquisition control unit that acquires the latest management information. At this time, in addition to the first management information which is the management information in the write-once information recording medium, the second management information which is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association is combined, and For the recordable information recording medium in which the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area, the management information acquisition control unit When the latest first management information is acquired from the temporary management information area and at least the acquisition of the first management information fails, the management information of the write-once information recording medium is recorded as the second management information. The latest second management information is acquired from the temporary management information area of the write-once recording medium.

  Further, in the information reproducing method or the information reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment, at least the second information is based on the information recorded in the disc definition structure that can be identified as the first management information or the second management information. Management information may be acquired.

  Note that the fact that a plurality of write-once information recording media are used in association with each other may mean that the write-once information recording medium constitutes a disk array (RAID). In this case, the write-once information recording medium is one write-once information recording medium constituting a disk array (RAID), and another write-once information recording medium used in association with the write-once information recording medium. Is another write-once information recording medium constituting a disk array (RAID).

  With the above information recording medium, information recording method, and information recording apparatus, it is possible to perform redundant recording with higher reliability as compared with the case of multiple recording on the same optical disk. In other words, it is possible to reduce the risk that the optical disc falls into a record impossible state due to failure in obtaining the latest management information. It is also possible to provide an array system having high redundancy and reliability not only for the user data area but also for the management information area.

  Further, with the above information reproducing method and information reproducing apparatus, it is possible to reduce the risk of management information acquisition failure (the occurrence of data corruption during reproduction or the risk of falling into a non-reproducible state in the worst case).

  As described above, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, the latest management information necessary for recording / reproducing of the write-once information recording medium can be redundantly recorded with higher reliability. In other words, even when acquisition of the latest management information fails, it is possible to acquire other management information that has been multiplexed and recorded, so that recording and reproduction can be continuously performed on the write-once information recording medium. I can do it. As a result, even when an information recording medium in use is damaged by a later defect (such as a fingerprint, dust, or scratch), the possibility that the information recording medium can be reliably and immediately recorded and reproduced can be increased. I can do it.

  In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, a write-once type optical disk has been described as an example. However, this method can be applied to a storage other than the optical disk. More specifically, the present invention is applicable to a storage in which recording / reproduction is performed based on management information and information is additionally recorded or additionally recorded. For example, information is additionally recorded (or additionally recorded). The same effect can be obtained even if it is applied to an HDD or the like.

  While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other variations, modifications, and other uses are encompassed by the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein, but only by the claims.

  According to the present invention, by redundantly recording management information necessary for recording and reproduction, it is possible to increase the redundancy of management information and to increase the possibility of correctly reproducing the latest management information. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an enterprise storage apparatus such as a file server or a data archive server using an optical disk.

1 optical disc 2 track 3 block 4 lead-in area 5 data area 6 lead-out area 10, 11, 12, 13 DMA
14 User data area 15, 16 Spare area (ISA, OSA)
20 DDS
21 DFL
30 TDDS
31 TDFL
32 SRRI
40 DDS header 41 Logical sector number 0 position 42 Last logical sector number 43 ISA size 44 OSA size 45 SRRI head position 46 TDFL head position 47 Recording device related information 48 DDS identifier 49 DDS update count 50 DFL header 51 DFL entry 52 DFL terminator 53 DFL identifier 54 First DFL update count 55 Replacement source position 56 Replacement destination position 57 DFL terminator identifier 58 Second DFL update count 59 DFL entry count 60 SRRI header 61 SRR entry 62 SRRI terminator 63 SRRI identifier 64 First SRRI update count 65 SRR start position 66 SRR last recording position 67 SRRI terminator identifier 68 Second SRRI update count 69 Number of SRR entries 70 TDMA recording start position 71 DDS acquisition flag 72 SRRI acquisition flag 73 TDFL acquisition flag 74 latest update count 75 SRRI recording position 76 TDFL recording position 80 management information acquisition flag 81 management information element recording position 82 management information element update request flag 83 management information save area 90 head of related SRRI Position 91 Related TDFL head position 100 Optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 110 Command processing unit 120 Optical pickup 130 Laser control unit 140 Mechanical control unit 150 Memory 160 Management information storage memory 170 Drive control unit 171 Recording unit 172 Reproduction unit 173 Access position management unit 174 Management Information update unit 175 Management information generation unit 180 IO bus 200 Optical disk array system 210 Controller 211 RAID control unit 212 Management information recording control unit 213 Management information update Part 214 management information IO controller 215 management information acquisition control unit 220 memory 230 an optical disk drive

Claims (15)

A write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in block units that are error correction units,
A plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
In the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium,
The first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium is combined with the second management information that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the write-once information recording medium, and The write-once information recording medium, wherein the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at an end position of a recorded area in the temporary management information area. The management information includes record management information for managing a recording state in the data area,
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
The write-once information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the disc definition structure is recorded in a form including information capable of identifying the first management information or the second management information. An information recording method for a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in block units that are error correction units,
A plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The information recording method includes:
In the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium, the first management information as the management information in the write-once information recording medium and the at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the temporary management information area An information recording method, wherein the first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area in combination with the second management information which is management information. The management information includes record management information for managing a recording state in the data area,
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
4. The information recording method according to claim 3, wherein the disc definition structure is recorded in a form including information capable of identifying the first management information or the second management information. An information reproducing method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in units of blocks that are units of error correction,
A plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
In the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium,
In addition to the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium, the second management information that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium that is used in association is combined, and The first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area,
In the information reproduction method, when acquiring the latest management information,
(A) A step of acquiring the latest first management information from the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium (b) At least when the acquisition of the first management information fails in the step (a) And obtaining the latest second management information from the temporary management information area of another write-once recording medium in which the management information of the write-once information recording medium is recorded as the second management information. An information reproducing method comprising the steps of: The management information includes record management information for managing a recording state in the data area,
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
At least the step (b)
Obtaining the second management information based on information recorded in the disk definition structure that can identify the first management information or the second management information;
The information reproduction method according to claim 5. An information recording apparatus for a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in block units that are error correction units,
A plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The information recording device includes:
In the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium, the first management information as the management information in the write-once information recording medium and the at least one other write-once information recording medium used in association with the temporary management information area A management information recording control unit that records the first management information so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area in combination with the second management information that is management information. Information recording device. The management information includes record management information for managing a recording state in the data area,
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
The information recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the management information recording control unit records the disc definition structure in a form including information capable of identifying the first management information or the second management information. An information reproducing apparatus that reads information from a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are units of error correction,
A plurality of the write-once information recording media are used in association with each other,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
In the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium,
In addition to the first management information that is the management information in the write-once information recording medium, the second management information that is the management information in at least one other write-once information recording medium that is used in association is combined, and The first management information is recorded so as to be arranged at the end position of the recorded area in the temporary management information area,
The information reproducing apparatus includes a management information acquisition control unit that acquires the latest management information,
The management information acquisition control unit
The management information of the write-once information recording medium when the latest management information is acquired from the temporary management information area in the write-once information recording medium and at least the acquisition of the first management information fails. The information reproducing apparatus is characterized in that the latest second management information is acquired from the temporary management information area of the other write-once recording medium recorded as the second management information. The management information includes record management information for managing a recording state in the data area,
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
The management information acquisition control unit
Obtaining at least the second management information based on information recorded in the disk definition structure that can identify whether the first management information or the second management information is used;
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 9. A write-once information recording medium that records and reproduces in block units that are error correction units,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The management information includes record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area;
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added a plurality of times,
The additional information is characterized in that the position information included in the disc definition structure included in each of the management information recorded a plurality of times indicates the block in which the recording management information is recorded in each of the management information. Type information recording medium. An information recording method for recording information on a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in block units that are error correction units,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The management information includes record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area;
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
The information recording method includes:
In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added several times,
The location information included in the disc definition structure included in each of the management information recorded a plurality of times indicates the block in which the recording management information is recorded in each of the management information. Recording method. An information reproduction method for reading information from a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are error correction units,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The management information includes record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area;
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added a plurality of times,
In the information reproduction method, when acquiring the latest management information,
(A) acquiring the management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area; (b) recording the plurality of times when acquisition of the management information fails at least in step (a); An information reproducing method comprising the step of: acquiring the other management information different from the management information arranged at the recorded end position among the management information that has been recorded. An information recording apparatus for recording information on a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in block units that are error correction units,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The management information includes record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area;
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
The information recording apparatus includes a management information recording unit that records management information,
The management information recording unit
In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added several times,
The location information included in the disc definition structure included in each of the management information added a plurality of times indicates the block in which the recording management information is recorded in the management information. Recording device. An information reproducing apparatus that reads information from a write-once information recording medium that performs recording and reproduction in units of blocks that are error correction units,
The write-once information recording medium is
A data area for recording user data;
A temporary management information area for transiently recording management information related to the information recording medium,
The management information includes record management information including information for managing a recording state in the data area;
Including a disc definition structure comprising layout information on the write-once information recording medium and position information on the recording management information,
In the temporary management area, the management information including the recording management information having the same content as the information for managing the recording state in the data area is continuously added a plurality of times,
The information reproducing apparatus includes a management information reproducing unit that acquires the management information,
The management information reproducing unit
The management information arranged at the recorded end position of the temporary management information area is acquired, and at least when the management information arranged at the recorded end position fails to be recorded, the information is recorded a plurality of times. An information reproducing apparatus, wherein the management information other than the management information arranged at the recorded end position is acquired from the management information.

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