JPS632173A - Information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a user to revise/add a data partly to an R/O disk formed duplicatedly by providing sector address information and a sector identification flag to a sector identification section. CONSTITUTION:Based on the sector identification flag of an object sector detected by a sector identification flag detection means 101, in case of a reproduction exclusive/recording enable area mixing type sector 109, a control means 103 applies the recovery of a recovery exclusive data part in the sector or the recovery and analysis of a recording enable data part in the sector, and in case of a recording enable area sector 110, the control means 103 applies the recovery and analysis of the recording enable data part in the sector. In the operation of the control means 103 at recording, in case of the recovery exclusive/recording enable area mixing type sector 109, the control means 103 applies the recording to the recording enable data part in the sector and in case of the recording enable area single type sector 110, the control means 103 applies the recording to the recording enable data part in the sector. Thus, the data is recorded in the disk having the recovery exclusive data generated by the manufacturer in advance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an information recording medium having a track structure in which a storage area for recording and reproducing data is composed of a plurality of sectors.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional information recording media include read-only recording media and recordable and reproducible recording media.

The former type of read-only information recording medium is a read-only optical disk (hereinafter referred to as R10 disk) in which data is recorded in the form of uneven pits on a disk-shaped plastic base material, and the data is reproduced using a laser beam. Do it by irradiating it. It is impossible to record on this read-only information recording medium when the user uses it, and it is necessary to record in advance by another means. R1
0 disks are widely used as disks for storing word processor dictionaries and font patterns, or for storing programs and manuals because of their large capacity, random access properties, ease of mass duplication, and low cost. has been devised.

On the other hand, the latter recording/reproducing type information recording medium is a recordable original disk (hereinafter referred to as a W-enabled disk), and recording and reproduction thereof is performed by irradiating laser light. Similar to R10 disks, W-enabled disks have large capacity and random access properties, and can record data that is not possible on R10 disks, so they can be used as auxiliary storage for computers just like hard disks and floppy disks. is being considered for use.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, since the above-mentioned R10 disk is for reproduction only and is manufactured in a dedicated factory, it is difficult to change various data supplied with the R10 disk.

It is not possible for the user to make additions. In addition, the data used by the computer changes frequently, and it is a burden for the user to purchase an R10 disk each time.Furthermore, the R10 disk supplier must also
0 disk must be created. Therefore, R
Since the 10 disk can only handle fixed and constant data, it has the problem of being particularly limited in its use in computers.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned W-enabled disc does not have the problem of not being able to record like the above-mentioned R10 disc, but it does have the problem that it takes a lot of time to copy a large number of recording media with the same content. was.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium having a structure that allows a user to partially change or add data to a duplicated R/○ disc.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention includes a read-only/recordable area mixed type sector having a sector identification part, a read-only data part, and a recordable data part, and a sector identification part and a recordable data part. A storage medium consisting of a single recordable area sector, or a storage medium consisting only of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector, wherein the sector identification section includes sector address information and the read-only/recordable area mixed sector. The information recording medium has a sector identification flag for identifying whether the sector is a recordable area single type sector.

Effect: By having the above-described structure, the present invention determines, based on the sector identification flag of the sector identification section, that if the sector type is a read-only/recordable area mixed type sector, the sector having the specified address is read-only. An information recording/reproducing device that reproduces a data portion and records/reproduces a recordable data portion, and in the case of a single recordable area type sector, records/reproduces a recordable data portion of a sector having a designated address. Using this, some users can change or add data to the duplicated R10 disk.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a source disk according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure a is a plan view of the original disk, Figure 1 is a partial enlarged view of sector 81 of the optical disk, Figure 1 C is a partial enlarged view of sector 811 of the optical disk, Figure 1 d is Figure 1, a. A of
Figure 1e is a cross-sectional view taken along line c-c' in Figure 1a. In FIG. 1, 20 is an optical disk, 21 is a center hole for attaching the original disk to the disk motor, 32. ..., Sn, 3
11゜S 12,---..., S1n is sector, ID1, ID2゜---..., IDn, ID1
1, ID12,------.

ID1n are sectors 31, 32 . .......

Sn, 811.312. ...-, a sector identification section in which S1n address information and a sector identification flag are recorded, 22 is a reproduction-only data section, 23 is a recordable data section,
24 is a disc base material such as polycarbonate resin, 26
are tracks formed in a groove shape on the disk base material 24, 25&
is a reproduction-only data area, 26b is a recordable data area,
26 is a photosensitive recording member into which signals are written with laser light, and 27 is a protective layer for protecting the photosensitive recording member 26. Sectors 31, 32.・Sn is the read-only/recordable area mixed sector, sector S11°S
12. . . . S1n is a single recordable area sector. Here, the read-only/recordable area mixed type sector and the recordable area single type sector do not need to be adjacent to each other, nor do they need to be on the same track.

The original disk 2o has a groove-shaped track 25 divided into a plurality of sectors S, each of which is composed of a sector identification section ID consisting of address information and a sector identification flag, a data section consisting of a read-only data section 22, and a recordable data section 23. is formed on a disc base material 24, and a photosensitive recording member 26 is uniformly deposited over the entire surface of the optical disc.

In the read-only data section 22 and the sector identification section ID, the photosensitive recording member 26 functions as a reflective film that reflects the weak-intensity reading laser beam.

The photosensitive recording member 26 of the recordable data section 23 is irradiated with a strong recording laser beam, and thus a signal is recorded in the form of a change in reflectance or the formation of holes. When the photosensitive recording member 26 is made of a magneto-optical material, the recorded signal can be read by inverting the magnetic domain and rotating the polarized wavefront of the reflected light due to the Faraday effect. Regarding recording, both write-once type recording and erasable type recording are possible.

As described above, according to the original disc of this embodiment, by forming the same photosensitive recording member 26 in the read-only data section 22 and the recordable data section 23, the read-only area and the recordable area are combined into one. To facilitate the manufacture of original disks having sectors within them.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the sector identification flag FL(r) of the sector identification section ID of the original disk in the embodiment. FIG. Figure 2 shows a sector format of a single recordable area sector, and Figure 2C shows a specific implementation of the address system DR, sector identification flag FLG1, and error detection code CRC of a read-only/recordable area mixed sector. For example, FIG. 2 d shows the recordable area single type sector address person DH, sector identification flag FLG2, and error detection code C.
This is a specific example of RC.

In the sector identification section ID, PR is a preamble for clock reproduction, M is an address mark indicating the start of address information, MDR is an address, and FLGl is a sector identification indicating that it is a read-only/recordable area mixed sector. Flag, FLG2 (d sector identification flag indicating that it is a recordable area single type sector, cue is an error detection code such as a cyclic code, PO is a postamble, G1, G2゜G3 absorbs rotational fluctuations of the original disk. This is an unrecorded gap in information.

In the reproduction-only data section of the reproduction-only/recordable area mixed sector, 5YNC is a clock synchronization signal, DM is a data mark indicating the start of data, DATA is data, and E
CC is an error detection and correction code.

The ADH consists of 2 bytes of track address information (track address (high byte) TA-H, track address (low byte) TA.L) and 8 sector address information.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the tracks of the original disk of the embodiment. FIG. 3 & shows a partially enlarged view of the sector identification section ID, gap 01, playback only data section, gap G2, and recordable data section of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector; FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a sector identification section ID, a gap G1, and a recordable data section of a single available area type sector.

In FIG. 3, a read-only/recordable area mixed type sector and a single recordable area type sector are both formed with a photosensitive recording member 40, and each sector identification part ID is a sector with uneven pits 41. In addition, in the read-only data section ROM of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector, data is recorded in uneven pits 41, similar to the sector identification section ID. Both the recordable data section RAM1 of the read-only/recordable area mixed type sector and the recordable data section RAM2 of the recordable area single type sector are grooves with --like depths, so that the data recorded by the user changes in density, This is recorded on the photosensitive recording member 4o as dots 42 such as magnetic domain reversal or hole formation.

In order to form the same photosensitive recording member 4o in the read-only data area ROM and the recordable data area RAM1, as in the past, a reflective layer such as aluminum is provided in the read-only data area and a photosensitive layer is provided in the recordable data area. Since there is no need to form recording members separately, the read-only data section RO
There is no need to specially provide a buffer section in which no data is recorded at the boundary between M and the recordable data section RAM1.

Regarding the optical disc of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in relation to the information recording device (FIG. 4) that performs playback and recording,
The operation will be explained below.

First, the playback means 104 selects each sector (read-only/recordable area mixed type sector 109, recordable area single type sector 11o) on the original disk (information storage medium 108).
The sector identification section is read by a laser beam, the sector identification section reproduction signal 112 is analyzed by the address reading means 100, and the reproduction address signal 113 is output to the address comparison means 102. The address comparing means 1o2 compares the target address signal 112, which is an external input, with the reproduced address signal 113, and if they match, the address matching signal 1
14 is output to the control means 103. Further, the sector identification flag detection means 101 analyzes the sector identification section reproduction signal 112, and detects the sector identification flag FLG as FLGl:1 or FLG2=O, as shown in FIG. 2 C1 and FIG. 2 d. The detection result is output to the control means 103 as a sector identification flag signal 115. The control means 103 performs recording and reproduction on the information storage medium 108 based on the address match signal 114, the sector identification flag signal 115, and the write signal 116 and read instruction signal 117, which are request instruction signals from the outside.

The operation of the control means 103 in the case of reproduction will be explained below. Based on the sector identification flag of the target sector detected by the sector identification flag detection means 101, the control means 103 determines whether the reproduction-only/recordable area mixed type sector 109 in which the FLG has a value of 1 is the reproduction-only area in the sector. Playback of data section ROM or recordable data section R in sector
AM1 is reproduced and analyzed, and if FLG is a recordable area single type sector 11o with a value of 0, the recordable data portion RAM2 in the sector is reproduced and analyzed. In the reproduction process of the target sector, the control means 103 outputs a reproduction request signal 118 requesting reproduction to the reproduction means 104. Next, the operation of the control means 103 at the time of recording is such that if the sector identification flag FLG of the target sector is a read-only/recordable area mixed sector 109 with a value of 1, - Recording to the recordable data section RAM1 in the sector is performed. and FLG has the value 0
In the case of a single recordable area sector 110 having a single recordable area, recording is performed in the recordable data portion RAM2 in the sector. In the recording process of the target sector, the control means 103 sends the recording means 1
A recording request signal 119 is output to request recording to 06.

The reproduction means 104 receives the reproduction request signal 118 from the control means 103, instructs the laser drive 106 to reproduce data, and outputs the reproduction result to the outside as a reproduction data signal 120. It also instructs the laser drive 106 to reproduce the sector identification section of each sector, and outputs a sector identification section reproduction signal 112. The recording means 105 also instructs the laser drive 106 to record a recording data signal 112, which is input data from the outside, in response to a recording request signal 119 from the control means 103. laser drive 10
6 drives the semiconductor laser 107 with a reproduction power output or a recording power output in response to data reproduction and recording instructions from the reproduction means 104 and recording means 105 described above. The read-only/recordable area mixed sector 1 of the information storage medium 108 is irradiated with laser light by this semiconductor laser 107.
Reproduction-only data section ROM and recordable data section R in 09
AM1 part and recordable area single type sector 110
The part of the recordable data section RAM2 is reproduced,
Furthermore, recording is performed in the recordable data portion RAM10 portion of the read-only/recordable area mixed type sector 109 and the recordable data portion RAM2 portion of the recordable area single type sector 110. Furthermore, the sector identification part ID of each sector is also read using the semiconductor laser 107, and the sector identification part reproduction signal 112 is output.

FIG. 5 shows the sector format of the original disk of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the sector format of the optical disc of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, particularly in the format of the recordable areas RAM1 and RAM2.

Recordable area R of read-only/recordable area mixed sector
AM1 is an alternative flavum-F as shown in Figure 5a.
It is divided into LG and alternative sector address person-person 1)R. The alternative flag A-FLG is a flag that instructs whether the own data area of the sector is used as data or an alternative sector is used as data, and the alternative sector address person-person DR
& indicates the address of a sector instead of data in the ROM area.

This alternative flag person-FLG and alternative sector address five-person DH are put together into the sector data information section 5EC.
- Call it INFO. - On the other hand, the recordable area (single sector recordable area) 11M2 uses the entire RAM area as data as shown in Figure 5b-1, or uses the entire RAM area as data as shown in Figure 6b-2. As shown in FIG.
Use separately for people. The alternative flag person-FLG has the same meaning as above.

Regarding the original disk of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 6 shows the sector format and FIG. 1 shows the overview of the optical disk), the information recording and reproducing apparatus (FIG. 6) that performs playback and recording will be described below. Description of Operation 0 Below, the operation of the control means 103 in the case of reproduction will be described. Based on the sector identification flag of the target sector detected by the sector identification flag detection means 101, the control means 103 detects the recording in the sector in the case of a read-only/recordable area mixed sector 109 whose FLG has a value of 1. Sector data information section 5XC-I consisting of an alternative flag A-FLG of the possible data section RAM1 and an alternative upper address person-person DR.
When the NFO (FIG. 5a) is reproduced and the sector data information section processing function 501 is used, if the alternative flag A-FLG indicates that the own data area of the sector is to be used as data,
If the reproduction-only data portion ROM in the sector is reproduced, and the alternative flag PER-FIG indicates that the sector is to be used as data, the alternative sector processing function 50
2 is used to perform reproduction processing of the sector pointed to by the alternative sector address A-ADH. - On the other hand, in the case of a recordable area single type sector 110 where FLG has a value of 0, the recordable data portion RAM2 in the sector is reproduced and analyzed. At this time, all of the RAM2 shown in FIG. In the case of data, the RAM 2 is reproduced and the sector data information section Sl! shown in FIG. 5 b-2 is read. :C-INF
If the data area 5EC-DATA is set to O and the data area 5EC-DATA, the sector data information section 5EC-INFO is reproduced, and the alternative flag A-FL is set using the sector data information section processing function 501.
If G indicates that the data area 5XC-DATA in the sector is to be used as data, the data in the sector 5EC
- If DATA is reproduced and the alternative flag A-FLG indicates that a sector alternative to that sector is to be used as data, the alternative sector processing function 602 is used to reproduce the sector pointed to by the alternative sector address A-ADH. Do the following.

In the reproduction processing of the target sector, the control means 103 outputs a reproduction request signal 118 requesting reproduction to the reproduction means 104, and conversely, the reproduction means 104 outputs the sector data information section 31! of the designated reproduction sector. : C-4NFO and sector data are input in the form of a reproduced sector signal 122.

Next, the operation of the control means 103 during recording is such that in the read-only/recordable area mixed type sector 109 where the sector identification flag FLG of the target sector has a value of 1, if the ROM area of the sector is to be used as data, the sector data Information department processing function 6
01 is used to set the alternative flag PERSON-FLG in the sector data information section 5EC-INFO so that the area of the own sector is set as data. In addition, when an alternative sector is used as data, the sector data information section 501 and the alternative sector processing function 502 are used.
The alternative flag FLGf in EC-INFO sets a flag so that the alternative sector is used as data, and the address of the alternative sector is entered in the alternative sector address ADH. When setting the flag and entering the address of an alternative sector, recording is performed in the recordable data portion RAM1 in the sector. In the recordable area single type sector 110 where FLG has the value 0, the RAM 2 shown in FIG. 5 1)-1
If all data is to be recorded, the data is recorded in RAM 2, and the RAM 2 shown in FIG.
In the case of TA, the data area 31G in that sector
- If DATA is used as data, use the sector data information section processing function °5o1 and sector data information section 5EC-I.
Alternative flag in NFO - FI, Gt - A flag is set so that the area of the own sector is used as data, and data is recorded. Furthermore, if an alternative sector is used as data, the sector data information processing function 501, the alternative sector processing function 502i
is used to set the alternative flag -FLG in the sector data information section 5EC-INFO so that the alternative sector is used as data, and enter the address of the alternative sector in the alternative sector address -ADH. Flag Setting 9 When entering the address and data of a sector to be substituted, recording is performed in the recordable data portion RAM2 in the sector.

In the recording process of the target sector, the alternative flags A-FI, G and alternative sector addresses A-A in the sector data information section 5EC-INFO are sent from the control means 103 to the recording means 105.
A recording request signal 119 containing DH information is output.

FIG. 7 shows the sector format of the original disk of the third embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the sector formats of the optical disc of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, especially the recordable area RAM1. The format of the RAM2 portion is mainly shown. The recordable area RAM1 of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector is composed of a valid flag V-FLG, as shown in FIG. 7a. The valid flag V-FLG is a flag that indicates whether the own data area of the sector is valid data or invalid data. - On the other hand, recordable area RA of single type sector
M2 is all RAM as shown in Figure 7 t)-1.
Use the area as data or use Figure 7 t)-2
As shown in the figure, the valid flag V-FLG and the data area S
It is used separately from E C-D ATA. The valid flag V-FLG has the same meaning as described above.

The operation of the optical disk according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (FIG. 7 shows the sector format and FIG. 1 shows the overview of the optical disk) will be described below in relation to the information recording and reproducing apparatus (FIG. 8) that performs playback and recording. 0 Below, the operation of the control means 103 in the case of reproduction will be explained. Based on the sector identification flag of the target sector detected by the sector identification flag detection means 101, the control means 103 determines whether recording is possible in the sector in the case of a read-only/recordable area mixed sector 109 where the FLG has a value of 1. If the valid flag V-FLG (1, (Fig. 7a) of the data section RAM 1 is reproduced and the valid sector processing function 701 is found to indicate that the data in that sector is valid), , the read-only data section ROM in the sector is played back, and if it is shown to be invalid, it is not played back. Recordable data section RA
Play and analyze M2. At this time, Fig. 7b-
If the RAM2t shown in 1 is all data, R
AM2 is regenerated and RAM2 shown in Figure 7 b-2 is
Enable flag '/-? LG and data area 3KG-DAT
In the case of A, using the valid sector processing function 701, if the valid flag "/-FLG" indicates that the sector is valid, data 5ICC-DAT in the sector is
If A is played and it is shown to be invalid, it is not played. In the reproduction process of the target sector, the control means 1
03 outputs a reproduction request signal 118 requesting reproduction to the reproduction means 104, and conversely, the validity or invalidity of the valid flag V-FLG of the specified reproduction sector is input from the reproduction means 104 in the form of a reproduction sector signal 122.

Next, the operation of the control means 103 during recording is such that in the read-only/recordable area mixed type sector 109 where the sector identification flag FLG of the target sector has a value of 1, when the ROM area of the sector is to be used as data, the effective sector Using the processing function 701, the valid flag V of the recordable area RAM1 in the sector is
- Flags are set for Fl and G to indicate that the area of the own sector is valid, and when the ROM area is not used as data, a flag is set to indicate that it is invalid. In the recordable area single type sector 11o where FLG has the value 0, the RAM 2 shown in FIG. 7b-1
If all of the data is to be stored as data, the data is recorded in the RAM2, and the data in the sector is recorded using the valid flag V-FLG and the data area management function 701 as shown in FIG. If area 5ICC-DATA is used as data, set the valid flag V-FLG of recordable area RAM2 in the sector to indicate that the area of the own sector is valid; if data area 31G-DATA is not used as data, it is invalid. Set a flag to indicate. In the recording process of the target sector, the control means 103 outputs to the recording means 105 a recording request signal 119 including information on a valid flag V-FLG indicating validity or invalidity.

As described above, according to this embodiment, as shown in the first embodiment, in general, read-only data (ROM
data) and recordable data (RAM data), the advantages of both ROM and RAM can be utilized. In particular, as shown in the second embodiment, RO
Since M/RAM coexist, information (alternative flag and alternative sector address) for replacing ROM data with the ROM data section of another sector or the RAM data section of another sector can be written in the same sector. and can be easily and quickly processed during playback and recording.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, in order to delete data in a sector (make it invalid data), a valid/invalid flag is provided in the RAM area of the same sector, so deletion processing is easy.

Here, the RAM area may be of write-once type or erasable type.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, data can be recorded on a disc that has playback-only data created by the manufacturer in advance, so it is possible to modify or delete the data provided by the manufacturer. It's thick.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1a, b, c, d, and e are respectively a plan view of an optical disk according to an embodiment of the present invention, a partially enlarged view (portion sl), and a partially enlarged view (portion S11). Cross-sectional view (A-A', B-B'), Cross-sectional view (c-c
'), FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the sector format of the original disk in the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the trunk of the optical disk of the first embodiment 51j, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the sector format of the optical disc of the second embodiment. FIG. A block diagram of an information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the sector format of the source disk of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing the source disk of the third embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an information recording/reproducing device. 20...Original disc, 21...Center hole, 22...Playback-only data section, 23...
...Recordable data section, 24...Disk base material, 26...Track, 258L...Reproduction-only data area, 25b...Recordable data section , 26... photosensitive recording member, 27...
...Protective layer, S1-Sn...Read-only/recordable area mixed sector, ID1-ID1n...S
Sector identification part of 1 to Sn, S11 to S1n...
Recordable area single type sector, ID11~ID1n/river/
・Sector identification part of 811 to S1n, PR... Preamble address, FLG, FLGl, FLG2, Yu... Sector identification flag, ORO... Error detection code, PO
・・・・・・Postamble, G1-G2, G
3...Gap, ROM...Reproduction-only data section, RAM1. RAM2...Recordable data section, 40...
...Photosensitive recording member, 41... Concave and convex bit, 42... Recording dot, 1oo... Address reading means, 101... Sector identification flag detection means, 1o2...address comparison means,
103...control means, 104...playback means, 106...recording means, 106...
・Laser drive, 1o7...- Semiconductor laser,
1o8... Information storage medium, 109...
Read-only/recordable area mixed sector, 110...
...Recordable area single type sector, 111...Target address signal, 112...Part reproduction signal from sector, 113...Reproduction address signal, 114.
... Address-match signal, 115 ... Sector identification flag signal, 116 ... Write signal,
117...Reading signal, 118...
Reproduction reproduction data signal, 121...Record data signal, 122...Reproduction sector signal, mu-FLG.
...Alternative flag, person-to-person DR...Alternative sector address, 31C-INFO...RAM2
Internal sector data information department, SIC = DAT person...
・Recordable data area in RAM2, 5o1...
Sector data information processing function, 502...Alternative sector processing function, v-FLG...Valid plug,
701...Valid sector processing function. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 1st
Map area − Pe Nupe Ro

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A photosensitive recording member is formed in every track, and in the track, there is a read-only/recordable area mixed sector having a sector identification part, a read-only data part, and a recordable data part, and a sector identification part. A storage medium consisting of a single recordable area sector having a recordable area and a recordable data area, or a storage medium consisting only of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector, wherein the sector identification section includes sector address information and the sector address information. An information recording medium having a sector identification flag for identifying whether the sector is a read-only/recordable area mixed type sector or a recordable area single type sector. (2) The recordable data portion of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector is divided into two parts, a sector data identification flag area and an alternative sector address area, and the read-only data portion is reproduced in the sector data identification flag area. flag information for identifying whether to perform reproduction processing again from the sector pointed to by the sector address entered in the alternative sector address area, and an address of a sector to be substituted for the reproduction-only data section in the alternative sector address area. An information recording medium according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The recordable data section of the read-only/recordable area mixed sector has a sector data identification flag for identifying whether the read-only data section is valid or invalid. Information recording medium. (4) Recordable area The recordable data portion of a single type sector is divided into three parts: a recording data area, a sector data identification flag area, and an alternative sector address area, and the data of the recording data area is stored in the sector data identification flag area. flag information for identifying whether to reproduce the data or to perform the reproduction process again from the sector pointed to by the sector address entered in the alternative sector address area, and place the address of the sector that is an alternative to the recorded data area in the alternative sector address area. The information recording medium according to claim 2, characterized in that the information recording medium has the following configuration. (5) Recordable area The recordable data portion of the single type sector is composed of a recording data area and a sector data identification flag area containing a sector data identification flag that identifies whether data in the recording data area is valid or invalid. An information recording medium according to claim 3, characterized in that: