Abstract: In a method for setting variable areas of an optical disc which variably sets spare area rates of a prescribed quantity provided for preparing a liably-occurring recording error due to a defect of the optical disc having the variable spare areas, the total quantity of the spare areas installed to the optical disc may be the same as the prescribed quantity. Also, the size rates of the spare areas are variably set in the radius direction by centering about a center portion of the optical disc. Particularly, the more spare area rates are given to the inner circumferential portion and outer circumferential portion, and the less spare area rates are given to the center portion which is relatively stable portion, thereby minimizing the defect occurring rate to decrease the number of defective discs.

Abstract: In a method for setting variable areas of an optical disc which is variably sets spare area rates of at prescribed quantity provided for preparing a liably-occurring recording error due to a defect of the optical disc and in the optical disc having the variable spare areas, the total quantity of the spare areas installed to the optical disc may be the same as the prescribed quantity. Also, the size rates of the spare areas are variably set in the radius direction by centering about a center portion of the optical disc. Particularly, the more spare area rates are given to the inner circumferential portion and outer circuinterenitial portion, and the less spare area rates are given to the center portion which is relatively stable portion, thereby minimizing the defect occurring rate to decrease the number of defective discs.

Abstract: In a method for setting variable areas of an opical disc which variably sets spare area rates of a prescribed quantity provided for preparing a liably-occurring recording error due to a defect of the optical disc having the variable spare areas, the total quantity of the spare areas installed to the optical disc may be the same as the prescribed quantity. Also, the size rates of the spare areas are variably set in the radius direction by centering about a center portion of the optical disc. Particularly, the more spare area rates are given to the inner circumferential portion and outer circumferential portion, and the less spare area rates are given to the center portion which is relatively stable portion, thereby minimizing the defect occurring rate to decrease the number of defective discs.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for copy protecting an optical disk records test data, including modified first signals, on an optical disk such that, when reproduced, random ones of these modified first signals are reproduced as second signals. Both the first and second signals represent data having at least two zeros between successive ones. The method and apparatus for optical disk authentication and reproduction creates a statistical version of the test data through repeated reproduction of the test data. If the test data matches references data, possibly recorded on the optical disk as well, the optical disk is authenticated. Once authenticated, reproduction of the optical disk is permitted. If the test data forms part of the data for reproduction, then the statistical data is output as the reproduced data.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for copy protecting an optical disk records test data, including modified first signals, on an optical disk such that, when reproduced, random ones of these modified first signals are reproduced as second signals. Both the first and second signals represent data having at least two zeros between successive ones. The method and apparatus for optical disk authentication and reproduction creates a statistical version of the test data through repeated reproduction of the test data. If the test data matches references data, possibly recorded on the optical disk as well, the optical disk is authenticated. Once authenticated, reproduction of the optical disk is permitted. If the test data forms part of the data for reproduction, then the statistical data is output as the reproduced data.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for testing the quality of an optical disk medium records test data in the outer area of an optical disk. This outer area of the optical disk is not used when manufacturing a prerecorded disk, and is also not used by users of write-once optical disks. The quality of the optical disk is judged based on the test signal produced from reproducing the test data in the outer area of the optical disk.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for testing quality of an optical disk medium reproduce an auxiliary signal from an optical disk wherein the auxiliary signal corresponds to a preformatted structure of the optical disk. The quality of the optical disk is then determined based on the auxiliary signal.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for testing the quality of an optical disk medium moves an optical disk into a testing position (e.g. disposes the optical disk in a disk drive), and records test data in the outer area of an optical disk. This outer area of the optical disk is not used when manufacturing a prerecorded disk, and is also not used by users of write-once optical disks. The quality of the optical disk is judged based on the test signal produced from reproducing the test data in the outer area of the optical disk. Based on the judged quality, the optical disk is classified for further processing.