189results about "Overwriting/replacing recorded data" patented technology

A recording medium that is a write-once recording medium with data rewritability, thereby increasing the usability of the write-once recording medium, is provided. In a write-once recording medium, a main data area has a normal record and playback sub-area (a user data section), a rewriting replacement sub-area (an OSA), and a replacement management sub-area (an ISA). In response to a request to write data to an address at which data has been recorded, the rewritten data is recorded in the rewriting replacement sub-area (the OSA), and replacement management information that associates the original address with the address in the rewriting replacement sub-area is recorded into the replacement management sub-area (the ISA). Thus, data rewriting is achieved. Accordingly, a write-once recording medium can be substantially used as a data rewritable recording medium.

A method and apparatus for recording on an optical recording medium, including the recording of management information, are described as a standard for the write-once Blu-ray disc. The management information is recorded in a management area of the disc, such as a temporary defect management area (TDMA), and includes record status information and update information. The record status information is a space bitmap (SBM) indicating whether a recording operation has been performed for a predetermined area of the disc, and the update information is SBM update information indicating whether the record status information is to be continuously managed. The SBM update information controls the state of an SBM-on / off function for each of a plurality of recording areas and may be in the form of either start position information and length information corresponding to the respective areas or an SBM update flag. The SBM update information is recorded in the TDMA and is stored in a memory of an optical disc recording / reproducing device for use during recording and reproducing operations. At the time of recording in the predetermined area, an SBM-on state enables a logical overwriting operation to be performed as necessary.

In order to enhance the usability of a write-once recording medium, the recording medium is provided with an ordinary recording / reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area and a second alternate-address management information area. In addition, written / unwritten state indication information is recorded in a predetermined area. The second alternate-address management information area is an area allowing alternate-address management information recorded therein to be renewed by adding alternate-address management information to the area. Alternate-address management information recorded in the second alternate-address management information area includes information recorded in a first information format and information recorded in a second information format. The first information format shows an alternate source address and an alternate destination address for each data unit. On the other hand, the second information format shows an alternate source address and an alternate destination address for a group of a plurality of physically continuous data units. The second information format is used as a format for effectively carrying out an alternate-address process on such a group of data units. All alternate-address management information is recorded in the first alternate-address management information area in the first information format.

The present invention allows the usability of a write-once recording medium to be enhanced. The write-once recording medium is provided with an ordinary recording / reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area (DMA) and a second alternate-address management information area (TDMA). In addition, written / unwritten state indication information (a space bitmap) is also recorded. The second alternate-address management information area is an area allowing alternate-address management information recorded therein to be renewed by adding alternate-address management information thereto. In addition, the written / unwritten state indication information indicates whether or not data has been recorded in each data unit (cluster) on the recording medium. Thus, it is possible to correctly execute management of defects and properly implement renewal of data in the write-once recording medium.

An information recording apparatus 110 includes a defect list update section 122 for updating a defect list having a defect address registered therein which represents a position of a defect area existing in a user area, and a recording section 113 for recording information on the information recording medium 130 based on the updated defect list. The defect list update section 122 determines whether or not an area designated by the defect address registered in the defect list is a defect area; and when the area designated by the defect address is determined not to be a defect area, the defect list update section 122 deletes the defect address, registered in the defect list, from the defect list.

Method of contiguously recording a sequence of ordered A / V information signals, such as video / audio information, and corresponding management information signals, such as video management, menu information or file information, on a disc-like recording medium of the write-once type, such as an optically recordable and readable disc. The recorded information complies to the requirements of ordering of such information as defined by a disc of the read-only type or of the rewritable type. The method comprises allocating a reserved area within a linear addressing space of the disc, contiguously recording the A / V information signals in a video recording area located succeeding the reserved area, recording corresponding management data in a temporary overview space succeeding the video recording area, generating a mapping table for mapping the recorded management data to address locations in the reserved area and recording the mapping table in the temporary overview space. When finalizing the disc, the recorded management information signals is copied to the reserved area in correspondence to the latest mapping table information and the remaining unrecorded sections of the reserved area is recorded with arbitrary data signals.

In a write-once media, by using a selected area such as an area starting from a postscript-recording point in the main data area as an alternate area, by determining whether or not an address specified in a request such as a write request is an address at which data has been recorded on the basis of information on a sequential recording range and by recording pieces of alternate-address management information for replacing defective locations on the media and for renewing data recorded on the media in a table by letting the pieces of information coexist in the table, defective locations on the media can be replaced with other locations and data already recorded on the media can thus be renewed even without providing pre-allocated alternate area on the media. In addition, if the media is provided with an alternate area and the alternate area becomes insufficient for alternate-address processing, a selected region in the main data area can be used as a region supplementary to the insufficient alternate area. An example of the region is an area starting from a postscript-recording point mentioned above.

A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) essentially eliminates the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing in the boundary regions of adjacent annular data bands. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained for all the tracks in the range. For every writing to a track in a boundary region, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for the adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

In write-once media, there occurs wasted recording space at the time of update of an index file for AV file management. In view of this, a new index file is generated at the time of update, and thumbnail image data in an existing index file is referred to, whereby the wasted space is reduced, At the same time, attribute information is stored in the new index file, whereby high-speed access to minimum information required can be realized.

A method and apparatus for storing, updating, adding, deleting, and locating file system objects on a WORM storage medium, wherein information can be written to, but not erased from, the storage medium. The WORM storage medium has a writeable area that includes a system area and a data area. The system area includes system information regarding the file system objects on the storage medium. A system sector is written starting at one end of the system area, while the content of the file system objects is written in the data area starting at another end of the writeable area. When a change is made to the file system objects in the writeable area, an updated system sector is generated that replaces the previous file system information for those modified file system objects. Since the previous system sector is not erasable, the updated system sector is written in a location in the system area where it will be read before any previous system sectors. The updated system sector overrides file system information in previously generated system sectors. The information required to access all the file system objects on the storage medium may be included in the updated system sector, or in the updated system sector along with one or more of the previously generated system sectors.

A mark having a length nT (n being an integer equal to or greater than 3 and T being a clock period) is formed by modulating irradiation laser power with three values of recording power Pw, erase power Pe, and bias power Pb (Pw>Pe>Pb). Constant strength periods (At) of the recording power Pw are set as AtT, A1T, . . . and AmT and constant strength periods (Bt) of the bias power Pb are set as BtT, B1T, . . . BmT, and CT (C=−1 to 3). The application of laser is divided into pulses in order of AtT, BtT, A1T, B1T, . . . , AmT, BmT, and CT (m=(n−k) / 2, k=3 (if n is an odd number), or k=4 (if n is an even number)). (Here, the constant strength period of the recording power Pw for n=3, n=4, n≧5 (odd number), and n≧6 (even number) is set as At3, At4, Atod, and Atev, the constant strength period of the bias power Pb for n=3, n=4, n≧5 (odd number), and n≧6 (even number) is set as Bt3, Bt4, Btod, and Btev, and then, At3+Bt3=Atod+Btod=Am+Bm=2T and At4+Bt4=Atev+Btev=3T).

An optical recording medium provided with one or a plurality of recording layers includes an adjustment data recording area for recording therein adjustment data used for adjusting focus or spherical aberration of laser light used for recording / reproduction, the adjustment data recording area being disposed at a predetermined position on each of the one or plurality of recording layers, and a determination information recording area for recording therein determination information indicating whether or not the adjustment data has been recorded in the adjustment data recording area in each of the one or plurality of recording layers.

The present invention allows the usability of a write-once recording medium to be enhanced. The write-once recording medium is provided with an ordinary recording / reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area (DMA) and a second alternate-address management information area (TDMA). In addition, written / unwritten state indication information (a space bitmap) is also recorded. The second alternate-address management information area is an area allowing alternate-address management information recorded therein to be renewed by adding alternate-address management information thereto. In addition, the written / unwritten state indication information indicates whether or not data has been recorded in each data unit (cluster) on the recording medium. Thus, it is possible to correctly execute management of defects and properly implement renewal of data in the write-once recording medium.

In a rewritable compact disc having a wobble groove on a substrate, crystal and amorphous states of a phase-change recording layer are an unrecorded / erased state and a recorded state, respectively. When the recording layer is exposed to recording light, amorphous marks assuming the recorded state are formed. At any of 2-, 4- and 8-times velocities with respect to a reference velocity (1-times velocity) whose linear velocity is 1.2-1.4 m / s, modulation m11 of a recorded signal when the recording light of approximately 780 nm in wavelength irradiates the recording layer via an optical system with NA=0.5 or 0.55 is 60-80%. A topmost level Rtop of reflectivity of the eye pattern of the recorded signal during retrieving at the 1-times velocity is 15-25%, and a jitter of the individual length of marks and inter-mark spaces during retrieving at 1-times velocity is 35 ns or less. Recording at 8-times or higher velocities is thereby realized without any risk of impairing the read-compatibility with the conventional CD-RW specifications at least at 4-times velocity.

Backspacing over data to overwrite the data as recorded on magnetic tape is provided logically, rather than by causing a magnetic tape to drive to backhitch. The data is written to the magnetic tape as it was before it was logically changed in order to insure that the data is preserved on tape. Recovery of the data is from a succeeding data set which logically invalidates the original data by a superseding identifier. Control logic arranges data transactions for writing to magnetic tape as data sets; and, in response to backspace and overwrite commands, or when transactions are accumulated into a succeeding data set, rewrites the original transaction adjusted in accordance with the commands as a superseding data set downstream from the original transaction, logically invalidating the original transaction by setting a superseding identifier in the superseding data set(s).

An apparatus of recording data on a recording medium includes a pickup unit and a microcomputer. The pickup unit records data in a plurality of data frames included in a cluster. The microcomputer controls the pickup unit to record status information within the cluster, which indicates a status of the data being recorded in each data frame. In addition, the microcomputer further controls the pickup unit to record previous location information within the cluster when the cluster is determined to be a replacement cluster. The previous location information indicates a previous location of an original cluster associated with the replacement cluster.

The present invention enhances the usability of a write-once recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. The write-once recording medium has a plurality of recording layers each including a regular recording reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area and a second alternate-address management information area (a TDMA). In addition, written unwritten state indication information (a space bitmap) is recorded therein. Typically, the written unwritten state indication information is recorded in the second alternate-address management information area. By additionally recording alternate-address management information related to an alternate-address process in the second alternate-address management information area, the second alternate-address management information area can be used as an area for implementing renewal of the alternate-address management information. In addition, for every data unit (each cluster) on each of the recording layers on the write-once recording medium, written unwritten state indication information is used as information indicating whether or not data has been written into the data unit. On top of that, the second alternate-address management information areas (TDMAs), which are each provided on one of recording layers, are used sequentially one after another each as an area for updating alternate-address management information and written unwritten state indication information.

The present invention enhances the usability of a write-once recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. The write-once recording medium has a plurality of recording layers each including a regular recording reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area and a second alternate-address management information area (a TDMA). In addition, written unwritten state indication information (a space bitmap) is recorded therein. Typically, the written unwritten state indication information is recorded in the second alternate-address management information area. By additionally recording alternate-address management information related to an alternate-address process in the second alternate-address management information area, the second alternate-address management information area can be used as an area for implementing renewal of the alternate-address management information. In addition, for every data unit (each cluster) on each of the recording layers on the write-once recording medium, written unwritten state indication information is used as information indicating whether or not data has been written into the data unit. On top of that, the second alternate-address management information areas (TDMAs), which are each provided on one of recording layers, are used sequentially one after another each as an area for updating alternate-address management information and written unwritten state indication information.

The invention includes a testing method which may be applied to at least one writer in a disk drive during the self-test phase to generate write parameters, focused on the Over Shoot Control (OSC) of the write current parameter to improve the reliability of write operations by that writer. The Minimum OSC is used for write operations in normal temperatures. The Optimum OSC is used for a first lower temperature range, preferably between essentially 15° Centigrade and essentially 5° Centigrade. The Maximum OSC is preferred below essentially 5° C. The Minimum OSC should preferably guarantee both an Adjacent Track Write (ATW) criteria, as well as guarantee a Write Induced Instability (WII) criteria. The invention includes the write parameter collection, as well as the disk drive containing the generated write parameter collection. The invention also includes the method of using that write parameter collection to control a writer while writing to tracks belonging to the radial zone collection and program systems implementing the invention's methods.

A recording-medium management system comprising: a reproduction part; a recording part; and a control part. The control part performs a first through fourth control. The first control is to obtain a first data line from an authentication region of a recording medium by making the reproduction part read the authentication region, the authentication region including a first data pattern of a RAM bit and a ROM bit, the first data line being corresponding to the first data pattern, the RAM bit being over-writable of data at least once by a first writing condition, and the ROM bit being not over-writable of data by the first writing condition. The second control is to make the recording part overwrite predetermined data to the RAM bit. The third control is to obtain a second data line from the recording-medium, the second data line being corresponding to a second data pattern of the over-written RAM bit and the ROM bit. The fourth control is to perform an authentication with regard to the recording medium in reference to the first and second data lines.

A method and apparatus recording and / or reproducing data on / from a write-once disc, and a write-once disc therefor, the write-once disc having at least one recording layer including: a plurality of update areas in which predetermined updated information is recorded; and at least one access information area in which access information indicating an update area in which final recorded updated information is recorded. Reducing access time for reading the updated information using a location of predetermined updated information. Also, when a plurality of update areas for writing updated information required to use the write-once disc exist, a recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus can quickly and easily determine an update area in which final updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas.

An optical disk and a method of recording data in the optical disk are provided. When data is overwritten on a recordable and / or reproducible optical disk, the method includes performing linking in front of a physical cluster from which overwriting starts. According to the method, when overwriting is performed on a portion of an optical disk in which data has been recorded, or when overwriting is performed on a portion including a defective area, linking is performed in front of the portion on which the overwriting is performed or behind the defective area, thereby realizing reliable data recording and reproducing.

An apparatus of recording data on a recording medium includes a pickup unit and a microcomputer. The pickup unit records data in a plurality of data frames included in a cluster. The microcomputer controls the pickup unit to record status information within the cluster, which indicates a status of the data being recorded in each data frame. In addition, the microcomputer further controls the pickup unit to record previous location information within the cluster when the cluster is determined to be a replacement cluster. The previous location information indicates a previous location of an original cluster associated with the replacement cluster.

A write-once-type information recording medium is provided with: a user data area to record therein record data; a spare area to alter thereto one portion of addresses of said user data area, along with defect management in said user data area or logical overwriting to said user data area; and a defect management area to record therein defect management information which includes an alternative list and identification information, the alternative list indicating a correspondence relationship between an alternative source address in said user data area which is altered to said spare area and an alternative destination address in said spare area, the identification information being intended to identify whether each alternative is based on the defect management or the logical overwriting.

An information recording method performing recording on an information recording medium having multiple rewritable recording layers each having a data area in which user data is to be recorded is disclosed. The method includes a recorded area presence or absence determination step that determines whether a recorded area exists in at least the data area of a first recording layer; and a corresponding unrecorded area data filling step that, if the recorded area exists in the first recording layer, records predetermined data in an unrecorded area in an area, corresponding to the same radial position as the recorded area, in a second recording layer except the first recording layer at a predetermined timing before completion of the recording on the information recording medium.

An information recording method performing recording on an information recording medium having multiple rewritable recording layers each having a data area in which user data is to be recorded is disclosed. The method includes a recorded area presence or absence determination step that determines whether a recorded area exists in at least the data area of a first recording layer; and a corresponding unrecorded area data filling step that, if the recorded area exists in the first recording layer, records predetermined data in an unrecorded area in an area, corresponding to the same radial position as the recorded area, in a second recording layer except the first recording layer at a predetermined timing before completion of the recording on the information recording medium.

Replacement data for updating data recorded on an information storage medium is recorded in an area for logical overwrite (LOW) replacement; replacement data for replacing a defect generated on the medium is recorded in an area for defect replacement; and, if a defect is generated in an original block recorded in a predetermined area of the medium during a read-modify-write (RMW) process for a LOW for at least partial data of an original block, a replacement block replacing the original block is recorded in the area for LOW replacement and a defect list (DFL) entry including location information of the original block and location information of the replacement block is generated to indicate the replacement state.

An information recording medium, a recording and / or reproducing method, and a recording and / or reproducing apparatus. The recording and / or reproducing apparatus includes: a writing and / or reading unit which records data on and / or reads data from the information recording medium including a lead-in area, a data area including a user data area in which user data is recorded and a spare area in which replacement data updating the user data is recorded, and a lead-out area; and a controller which reads replacement enforcement flag information indicating a status of logical overwriting according to which the replacement data is recorded in the spare area from one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area and controls the writing and / or reading unit to update the user data with reference to the replacement enforcement flag information.