Description INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND/OR REPRODUCING DATA Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to an information storage medium and a method and apparatus for recording andbr reproducing pointing information, and more particularly, to an information storage medium which stores changeable information among information related to the information storage medium and pointing information about the locations of the changeable information, and a method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data. Background Art
[2] General optical disks are widely used as information recording media of optical pickup apparatuses for recording/reproducing data in a non-contact way. Optical disks are classified as compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs) according to their information storage capacity. Examples of recordable optical disks include 650MB CD-R, CD-RW, 4.7GB DVD+RW, and the like. Examples of reproduction- only optical disks include 650MB CD, 4.7GB DVD-ROM, and the like. Furthermore, HD-DVDs having a recording capacity of 25GB or greater are under development.
[3] FIG. 1A illustrates a layout of a recordable information storage medium, and FIG. IB illustrates a layout of a reproduction-only information storage medium. A general information storage medium includes a lead-in zone, a data zone, and a lead-out zone. The lead-in zone stores disc-related information and the like. When disc-related information is recorded in a recordable information storage medium, it is recorded in the form of pits or wobbles. On the other hand, when disc-related information is recorded in a reproduction-only information storage medium, it is recorded in the form of pits. The general information storage medium further includes a defect management area (DMA), a buffer zone, an optimal power control (OFC) test zone, a reserved area, and the like.
[4] Examples of disk-related information include the type of a disk, the version number thereof, the size thereof, the number of information storage layers, information about a writing strategy (e.g., a recording speed, recording or reproduction power, and the like), and the like. Referring to Fig. 2, parameters related to a writing strategy include initial pulse time Ttop at the start of writing, multi-pulse time Tmp in the
middle cf writing, cooling pulse time Tel at the end cf writing, writing power Pw, erasing power Pe, bias power Pb, and the like.
[5] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3F, a conventional information storage medium stores information that varies every time part cf disk-related information is changed. F wever, some cf disk-related information examples are common to all types cf disks, and some are changeable depending on the type cf a disk. Examples cf the changeable information include the number cf recording layers, recording speed information, writing strategy information, and the like. These changeable information pieces are recorded together with common information in different areas. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[6] When an information storage medium is loaded on a drive, the drive reads out all kinds cf disk-related information, ascertains suitable conditions, and records or reproduces data in the information storage medium according to the suitable conditions. Fbwever, if the disk-related information increases, the drive requires a large amount cf time to read all cf the disk-related information. This causes a commencement cf data recording/reproduction to be delayed.
[7] The disk-related information can be recorded in many ways according to the format cf an information storage medium. For example, data may be recorded in the form cf pits in reproduction-only information storage media. In particular, data may be recorded in the form cf groove wobbles in recordable information storage media. A channel for data recorded in the form cf pits is a differential channel, and a channel for data recorded in the form cf groove wobbles is a sum channel. When the disk-related information is recorded in the form cf groove wobbles, a physical length corresponding to some bits is longer than when the disk-related information is recorded in the form cf pits. Hence, when identical information is read-out, it takes longer in the former case than in the latter case. As a result, much time is wasted before user data is actually recorded or reproduced. Technical Solution
[8] The present invention provides an information storage medium which stores changeable information among information related to the information storage medium and pointing information about the locations cf the changeable information so that the information can be effectively and rapidly accessed, and a method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data.
[9] According to an aspect cf the present invention, there is provided an information
storage medium including: a common information table which stores information common to plural types cf information storage media; at least one parameter table which stores parameter information corresponding to a recording characteristic specific to the information storage medium; and a pointer field which stores pointer information indicating a location cf the at least one parameter table.
[10] The parameter information may be at least one cf speed information, parameters related to a writing strategy, information about an information storage layer, a version number cf an information storage medium, and a writing-related parameter.
[11] A common information table and a pointer field may be allocated to each parameter table.
[12] According to another aspect cf the present invention, there is provided a method cf recording data to andbr reproducing data from an information storage medium, including: recording information common to plural types cf information storage media in a common information table; recording parameter information corresponding to a recording characteristic specific to the information storage medium, in at least one parameter table; recording pointer information indicating a location cf the at least one parameter table; reading the pointer information to locate a parameter table; and reproducing data from the information storage medium according to the read-out parameter information at the located parameter table.
[13] According to still another aspect cf the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording data onto an information storage medium, including: a writer which writes data onto the information storage medium; and a controller which controls the writer to write pointer information indicating a location cf a disk-related information area in the disk-related information area.
[14] According to still another aspect cf the present invention, there is provided a method cf recording data on an information storage medium, including: recording information common to plural types cf information storage media in a common information table; recording parameter information corresponding to a recording characteristic specific to the information storage medium, in at least one parameter table; and recording pointer information indicating a location cf the at least one parameter table.
[15] According to yet another aspect cf the present invention, there is provided method cf reproducing data from an information storage medium, including: reading the pointer information indicating a location cf an at least one parameter table, the at least one parameter table containing parameter information corresponding to a recording
characteristic specific to the information storage medium; and reproducing data from the information storage medium according to the read-out parameter information at the located parameter table.
[16] Additional andbr other aspects and advantages cf the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice cf the invention. Advantageous Effects
[17] Pointer information indicating a location cf changeable disk-related information is recorded in either a common information table included in a disk-related information area or an area separate from the common information table that is included in the disk-related information. Accordingly, even when the amount cf the changeable information increases, desired information can be reproduced.
[18] Also, a data structure cf an information storage medium according to the present embodiment is applicable to a reproduction-only disc, a rewritable disc, a write-once disc, and the like. Furthermore, the data structure cf the information storage medium according to the present invention is applicable to an information storage medium having one or more information storage layers.
[19] According to the present embodiment, since pointer information indicating a location cf changeable disk-related information is recorded in an information storage medium, a drive can reproduce desired information even when the amount cf the changeable information increases. In other words, necessary information can be read out based on the pointer information, thereby reducing the time required to perform recording/reproduction. Description of Drawings
[20] These andbr other aspects and advantages cf the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings cf which:
[21] FIG. 1A shows a layout cf a conventional recordable information storage medium;
[22] FIG. IB shows a layout cf a conventional reproduction-only information storage medium;
[23] FIG. 2 shows general recording-related parameters together with a writing pulse pattern;
[24] FIGS. 3 A through 3F show examples cf an area cf a conventional information storage medium in which disk-related information is recorded;
[25] FIG. 4 shows an information storage medium according to an embodiment cf the
present invention in which disk-related information and pointing information about the location cf the disk-related information are recorded;
[26] FIG. 5 shows a variation cf an information storage medium according to an embodiment cf the present invention;
[27] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method cf recording andbr reproducing pointing information in an information storage medium according to an embodiment cf the present invention;
[28] FIG. 7 is a block diagram cf an apparatus for recording andbr reproducing data in an information storage medium, according to an embodiment cf the present invention; and
[29] FIG. 8 is a block diagram cf a disk drive in which the apparatus cf FIG. 7 is implemented. Mode for Invention
[30] Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment cf the present invention, an example cf which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[31] Referring to FIG. 4, common disc-related information is recorded in a common information table 10 and pointer information indicating the locations cf changeable parameters is recorded in a pointer field 20, which is next to the common information table 10, so that disc-related information can be read by a drive in which an information storage medium is loaded.
[32] The changeable parameters are recorded in parameter tables 30_1, 30_2, 30_3, and 30_n, which are different from the common information table 10 and the pointer field 20.
[33] The changeable parameters may be information pieces that change with an increase cf information storage layers, diversifications cf a recording speed, and a writing strategy (WS).
[34] Examples cf the common information recorded in the common information table 10 include types cf information storage media (e.g., a reproduction-only information storage medium, a write-once information storage medium, or a rewritable information storage medium), a recording speed range, and the like. The recording speed range may be represented with a minimum recording speed and a maximum recording speed. The number cf recording speeds covered by the loaded information storage medium may be an example cf the common information.
[35] Examples cf the changeable parameters include a recording speed, the number cf information storage layers, a writing strategy, and the like. The changeable parameters may change depending on the type cf information storage medium.
[36] For example, the changeable parameters are recorded at different locations in a disk-related information area. Pointer information indicating the locations cf the changeable parameters is recorded in the pointer field 20. The pointer field 20 may be included in the common information table 10 or an area separate from the common information table 10.
[37] An example where a bit combination representing pointer information is recorded in the pointer field 20 is shown in Table 1. If information about multiple speeds cf each information storage layer is recorded as a changeable parameter, pointer information corresponding to the information about the multiple speeds cf each information storage layer is recorded in a pointer field as illustrated in Table 1.
[38] [Table 1] [39]
[40] Since pointer information indicating the locations of the parameter tables is recorded as described above, additional information can be read out by recording pointer information indicating the location of the additional information in the pointer
field 20. Hence, the compatibility of information storage media with a drive is improved.
[41] Referring to FIG. 5, an area for disk-related information includes first through n-th areas 40_1, 40_2, 40_3, ... , and 40_n, which include common information tables 10_1, 10_2, 10_3, • • • , and 10_n, respectively, pointer fields 20_1, 20_2, 20_3, and 20_n, respectively, and parameter tables 30_1, 30_2, 30_3, ... , and 30_n, respectively.
[42] Identical information common to all kinds of information storage media is recorded in the common information tables 10_1, 10_2, 10_3, • • • , and 10_n. Changeable parameters, which are changeable information, are separately recorded in the parameter tables 30_1, 30_2, 30_3, ... , and 30_n. Pointer information indicating the locations of the parameter tables 30_1, 30_2, 30_3, ... , and 30_n, where the changeable information is recorded, is commonly recorded in the pointer fields 20_1, 20_2, 20_3, ... , and 20_n.
[43] As described above, necessary common information or necessary pointer information can be read out from any cf the areas. Accordingly, changeable information can be accessed using the pointer information indicating the location cf the changeable information.
[44] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method cf recording andbr reproducing data, according to an embodiment cf the present invention.
[45] In an information storage medium according to the present invention, a disk-related information area includes a common information table, parameter tables, and a pointer field. The common information table stores disc-related information that is common to all types of information storage media. The parameter tables store parameters that change depending on the type of an information storage medium used. The pointer field stores pointer information that indicates the locations of the parameters.
[46] In a method cf recording andbr reproducing data in the information storage medium, when the information storage medium is loaded in a drive in operation SI 1, disk-related information is read out from the common information table, in operation S12. Thereafter, pointer information indicating the location of a necessary parameter is read out from the pointer field, in operation S14. Next, data is recorded or reproduced in the information storage medium according to the parameter recorded in the location indicated by the read-out pointer information, in operation S16.
[47] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an apparatus for recording andbr reproducing data in an information storage medium, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The apparatus includes a writer/reader 51 and a controller 52. The writer/reader 51 writes data in an information storage medium 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention and reads the written data. The controller 52 controls the write r/ reader 51 to write pointer information, which indicates an area where disc-related information is recorded according to the present embodiment, to the information storage medium 60 or to read the pointer information from the information storage medium 60 and access parameter information which is recorded in the area indicated by the readout pointer information. Data is recorded or reproduced in or from the information storage medium 60 according to the read-out parameter information.
[48] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a disk drive in which the apparatus cf FIG. 7 is implemented. Referring to FIG. 8, the disk drive includes a pickup 70 to serve as the writer/reader 51. The write-once recording medium 60 is installed on the pickup 70. The disk drive includes a PC I/F 71, a DSP 72, an RF AMP 73, a servo 74, and a system controller 75, all of which make up the controller 52.
[49] Upon recording, the PC I/F 71 receives a recording command together with data to be recorded, from a host (not shown). The system controller 75 performs initialization necessary for recording. In other words, the system controller 75 reads information necessary for initialization, such as, disk information stored in a lead-in area of the information storage medium 60, and prepares for recording based on the information necessary for initialization. The DSP 72 performs ECC encoding on the data received from the PC I/F 71 by adding data, such as parity to the received data, and then modulates the ECC-encoded data in a predetermined manner. The RF AMP 73 converts the data received from the DSP 72 into an RF signal. The pickup 70 records the RF signal received from the RF AMP 73 to the information storage medium 60. The servo 74 receives a command necessary for servo control from the system controller 75 and servo-controls the pickup 70. If reproduction speed information is not recorded on the information storage medium 60, the system controller 75 commands the pickup 70 to write reproduction speed information according to the present invention in a predetermined area of the information storage medium 60 at the starting point of recording, in the middle of recording, or after the completion cf recording.
[50] Upon reproduction, the PC I/F 71 receives a reproduction command from the host (not shown). The system controller 75 performs initialization necessary for reproduction. In other words, the system controller 75 reads the reproduction speed information from the information storage medium 60 and reproduces data at a re-
production speed indicated by the reproduction speed information. The pickup 70 projects a laser beam onto the information storage medium 60, receives a laser beam reflected by the information storage medium 60, and outputs an optical signal. The RF AMP 73 converts the optical signal received from the pickup 70 into an RF signal, supplies modulated data obtained from the RF signal to the DSP 72, and supplies a servo control signal obtained from the RF signal to the servo 74. The DSP 72 demodulates the modulated data and outputs data obtained through ECC error correction. The servo 74 receives the servo control signal from the RF AMP 73 and a command necessary for servo control from the system controller 75 and servo-controls the pickup 70. The PC I/F 71 sends data received from the DSP 72 to the host. [51] Although an embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.