KR20050027824A - Method and apparatus for using spare area and disc thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for using a spare area, a device therefor, and a disk therefor are provided to adaptively assign a spare area when a disk defect is generated, and to record data in the spare area in a direction opposite to a recording direction of a user data area, thereby more effectively using the data area while increasing the usage efficiency of a recording space. User data is recorded in a user data area in predetermined recording direction. Predetermined data is recorded in a spare area in a direction opposite to a recording direction of the user data area. When the predetermined data is recorded in the spare area, data recorded in a defect area is recorded in the spare area so as to generate an alternative area in the spare area, and wherein the alternative area replaces the defect area created in the user data area.

Description

Method and apparatus for using spare area and disc

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spare area of a disc, and more particularly, to a method of using the spare area in a multilayer small disc, an apparatus thereof, and a disc thereof.

The spare area is an area allocated to the data area of the disc. By assigning a spare area, the data area is logically divided into a user data area and a spare area. The spare area is a free space prepared in case a defect occurs in the data area. When a defect occurs in the user data recorded in the user data area, a spare area, which is a free space for rewriting the user data recorded in the defective portion, can be secured to ensure a predetermined recording capacity for the disc. Will be.

In general, the proportion of the spare area in the data area is appropriately determined in consideration of the defect occurrence rate of the disk, the characteristics of the data to be recorded, the size of the data area, and the like. However, there may be a case where the defect of the disc occurs less than expected and at least part of the spare area is left unused. In the case where the spare area is excessively allocated, it is difficult to use the data area efficiently.

In particular, there are many restrictions on the allocation of spare areas in small disks. Because there is a shortage of recording space, it is difficult to allocate a spare area sufficiently to secure as many user data areas as possible. Therefore, a method that can use the spare area more efficiently is desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of using a spare area, an apparatus thereof, and a disk thereof so as to further increase the use efficiency of the data area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spare area usage method, an apparatus, and a disc, which can manage defects on a disc and enable more efficient use of a data area.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method, apparatus and disk for using the spare area more particularly, especially for small disks.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of using a spare area, comprising: (a) recording user data in a user data area according to a predetermined recording direction; And (b) recording predetermined data in the spare area in a direction opposite to the recording direction in the user data area.

Preferably, the step (b) is to record data recorded in the defective area in the spare area in order to generate a spare area in the spare area that replaces the defective area generated in the user data area.

In addition, the above object is a method of using a spare area, comprising: (a) arranging at the end of a recording path such that one boundary of the spare area is adjacent to the lead-out area; (b) recording user data in a user data area according to a predetermined recording direction; (b) reassigning the spare area by changing another boundary of the spare area based on a defect occurrence rate of recorded user data; And (c) recording the position information of the changed spare area on the disk.

The step (c) preferably includes recording the position information in the defect management area.

In addition, the above object is a method of using a spare area, the method comprising the steps of: (a) verifying the user data recorded in the user data area in a predetermined recording direction to find an area where a defect has occurred; (b) recording the data recorded in the defective area in the spare area opposite to the recording direction of the user data area to generate a replacement area; And (c) recording the positional information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area on the disc.

The step (c) preferably includes recording position information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area in the defect management area of the disc.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, the above object is a recording / reading unit for recording data on the disk or reading the recorded data; And control the recording / reading section to record user data in a user data area of the disc according to a predetermined recording direction, and write predetermined data in a spare area of the disc in a direction opposite to the recording direction of the user data area. It is also achieved by an apparatus comprising a control unit.

The control unit controls the recording / reading unit to record data recorded in the defective area in the spare area so as to generate a replacement area in the spare area that replaces the defective area generated in the user data area. desirable.

In addition, the above object includes a recording / reading section for recording data on a disk or reading recorded data; And controlling the recording / reading unit to arrange at the end of the recording path so that one boundary of the spare area is adjacent to the lead-out area, recording the user data in the user data area according to a predetermined recording direction, and recording the recorded user. And a control unit for reassigning the spare area by changing the other boundary of the spare area based on a defect occurrence rate of data, and recording the position information of the changed spare area on a disc. .

The control unit preferably records the position information in the defect management area of the disc.

In addition, the above object includes a recording / reading section for recording data on a disk or reading recorded data; And controlling the recording / reading unit, verifying user data recorded in a predetermined recording direction in a user data area to find a region where a defect has occurred, and writing the data recorded in the region where the defect has occurred to the spare area. It is also achieved by an apparatus characterized by including a control section for recording in the opposite direction of the recording direction to the area to generate a replacement area, and for recording position information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area on a disc.

The control unit preferably controls the recording / reading unit to record the positional information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area in the defect management area of the disc.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, the object is a disk provided with at least one recording layer in which a lead-in area, a data area and a lead-out area are arranged, wherein the recording layer is user data provided in the data area. domain; And a spare area adjacent to the lead-in area or the lead-out area and disposed at an end portion of the recording path, in which data is recorded in a direction opposite to the recording path. Is also achieved.

The disc further includes a defect management area provided in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area, wherein the spare area includes a replacement area in which data recorded in the defect area generated in the user data area is recorded. The location information of the replacement area corresponding to the defect area is preferably recorded in the defect management area.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a write / read unit 1, a control unit 2, and a memory unit 3. The recording / reading section 1 records data on the disk 100, which is an information storage medium according to the present embodiment, or reads data in order to verify the recorded data.

The control unit 2 performs defect management. At this time, a spare area is used according to the present invention. Meaning of using a spare area includes 1) variably allocating a spare area, or 2) recording predetermined data in the allocated spare area. As an example of variably allocating the spare area, in the present embodiment, the controller 2 increases the spare area when the defect occurrence rate is higher than a predetermined threshold and decreases the spare area when the defect occurrence rate is lower than the predetermined threshold. Information about the adjusted spare area is recorded on the disc 100. The threshold value can be determined in various ways. In practice, the threshold value is actually determined by experimenting with defect occurrence. For example, the size of the spare area may be adjusted by referring to a mapping table in which the defect occurrence rate and the size of the spare area or the defect occurrence rate and the location of the spare area are mapped. In addition, data is recorded in the allocated spare area in a manner according to the present invention, as will be described later.

 In the present embodiment, the control unit 2 records the user data in a predetermined recording unit according to the "verify after write method" in which the defect is generated by recording the data in a predetermined unit and then verifying the recorded data. Then verify the defect area by verification. The control unit 2 rewrites the data recorded in the defect area found as a result of the inspection into the spare area, and then generates defect information indicating where the defect area and the replacement area are. The control unit 2 stores the generated defect information in the memory unit 3, collects a predetermined amount, and records the defect information on the disc 100 as defect information. In addition, when reassigning a spare area, the control unit 2 records the position information of the changed spare area on the disc 100.

However, in the present embodiment, the spare area is used for defect management, but, for example, it is used as a space for recording the overflowed data because it is insufficient to record all the data corresponding to the predetermined area provided in advance or predetermined in the disc 100. Of course, the data recorded in another area of the disk 100 may be rewritten to increase the robustness of the information or may be used for other purposes.

2A and 2B show the structure of a disk 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a structure in which the disc 100 is a single recording layer disc having one recording layer L0, and the lead-in area, user data area, spare area and lead-out area are sequentially arranged from the inner circumference side. have. By assigning a spare area to the data area, the data area is divided into a user data area and a spare area. The user data area is an area in which user data is recorded. The spare area is an area for supplementing the loss of the recording space due to a defect in the user data area, and is preferably set to ensure the maximum data capacity that can be recorded while allowing a defect on the disc.

As mentioned above, spare areas are variably allocated in accordance with the present invention. Further, data is recorded in the spare area in the direction opposite to that of the user data area. In other words, in the present embodiment, data is recorded from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side in the user data area, and data is recorded from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side in the spare area.

FIG. 2B is the same as that of FIG. 2A except that the data recording directions are opposite to each other. Therefore, the lead-out area is arranged on the inner circumferential side and the lead-in area is arranged on the outer circumferential side. Similarly, data is recorded in the spare area in a direction opposite to that of the user data area. In other words, in the present embodiment, data is recorded from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side in the user data area, and data is recorded from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side in the spare area.

3A, 3B and 3C show the structure of a disc 100 according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the disk 100 is a structure in the case of a dual recording layer disk having two recording layers L0 and L1, and the recording layer L0 has a lead-in area, a user data area, a spare area and a lead-out. Areas are sequentially arranged from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side of the disc 100, and in the recording layer L1, the lead-in area, the spare area, the user data area, and the lead-out area are sequentially arranged from the outer circumferential side of the disc 100 to the inner circumferential side. It is arranged. By assigning a spare area to the data area, the data area is divided into a user data area and a spare area.

The recording path for recording data is from the lead-in area of the recording layer L0 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L0, and then from the lead-in area of the recording layer L1 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L1 (Opposite Track). Path).

The spare area is disposed in the recording layers L0 and L1 in such a manner that the size of the spare area arranged at the end in the recording direction can be changed while recording data according to the OTP method. According to the present invention, data is recorded in the spare area in the direction opposite to the user data area.

Referring to FIG. 3B, as in FIG. 3A, the disk 100 is a dual recording layer disk having two recording layers L0 and L1, but the recording layer L0 has a lead-in area, a user data area, a spare area and a lead-out. Areas are sequentially arranged from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side of the disc 100, and in the recording layer L1, the lead-in area, the spare area, the user data area, and the lead-out area are sequentially arranged from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side of the disc 100. It is arranged. As in FIG. 3A, the recording path for recording data is from the lead-in area of the recording layer L0 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L0, and then from the lead-in area of the recording layer L1 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L1. This is the Opposite Track Path (OTP).

The spare area is arranged in a structure capable of changing the size of the spare area disposed at the end portion based on the recording direction while recording data in the recording layers L0 and L1 according to the OTP method, respectively. According to the present invention, data is recorded in the spare area in the direction opposite to the user data area.

Although FIG. 3C has the same structure as that of FIG. 3A, the recording path is different. That is, the recording path for recording data is PTP (from the lead-in area of the recording layer L0 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L0, and then from the lead-in area of the recording layer L1 to the lead-out area of the recording layer L1 ( Parallel Track Path).

The spare area is arranged in a structure capable of changing the size of the spare area disposed at the end portion based on the recording direction while recording data in the recording layers L0 and L1 according to the PTP method. According to the present invention, data is recorded in the spare area in the direction opposite to the user data area.

4A and 4B show the structure of a disk 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the disc 100 is a multiple recording layer disc having recording layers L0, L1, L2, and L3, wherein the recording layers L0, L1, L2, and L3 have lead-in areas, user data areas, and spares, respectively. The areas and lead-out areas are arranged in the same order as the recording paths in which data is recorded in the user data area. In other words, in this embodiment, the recording path is OTP whose recording direction is changed for each recording layer. However, in the spare areas provided in the recording layers L0, L1, L2, and L3, data is recorded in a direction opposite to the direction in which data is recorded in the corresponding user data area.

Referring to FIG. 4B, similarly to that of FIG. 4A, multiple recording layer discs having recording layers L0, L1, L2, and L3, but recording paths are different. That is, in this embodiment, the recording path is PTP in which the recording directions of the respective recording layers are the same. However, in the spare areas provided in the recording layers L0, L1, L2, and L3, data is recorded in a direction opposite to the direction in which data is recorded in the corresponding user data area.

According to the present invention, by recording in the spare area in a direction opposite to that of the user data area, the remaining space of the user data area and the remaining space of the spare area are not present separately but connected to each other, thereby providing a wider remaining space. It becomes possible to have, and the utilization of recording space becomes high. In addition, even if the spare area is variably allocated, one boundary of the spare area does not change because it is adjacent to the lead-in area or the lead-out area, and only the remaining boundary needs to be changed. Therefore, it is necessary to widen or narrow the spare area. It is easy. In the case of narrowing the spare area, the remaining space is connected to the user data area so that it is easy to be incorporated into the user data area, which is good in terms of use efficiency of the recording space.

In particular, in the case of a small disk and a small disk mounted in a mobile device, the use efficiency of the recording space is the biggest issue, so the method of using a spare area according to the present invention, that is, 1) variably allocates a spare area 2) In recording data in the allocated spare area, recording efficiency can be remarkably improved by recording in the opposite direction to the direction in which data is recorded in the user data area.

In addition, even if there are multiple recording layers, if the defect management area is placed in only one of the recording layers to perform defect management for all recording layers, as soon as the disc is inserted into the drive at initialization, the drive is automatically deleted. Even if only the prepared recording layer is accessed, defect information on all recording layers can be immediately known, so that efficient defect management can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the lead-in area and / or lead-out area of the disc 100 described with reference to FIGS. 2A-4B.

Referring to Fig. 5, the lead-in area and / or the lead-out area are divided into a read-only area in which predetermined data is pre-recorded and a recordable area in which data can be recorded. Disc information is recorded in the reproduction-only area during disc mastering in the form of pits or high frequency wobble. Disc information recorded in the read only area includes fixed constant information that should be known for recording or reproducing data on the disc, such as disc diameter, reflectance, recording layer structure, version information, writing strategy, and the like. Data recorded in the reproduction-only area can be reproduced only.

In the recordable area, a defect management area DMA (Control Management Area), a control data area, an OPC (Optimum Power Control) test zone and a buffer area are provided. The defect management area will be described later. In the control data area, variable information, such as drive and disc information, to be recorded on the disc or to reproduce the data is recorded. The drive information includes, for example, manufacturer information, manufacturer related information, a manufacturing number, a serial number of the drive, and the like, and the disk information includes, for example, an address of an area in which new OPC data is recorded, and final drive information. The address of the area, the address of the area in which the end user data is recorded, and the like are recorded. The OPC test zone is an area reserved for testing the power of the laser beam for optimal power control. The buffer area is provided for the boundary with the data area in which user data is recorded.

A defect management area is provided in at least one recordable area of the lead-in area and the lead-out area of the disc 100 according to the present invention. In general, the defect management area records information that affects the entire disk, such as whether the defect is managed, the structure of the disk for managing the defect, the location of the defective area, the location of the replacement area, the location and size of the spare area, and the like. As the recording method of the information, an overwriting method for a rewritable disc and a recording method for newly changing the changed information following the previously recorded information are applied if the corresponding information is changed once for the recording disc.

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram for describing a method of using a spare area in the case of the disk 100 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus of FIG. 1 records data from the lead-in area side to the lead-out area side in recording data in the user data area of the disc 100. If a defect is found during recording or reproduction, the data recorded in the defect area is recorded again in the spare area and replaced, and the positional information about the defect area and the replacement area is recorded in the defect management area. However, in recording data in the spare area according to the present invention, the recording direction is recorded opposite to that of the user data area. The thick arrows indicate the direction in which data is recorded in the user data area. The thin arrow indicates the direction in which data is recorded in the spare area.

In addition, the apparatus of FIG. 1 reassigns the spare area wider or narrower if the defect incidence rate is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold, and the position-information of the changed spare area is read-in area and / or lead. Write-out in the defect management area of the out area.

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram for describing a method of using a spare area in the case of the disk 100 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the case of the disc 100 having a double recording layer and having an OTP, the apparatus of FIG. 1 records according to the above-described recording path in recording data in the user data area of the disc 100. . If a defect is found during recording or reproduction, the data recorded in the defect area is recorded again in the spare area and replaced, and the positional information about the defect area and the replacement area is recorded in the defect management area. However, in recording data in the spare area according to the present invention, the recording direction is recorded opposite to that of the user data area. The thick arrows indicate the direction in which data is recorded in the user data area. The thin arrow indicates the direction in which data is recorded in the spare area.

Similarly, the apparatus of FIG. 1 reassigns the spare area wider or narrower if the defect incidence rate is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold, and provides the lead-in area and / or lead location information of the changed spare area. Write-out in the defect management area of the out area.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram for describing a method of using a spare area in the case of the disk 100 as shown in FIG. 3C.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the case of the disc 100 having a double recording layer and having a PTP, the apparatus of FIG. 1 records according to the above-described recording path in recording data in the user data area of the disc 100. . If a defect is found during recording or reproduction, the data recorded in the defect area is recorded again in the spare area and replaced, and the positional information about the defect area and the replacement area is recorded in the defect management area. However, in recording data in the spare area according to the present invention, the recording direction is recorded opposite to that of the user data area. The thick arrows indicate the direction in which data is recorded in the user data area. The thin arrow indicates the direction in which data is recorded in the spare area.

Similarly, the apparatus of FIG. 1 reassigns the spare area wider or narrower if the defect incidence rate is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold, and provides the lead-in area and / or lead location information of the changed spare area. Write-out in the defect management area of the out area.

Similarly, in the case of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the spare area is used in the same manner as in the case of FIGS. 7 and 8.

The above-mentioned method of using the spare area is less than 46mm in diameter that can fit into a PCMCIA card to be mounted on a small disk, such as a portable mobile device, which is expected to increase in the future, and has a capacity of up to 4.7GB similar to that of a conventional DVD. The effect is remarkable when applied to small discs. When aiming at such a capacity, the above-described disk structure can be implemented for a small disk having a diameter of 46 mm with the following specifications.

Mark length: 0.119um

Modulation code: Run Length Limited (RLL) (1-7)

Size of Error Correction Code (ECC) blocks: 32 KB (77% efficiency) for lead-in and lead-out areas, 64 KB (82% efficiency) for data areas

Track pitch: 0.32um

Accessible area of the pickup: Radius 8 mm

As described above, according to the present invention, the data area can be used more efficiently by allocating a spare area adaptively to the occurrence of a defect in the disk. Further, in recording data in the spare area, the direction thereof is reversed from the recording direction for the user data area, thereby increasing the use efficiency of the recording space.

In particular, in the case of a small disk mounted in a mobile device, it is an important problem to increase the use efficiency of the recording space, and therefore the effect is remarkable when the method for using the spare area according to the present invention is applied.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2a and 2b is a structural diagram of a disk 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3a, 3b and 3c is a structural diagram of a disk 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention,

4a and 4b is a structural diagram of a disk 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention,

5 illustrates an embodiment of a lead-in area and / or a lead-out area of the disc 100 described with reference to FIGS. 2A through 4B.

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram for describing a method of using a spare area in the case of the disc 100 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of using a spare area in the case of the disc 100 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram for describing a method of using a spare area in the case of the disk 100 as shown in FIG. 3C.

Claims (14)

In the method using a spare area, (a) recording user data in a user data area according to a predetermined recording direction; And (b) recording predetermined data in the spare area in a direction opposite to the recording direction in the user data area. The method of claim 1, Step (b) is And recording data recorded in the defective area in the spare area to generate a replacement area in the spare area that replaces the defective area generated in the user data area. In the method using a spare area, (a) disposing at the end of the recording path such that one boundary of the spare area is adjacent to the lead-out area; (b) recording user data in a user data area according to a predetermined recording direction; (b) reassigning the spare area by changing another boundary of the spare area based on a defect occurrence rate of recorded user data; And and (c) recording the position information of the changed spare area on a disk. The method of claim 3, Step (c) is Recording the location information in a defect management area. In the method using a spare area, (a) verifying user data recorded in a predetermined recording direction in the user data area to find a region where a defect has occurred; (b) recording the data recorded in the defective area in the spare area opposite to the recording direction of the user data area to generate a replacement area; And (c) recording positional information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area on a disc. The method of claim 5, Step (c) is Recording position information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area in a defect management area of the disc. A recording / reading section for recording data on the disk or reading the recorded data; And Controlling the recording / reading unit to record user data in a user data area of the disc according to a predetermined recording direction, and to record predetermined data in a spare area of the disc in a direction opposite to the recording direction of the user data area. Apparatus comprising a control unit. The method of claim 7, wherein The control unit And control the recording / reading unit to record data recorded in the defective area in the spare area so as to generate a replacement area in the spare area that replaces the defective area generated in the user data area. Device. A recording / reading section for recording data on the disk or reading the recorded data; And The recording / reading unit is controlled to arrange at the end of the recording path so that one boundary of the spare area is adjacent to the lead-out area, record user data according to a predetermined recording direction in the user data area, and record the recorded user data. And a control unit for reassigning the spare area by changing other boundaries of the spare area based on a defect occurrence rate of and rewriting the changed spare area on the disc. The method of claim 9, The control unit And record the position information in a defect management area of the disc. A recording / reading section for recording data on the disk or reading the recorded data; And The recording / reading unit is controlled to verify user data recorded in the user data area in a predetermined recording direction to find an area where a defect has occurred, and store data recorded in the area where the defect has occurred in the spare area. And a controller for recording the recording area in opposite directions to the recording direction, and for recording position information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area on a disc. The method of claim 11, The control unit And the recording / reading unit controls to record the positional information of the replacement area corresponding to the defective area in the defect management area of the disc. A disc provided with at least one recording layer in which a lead-in area, a data area and a lead-out area are disposed, The recording layer A user data area provided in the data area; And a spare area adjacent to the lead-in area or the lead-out area and disposed at an end portion of a recording path, in which data is recorded in a direction opposite to the recording path. The method of claim 13, And a defect management area provided in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area. In the spare area, a replacement area in which data recorded in a defect area generated in the user data area is recorded is generated, And the position information of the replacement area corresponding to the defect area is recorded in the defect management area.