Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a multiple-layer optical storage disc, and to a method and device for writing information into such a disc.

Abstract: A recording device has medium interface means (14) for interfacing with a storage medium (11) for recording data on the medium and retrieving data from the medium, and a host interface (15) for communicating with a host (13) via messages according to a protocol (ATA/ATAPI). The messages include a write command for writing data, and a read command for reading data. In existing protocols (MMC-3) unwritten areas are considered to be areas that are not yet formatted, and zero data is to be returned on a read command. The device has an error reporting unit (16) for reporting an error via an error message in the event that during reading an area is detected which is unwritten.

Abstract: A device for recording information writes marks in a track on a record carrier of a re-writable type. The device records the information according to a predefined recording format like DVD for constituting a recording area containing user data preceded by a lead-in zone. The device has a formatting unit (36) for formatting the record carrier. First it is detected if the record carrier has been recorded before. If so, a size is determined of a pre-existing contiguously written area that extends from the beginning of the recording area. The formatting includes writing data on the record carrier indicating that the recording area does not contain user data. Formatting status information is provided on the record carrier indicating the size of the pre-existing contiguously written area.

Abstract: When a multi layer record carrier comprising video information is to be duplicated on another multi layer record carrier the data spread over two recording layers on the source record carrier must also be spread over the layers of the target record carrier. In order to avoid the processing of the video data to find an appropriate layer transition point the playback device provides the logical address of the layer transition point of the source record carrier to the recorder and the recorder uses this logical address to implement the layer transition on the target record carrier.

Abstract: A device for recording information writes marks in a track on a record carrier of a writable type. The device records the information according to a predefined recording format like DVD for constituting a recording area containing user data preceded by a lead-in zone and followed by a lead-out zone located at the end of the user data. The device has a lead-out unit (36) for finalizing the record carrier for playback on a reading device for read-only type record carriers. The finalizing starts with determining if data written in the recording area extends up to a predefined physical position. If the data extends at least up to the predefined position, no lead-out information is recorded, and if not, lead-out information is recorded up to the predefined position.

Abstract: When a multi layer record carrier comprimising video information is to be duplicated on another multi layer record carrier the data spread over two recording layers on the source record carrier must also be spread over the two layers of the target record carrier. Once an appropriate layer transition for the target record carrier has been established the size of the first layer is adjusted by moving the first logical address, thus limiting logical address space on the first layer of the target record carrier to exactly fit the video information obtained from the first layer of the source record carrier. Once the logical address space has been adjusted the layer transition will happen automatically at the correct point in the video information during the recording.

Abstract: The present application relates to a rewritable record carrier of a predetermined format storing one or more directories of user data in a predetermined data format. In particular, its invention relates to the storage of DVD-Video data on a Mount Rainier formatted optical disc, such as a DVD+RW disc. In order to enable a consumer player to play back video data which has been written to the record carrier in said predetermined format it is proposed that the record carrier comprises a convergence directory (VIDEO TS) including a title set (VTS) for each directory of user data stored on said record carrier, each title set comprising a title set information file (vts xy.ifo) and one or more object files (vts xy.vob), said title set information file (vts xy.ifo) including content and address information of said one or more object files (vts xy.vob) which comprise address information of said user data, and management information (VMG) comprising a management information file (video ts.

Abstract: When a multi layer record carrier comprising video information is to be duplicated on another multi layer record carrier the data spread over two recording layers on the source record carrier must also be spread over the two layers of the target record carrier. Once an appropriate layer transition for the target record carrier has been established the size of the first layer is adjusted by limiting the logical address space to exactly fit the video information obtained from the first layer of the source record carrier. Once the logical address space has been adjusted the layer transition will happen automatically at the correct point in the video information during the recording.

Abstract: A device for recording information on a storage medium (11) is arranged for formatting the storage medium. The device (12) has medium interface means (14) for interfacing with the storage medium (11) for recording data on the medium and retrieving data from the medium, and host interface means (15) for receiving commands according to a protocol (ATA/ATAPI) from a host (13). The commands include a format command. The device has formatting means (16) for formatting the storage medium according to a format process indicated by the format command. The formatting includes interrupting the format process until a point in time defined by a further command from the host. The advantage of interrupting the formatting is that no formatting in the background is performed, and therefore real-time performance of the device is not deteriorated by the formatting.

Abstract: A recording device has medium interface means for interfacing with a storage medium for recording data on the medium and retrieving data from the medium, and host interface means for communicating with a host via messages according to a protocol (ATA/ATAPI). The messages include a write command for writing a series of data blocks in real-time. The device has error monitoring for generating an error message for notifying the host in dependence of an error status within the series of data blocks (84). The error status may indicate the location of a write error (85) in the series, or exceeding a timeout during recording (TRS+TRET+TCAL).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of recording information on a recordable multi-layer record carrier, such as a dual layer DVD disc. The invention further relates to a recording device in which the above method is implemented.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium has been proposed. The apparatus comprises writing means (21, 22, 25) for recording the digital information signals and control means (20) for controlling the recording. The apparatus is capable of performing initialization, formatting and defect management of a rewritable medium. Further, the apparatus is capable of storing first file system data in a user area (UA) and second file system data in a general application area (GAA) on the medium. The control means (20) are adapted to enlarge GAA and to store the second file system data in it. This increases a number of files in UA, which can be addressed by the second file system data.

Abstract: The continuous update of the Recorded Area Indicator on a DVD+R disc leads to a loss in performance of the recorder. If the update is not continues the Recorded Area Indicator on the disc may not accurately reflect the status. In order to ensure that the Recorded Area Indicator accurately reflects the status but to avoid loss of performance the update of the Recorded Area Indicator is performed when a close track session command is issued to the drive signalling the end of the recording, regardless of whether the track or session on the disc remains open. During the recording the Recorded Area Indicator is kept and updated in the memory of the recorder.

Abstract: When a write error occurs on a write once recording medium the recording medium is currently discarded. By retrieving the location of the last recorded data block from the recorded area indicator on the recording medium a starting point for the search for the next empty data block suitable for recording is obtained. By searching for an empty data block the data blocks comprising write errors following the last recorded data block are skipped and the recording is continued at the empty data block found. After finishing the recording and writing the lead-in and lead-out information a record carrier is obtained that can be played in standard players.

Abstract: A recording device with loading means for loading a single record carrier comprises means for detecting not only that the loading means has reached its end position but also provides information that the loading means is currently loading or unloading the recording medium. This allows the recording device to start actions while the loading means is operating to prepare for the completion of the loading operation. A progress indication of the loading operation allows even better timing of actions by the recording device. A recording device may start filling a buffer once a certain progress of the loading operation is reached and the buffer size is sufficient to bridge the remaining duration of the loading operation. Thus the loss of information to be recorded is reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for creating a transfer file, the file comprising an information block comprising information on a data block and the data block comprising a navigation field and the navigation field comprising a Relative Logical Block Number of the navigation field, the method comprising the steps of creating a transfer file by appending the data block to the information block, to a method for recording such a transfer file, to a playback device and to a recording device.

Abstract: A disc recording device has a mode control unit (31) for switching the device either to a read mode or to a write mode. Reading and writing can be alternated for simultaneous recording and reproducing of video. A rotation speed control unit (37) sets the rotation speed of the record carrier, and has a speed selector (38) for selecting one of at least two speed settings for the read mode in dependence on an actual rotation speed of the record carrier during the write mode when switching from write mode to read mode. By setting the read speed to one of a limited number of settings the difference in rotation speed between said actual rotation speed and the speed in the read mode is limited. Due to the limited differences power dissipation is limited, while the performance of access time and playability of real-life discs is at a high level.

Abstract: Expiration information stored on an optical medium is applied to determine an expiration date of the optical medium that provides a predetermined reliability of information archived on the optical medium, such as a predetermined acceptable defect level of the information at the expiration date. An expiration engine associated with an information handling system or optical disc drive determines the expiration date from one or more factors, such as the manufacture date of read-only optical media, the initialization date of recordable optical media, a quality rating associated with a defect growth rate over time of the optical media, and a desired reliability. In one embodiment, the expiration engine writes expiration information to the optical media, such as a date stamp at initialization of a recordable optical medium. Alternatively, an expiration date is stored on an information handling system to provide expiration warnings a predetermined time before the expiration date.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a corresponding device for managing defective storage units on a record carrier, in particular on a rewritable optical record carrier. To avoid synchronization errors of a drive when accessing storage units located before or after a defective storage unit, it is proposed according to the present invention not only to map the actual defective storage unit (U1) but also one or more storage units (U2-U5) located before and/or after the defective storage unit (U1) as defective.

Abstract: Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers.