WO2009123289A1

WO2009123289A1 - Information recording medium, information recording/reproduction device, method for controlling information recording/reproduction device, information recording program, and computer-readable recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2009123289A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/056901
Authority: WO
Inventors: 田島　秀春; 前田　茂己; 原田　康弘; 林　哲也; 淳栄藤; 山本　真樹
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2008-04-03
Filing date: 2009-04-02
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: JP5026585B2; JPWO2009123289A1

Abstract

It is possible to easily manage recording of a plurality of contents correlated to one another such as a TV serial drama, on a local medium. Provided is an information recording medium including at least a first information recording region, a second information recording region, and a third information recording region. At least Part 1 of the serial drama is recorded in advance in the first information recording region. The second information recording region can be used to record Part 2 and after of the serial drama. Recording reservation information for Part 2 and after of the serial drama is recorded in advance in the third information recording region.

Description

Information recording medium, information recording / reproducing apparatus, control method of information recording / reproducing apparatus, information recording program, and computer-readable recording medium

The present invention relates to an information recording medium for recording video and / or audio data such as a continuous television drama, an information recording / reproducing apparatus, a control method for the information recording / reproducing apparatus, an information recording program, and a computer on which the information recording program is recorded. The present invention relates to a readable recording medium.

In recent years, the recording capacity of optical information recording media such as optical discs has increased. For example, it is possible to record about 200 minutes of video and / or audio data on a single DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory). It is becoming.

For this reason, not only a single-sentence-type movie but also an optical disc on which a series of series such as a series of TV dramas of several episodes is recorded.

Recently, so-called DVD-BOXs, etc., which have recorded the series from the first episode to the final episode as a set consisting of a series of long-length continuous TV dramas recorded on several DVD-ROMs, have come to the market. .

In the future, with the advent of Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark) and the like, the recording capacity of the optical disc will increase, and it will be possible to record video and / or audio data for tens of hours on a single optical disc. it is conceivable that.

Under such circumstances, it is quite possible that a feature-length continuous TV drama recorded from the first episode to the final episode on a single optical disc is commercially available.

In addition, it has been common practice to record several songs on a single optical disc and create an original album according to the user's preference according to the user's preference. However, in the future, not only music, but also multiple movies and video and audio data of so-called series such as continuous TV dramas will be edited on a single optical disc according to user preference, or a single optical disc will be used. Thus, it is possible to make dozens of recording reservations.

Patent Document 1 describes an example of an information recording medium in which reservation information of a broadcast program broadcast during a predetermined period is recorded.

The information recording medium records in advance a reservation information of a predetermined broadcast program in a so-called lead-in area control area in a state where it cannot be overwritten (ROM). You can record a reservation just by inserting it into the.

However, the information recording medium disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

In the information recording medium disclosed in Patent Document 1, only when the reservation information of a broadcast program recorded in advance in the control area corresponds to a broadcast program broadcast in a predetermined period.

Therefore, for example, when there is a change in the broadcast time of a certain broadcast program, there is a problem that the record of the broadcast program may be leaked.

In addition, although it is stated that the reservation information may be reservation information of a program that is broadcast every day, how to manage reservation records of a plurality of broadcast programs on one information recording medium with the reservation information. No specific content about whether to do it is disclosed.

In addition, in the information recording medium disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, reservation information for the first period (from the first time to the last time of a continuous TV drama) of a series such as a continuous TV drama, and reservation information for the second period Are recorded on separate information recording media, even if the information recording medium has a recording capacity sufficient to record the first period and the second period, two information recording media There is a problem that it must be recorded separately.

Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-319244 (published on October 31, 2002)”

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and is an information recording medium that can easily manage recording of a plurality of related contents such as a continuous television drama on the own medium, and information recording / reproducing It is an object to provide an apparatus, a method for controlling an information recording / reproducing apparatus, an information recording program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

An information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, in order to solve the above-described problem. The plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area, and at least a first content is recorded in advance in the first information recording area. The second information recording area is an information recording area capable of recording related content related to the first content, and the second information recording area of the related content is recorded in the third information recording area. Recording start information for starting recording in the area is recorded in advance.

According to the above configuration, the information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated. Therefore, if information is recorded in each recording layer, the information can be read out.

Further, the plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area.

Note that “at least” indicates that there may be an information recording area other than the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area.

Regarding the allocation of the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area, in the case of an information recording medium having a single-layer recording layer, all the information recording areas are single-layered. It is assigned to the recording layer.

In the case of an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, the three information recording areas of the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area are assigned to different recording layers. It is conceivable that two information recording layers are assigned to a single recording layer and the remaining one information recording area is assigned to another recording layer.

Also, at least the first content is recorded in advance in the first information recording area.

It should be noted that “at least” indicates that information other than the first content may be recorded in addition to the first content.

In addition, for example, in the case of a continuous TV drama, the “first content” may be only the first episode, or at least a few episodes excluding the final episode, such as the first episode and the second episode. There may be.

In addition, the second information recording area can record related content related to the first content.

“The related content” may be only the last episode or several episodes from the third episode to the final episode, taking a continuous TV drama as an example.

However, when the “first content” and the “related content” are combined, it is preferable that the first episode to the final episode of the continuous TV drama is complete.

Here, examples of “content” such as “first content” and “related content” include image, video, music, audio data, text data such as e-mail, data posted on a WEB page, and one segment. It is a concept that includes various information to be processed by software, such as broadcast contents such as 3 segments and terrestrial digital broadcasting.

Furthermore, in the third information recording area, recording start information for starting recording of the related content in the second information recording area is recorded in advance.

By the way, the information recording medium described in Patent Document 1 described above cannot record the broadcast program after the broadcast of the broadcast program (content) corresponding to the reservation information (recording start information) is started. There is a problem that. Further, since the information recording medium described in Patent Document 1 does not consider anything about the method for canceling the reservation recording on the information recording medium by the reservation information, the information recording medium used for the reservation recording of the reservation information is not considered. The area cannot be used for recording other contents. Therefore, for example, after the broadcast program of all times corresponding to the reservation information is broadcast, an unnecessary information recording medium on which only the reservation information is recorded may remain.

In this regard, in the information recording medium of the present invention, for example, a continuous TV drama starting from the first episode and completing in the twelfth episode will be described. For example, if the first episode is the first content, the second episode Since the recording start information for the second and subsequent episodes is valid while the subsequent episodes are not yet broadcast, all the recordings from the first episode to the twelfth episode are possible. This makes it possible to easily record all times of a series such as a series of TV dramas.

Also, as long as the last episode 12 is not broadcast yet, the recording start information of at least the last episode 12 is valid, so at least the episode 12 can be recorded. Even after all the episodes from the first episode to the twelfth episode have been broadcast, at least the first episode, which is the first content, is recorded in advance in the information recording medium. Thus, only unnecessary information recording media on which only the reservation information is recorded will not remain.

Also, the control method of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and the plurality of information recording The area includes at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area, and at least a first content is recorded in the first information recording area in advance, and the second information The recording area is an information recording area in which related content related to the first content can be recorded, and recording of the related content in the second information recording area is started in the third information recording area A method for controlling an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with an information recording medium in which recording start information for recording is recorded in advance, wherein the recording is recorded in the third information recording area Based on the start information, the related content is characterized by recording on the second information recording area of the information recording medium.

According to the above configuration, the information recording medium of the present invention corresponds to the information recording medium before the start of broadcasting of the second episode in the example of the continuous TV drama starting from the first episode and completing in the twelfth episode. It is possible to automatically create an information recording medium in which the first to twelfth episodes are recorded simply by loading the information recording / reproducing apparatus having the above configuration.

The information recording program of the present invention includes a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and the plurality of information recording areas includes at least A first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area, wherein at least a first content is recorded in advance in the first information recording area; An information recording area capable of recording related content related to the first content, wherein the third information recording area is a recording for starting recording of the related content in the second information recording area An information recording program for causing a computer to execute processing in an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with an information recording medium in which start information is recorded in advance.

As described above, it is possible to provide an information recording medium that can easily manage recording of a plurality of mutually related contents such as a continuous TV drama.

Other objects, features, and superior points of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description. The advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows notionally the structure of one Embodiment of the information recording medium of this invention. It is a figure which shows notionally the structure of other embodiment of the information recording medium of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of schematic structure of the optical information recording medium which is one Embodiment of the information recording medium of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of schematic structure of the said optical information recording medium. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of schematic structure of the said optical information recording medium. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a comparative example of a schematic configuration of the optical information recording medium illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing measurement results of S-characteristics of Example 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and Comparative Example 1 shown in FIG. 4 at a reproduction laser power of 0.7 mW, and part (a) is a measurement for Example 1; (B) part shows the S-characteristic obtained by the measurement with respect to Comparative Example 1, and (c) part shows FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 when the reproduction laser power is 1.0 mW. The S-shaped characteristic measurement result of Example 1 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between reproduction laser power and predetermined | prescribed physical quantity, (a) part shows the reproduction laser power dependence of the upper limit of the reflectance which cannot be focused, (b) part has 2 layer (RE) structure The dependence of the jitter on the optical information recording medium on the reproduction laser power is shown. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the reproduction | regeneration system which reproduces | regenerates the conventional multilayer optical information recording medium. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional multilayer optical information recording medium and a four-layer optical information recording medium. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the S-characteristic of the focus error signal and the transition of the objective lens position when the focus search process is performed on the second information recording layer shown in FIG. 10 by the reproduction system shown in FIG. Yes, part (a) shows the S-characteristic in the reproduction system, part (b) shows the transition of the objective lens position, and part (c) shows the focus error signal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the reproduction | regeneration system shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the information recording / reproducing apparatus which is further another embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the information recording / reproducing apparatus which is further another embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the control part of the said information recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the control part of the said information recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the said information recording / reproducing apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17 as follows.

[1. Conceptual configuration of information recording medium)
In the present invention, data recorded in advance in a predetermined information recording area of the information recording medium, data scheduled to be recorded in the future, and the like are important points.

Therefore, first, a conceptual configuration of an information recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and thereafter, an embodiment of the information recording medium according to the present invention will be shown in FIG. I will explain. Needless to say, the information recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the structure of the information recording medium described in this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the structure of another embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information recording medium of the present embodiment has a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated ( For example, see FIG. Therefore, if information is recorded in each recording layer, the information can be read out.

Therefore, a plurality of information recording areas exist.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area.

The upper and lower columns of the left item “recording area” in FIGS. 1 and 2 are information recording areas classified into a first information recording area to a third information recording area, and the middle item “recording information”. The upper and lower columns indicate whether there is data currently recorded in each information recording area.

The upper and lower columns of “Status” in the right item indicate the states of the first information recording area to the third information recording area. For example, when some data has already been recorded, “recorded” When any data is scheduled to be recorded from now on, it shows what kind of data can be recorded.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first episode (first content) of a continuous television drama is recorded in advance in the first information recording area of the information recording medium of the present embodiment.

Note that, here, an example in which only the first episode is recorded in the first information recording area will be described, but the first few episodes of the continuous TV drama may be recorded in advance.

Here, “content” includes software such as image data, moving images, music, audio data, text data such as e-mail, data posted on the WEB page, and broadcast contents such as 1seg, 3seg, and terrestrial digital. This is a concept including various information to be processed.

In the present embodiment, a series of TV dramas is described as an example of contents related to each other. However, a series of TV dramas is a content that is completed by releasing one episode at a time. Corresponds to content related to each other.

Other examples of content that are related to each other include content that is published over time. For example, a popular TV broadcast program that has continued almost every day for several years.

Next, the second information recording area is composed of a “content recording area” and an “invalidation information recording area” as shown in the “status” item in FIGS. The “content recording area” of the second information recording area is capable of recording or downloading the second and subsequent episodes (related contents) of the continuous TV drama. The “invalidation information area” will be described later.

Furthermore, in the third information recording area, as shown in the item “Recording information” in FIGS. 1 and 2, a reservation for starting recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the continuous TV drama Information (recording start information) or download information (recording start information) is recorded in advance.

Although not shown here, as an example of the reservation information, for example, a case where the content is a broadcast program broadcast during a predetermined period will be described. The program name, broadcast channel, broadcast date, broadcast start time, broadcast Various information such as the end time corresponds to the reservation information.

As examples of download information, for example, various information such as a protocol related to content including the data format of the content, and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the content correspond to the download information.

The “content-related protocol” is a content-related protocol such as a reproduction method, a data format, a data compression method, and a communication protocol. For example, as a rule of the reproduction method, a bit rate information standard can be exemplified.

Also, as the data format of data and the data compression method, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) related to music, WAV (Windows <registered trademark>) is a standard file format of audio data, which is also called a WAVE file or a WAVE sound file. ), And MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3).

In addition, the contents data format and the data compression scheme are as follows: Flash related to video (Web animation creation software sold by Macromedia), MPEG4 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 4), and MPEG2 (ITU- A standard for compressing and decompressing video and audio, recommended as a standard technology by T “International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector” and ISO “International Standard.” Currently, MPEG is used for media such as video CDs. MPEG1, MPEG2 used for DVD and broadcast media, network distribution, MPEG4 for portable terminals, etc.) can be exemplified.

Further, the communication system protocol (communication protocol) includes Bluetooth (registered trademark), Felica, PLC (power line communication), Wireless LAN (wireless LAN: WLAN), IrDA (infrared wireless), IrSS (infrared wireless), and WCDMA. (Communication network) can be exemplified.

Other examples of content related to each other include the first movie and the second movie created when the first movie is well received, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly Published content, singles and albums of one artist, complete collection of Soseki Natsume, the first application software, and the second application software created when the first work is well received In addition, e-mails and chats that are exchanged between specific persons can be exemplified.

On the other hand, as will be described in detail later, the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is based on the reservation information or the download information recorded in the third information recording area. Is preferably recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium.

According to the information recording medium and the information recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, while the second and subsequent episodes are not broadcast yet, the reservation information for the second and subsequent episodes is valid. Recording is possible. This makes it possible to easily record all times of a series such as a series of TV dramas.

In addition, while the last 12th episode is not broadcast yet, at least the 12th episode can be recorded because the reservation information of at least the 12th episode is valid. Even after all the episodes from the first episode to the twelfth episode have been broadcast, at least the first episode, which is the first content, is recorded in advance on the information recording medium, so that only the reservation information is recorded. Only the information recording medium is not left.

Furthermore, if the reservation information for the second and subsequent episodes is recorded when the information recording medium is manufactured, the user needs to record the reservation information for the second and subsequent episodes on the information recording medium by some means. There is no.

Also, if reservation recording (or download recording) of a continuous TV drama or the like is troublesome, the information recording medium is referred to as the information recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “information recording / reproducing apparatus”) before the start of the second episode broadcast. ), It is possible to automatically create an information recording medium on which episodes 1 to 12 are recorded.

As shown in the “third information recording area” column of “recording information” in FIG. 1, the third information recording area includes bit rate information (transmission speed information) from the second episode of the continuous TV drama, Frame rate information (transmission rate information) and the like are preferably recorded in advance.

This makes it possible to record a higher quality continuous TV drama within the allowable range of the recording capacity of the second information recording area.

Further, as shown in the “third information recording area” column of “recording information” in FIG. 1, a download permission key (download permission information) for permitting execution of download recording is recorded in the third information recording area in advance. It is preferable that

This makes it possible to prevent the downloading of continuous TV dramas by user operations that do not know the download permission key (encryption key), which is a security measure.

In addition to the download permission key, information related to the license agreement for continuous TV dramas may be recorded in advance.

As described above, it is possible to provide an information recording medium that can easily manage reservation recording and downloading of a plurality of related contents such as a continuous TV drama.

[2. Basic matters regarding information recording medium and information recording / reproducing apparatus]
Here, based on FIGS. 3 to 12, an optical information recording medium (information recording medium) 200 and an optical information recording medium (information recording medium) 201, which are one embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention, and an optical information recording medium 200 and basic information regarding the reproduction system (information recording / reproducing apparatus) 100 corresponding to the optical information recording medium 201 will be described.

First, specific structures of these recording media, which are one embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention, will be described.

In recent years, in multilayer optical information recording media, in addition to the information rewritable recording layer, a recording layer on which various contents are recorded, and a playback-only recording layer or a recordable recording layer that can only be played back are provided. There is a need for an optical information recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a hybrid optical information recording medium) that has been additionally improved in recording capacity. Hereinafter, the rewritable recording layer is referred to as an RE (RE-writable) layer, the read-only information recording layer is referred to as a ROM (Read Only Memory) layer, and the additional recordable recording layer is referred to as an R Called the (Recordable) layer.

The optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 described below are both so-called hybrid optical information recording media, and a plurality of recording layers and an intermediate layer that separates each of the plurality of recording layers on a substrate. And a translucent layer provided at a position farthest from the substrate, and the plurality of recording layers can read information by reproducing light, and at least one of the plurality of recording layers The recording layer is a layer that can only read information (reproduction-only recording layer: hereinafter referred to as “ROM layer”), and at least one of the other recording layers is a layer capable of recording information. This is the basic structure.

Here, the “layer in which information can be recorded” includes a layer in which only additional recording is possible (a layer in which additional recording is possible: hereinafter referred to as “R layer”) and a rewritable layer (hereinafter referred to as “RE layer”). included.

It should be noted that here, “only additional recording is possible” means that information can be read and only additional recording can be performed.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical information recording medium 200 of the present embodiment has a light transmitting layer 10 and a first information recording layer (reading information) in order from the reproduction light incident surface side. Only a layer or recording layer 20, an intermediate layer 30, a second information recording layer (information recording layer or recording layer) 40, and a substrate 50 are laminated.

3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the optical information recording medium 200, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the optical information recording medium 200.

The translucent layer 10 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin having a thickness of 75 μm. The material of the light transmissive layer 10 may be any material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of the reproduction light. That is, the translucent layer 10 may be formed of, for example, a polycarbonate film and a transparent adhesive. Further, a hard coat for surface protection may be provided on the surface of the light transmissive layer 10. Furthermore, the thickness of the light transmitting layer 10 may be changed according to the optical system included in the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the optical information recording medium 200. Specifically, the translucent layer 10 may be, for example, a 0.6 mm polycarbonate substrate.

The first information recording layer 20 is a ROM layer, and is made of, for example, aluminum nitride having a thickness of 15 nm whose refractive index is adjusted by a nitrogen flow rate during film formation. The thickness and material of the first information recording layer 20 are not limited to this. For example, the reflectance value of the first information recording layer 20 at the reproduction light wavelength is larger than 0.4% and not larger than 2.2%. If it becomes.

That is, the first information recording layer 20 has translucency at the reproduction light wavelength, and the reflectance value is not focused in the second reproduction light when reproducing the second information recording layer 40. Any value can be used as long as the focus can be pulled in with the first reproduction light when reproducing the first information recording layer 20.

Specifically, the first information recording layer 20 may be made of, for example, silicon nitride or a dielectric material mainly composed of aluminum nitride or silicon nitride in addition to the aluminum nitride, and has a multilayer structure. Also good.

Here, the second reproduction light is applied to the optical information recording medium 200 when reproducing the RE layer such as the second information recording layer 40. For example, information corresponding to the optical information recording medium of the old standard is used. Even a recording / reproducing apparatus can irradiate. The first reproduction light is higher in intensity than the second reproduction light, and is emitted to the optical information recording medium 200 (or an optical information recording medium 201 described later) when reproducing the first information recording layer 20. It is. The first reproduction light is emitted by an information recording / reproducing apparatus compatible with a new standard optical information recording medium.

The intermediate layer 30 is made of, for example, a transparent ultraviolet curable resin having a thickness of 25 μm. The material of the intermediate layer 30 is not limited to this, and any material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of the reproduction light may be used. Further, the thickness of the intermediate layer 30 is not limited to this, and each recording layer (here, the first information recording layer 20 and the second information recording layer 40) can be separated, and interlayer crosstalk does not become a problem. It may be an appropriate thickness.

Interlayer crosstalk refers to noise from a recording layer other than the recording layer being reproduced. Further, the intermediate layer 30 may have a multilayer structure. Further, on the surface of the intermediate layer 30 on the first information recording layer 20 side, prepits (not shown) made of unevenness corresponding to information recorded as a shape on the first information recording layer 20 are provided.

The second information recording layer 40 is an RE layer and is composed of, for example, seven thin films as shown in FIG. The seven-layered thin film includes a first protective film 41 (for example, ZnS—SiO _{2 having} a thickness of 35 nm), a second protective film 42 (for example, ZrO having a thickness of 5 nm), and a recording layer 43 (from the reproduction light incident side). For example, GeTe—Sb ₂ Te _{3 with} a thickness of 10 nm), a third protective film 44 (for example, ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), a fourth protective film 45 (for example, ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), a fifth protective film A film 46 (for example, ZrO having a thickness of 5 nm) and a reflective film 47 (for example, APC (AgPdCu) having a thickness of 20 nm) are sequentially stacked.

Note that the material, thickness, and number of layers of the second information recording layer 40 are not limited to this, and any material that functions as an RE layer may be used.

The substrate 50 is made of polycarbonate having a thickness of 1.1 mm, for example. The material, size, and thickness of the substrate 50 are not limited to this, and a groove is provided on the surface, and the substrate 50 may have a predetermined strength that can be used as the substrate. Specifically, the substrate 50 may be made of, for example, a polyolefin resin or a metal. Further, the substrate 50 may have a multilayer structure.

Note that, in addition to the groove, prepits made of irregularities corresponding to information recorded as shapes on the second information recording layer 40 may be provided on the surface of the substrate 50. In this case, the area where the pre-pits of the second information recording layer 40 are provided is an area where only information can be read. That is, the second information recording layer 40 may include a RE area and a ROM area. However, from the viewpoint of applying the present invention, it is preferable that the range of the ROM area is as narrow as possible compared with the RE area.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an optical information recording medium 201 as another example of this embodiment includes a light transmitting layer 10, a first information recording layer 20, an intermediate layer 30, a first layer in order from the reproduction light incident surface side. The three information recording layers (information recordable layer, recording layer) 60, the intermediate layer 30, the second information recording layer 40, and the substrate 50 are laminated. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the optical information recording medium 201.

The translucent layer 10 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin having a thickness of 50 μm. The material of the light transmissive layer 10 may be any material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of the reproduction light. That is, the translucent layer 10 may be formed of, for example, a polycarbonate film and a transparent adhesive. Further, a hard coat for surface protection may be provided on the surface of the light transmissive layer 10. Furthermore, the thickness of the light transmitting layer 10 may be changed according to the optical system included in the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the optical information recording medium 201. Specifically, the translucent layer 10 may be, for example, a 0.6 mm polycarbonate substrate. The first information recording layer 20 is a ROM layer, and is made of, for example, aluminum nitride having a thickness of 15 nm whose refractive index is adjusted by a nitrogen flow rate during film formation.

The thickness and material of the first information recording layer 20 are not limited to this. For example, the reflectance value of the first information recording layer 20 at the reproduction light wavelength is larger than 0.4% and not larger than 2.2%. If it becomes. That is, the first information recording layer 20 has translucency at the reproduction light wavelength, and the reflectance value is the second value when the second information recording layer 40 or the third information recording layer 60 is reproduced. The value is such that the focus cannot be pulled in with the reproduction light, and any value that allows the focus to be pulled in with the first reproduction light when reproducing the first information recording layer 20 may be used.

The intermediate layer 30 is made of, for example, a transparent ultraviolet curable resin having a thickness of 25 μm. The material of the intermediate layer 30 is not limited to this, and any material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of the reproduction light may be used. The thickness of the intermediate layer 30 is not limited to this, and each recording layer (here, the first information recording layer 20, the second information recording layer 40, and the third information recording layer 60) can be separated. An appropriate thickness is acceptable as long as interlayer crosstalk does not become a problem. Further, the intermediate layer 30 may have a multilayer structure.

Further, in the intermediate layer 30 stacked between the first information recording layer 20 and the third information recording layer 60, the first information recording layer 20 is provided on the surface of the intermediate layer 30 on the first information recording layer 20 side. Prepits having unevenness corresponding to information recorded as a shape on the layer 20 are provided.

In the intermediate layer 30 laminated between the second information recording layer 40 and the third information recording layer 60, a groove is provided on the surface of the intermediate layer 30 on the third information recording layer 60 side. ing. Note that the intermediate layer 30 may be provided with grooves and prepits made of irregularities corresponding to information recorded as shapes on the third information recording layer 60. In this case, the area where the pre-pits of the third information recording layer 60 are provided is an area where only information can be read. That is, the third information recording layer 60 may include a RE area and a ROM area.

However, from the viewpoint of applying the present invention, the ROM area is preferably as narrow as possible compared to the RE area.

The second information recording layer 40 is an RE layer, and is composed of, for example, seven thin films. The seven-layer thin film includes, from the reproduction light incident side, a first protective film 41 (for example, ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), a second protective film 42 (for example, ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), and a recording layer 43 ( For example, GeTe—Sb ₂ Te _{3 with} a thickness of 10 nm), a third protective film 44 (for example, ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), a fourth protective film 45 (for example, ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), a fifth protective film A film 46 (for example, ZrO having a thickness of 5 nm) and a reflective film 47 (for example, APC (AgPdCu) having a thickness of 20 nm) are sequentially stacked.

The third information recording layer 60 is an RE layer, and is composed of, for example, six layers of thin films. This six-layered thin film includes a first protective film 61 (for example, ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), a second protective film 62 (for example, ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), a recording layer 63 (from the reproduction light incident side). For example, GeTe—Sb ₂ Te _{3 with} a thickness of 6 nm, a third protective film 64 (for example, ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), a translucent film 65 (for example, APC with a thickness of 20 nm (AgPdCu)), and transmittance adjustment A film 66 (for example, TiO ₂ having a thickness of 19 nm) is sequentially stacked.

The material, thickness, and number of layers of the third information recording layer 60 are not limited to this, and any material that functions as an RE layer having a transmittance of about 60% at the wavelength of the reproduction light may be used.

The substrate 50 is made of polycarbonate having a thickness of 1.1 mm, for example. The material, size, and thickness of the substrate 50 are not limited to this, and the substrate 50 may be provided with a groove having a predetermined strength that can be used as a substrate. Specifically, the substrate 50 may be made of, for example, a polyolefin resin or a metal. Further, the substrate 50 may have a multilayer structure.

Note that, in addition to the groove, prepits made of irregularities corresponding to information recorded as shapes on the second information recording layer 40 may be provided on the surface of the substrate 50. In this case, the area where the pre-pits of the second information recording layer 40 are provided is an area where only information can be read. That is, the second information recording layer 40 may include a RE area and a ROM area.

The optical information recording medium 201 is not limited to the configuration described above, and any of the RE layers may be an R layer.

Further, the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 are not limited to a two-layer or three-layer structure, and may be an optical information recording medium to which a recording layer is further added.

Further, the optical information recording medium 200 (and the optical information recording medium 201) has a reproduction light wavelength λ, a thickness of the first information recording layer 20 d, a translucent layer 10, a first information recording layer 20, and an intermediate layer 30. And the refractive indexes of n ₀ , n ₁ , and n, respectively,

Is preferably satisfied. This is because the reproduction light wavelength is λ, the thickness of the first information recording layer 20 is d, and the refractive indexes of the light transmitting layer 10, the first information recording layer 20 and the intermediate layer 30 are n ₀ , n ₁ and n, respectively. This is because the reflectance at the reproduction light wavelength of the first information recording layer in this case can be expressed by the above formula as described in Non-Patent Document 1.

According to the above formula, the structure for obtaining the reflectance at the reproduction light wavelength of the first information recording layer 20 can be specified.

The first information recording layer 20 of the optical information recording medium 200 (and the optical information recording medium 201) is preferably made of a dielectric having a refractive index greater than 1.75 and not greater than 2.06.

Usually, a resin having a refractive index of about 1.5 is often used for both the light transmitting layer 10 and the intermediate layer 30. Further, the film thickness of the first information recording layer 20 is preferably about 15 nm in consideration of reproduction durability and cost increase accompanying an increase in film formation time due to the increase in film thickness. In consideration of the above two limitations that occur when this actual production is taken into consideration, the refractive index of the first information recording layer 20 is larger than 1.75 and 2.06 from the equation described in Non-Patent Document 1. The following is required.

〔Example〕
An optical information recording medium 200 shown in FIG. 4 was produced as Example 1, and an optical information recording medium 202 shown in FIG. 6 was produced as Comparative Example 1 of Example 1. Below, each structure is demonstrated using FIG.4 and FIG.6. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical information recording medium 202 that is Comparative Example 1 of the optical information recording medium 200 manufactured as Example 1. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the optical information recording medium 200 according to Example 1 includes a light transmitting layer 10, a first information recording layer 20, an intermediate layer 30, a second information recording layer 40, and the like in order from the reproduction light incident surface side. The substrate 50 has a stacked structure.

The light transmitting layer 10 is made of an ultraviolet curable resin (refractive index of 1.50 at the reproduction light wavelength) having a thickness of 75 μm.

The first information recording layer 20 is a ROM layer, and is made of aluminum nitride (refractive index 2.01 at the reproduction light wavelength) with a thickness of 15 nm adjusted in refractive index by the nitrogen flow rate during film formation. The aluminum nitride forming the first information recording layer 20 is formed on the surface of the intermediate layer 30 by sputtering.

The intermediate layer 30 is made of a transparent ultraviolet curable resin (refractive index of 1.50 at the reproduction light wavelength) having a thickness of 25 μm. Further, a pre-pit composed of irregularities corresponding to information recorded as a shape in the first information recording layer 20 by the 2P method (photo-polymerization method) is provided on the surface of the intermediate layer 30 on the first information recording layer 20 side. It has been.

Here, the 2P method is a method in which an ultraviolet curable resin is filled between a flat plate and a master, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated to cure the ultraviolet curable resin, and then the master is peeled off to transfer the unevenness of the master onto the flat plate. Refers to the technique to

The second information recording layer 40 is an RE layer, and seven thin films are laminated by sputtering. Specifically, from the reproduction light incident side, the first protective film 41 (ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), the second protective film 42 (ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), and the recording layer 43 (GeTe— with a thickness of 10 nm). Sb ₂ Te ₃ ), third protective film 44 (ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), fourth protective film 45 (ZnS—SiO _{2 with} a thickness of 35 nm), fifth protective film 46 (ZrO with a thickness of 5 nm), and reflection A film 47 (APC (AgPdCu) having a thickness of 20 nm) is sequentially stacked.

The substrate 50 was a polycarbonate disk-shaped substrate having a groove diameter of 120 mm and a thickness of 1.1 mm.

As shown in FIG. 6, the optical information recording medium 202 as Comparative Example 1 includes a light transmitting layer 10, a first information recording layer 120, an intermediate layer 30, a second information recording layer 40, and The substrate 50 has a stacked structure. The first information recording layer 120 of the optical information recording medium 202 is made of a metal translucent film APC (AgPdCu) that has been conventionally used, and is formed to a thickness of 5 nm. The other layers (translucent layer 10, intermediate layer 30, second information recording layer 40, and substrate 50) are fabricated in the same manner as in Example 1.

The transmittance of the first information recording layer 20 and the first information recording layer 120 was 95% in the first information recording layer 20 of Example 1, and 80% in the first information recording layer 120 of Comparative Example 1. . Further, the reflectance at the reproduction light wavelength of the first information recording layer 20 of Example 1 was 1.8%, and the return light rate of the second information recording layer 40 was 13.5%. On the other hand, the reflectance at the reproduction light wavelength of the first information recording layer 120 of Comparative Example 1 was 8%, and the return light rate of the second information recording layer 40 was 9.6%.

Next, a laser having a wavelength of 406 nm, which is generally used as an evaluator for BD (Blu-Ray Disc), is obtained by using the S-characteristics detected when counting the number of recording layers in the initial stage of reproduction in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. A semiconductor laser capable of emitting light; A. It was measured with a disk evaluation machine (ODU-1000 manufactured by Pulstec Corp.) having an optical system with an aperture ratio of 0.85. The results obtained by this measurement are shown in (a) part, (b) part, and (c) part of FIG.

Here, the (a) part and (b) part of FIG. 7 are the laser intensity, the intensity for reproducing the RE layer, and the maximum reproduction laser in the current standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the S-characteristic obtained by setting to 0.7 mW which is power, and irradiating to the optical

information recording media

200 and 202, respectively.

7A shows the S-characteristic obtained by measurement with respect to the optical information recording medium 200 of Example 1, and FIG. 7B shows the optical information recording of Comparative Example 1. It is a figure which shows the S character characteristic obtained by the measurement with respect to the medium. 7C is obtained by irradiating the optical information recording medium 200 of Example 1 with the laser intensity set to 1.0 mW, which is the intensity for reproducing the ROM layer. It is a figure which shows the made S character characteristic.

As shown in part (a) of FIG. 7, the actual measurement value of the S-characteristic in the first information recording layer 20 of Example 1 is 186 mV, and the reference voltage + V1 (230 mV for focusing in the disc evaluation machine). ) Is not exceeded. 7 (a) shows an information recording / reproducing apparatus (No. 1) that counts the number of recording layers with a laser beam of 0.7 mW which is the maximum reproducing laser power in the currently standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus. The old standard compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus that does not support one information recording layer 20) indicates that the first information recording layer 20 cannot be recognized as a recording layer.

For this reason, the information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the old standard cannot naturally focus on the first information recording layer 20. Actually, the first information recording layer 20 was focused at the time of measurement, but the above-mentioned versatile disc evaluation capable of supporting various optical information recording media as compared with commercially available disc information recording and reproducing devices for consumer use. Even the machine did not focus. Note that the reference voltage + V1 is a value set as a value by which the information recorded on the two-layer information recording medium can be reproduced and evaluated in the ODU-1000.

On the other hand, as shown in part (b) of FIG. 7, the measured value of the S-characteristic in the first information recording layer 120 of Comparative Example 1 is 847 mV, which exceeds the reference voltage + V1 (230 mV). 7 (b) shows an information recording / reproducing apparatus (No. 1) that counts the number of recording layers with a laser beam of 0.7 mW which is the maximum reproducing laser power in the currently standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus. This indicates that an old standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus that does not support one information recording layer 120 can recognize the first information recording layer 120 as a recording layer.

From the above results, the first information recording layer 20 of Example 1 was compared with Comparative Example 1 with a laser beam of 0.7 mW that is the maximum reproduction laser power in the current standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus. When the number of recording layers is counted, the possibility of being recognized by the old standard compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus is extremely low. That is, since the first information recording layer 20 cannot be focused by a disc evaluation machine that is more versatile than a normally used information recording / reproducing apparatus, the information recording / reproducing apparatus compliant with the old standard cannot substantially recognize the first information recording layer 20. I can say that.

On the other hand, the first information recording layer 120 of Comparative Example 1 is the above-mentioned old one at the time of counting the number of recording layers with a laser beam of 0.7 mW which is the maximum reproduction laser power in the current standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus. The possibility of being recognized by the standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus is high. This is because the old standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus normally used at the present time can handle up to two recording layers. However, the old standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus recognizes an unknown recording layer called the first information recording layer 120, which may cause a reproduction failure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, the measured value of the S-characteristic in the first information recording layer 20 of Example 1 is 274 mV, which exceeds the reference voltage + V1 (230 mV). 7 (c) shows an information recording / reproducing apparatus (first information recording layer 20) that counts the number of recording layers with a 1.0 mW laser beam that is the intensity for reproducing the first information recording layer 20. The new standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the above shows that the first information recording layer 20 can be recognized as a recording layer. In other words, the information recording / reproducing apparatus compliant with the new standard can naturally focus on the first information recording layer 20 and can reproduce the first information recording layer 20. Actually, the first information recording layer 20 was focused at the time of measurement, and it was confirmed that the focus was applied.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the actual measured values of the S-characteristics of the second information recording layer 40 of Example 1 are 1438 mV and 2105 mV, respectively, and both are the reference voltage + V1. (230 mV) is exceeded. Therefore, the second information recording layer 40 can be focused even in the information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to any of the old and new standards (that is, the old standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus or the new standard-compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus). In addition, information can be recorded / reproduced with respect to the second information recording layer 40.

As described above, even when the optical information recording medium 200 is played back by the old standard compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus, the old standard compliant information recording / reproducing apparatus has a reproduction failure as in Comparative Example 1. Information can be recorded / reproduced on / from the second information recording layer 40 without being generated. In addition, since the information recorded and reproduced by the new standard can also reproduce the information recorded in the first information recording layer 20, the optical information recording medium 200 maintains the limit value of the recording capacity in the second information recording layer 40. It can be said that the recording capacity could be improved. The same applies to the optical information recording medium 201 as in the optical information recording medium 200.

Incidentally, the limit that can be focused by a normally used information recording / reproducing apparatus depends on the S-characteristic as described above, and thus basically depends on the amount of reflected light. Here, using the plurality of samples, the upper limit value of the reflectance that cannot be focused at each reproduction eraser power was measured by the above-described disk evaluator. The measurement result at this time is shown in part (a) of FIG.

As shown in part (a) of FIG. 8, at a maximum reproduction laser power of 0.7 mW in the current standardized BD information recording / reproducing apparatus, a reflectance of 2.2% cannot be focused (cannot be recognized). It turns out that it is the upper limit of a reflectance.

In addition, since there is a high possibility that the reproduction laser power varies depending on the BD information recording / reproduction apparatus, it may be considered that the reproduction laser power is actually about 20% higher (0.84 mW). In this case (even if the reproduction laser power is 0.84 mW), the upper limit of the reflectance that cannot be focused (cannot be recognized) was found to be 1.8% from the result shown in part (a) of FIG.

Also, the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 include an RE layer (second information recording layer 40 and third information recording layer 60). Therefore, when the number of recording layers is counted, there is a possibility that reproduction light with high laser power for reproducing the first information recording layer 20 is condensed and irradiated on the RE layer.

Incidentally, the number of recording layers is usually counted in the lead-in area. Accordingly, the reflectance of the lead-in area of a single-layer BD-RE currently on the market can be increased by using a semiconductor laser capable of emitting laser light having a wavelength of 405 nm, which can increase the reproduction laser power from the disk evaluation machine, and N.D. A. It was measured with a disk evaluation machine (DDU-1000 manufactured by Pulstec Corp.) having an optical system with an aperture ratio of 0.85.

First, the reflectivity of the lead-in area was measured at 0.35 mW, which is the reproduction laser power of the single layer BD. Next, after irradiation with a higher reproduction laser power, the reflectivity was again returned to 0.35 mW and the lead-in area was Measure the reflectance. By this measurement, the reproduction laser power at which deterioration of the RE layer (reduction in reflectivity of the lead-in area) occurs was measured.

As a result, it was found that the reflectance did not change until the reproduction laser power was 3.5 mW, but the reflectance decreased by 5% (that is, the RE layer deteriorated) at 4.0 mW. That is, when the number of recording layers is counted with a laser power higher than 3.5 mW, there is a possibility that the lead-in area of the RE layer is deteriorated. Therefore, from the result shown in FIG. 8 (a), the upper limit of the reflectance that is not focused at 3.5 mW is 0.4%, so the reflectance of the first information recording layer 20 is 0. It will need to be greater than 4%.

Further, when reproducing the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the focus may be lost due to an impact. In that case, there is a possibility that the reproducing light for reproducing the first information recording layer 20 is applied to the information recording area of the information recording area of the RE layer (the second information recording layer 40 or the third information recording layer 60). In view of this, the information recording portion of the currently commercially available two-layer RE-BD was irradiated with reproduction light, and the reproduction laser power at which the recorded information deteriorated was measured. This measurement was performed by the above-described disk evaluation machine (ODU-1000), and jitter generally used as an index of reproduction signal quality was used as an index of deterioration of recorded information. The measurement result at this time is shown in part (b) of FIG.

As shown in part (b) of FIG. 8, when the reproducing laser power is higher than 1.2 mW, the jitter of the first information recording layer (RE layer) of the two-layer RE-BD deteriorates rapidly (that is, the RE layer). It can be seen that That is, it can be seen that the upper limit of the reproduction laser power that does not deteriorate the information recorded in the RE layer is 1.2 mW.

Accordingly, from the result shown in FIG. 8A, the upper limit value of the reflectance at which the reproduction laser power is not focused at 1.2 mW is 1.2%, so that the reflectance is greater than 1.2%. Therefore, focusing can be performed with a reproduction laser power of 1.2 mW or less.

Therefore, the reflectance at the reproduction light wavelength of the first information recording layer 20 of the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 may be greater than 0.4% and less than or equal to 2.2%, more preferably 1 It may be larger than 2% and not larger than 1.8%.

It should be noted that the measurement results obtained by the both disk evaluation machines do not change as long as the reproduction light wavelength is in the blue laser wavelength range.

By the way, in a normally used information recording / reproducing apparatus, the recording layer is recognized when the measured value of the S-characteristic detected from each recording layer exceeds a predetermined reference voltage. When the recording layer is recognized by the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the recognized recording layer is focused, and information reproduction from the recording layer becomes possible. The reason why information can be reproduced by focusing on the detection result of the S-characteristic will be described below.

First, a reproduction system (information recording / reproducing apparatus) 100 for reproducing a general multilayer optical information recording medium will be described. For example, the configuration of the reproduction system 100 that reproduces the four-layer optical information recording medium 400 shown in FIG. 10 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the disk drive motor 101 of the reproduction system 100 rotates and drives a disk-shaped optical information recording medium 400 (see FIG. 10 for a schematic cross-sectional structure) at a predetermined speed. The disk drive motor 101 is controlled by a motor control circuit 109. In addition, reading of information from the optical information recording medium 400 that is rotationally driven in this way is performed by the optical pickup 102.

The optical pickup 102 is configured to be movable in the radial direction of the optical information recording medium 400 by the driving force of the feed motor 111. The feed motor 111 is controlled by a feed motor control circuit 108. Further, the feed motor 111 is configured such that the rotational speed thereof is detected by the speed detector 112. Then, the speed detector 112 supplies the detected result as a speed signal to the feed motor control circuit 108.

The optical pickup 102 includes an objective lens 102a. The objective lens 102a is supported so as to be movable in a focusing direction (optical axis direction) and a tracking direction (radial direction of the optical information recording medium 400). The objective lens 102a is controlled in position in the focus direction by supplying the focus control signal generated by the focus control circuit 105 to the focus drive coil 102c. Similarly, the position of the objective lens 102a in the tracking direction is controlled by supplying the tracking control signal generated by the tracking control circuit 108 to the tracking drive coil 102b.

Also, the laser control circuit 103 drives the semiconductor laser oscillator 102f in the optical pickup 102, and generates laser light in the semiconductor laser oscillator 102f. The light amount detector 102 g detects the light amount of the laser light generated by the semiconductor laser oscillator 102 f and feeds back the detection result to the laser control circuit 103. With this configuration, the laser control circuit 103 can control the amount of laser light generated by the semiconductor laser oscillator 102f to be constant.

The laser light generated by the semiconductor laser oscillator 102f passes through the collimator lens 102e, is bent at a right angle by the half prism 102d, and then is recorded in any recording layer of the optical information recording medium 400 by the objective lens 102a. It will concentrate on the top. Any recording layer of the optical information recording medium 400 refers to the first information recording layer A, the second information recording layer B, the third information recording layer C, or the fourth information recording layer D shown in FIG. The first information recording layer A, the second information recording layer B, the third information recording layer C, and the fourth information recording layer D all have APC ( This is a ROM layer that can only read information in which the shape of APC (AgPdCu) is fixed by forming (AgPdCu).

Further, the reflected light from the optical information recording medium 400 travels backward through the objective lens 102a and goes straight through the half prism 102d, and then is received by the photoelectric converter 102j via the condenser lens 102h and the cylindrical lens 102i. The photoelectric converter 102j is composed of four photodetectors 102j1 to 102j4 that generate electric signals according to the amount of received light. In the case of this photoelectric converter 102j, the alignment direction of the photodetectors 102j1 and 102j2 and the alignment direction of the photodetectors 102j3 and 102j4 correspond to the tracking direction of the optical information recording medium 400. Similarly, the alignment direction of the photodetectors 102j1 and 102j4 and the alignment direction of the photodetectors 102j2 and 102j3 correspond to the tangential direction of the optical information recording medium 400.

The electrical signal output from the photodetector 102j1 is supplied to one end of the

adder circuits

113a and 113d via the amplifier circuit 114a, and the electrical signal output from the photodetector 102j2 is added to the adder circuit 113b via the amplifier circuit 114b. -It is supplied to one end of 113c. The electrical signal output from the photodetector 102j3 is supplied to the other ends of the

adder circuits

113a and 113c via the amplifier circuit 114c, and the electrical signal output from the photodetector 102j4 is added via the amplifier circuit 114d. They are supplied to the other ends of the

circuits

113b and 113d, respectively.

The output signal of the adder circuit 113 a is supplied to the inverting input terminal − of the differential amplifier circuit 104, and the output signal of the adder circuit 113 b is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal + of the differential amplifier circuit 104. The differential amplifier circuit 104 generates a focus error signal by calculating the difference between the output signals of the

adder circuits

113 a and 113 b and supplies the focus error signal to the focus control circuit 105. The focus control circuit 105 generates a focus control signal to be applied to the focus drive coil 102c so that the input focus error signal becomes 0 level, and focus servo is performed on the objective lens 102a.

Here, the focus error signal output from the differential amplifier circuit 104 is obtained by moving the focus position of the laser beam by the objective lens 102a sequentially from the initial position in the focus direction, and performing the focus search process (that is, the number of recording layers). When the counting process is performed, an S-characteristic is drawn as shown in part (a) of FIG.

Specifically, when the focus search process is performed, the focus error signal indicates that the focal position of the laser beam by the objective lens 102a is the recording layer (first information recording layer A, fourth information recording layer) shown in FIG. Each time it passes through the layer D, the third information recording layer C, and the second information recording layer B), an S-characteristic as shown in part (a) of FIG. 11 is drawn. Note that the initial position is a position before the focus of the objective lens 102a, and is usually below the first information recording layer A of the optical information recording medium 400 and from the optical information recording medium 400 in FIG. The most distant position in the optical axis direction.

For example, when reproduction of the optical information recording medium 400 is started, the reproduction system 100 first generates reproduction light corresponding to the single-layer optical information recording medium by the semiconductor laser oscillator 102f in the optical pickup 102.

Next, the condensing position of the laser beam by the objective lens 102a is moved from the initial position upward in FIG. 9 to the drive upper limit position. Then, the reproduction system 100 recognizes the number of recording layers of the optical information recording medium 400 by counting the number of times that the focus error signal exceeds a predetermined reference voltage + V0.

Thereafter, the reproduction system 100 changes the reproduction optical power determined based on the number of recording layers that the optical information recording medium 400 has. Then, the reproduction system 100 moves the condensing position of the laser light by the objective lens 102a from the drive upper limit position downward to the initial position in FIG. 9 with the changed reproduction light power. At that time, the gain of the amplifier included in the focus control circuit 105 or the like is changed so that the voltage value of the focus error signal detected from the recording layer first subjected to the focus search process becomes an appropriate value.

For example, when the focus search process is performed on the second information recording layer B, the reproduction system 100 counts the number of times that the focus error signal exceeds a predetermined reference voltage + V0, and after reaching the fourth time, the reproduction system 100 first becomes 0 level. When the value reaches (center level of focus servo operation), the focus servo is turned on. Thereby, the focus search process for the second information recording layer B in the reproduction system 100 is completed.

11B and 11C show the transition of the objective lens position and the focus error signal when the focus search processing is performed on the above-described second information recording layer 40 by the reproduction system 100. FIG. FIG. 11B shows a transition of the objective lens position, and FIG. 11C shows a focus error signal.

Further, for example, when a layer jump is performed from the fourth information recording layer D to the second information recording layer B, the reproduction system 100 temporarily turns off the focus servo and switches the fourth information recording layer D to the second information recording layer 40. The focal position of the laser beam by the objective lens 102a is sequentially moved. Then, the reproduction system 100 counts the number of times that the focus error signal output from the differential amplifier circuit 104 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage + V0. Level), the focus servo is turned on. As a result, the layer jump process ends. The layer jump process is not shown because it is almost the same process as the focus search process.

Further, when these focus search processes are performed, the phase difference detection circuit 107 has a phase difference between the sum of the output signals of the photodetectors 102j1 and 102j4 of the photoelectric converter 102j and the sum of the output signals of the photodetectors 102j2 and 102j3. To detect. The phase difference detection circuit 107 supplies the detection result to the tracking control circuit 106 as a tracking error signal.

The tracking control circuit 106 generates a tracking control signal to be given to the tracking drive coil 102b based on the input tracking error signal, and performs tracking servo on the objective lens 102a. In the reproduction system 100, the optical information recording medium 400 is reproduced while the tracking servo is being performed. The electrical signals output from the

adder circuits

113c and 113d are summed by the adder circuit 113e, and converted into a digital signal by the data reproduction circuit (data reproduction control means) 110.

The laser control circuit 103, the focus control circuit 105, the tracking control circuit 108, the motor control circuit 109, and the data reproduction circuit 110 of the reproduction system 100 are controlled by the control unit 115. A memory attached to the control unit 115 (not shown in FIG. 9: corresponding to the memory 116 in FIGS. 13 and 14 described below) relates to recording / reproduction of the optical information recording medium 400 loaded in the reproduction system 100. Information is stored. The control unit 115 controls each circuit according to this information.

Also, when the reflectance from the recording layer increases, the voltage value of the focus error signal of the reproduction system 100 also increases.

Here, the flow of processing in the reproduction system 100 for reproducing a general multilayer optical information recording medium (here, the optical information recording medium 400) will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the reproduction system 100 for reproducing the multilayer optical information recording medium.

First, after the optical information recording medium 400 is loaded into the reproduction system 100, the optical information recording medium 400 is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed by the disk drive motor 101 (S1). Next, the control unit 115 moves the optical pickup 102 to a position facing the lead-in area of the optical information recording medium 400, and performs a focus search process on a desired layer (S2). In the optical information recording medium 400, this layer refers to any of the first information recording layer A, the second information recording layer B, the third information recording layer C, and the fourth information recording layer D. Then, the tracking control circuit 106 performs tracking processing (S3), and information reproduction processing by the reproduction system 100 is performed (S4).

As described above, it can be seen that in the reproduction system 100, the recognition of the recording layer and the focus on each recording layer are all performed based on the S-characteristic obtained from each recording layer. Therefore, since the reproduction system 100 of the multilayer optical information recording medium as described above is used in the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the information recording / reproducing apparatus measures the S-characteristic of each recording layer, thereby The presence or absence of recognition and the possibility of reproduction can be determined.

[3. Information recording medium as one embodiment of the present invention]
This completes the description of the basic matters of the information recording medium and information recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

Therefore, the case where the present invention is applied to the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, with respect to the optical information recording medium 200, as shown in FIG. 4, in order from the reproduction light incident surface side, a light transmitting layer 10, a first information recording layer (a layer that can only read information, a recording layer) 20, The intermediate layer 30, the second information recording layer (information recordable layer, recording layer) 40, and the substrate 50 are laminated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first information recording layer 20 is assigned a first information recording area, and the second information recording layer 40 is assigned a second information recording area.

Furthermore, in the optical information recording medium 200, as shown in FIG. 3, a lead-in area (third information recording area) exists on the inner circumference side of the first information recording layer 20 with respect to the first information recording area.

The first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the lead-in area described above correspond to the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. .

That is, the first information recording area and the lead-in area are allocated to the first information recording layer 20 that is a layer (ROM layer) that can only read information, and the second information recording area is a layer that can record information. It is assigned to the second information recording layer 40 which is (R layer or RE layer).

Since the lead-in area and the first information recording area are both ROM layers, the first information recording layer 20 (single ROM layer), which is the same recording layer, is divided into two information recording areas. Will be.

Next, with respect to the optical information recording medium 201, as shown in FIG. 5, the light transmitting layer 10, the first information recording layer (a layer that can only read information, a recording layer) 20 in this order from the reproduction light incident surface side. The intermediate layer 30, the third information recording layer (information recordable layer, recording layer) 60, the intermediate layer 30, the second information recording layer (information recordable layer, recording layer) 40, and the substrate 50 are laminated. It has a structure.

Here, the first information recording area is provided with a single film or a multilayer film made of a reflective film, a recording film, or the like provided to function as a recording layer, excluding the lead-in area, in the first information recording layer 20. It refers to the range of the medium surface direction (in-plane direction of the incident surface of the reproduction light).

The second information recording area is a medium provided with a single film or a multilayer film made of a reflective film, a recording film or the like provided to function as a recording layer in a recording layer other than the first information recording layer 20. It refers to the range in the surface direction.

That is, the same range of the second and subsequent information recording layers is called a “second information recording area”. Note that the second and subsequent information recording layers are counted from the side closer to the substrate. That is, the third information recording layer 60 is between the first information recording layer 20 and the second information recording layer 40. Similarly, the fourth information recording layer (not shown) is between the first information recording layer 20 and the third information recording layer 60.

The arrangement of the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area may be different from the arrangement in the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 as described above. Needless to say.

Therefore, although not shown, the first information recording area is assigned to the first information recording layer 20, and the second information recording area is assigned to each of the second information recording layer 40 and the third information recording layer 60. .

Further, in the optical information recording medium 201, as in the optical information recording medium 200, a lead-in area (third information recording area) exists on the inner peripheral side of the first information recording layer 20 with respect to the first information recording area. .

The first information recording area, the second information recording area (present on the second information recording layer 40 and the third information recording layer 60), and the lead-in area are the first information described with reference to FIGS. It corresponds to an information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area.

As described above, in the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the first information recording area and the lead-in area are assigned to a layer (ROM layer) from which information can only be read, and the second information recording medium The area is preferably assigned to a layer (R layer or RE layer) capable of recording information.

Because the second information recording area needs to record the second and subsequent episodes of the continuous TV drama in the above-described example of the continuous TV drama, it is necessary to assign the information to a recordable layer.

In addition, by assigning the first information recording area to a layer (ROM layer) from which information can only be read, an erroneous operation of mistakenly overwriting another data for the first episode of the continuous television drama Can be prevented.

Also, by assigning the lead-in area to the ROM layer, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which another data is mistakenly overwritten on the reservation information.

Furthermore, since the reservation information can be recorded at the time of manufacturing the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, it is not necessary for the user to record the content reservation information on the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 by any means. In addition, in order to record reservation information for the second and subsequent episodes of the continuous TV drama in the third information recording area of the ROM layer, the second information recording area for the R or RE layer in which the second and subsequent episodes of the continuous TV drama are recorded. The recordable area is not cut off.

As an example of the ROM layer, a case where information is recorded using an embossed prepit string or a case where information is recorded using a laser can be listed.

Thus, from the viewpoint of the manufacturer, there is an advantage that, when the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 are manufactured, the first episode of the TV drama and the reservation information can be easily changed.

[4. Information recording / reproducing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention]
Next, based on FIGS. 13 to 17, a case where the present invention is applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus including the reproducing system 100 of the present invention will be described.

Before that, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. The “invalidation information”, which is not described in “Conceptual configuration of information recording medium”, will be described.

As described above, in the information recording medium described in Patent Document 1, even if the broadcast program recorded by the reservation information has contents that do not meet the user's expectation, the recording used for the reservation recording of the reservation information. There is a problem that the area cannot be used for recording other contents. Therefore, for example, after all broadcast programs corresponding to the reservation information are broadcast, only the reservation information is recorded, and the information recording medium is completely unnecessary for the user. is there.

In order to solve such problems, the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 will be described in the example of the above-mentioned continuous TV drama. In the second information recording area, the continuous TV corresponding to the reservation information is provided. An area (invalidation information recording area in FIGS. 1 and 2) capable of recording invalidation information for determining cancellation of recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the drama is provided. Preferably it is.

That is, the “invalidation information” is information for determining cancellation of recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the continuous TV drama corresponding to the reservation information, for example.

For example, when “invalidation information” is recorded in the “invalidation information area”, recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the continuous TV drama corresponding to the reservation information is performed. The information recording / reproducing apparatus is configured so that there is no such problem.

On the other hand, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 13 to 17, an optical information recording medium 200 having such invalidation information recording area and an information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the optical information recording medium 201 (hereinafter referred to as corresponding information recording). The outline of the main functions of the playback device will be described.

When the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the correspondence information recording / reproducing apparatus determines that the reservation information corresponding to the invalidation information is invalid. It is preferable to determine and cancel the recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the continuous TV drama corresponding to the reservation information.

Further, the corresponding information recording / reproducing apparatus includes an operation unit (input means) 120 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) for inputting an instruction to cancel recording in the second information recording area after the second episode of the continuous TV drama. The invalidation information may be recorded in the second information recording area when an instruction to cancel the recording is input via the operation unit 120.

According to the configuration of the optical information recording medium 200, the optical information recording medium 201, and the corresponding information recording / reproducing apparatus described above, the second and subsequent episodes of the continuous TV drama recorded by the reservation information have contents that do not meet the user's expectations. In such a case, the invalidation information is recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, so that the content that does not meet the user's expectations is recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201. This can be prevented and user convenience can be improved.

In addition, the correspondence information recording / reproducing apparatus can detect the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information) when there are a plurality of information recording media (for example, when the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 exist). Reservation information recorded in the lead-in area of the recording medium 201) and correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the reservation information and the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording medium 201) (for example, reservation information and optical information) It is preferable to provide a memory (recording unit) 116 (FIGS. 13 and 14) for recording a correspondence relationship table indicating a correspondence relationship with a recording medium.

Then, when invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording medium 201), the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording is recorded) based on the correspondence information. The reservation information corresponding to the medium 201) is preferably deleted from the memory 116.

According to the above configuration, the reservation information corresponding to the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording medium 201) on which invalidation information is recorded is erased from the memory 116. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which a TV drama having a content that does not meet the user's expectations is recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording medium 201).

In addition, with the above configuration, the correspondence information recording / reproducing apparatus is a TV drama of a content that does not meet the user's expectations recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 (or the optical information recording medium 201) on which invalidation information is recorded. The second information recording area where the TV drama is scheduled to be recorded on the corresponding information recording / reproducing apparatus is defined as a recording area where normal recording is possible. Can be recognized.

Therefore, it is possible to divert the second information recording area corresponding to the reservation information for recording other contents.

As described above, it is possible to provide an information recording medium and an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of easily managing reservation recording and downloading of a plurality of related contents such as a continuous TV drama.

Next, the configuration and operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 13, in addition to the reproduction system 100, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 includes a memory (recording unit) 116, a timer 117, a tuner 118, a data recording circuit (data recording unit) 119, and an operation unit (input). Means) 120 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 115 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 includes a memory control unit (recording control unit) 1151, a date / time confirmation unit (date / time confirmation unit) 1152, a broadcast station selection unit (broadcast station selection unit). 1153, a medium writing control unit (medium writing control unit) 1154, an invalidation information recognition unit (invalidation information recognition unit) 1156, and a disc recognition unit (medium recognition unit) 1157.

Hereinafter, a case where the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 will be described. In addition, since the other configuration of the reproduction system 100 is the same as that already described, description thereof is omitted.

The memory control unit 1151 stores the reservation information reproduced from the lead-in area of the optical information recording medium 200, and the correspondence relationship between the reservation information and the medium identification number (disc identification number) acquired by the disk recognition unit 1157 described below. Is stored in the memory 116, the stored reservation information and the corresponding relationship information are read out, or the invalidation information is recognized from the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 described below. In response to this notification (invalidation information recognition notification), control such as exchange between the memory 116 and other components, such as deletion of reservation information recorded in the memory 116, is performed.

The date and time confirmation unit 1152 is linked to the timer 117, and the reservation date and time (reservation date and time information: the date and time of the reservation information) among the reservation information recorded in the memory 116 is extracted from the output signal from the timer 117. It is determined whether or not it coincides with information indicating the date and time (current date and time information: the date and time of the timer 117). If they coincide, the fact is transmitted to the memory control unit.

When the date and time confirmation unit 1152 determines that the reservation date and time match the current date and time, the broadcast station selection unit 1153 has reserved the reservation information recorded in the memory 116 by the memory control unit 1151. Based on broadcast local location information (for example, reception frequency) indicating the location of a broadcast station where a broadcast program (content) is broadcast, the tuner 118 is operated to adjust the reception frequency and the like, and the broadcast local location information is supported. It is possible to receive broadcast programs from broadcast stations.

The medium writing control unit 1154 transmits a broadcast program from the broadcasting station received by a communication unit (communication control unit) (not shown) via the tuner 118 to the data recording circuit 119 of the reproduction system 100 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001. When an instruction to cancel recording is input via the operation unit 120, the data recording circuit 119 or the like is driven to record invalidation information in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200. Control of writing data to the optical information recording medium 200 is performed. Further, the present invention is not limited to the left one, but also when other external input information (for example, information from a biting coder) is input. Information is also transmitted to the data recording circuit 119.

When the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 does not recognize the invalidation information, the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 drives the memory control unit 1151 (or may be configured to transmit a notification that the invalidation information has not been recognized). In the case where various processes such as reception of the broadcast program are performed or the invalidation information is recognized, a notification to that effect (invalidation information recognition notification) is transmitted to the memory control unit 1151, and the “invalidation information” is transmitted. ”And other components are controlled.

The disc recognition unit 1157 recognizes (detects) whether or not the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001. If the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded, the disc recognition unit 1157 drives the memory control unit 1151. To obtain a medium identification number (medium identification information: disk identification number) from the optical information recording medium 200, transmit the medium identification number to the invalidation information recognition unit 1156, or invalidate the optical information recording medium 200. When information is recorded, invalidation information is transmitted to the invalidation information recognition unit 1156, or when invalidation information is not recorded on the optical information recording medium 200, the memory control unit 1151 is directly connected. And controls various processes related to loading / unloading of the optical information recording medium 200.

Next, in addition to the reproduction system 100, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 shown in FIG. 14 includes a memory 116, a timer 117, a data recording circuit 119, an operation unit 120, an Internet terminal device (terminal device) 121, the Internet 122, and a web. A server (information relay device, information supply device) 123 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 115 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 includes a memory control unit (recording control unit) 1151, a medium writing control unit (medium writing control unit) 1154, an invalidation information recognition unit (invalidation). An information recognition unit 1156, a disk recognition unit (medium recognition unit) 1157, and an Internet communication control unit (communication control unit) 1155 are included.

The memory control unit 1151 download information reproduced from the lead-in area of the optical information recording medium 200, and a medium identification number (medium identification information: disc identification number) and download information acquired by the disc recognition unit 1157 described below. Corresponding relationship information (for example, a correspondence table) indicating the correspondence relationship between the download information and the correspondence relationship information is stored in the memory 116, the downloaded download information and the correspondence relationship information are read, and the download information is transmitted to the Internet communication control unit 1155. In response to a notification (invalidation information recognition notification) indicating that invalidation information has been recognized from the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 described below, the download information recorded in the memory 116 is deleted, etc. Data such as download information and correspondence information between 116 and other components. And it performs the control of such exchanges.

The medium writing control unit 1154 drives the data recording circuit 119 or the like to record the content transmitted from the Internet terminal device 121 on the optical information recording medium 200, or a download execution command is input from the operation unit 120. In this case, the Internet communication control unit 1155 is driven to establish a connection between the web server 123 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 via the Internet 122, and the content from the web server 123 is received. When an instruction to control the writing of data to the recording medium 200 and to cancel the recording is input via the operation unit 120, the data recording circuit 119 and the like are driven, and the second information on the optical information recording medium 200 is driven. Write invalidation information in the recording area or write data to the optical information recording medium 200 Which control is to perform.

The internet communication control unit 1155 receives the download information from the memory control unit 1151, drives the internet terminal device 121, and instructs the internet terminal device 121 to download content from the web server 123 based on the download information (download). Command) is transmitted (transmitted) to control the exchange of contents on the Internet 122 between the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 and the web server 123.

If the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 does not recognize the invalidation information, the invalidation information recognition unit 1156 drives the memory control unit 1151 (may be configured to transmit a notification that the invalidation information has not been recognized) and connects to the Internet. When the invalidation information is recognized, a notification to that effect (invalidation information recognition notification) is transmitted to the memory control unit 1151, and other configurations relating to “invalidation information” are performed. It controls the interaction with the.

The disc recognition unit 1157 recognizes (detects) whether or not the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002, and drives the memory control unit 1151 when the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded. Thus, a medium identification number (medium identification information: disk identification number) is acquired from the optical information recording medium 200, the medium identification number is transmitted to the invalidation information recognition unit 1156, or invalid to the optical information recording medium 200. When invalidation information is recorded, invalidation information is transmitted to the invalidation information recognition unit 1156, or when invalidation information is not recorded on the optical information recording medium 200, the memory control unit 1151 is driven. Thus, various processes related to loading / unloading of the optical information recording medium 200 are controlled.

When the Internet terminal device 121 establishes a connection between the web server 123 and the information recording / reproducing device 1002 via the Internet 122 or when the connection is established, the Internet terminal device 121 displays “download start?” ( Display on the Internet 122 between the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 and the web server 123, or the like, and the content downloaded from the web server 123 is transmitted to the medium write control unit 1154. Exchanges and so on.

Next, the operation flow of the other information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that the operation flow of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 is omitted because the processing is almost the same except that the broadcasting station selection unit 1153 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 is replaced with the Internet communication control unit 1155.

In step S11 (hereinafter, “step” is omitted), the user loads the optical information recording medium 200 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001, and proceeds to S12.

In S12, when the disk recognition unit 1157 receives an output (disk loading signal) from a disk detection unit (medium detection unit) (not shown), “medium indicating that the optical information recording medium 200 is loaded in the memory control unit 1151” "Detection notification" is transmitted, and the process proceeds to S13. The “medium detection notification” may be notified to the invalidation information recognition unit 1156.

In S13, when the memory control unit 1151 receives “medium detection notification” from the disc recognition unit 1157, the data reproduction circuit 110 and the like are driven to control data (OPC process: A step from the lead-in area of the optical information recording medium 200). of Optimum Power Control; information necessary for defect management processing, etc.) is read and recorded in the memory 116, and the process proceeds to S14.

In S14, if the memory control unit 1151 drives the data reproduction circuit 110 and the like and reservation invalidation information (invalidation information) is recorded in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200, it is used. Read, “reservation cancellation notification” is notified to the memory control unit 1151, and the process proceeds to S15.

In S15, if the memory control unit 1151 reads the reservation invalidation information by driving the data reproduction circuit 110 or the like, “YES” is determined, and the process proceeds to S24.

In S 24, the disk recognition unit 1157 reads the medium identification information (disc identification information) from the optical information recording medium 200 inserted by driving the data reproduction circuit 110 and the like, and matches the medium identification number recorded in the memory 116. If yes, “YES” is determined, the disk recognition unit 1157 notifies the memory control unit 1151 of “medium match notification”, and the process proceeds to S25. On the other hand, if the medium identification information and the medium identification number recorded in the memory 116 do not match in S24, "NO" is determined and the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the state waits for an input from the operation unit 120 and becomes “END”.

In S 25, the memory control unit 1151 receives the “medium match notification” from the disk recognition unit 1157, and correspondence information (corresponding relationship information) that indicates the correspondence between the medium identification number (disc identification number) recorded in the memory 116 and the reservation information. For example, the reservation information corresponding to the inserted optical information recording medium 200 is erased from the memory 116 based on the correspondence relationship table), and the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the state waits for an input from the operation unit 120 and becomes “END”.

On the other hand, if the memory control unit 1151 does not read the reservation invalidation information in S15, “No” is determined, and the process proceeds to S16.

In S16, when the memory control unit 1151 drives the data reproducing circuit 110 and the like and the reservation information is recorded in the lead-in area of the optical information recording medium 200, it reads it, records it in the memory 116, and S17 Proceed to

In S17, if the memory control unit 1151 does not read the reservation information, “No” is determined and the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the state waits for an input from the operation unit 120 and becomes “END”.

On the other hand, if the memory control unit 1151 reads the reservation information, the determination becomes YES and the process proceeds to S18.

In S18, the memory control unit 1151 confirms whether or not a broadcast program corresponding to the reservation information is already recorded in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200.

Thereafter, if the broadcast program has already been recorded in the optical information recording medium 200, the memory control unit 1151 determines “YES” and proceeds to S26. In S26, the state waits for an input from the operation unit 120 and becomes “END”.

On the other hand, if the broadcast program is not yet recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 in S18, the memory control unit 1151 becomes “No” and proceeds to S19.

In S19, the date and time confirmation unit 1152 extracts the “current date and time” from the output signal from the timer 117, and the “current date and time” has passed the “reservation date and time” included in the reservation information recorded in the memory 116. If not, a “content acquisition command” is notified to the memory control unit 1151.

When the memory control unit 1151 receives the “content acquisition command”, the information indicating the location of the broadcast station scheduled to broadcast the broadcast program corresponding to the reservation information, out of the reservation information to the broadcast station selection unit 1153, For example, information such as program frequency is transmitted.

Upon receiving information such as the program frequency, the broadcast station selection unit 1153 adjusts the reception frequency of the tuner 118 to the program frequency so that the broadcast program can be received at any time from a communication unit (communication control means) (not shown).

After that, the tuner 118 notifies the medium writing control unit 1154 of a “reception availability notification” that is information indicating that the communication unit can communicate.

Upon receiving the “reception availability notification” from the tuner 118, the medium writing control unit 1154 enters a standby state until the reservation date and time is reached (reservation standby state), and proceeds to S20.

In S20, the medium writing control unit 1154 displays reservation information (FLFluorescent Lighting) on a display unit (not shown), and proceeds to S21.

In S21, if the user has input an intention to cancel the reservation via the operation unit 120, “YES” is determined, and the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the state waits for an input from the operation unit 120 and becomes “END”.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S21 that the user has not entered an intention to cancel the reservation via the operation unit 120, “NO” is determined, and the process proceeds to S22.

In S 22, the date and time confirmation unit 1152 extracts “current date and time” from the output signal from the timer 117, and the “current date and time” matches the “reservation date and time” included in the reservation information recorded in the memory 116. If not, “NO” is returned, and the process returns to S21.

On the other hand, in S 22, the date confirmation unit 1152 extracts the “current date” from the output signal from the timer 117, and the “current date” is included in the reservation information recorded in the memory 116. If it matches, “date and time match notification” is notified to the medium writing control unit 1154, and the process proceeds to S23.

In S23, the medium writing control unit 1154 receives the “date and time match notification” from the date and time confirmation unit 1152, receives a broadcast of a broadcast program (content) corresponding to the reservation information from a communication unit (communication control unit) (not shown), The broadcast program (content) is recorded (recorded) in the second information recording area of the optical information recording medium 200 by driving the data recording circuit 119 and the like, and becomes “END”.

[5. Display on information recording media)
Next, display on the surfaces of the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 will be described.

In the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, related information related to the first episode and the second episode of the continuous television drama is displayed in advance on the surface opposite to the surface on which the reproduction light is incident. It is preferable.

Further, in the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the related information may be displayed on a peelable sticking type label attached to the surface on the opposite side.

According to the above configuration, if the related information is displayed in advance on the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the user identifies the content recorded on the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201. Therefore, it is not necessary to write the content name recorded on the label or jacket attached to the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201. In addition, although it is preferable that the sticking type | mold label is detachable, the reason is demonstrated below.

Further, in the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201, the surface on the opposite side may be a surface on which information can be directly written.

According to the configuration, related information desired by the user can be written, the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201 can be diverted to recording other contents, and the above-described sticking type label becomes unnecessary. In this case, it is possible to peel off the affixing type label and directly write the user's favorite information, which improves the convenience for the user.

For example, a label on which a design corresponding to a continuous television drama is printed may be attached to the back surface of the reproduction light incident surface of the optical information recording medium 200 and the optical information recording medium 201.

The label may be peeled off, and the surface after peeling may be writable with a pen or the like.

Further, a heat-sensitive or photosensitive recording medium may be applied to the surface after peeling, and a design corresponding to a continuous TV drama may be recorded in advance by a thermal head or an optical head. It may be one that can be rewritten by the user using a compatible device.

As described above, an information recording medium, an information recording / reproducing apparatus, a control method for the information recording / reproducing apparatus, an information recording program, and a computer capable of easily managing reservation recording and downloading of a plurality of mutually related contents such as a continuous TV drama A readable recording medium can be provided.

Finally, each block of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002, particularly the control unit 115, may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows. .

That is, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 expand a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and the program. A random access memory (RAM), a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data, and the like. The object of the present invention is to read the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 which is software that realizes the above-described functions by a computer. The recording medium that can be recorded is supplied to the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) reads and executes the program code recorded on the recording medium. Is possible.

Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and a compact disk-ROM / MO / MD / digital video disk / compact disk-R. A disk system including an optical disk, a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card, or a semiconductor memory system such as a mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM can be used.

Further, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1001 and the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1002 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

The information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium from which various types of information can be read. The first information area (first information recording area) where the first content is recorded in advance and the second content are recorded. Possible second information area (second information recording area) and third information area (third information) in which reservation information for recording second content related to the first content in the second information area is recorded Recording area).

In the information recording medium of the present invention, the reservation information may include bit rate information of the second content recorded in the second information area.

Further, the information recording medium of the present invention includes a plurality of information recording layers from which information can be read by reproduction light, an intermediate layer separating each of the plurality of information layers, and a position farthest from the substrate. A light-transmitting layer provided on the substrate, wherein at least one of the plurality of information recording layers is a layer from which information can be read out, and at least one of the other information recording layers records information. A layer configured to be capable of reading the information is allocated to the first information area and the third information area, and a layer capable of recording the information is allocated to the second information recording area. May be.

The information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium from which various types of information can be read, and includes a first information area in which the first content is recorded in advance, and a second information area in which the second content can be recorded. A third information area in which download information for recording the second content related to the first content in the second information area is recorded.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, the download information may include a key for permitting download recording.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, an area in which invalidation information for invalidating the reservation information or the download information may be provided in the second information area.

The information recording medium of the present invention is the information recording medium, and is related to the second content recorded on the surface opposite to the surface on which the reproduction light is incident based on the reservation information or the download information. Information to be displayed may be displayed in advance.

In addition, the information recording medium of the present invention may be a peelable sticky label on which the display is printed.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention, the display may be constituted by a writable surface.

Also, the information recording medium of the present invention uses the information recording medium, and stores the second content obtained based on the reservation information or download information reproduced from the third information area on the optical information recording medium. It may be recorded in the upper second information area.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the third information area is based on invalidation information recorded in the second information area on the information recording medium. It may be determined whether or not the reservation information or the download information recorded in the screen is executable.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention further comprises invalidation instruction input means for invalidating reservation information or download information recorded in the third information area on the information recording medium, and the invalidation instruction Invalidation information corresponding to the input may be recorded in the second information area on the information recording medium.

Further, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention stores information specifying an information recording medium corresponding to the reservation information or download information in a memory means, and the invalidation information is stored in a second information area on the information recording medium. If recorded, the information stored in the memory may be erased.

The information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and the plurality of information recording media The area includes at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area, and at least a first content is recorded in the first information recording area in advance, and the second information The recording area is an information recording area in which related content related to the first content can be recorded, and recording of the related content in the second information recording area is started in the third information recording area Recording start information for making it possible may be recorded in advance.

In addition, regarding the allocation of the first information recording area, the second information recording area, and the third information recording area, in the case of an information recording medium having a single-layer recording layer, all the information recording areas are It is assigned to the recording layer.

It should be noted that “at least” indicates that information other than the first content may be recorded.

In addition, the second information recording area can record related content related to the first content. The “related content” may be only the last episode or several episodes from the third episode to the final episode, taking a continuous TV drama as an example.

Here, examples of the first content and the related content include a plurality of mutually related content, a content that is announced in a timely manner, or a content that is sequentially announced and completed one by one.

For example, an example of content that will be announced after a time is a popular TV broadcast program that has been running almost every day for several years. As an example of the content that is completed by publishing each time one by one, the first story to the last story such as a continuous TV drama is applicable.

Other examples of the first content and the related content include the first movie and the second movie created when the first movie is well received, daily, weekly, monthly, or Contents that are released regularly every year, singles and albums of an artist, and document data, but are created when the first application software such as Soseki Natsume's complete works and the first work gains popularity. Examples include the second application software, emails and chats between specific people.

Further, the recording start information may be reservation information for recording the related content in the second information recording area. For example, in the case where the content is a broadcast program that is broadcast during a predetermined period, various types of information such as a program name, a broadcast channel (frequency information), a broadcast date, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast end time correspond to the reservation information.

If the reservation information (recording start information) of the broadcast program (related content) after the second episode is recorded at the time of manufacturing the information recording medium, the user can obtain the reservation information of the broadcast program after the second episode by some means. There is no need to record on an information recording medium.

Further, the recording start information may be download information for downloading and recording the related content in the second information recording area. For example, various information such as a protocol related to the content including the data format of the content and a URL (Uniform Resource 示す Locator) indicating the location of the content corresponds to the download information.

In addition, the data format of the content and the data compression scheme are: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) related to music, WAV (a standard file format of Windows audio data, also called a WAVE file or a WAVE sound file), and MP3. (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) etc.

On the other hand, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention uses the recording start information recorded in the third recording information recording area of the information recording medium described above or below as a reference to the related content. It may be recorded in the second information recording area.

Also, the control method of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and the plurality of information recording The area includes at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area, and at least a first content is recorded in the first information recording area in advance, and the second information The recording area is an information recording area in which related content related to the first content can be recorded, and recording of the related content in the second information recording area is started in the third information recording area A method for controlling an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with an information recording medium in which recording start information for recording is recorded in advance, wherein the recording is recorded in the third information recording area Based on the start information, the related content may be recorded on the second information recording area of the information recording medium.

According to the above configuration, if reservation recording (downloading recording) of a continuous television drama or the like (content) is troublesome in the above-described example, the information recording medium of the present invention is used before the start of the second episode broadcasting. An information recording medium that automatically records episodes 1 through 12 can be automatically created simply by loading the information recording / playback apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as an “information recording / playback apparatus”) having the above-described configuration. It becomes possible to do.

As described above, it is possible to easily manage reservation recording and downloading of a plurality of related contents such as a continuous TV drama.

In addition to the above configuration, the information recording medium of the present invention may have download permission information for permitting execution of the download recording recorded in advance in the third information recording area.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent content download by a user operation without knowing the download permission information, which is a security measure.

As examples of “download permission information”, a download permission key (encryption key) that permits downloading, information on a license agreement for content, and the like can be listed.

In addition to the above configuration, in the information recording medium of the present invention, transmission rate information indicating the amount of transmission data per unit time of the first content and the related content is recorded in the third information recording area in advance. It is preferable.

Here, examples of the transmission rate information include a bit rate and a frame rate.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to record higher quality content within the allowable range of the recording capacity of the second information recording area.

In addition to the above configuration, the information recording medium of the present invention is provided on the substrate at the position farthest from the substrate, the plurality of recording layers, the intermediate layer separating each of the plurality of recording layers, and the substrate. The plurality of recording layers can read information by reproducing light, and at least one of the plurality of recording layers can only read information. And at least one of the other recording layers is a layer capable of recording information, and the first information recording area and the third information recording area are assigned to layers that can only read the information, The second information recording area may be assigned to a layer capable of recording the information.

Here, first, the specific structure of the information recording medium of the present invention will be described.

The information recording medium according to the present invention is a so-called hybrid optical information recording medium, and at least one of the plurality of recording layers is a layer from which information can only be read (reproduction-only recording layer: hereinafter And at least one of the other recording layers is a layer capable of recording information, and has a structure in which a light transmitting layer is provided at a position farthest from the substrate. .

Note that the thickness of the intermediate layer may be an appropriate thickness that allows the recording layers to be separated and interlayer crosstalk does not become a problem. Interlayer crosstalk refers to noise from a recording layer other than the recording layer being reproduced. Further, the intermediate layer may have a multilayer structure.

Moreover, any material may be used for the light transmissive layer as long as it has a high transmittance at the wavelength of the reproduction light.

In the information recording medium of the present invention having the structure as described above, the first information recording area and the third information recording area are allocated to a layer from which the information can only be read, and the second information recording area Is preferably assigned to a layer capable of recording the information.

Because the second information recording area needs to record the related content, it is necessary to allocate the information to a recordable layer.

Further, by assigning the first information recording area to a layer that can only read the information, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which another data is mistakenly overwritten on the first content. .

In addition, by assigning the third information recording area to a layer that can only read the information, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation in which another data is mistakenly overwritten on the recording start information. .

Further, since the recording start information can be recorded at the time of manufacturing the information recording medium of the present invention, it is not necessary for the user to record the content recording start information on the information recording medium by any means, and the content recording start information is stored in the ROM layer. Therefore, the recordable area of the second information recording area of the R layer or the RE layer in which the related content is recorded is not deleted.

Thus, from the viewpoint of the manufacturer, there is an advantage that the first content and the recording start information can be easily changed when the information recording medium of the present invention is manufactured.

Here, as described above, in the information recording medium described in Patent Document 1, even if the broadcast program recorded by the reservation information has contents that do not meet the user's expectation, it is used for reservation recording of the reservation information. There is a problem that the recorded area cannot be diverted to recording of other contents. Therefore, for example, after a broadcast program corresponding to the reservation information is broadcast, only the reservation information is recorded, and there is a problem that the information recording medium is completely unnecessary for the user.

In order to solve such a problem, the information recording medium of the present invention has the second information recording of the related content corresponding to the recording start information in the second information recording area in addition to the configuration. An area in which invalidation information for determining cancellation of recording in the area can be recorded may be provided.

Here, “invalidation information” is information for determining cancellation of recording of the related content corresponding to the recording start information in the second information recording area. For example, when “invalidation information” exists, the information recording / reproducing apparatus is configured so that the related content corresponding to the recording start information is not recorded in the second information recording area.

On the other hand, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium described below or below, the recording start information corresponding to the invalidation information is It may be determined to be invalid, and the recording of the related content corresponding to the recording start information in the second information recording area may be canceled.

In addition to the above configuration, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention further includes an input unit for inputting an instruction to cancel recording of the related content in the second information recording area. When the instruction to cancel the recording is input, the invalidation information may be recorded in the second information recording area.

According to the configuration of the information recording medium and the information recording / reproducing apparatus described above, when the content recorded by the recording start information is not in accordance with the user's expectation, the invalidation information is stored in the information recording medium of the present invention. By recording, it is possible to prevent content having contents that do not meet the user's expectations from being recorded on the information recording medium, and to improve the user's convenience.

Further, in addition to the above configuration, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes the recording start information recorded in the third information recording area of the information recording medium when there are a plurality of the information recording media, A recording unit that records correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the recording start information and the information recording medium, and the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium; Based on the correspondence information, the recording start information corresponding to the information recording medium may be erased from the recording unit.

According to the above configuration, since the recording start information corresponding to the information recording medium in which the invalidation information is recorded is erased from the recording unit, content that does not meet the user's expectation is erroneously recorded in the information recording medium. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of being recorded on the screen.

Also, with the above configuration, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention does not recognize the recording start information corresponding to the content that does not meet the user's expectation, which is recorded on the information recording medium on which the invalidation information is recorded. Therefore, the second information recording area where the content is scheduled to be recorded can be recognized as a recording area where normal recording is possible.

Therefore, it becomes possible to divert the second information recording area corresponding to the recording start information to recording other contents.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, related information related to the first content and the related content is displayed in advance on the surface opposite to the surface on which the reproduction light is incident. May be.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the related information may be displayed on a peelable sticking type label attached to the surface on the opposite side.

According to the above configuration, if the related information is displayed in advance on the information recording medium of the present invention, it is attached to the information recording medium so that the user can identify the content recorded on the information recording medium. There is no need to write a content name recorded on a label or a jacket. In addition, although it is preferable that the sticking type | mold label is detachable, the reason is demonstrated below.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the surface on the opposite side may be a surface on which information can be directly written.

According to the above configuration, when the user's favorite related information is written, the information recording medium of the present invention is diverted to the recording of other contents, or the above-described sticking type label is not necessary, It is possible to peel off the affixing type label and directly write the user's favorite information, and the convenience for the user is improved.

The information recording program of the present invention is an information recording program for causing a computer to execute processing in an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with the information recording medium, and is recorded in the third information recording area. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of recording the related content in the second information recording area of the information recording medium based on the recording start information may be used.

The information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and at least the first content is The first information recording area recorded in advance, the second information recording area capable of recording related content related to the first content, and the recording of the related content into the second information recording area are started. Recording start information to be recorded may be provided in advance as a third information recording area.

The control method of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, To the first information recording area where the first content is recorded in advance, the second information recording area where the related content related to the first content can be recorded, and the second information recording area of the related content A control method for an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with an information recording medium having a third information recording area in which recording start information for starting recording of the information is recorded in advance, which is recorded in the third information recording area. The related content may be recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium based on the recording start information.

The information recording program of the present invention is an information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, and at least the first content is The first information recording area recorded in advance, the second information recording area capable of recording related content related to the first content, and the recording of the related content into the second information recording area are started. An information recording program for causing a computer to execute processing in an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with an information recording medium having a third information recording area in which recording start information for recording is recorded in advance. Based on the recording start information recorded in the recording area, the related content is recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium. That treatment or information recording program for causing the computer to execute.

Each means, each function, each process, and each step and each process in the information recording / reproducing apparatus and method thereof may be realized by a computer. In this case, the computer operates as each means. The information recording / reproducing apparatus and the method thereof are realized by the computer by causing the computer to realize each function, or causing the computer to execute each process, each step, or each process, and the image processing program recorded thereon. Computer-readable recording media are also within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, it is possible to provide an information recording medium, an information recording / reproducing apparatus control method, an information recording program, and the like that can easily manage recording of a plurality of mutually related contents such as a continuous TV drama on the own medium. There is an effect that can be done.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the technical means disclosed in different embodiments can be appropriately combined. Such embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium including an optical disc such as a compact disc-ROM, MO, MD, digital video disc, compact disc-R, and Blu-Ray, and an information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the optical information recording medium. Can be widely applied. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to magnetic recording media that use magnetism for recording, optical / thermally assisted magnetic recording media that perform magnetic recording using light and heat, and information recording / reproducing apparatuses corresponding to the magnetic recording media.

10 translucent layer 20 1st information recording layer (layer which can only read information, recording layer)
30 Intermediate layer 40 Second information recording layer (layer capable of recording information, recording layer)
50 Substrate 60 Lead-in area (third information recording layer, layer that can only read information)
200, 201, 202, 400 Optical information recording medium (information recording medium)
100 playback system (information recording and playback device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Disk drive motor 102 Optical pick-up 102a Objective lens 102b Tracking drive coil 102c Focus drive coil 102d Half prism 102e Collimator lens 102f Semiconductor laser oscillator 102g Light quantity detector

102h Condensing lens

102i Cylindrical lens 102j Photoelectric converter 102j1-102j4 Photo detector 103 Laser control Circuit 104 Differential amplifier circuit 105 Focus control circuit 106 Tracking control circuit 107 Phase difference detection circuit 108 Feed motor control circuit 109 Motor control circuit 110 Data reproduction circuit (data reproduction control means)
111 Feed motor 112

Speed detector

113a, 113c, 113b, 113d,

113e Adder circuit

114a, 114b, 114c, 114d Amplifier circuit 115 Control unit 116 Memory (recording unit)
117 Timer 118 Tuner 119 Data recording circuit (data recording control means)
120 operation unit (input means)
121 Internet terminal equipment (terminal equipment)
122 Internet 123 Web server (information relay device, information supply device)
1001, 1002 Information recording / reproducing apparatus 1151 Memory control unit (recording control means)
1152 Date and time confirmation unit (date and time confirmation means)
1153 Broadcasting station selection section (broadcasting station selection means)
1154 Medium writing control unit (medium writing control means)
1155 Internet communication control unit (communication control means)
1156 Invalidation information recognition unit (invalidation information recognition means)
1157 Disc recognition unit (medium recognition means)

Claims

An information recording medium having a single layer or a plurality of recording layers to which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated,
The plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area, a second information recording area, and a third information recording area,
In the first information recording area, at least first content is recorded in advance,
The second information recording area is an information recording area capable of recording related content related to the first content,
An information recording medium in which recording start information for starting recording of the related content in the second information recording area is recorded in the third information recording area in advance.
The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording start information is reservation information for recording the related content in the second information recording area.
2. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording start information is download information for downloading and recording the related content in the second information recording area.
4. The information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein download permission information for permitting execution of the download recording is recorded in advance in the third information recording area.
5. The transmission rate information indicating the transmission data amount per unit time of the first content and the related content is recorded in the third information recording area in advance. The information recording medium according to item 1.
2. The first content and the related content are a plurality of mutually related content, and are content that is announced in a timely manner or content that is successively announced and completed one time at a time. The information recording medium according to any one of 5 to 5.
On the substrate, the plurality of recording layers, an intermediate layer separating each of the plurality of recording layers, and a translucent layer provided at a position furthest from the substrate,
The plurality of recording layers can read information by reproducing light,
Of the plurality of recording layers, at least one layer is a layer that can only read information, and among other recording layers, at least one layer is a layer that can record information,
The first information recording area and the third information recording area are assigned to layers that can only read the information,
The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second information recording area is allocated to a layer capable of recording the information.
The second information recording area is provided with an area capable of recording invalidation information for determining cancellation of recording of the related content corresponding to the recording start information in the second information recording area. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is a recording medium.
8. The information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein related information related to the first content and the related content is displayed in advance on a surface opposite to the surface on which the reproduction light is incident. .
10. The information recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the related information is displayed on a peelable label attached to the surface on the opposite side.
10. The information recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the surface on the opposite side is a surface on which information can be directly written.
12. The second information recording of the information recording medium based on the recording start information recorded in the third information recording area of the information recording medium according to claim 1. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording in an area.
9. When the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area in the information recording medium according to claim 8, it is determined that the recording start information corresponding to the invalidation information is invalid, and the recording An information recording / reproducing apparatus for canceling recording of the related content corresponding to start information in the second information recording area.
An input means for inputting an instruction to cancel recording of the related content in the second information recording area;
14. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area when an instruction to cancel the recording is input through the input means.
When there are a plurality of the information recording media,
A recording unit for recording the recording start information recorded in the third information recording area of the information recording medium and correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the recording start information and the information recording medium;
When the invalidation information is recorded in the second information recording area of the information recording medium, the recording start information corresponding to the information recording medium is erased from the recording unit based on the correspondence information. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 13.
A single layer or a plurality of recording layers from which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, are provided. The plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area and a second information recording area. An area and a third information recording area, at least a first content is recorded in the first information recording area in advance, and the second information recording area contains related content related to the first content. An information recording area that can be recorded, and in the third information recording area, recording start information for starting recording of the related content in the second information recording area is recorded in advance. A method for controlling an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with a medium, comprising:
A control method for an information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the related content is recorded in a second information recording area of the information recording medium based on the recording start information recorded in the third information recording area.
A single layer or a plurality of recording layers from which at least information can be read, to which a plurality of information recording areas are allocated, are provided. The plurality of information recording areas include at least a first information recording area and a second information recording area. An area and a third information recording area, at least a first content is recorded in the first information recording area in advance, and the second information recording area contains related content related to the first content. An information recording area that can be recorded, and in the third information recording area, recording start information for starting recording of the related content in the second information recording area is recorded in advance. An information recording program for causing a computer to execute processing in an information recording / reproducing apparatus loaded with a medium,
An information recording program for causing a computer to execute a process of recording the related content in a second information recording area of the information recording medium based on the recording start information recorded in the third information recording area.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the information recording program according to claim 17 is recorded.