Abstract: A method of optically recording data on a disk-like information recording medium from the center side to the peripheral side thereof, dividing the information recording medium into a plurality of recording divisions, includes the steps of: (a) recording the data in an initial recording division; (b) recording terminal end information successively after the step (a), the terminal end information indicating the end of the initial recording division; (c) determining whether the terminal end information recorded on the information recording medium reaches a specified region beyond a predetermined range from the center of the information recording medium; and (d) extending and recording the terminal end information in the step (b) so that the terminal end information reaches the specified region if the step (c) determines that the terminal end information does not reach the specified region.

Abstract: A method of recording information in an information recording medium having a user data area and a management information area is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining division information in at least a specified portion of the user data area; and (b) recording, in the management information area, information on the correspondence between multiple partial areas into which the specified portion of the user data area is divided based on the division information and multiple information parts in a management table, the information parts each storing information on the presence or absence of data.

Abstract: In a method for writing data to an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, user data is written across between a plurality of the recording layers, and data other than the user data is written in a predetermined zone of the recording layer. Thereby, since the user data is written continuously upon switching of a recording layer without data other than the user data being written, it is possible to avoid interruption of writing of the user data to the recording layers.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus that stores data in a recording medium, retrieves control information of the recording medium, identifies remaining unrecorded regions in the recording medium based on the control information, stores data only in the unrecorded regions, and updates items of the control information corresponding to the recorded regions so that the information storage apparatus can skip the recorded regions when it stores data in the recording medium next time. The information storage apparatus can reduce time required for certifying the recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus, a disc apparatus and a defect area replacement method are disclosed for accurately detecting a defect area for each small area of a recording area of an information recording medium and replacing the defect area per small area. The information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information in an information recording medium having a plurality of recording areas each of which includes a plurality of small areas includes a verification execution part iteratively executing a verification operation on small areas of a recording area and a small area replacement part replacing a small area determined as a defect area greater than or equal to a predefined number of times during iterative execution of the verification operation by the verification execution part.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus, a disc apparatus and a defect area replacement method are disclosed for accurately detecting a defect area for each small area of a recording area of an information recording medium and replacing the defect area per small area. The information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information in an information recording medium having a plurality of recording areas each of which includes a plurality of small areas includes a verification execution part iteratively executing a verification operation on small areas of a recording area and a small area replacement part replacing a small area determined as a defect area greater than or equal to a predefined number of times during iterative execution of the verification operation by the verification execution part.

Abstract: In a method for writing data to an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, user data is written across between a plurality of the recording layers, and data other than the user data is written in a predetermined zone of the recording layer. Thereby, since the user data is written continuously upon switching of a recording layer without data other than the user data being written, it is possible to avoid interruption of writing of the user data to the recording layers.

Abstract: In a method for writing data to an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, user data is written across between a plurality of the recording layers, and data other than the user data is written in a predetermined zone of the recording layer. Thereby, since the user data is written continuously upon switching of a recording layer without data other than the user data being written, it is possible to avoid interruption of writing of the user data to the recording layers.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed. When a dual layer DVD disk is to be ejected before formatting is completed, the information recording and reproducing apparatus provides a middle area adjacent to a formatted area of the first recording layer, a middle area in the second recording layer at a position corresponding to the middle area of the first recording layer, and a dummy data area in the second recording layer at a position corresponding to the formatted area of the first recording layer. The areas outside of the middle areas are left blank.

Abstract: A method of recording information in an information recording medium having a user data area and a management information area is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining division information in at least a specified portion of the user data area; and (b) recording, in the management information area, information on the correspondence between multiple partial areas into which the specified portion of the user data area is divided based on the division information and multiple information parts in a management table, the information parts each storing information on the presence or absence of data.

Abstract: Data in each predetermined unit recording area on a rewritable information recording medium can be managed, without an increase in the production cost of the disclosed information recording and reproducing device. Upon receipt of a user data write instruction from a host device, the device CPU updates the contents of a management table. User data transmitted from the host device are then written and recorded, and the user data write operation comes to an end. In this manner, the CPU updates the contents of the management table on the information recording medium before writing user data.

Abstract: In a method for writing data to an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, user data is written across between a plurality of the recording layers, and data other than the user data is written in a predetermined zone of the recording layer. Thereby, since the user data is written continuously upon switching of a recording layer without data other than the user data being written, it is possible to avoid interruption of writing of the user data to the recording layers.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus performs reading and writing of information with respect to an information recording medium in which user data areas and alternative areas are alternately arranged. The apparatus includes means for assigning, when an error occurs in a certify process or a verify process and an alternative destination is to be assigned, in the case where an unused field does not exist in the alternative area corresponding to the user data area in which the error occurs, the alternative destination in another alternate area on which the certify process or the verify process is performed.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus, a disc apparatus and a defect area replacement method are disclosed for accurately detecting a defect area for each small area of a recording area of an information recording medium and replacing the defect area per small area. The information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information in an information recording medium having a plurality of recording areas each of which includes a plurality of small areas includes a verification execution part iteratively executing a verification operation on small areas of a recording area and a small area replacement part replacing a small area determined as a defect area greater than or equal to a predefined number of times during iterative execution of the verification operation by the verification execution part.

Abstract: A method of optically recording data on a disk-like information recording medium from the center side to the peripheral side thereof, dividing the information recording medium into a plurality of recording divisions, includes the steps of: (a) recording the data in an initial recording division; (b) recording terminal end information successively after the step (a), the terminal end information indicating the end of the initial recording division; (c) determining whether the terminal end information recorded on the information recording medium reaches a specified region beyond a predetermined range from the center of the information recording medium; and (d) extending and recording the terminal end information in the step (b) so that the terminal end information reaches the specified region if the step (c) determines that the terminal end information does not reach the specified region.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus that stores data in a recording medium, retrieves control information of the recording medium, identifies remaining unrecorded regions in the recording medium based on the control information, stores data only in the unrecorded regions, and updates items of the control information corresponding to the recorded regions so that the information storage apparatus can skip the recorded regions when it stores data in the recording medium next time. The information storage apparatus can reduce time required for certifying the recording medium.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method are disclosed for writing packet data onto an information recording medium. A next packet of data is successively written upon the completion of the writing of a preceding packet of data. The writing of the next packet of data may be conditioned on the presence of the next packet of data in a data buffer or on the presence of a quantity of data in the data buffer which exceeds a predetermined quantity of data.

Abstract: In a continuous surface treating method and apparatus with an inline centrifugal separator, an object to be treated is contained in a basket and hung from a hanger of an overhead type and a series of surface treatments of the object is carried out by using a continuous conveyer of a power and free type. By using a hanger attach-detach conveyer, the object is moved from a main conveyer to a sub-conveyer and an excessive treating liquid attached to the object in a previous process is separated by using the centrifugal separator. Then, the object is returned from the sub-conveyer to the main conveyer to perform a next process. The surface treating apparatus includes the rotatable basket for containing the object.