Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the first light reflecting layer is smaller than the thickness of the second light reflecting layer.

Abstract: An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area.

Abstract: An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area.

Abstract: A optical recording medium wherein a sector address is assigned such that a sector address of a first recording layer is a complement of a sector address of a second recording layer adjacent to the first recording layer, and a sector address of each of the remaining recording layers is assigned such that the difference between the assigned sector address of one of the remaining recording layers and a sector address of another one of the remaining recording layers that is located two layers below the one of the remaining recording layers having an assigned sector address is the same as a predetermined offset value, and the first recording layer is any one of the bottom recording layer and the top recording layer from among the recording layers, and a different sector address is assigned to each recording layer is provided.

Abstract: A write-once recording medium is provided, which comprises a management information area for recording management information for managing a recorded state, and a user data area for recording user data. The user data area is configured to contain at least one recording area. At least one session is configured to contain at least one of the at least one recording area. The management information contains range information indicating a recording range of the at least one recording area and identification information for identifying the recording area located at a boundary of the session.

Abstract: If a defective cluster in a spare area is managed with a defect entry, the size of a DFL will increase as the size of the spare area increases with an increase in the number of recording layers stacked in a disc. An information recording medium according to the present invention has pointer information indicating the location of the next available cluster in each spare area, and restricts the direction in which the spare area is used. Also, a defect entry indicating a defective cluster in the spare area is registered with the DFL. Thus, even if the size of the spare area 15 increases, the size of the DFL 21 can be kept relatively small. Furthermore, even after physical reformatting is done, a defective cluster, if any, in the spare area 15 can still be recognized as a defect and the control operation can be performed so that a replacement cluster is not re-allocated to that defective cluster (i.e., the defective cluster is not used).

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement that enables to keep a relative positional relation between a beam for servo control and a beam for information recording/reproduction constant concerning focusing control and tracking control, even if the two beams are different from each other. An optical storage medium has a reflection surface for reflecting a first beam having a first wavelength, and reflecting a second beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and an information storage layer for recording information as an interference pattern by incidence of the first beam, or reproducing the information from a wave surface based on the interference pattern. The reflection surface is formed with plural marks or guide grooves usable in a tracking operation or a focusing operation by irradiation of the second beam.

Abstract: A molding and film forming apparatus 700 molds a disc substrate from a stamper 330 formed from an optical disc disc-master 320 and forms a coating film, for example, a reflective film onto the disc substrate, thereby forming a recorded optical disc 360. A postscript apparatus 200 writes postscript information once onto an optical disc 340 formed by the molding and film forming apparatus 700. As postscript information, a laser beam is irradiated to a predetermined interval of the optical disc 340, a portion which is detected as a pit is formed, and an optical disc 350 on which postscript information 420 has been recorded is formed. Identification information which enables each optical disc 340 to be identified can be postscribed. The postscript information is recorded in a conventional format and the postscript information can be reproduced by an existing reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layers. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: A recording medium is provided, which comprises at least one recording area. The at least one recording area is composed of at least one adjustment area and at least one positional information recording area. The at least one adjustment area is an area for adjustment an access parameter for accessing the recording medium. Positional information indicating a position of the at least one adjustment area is recorded in the at least one positional information recording area.

Abstract: An information processing device for processing specific information recorded to a recording medium that has a characteristic identification unit and a processing unit. The characteristic identification unit identifies the reflection characteristic of the recording medium. The processing unit processes the specific information recorded to the recording medium according to the identified reflection characteristic. The reflection characteristic is either a first characteristic such that the reflectance of light reflected by a recorded region of the recording medium (referred to as first reflectance) is greater than the reflectance of light reflected by an unrecorded region of the recording medium (referred to as second reflectance), or a second characteristic such that the first reflectance is less than the second reflectance.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write-once type information storage medium comprises an organic dye based recording material having sensitivity at a wavelength of 405 nm and at a recording wavelength in the range of 600 nm to 700 nm, wherein, when absorbance of a maximum absorption wavelength in the vicinity of 405 nm is defined as 1, the absorbance is 5% or more at any wavelength in the range of 600 nm to 700 nm.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a read-only information recording portion, and a BCA (Burst Cutting Area) portion formed by laser marking. A reflective film on an information recording surface of the read-only information recording portion and a reflective film on the BCA portion are formed of the same material. The reflective film includes Ag as a main component, and at least one of Nd and Gd, and at least one of Sn and In as components; the reflective film including at least one of Nd and Gd of 0.1 atom % or more and 3.0 atom % or less in total and at least one of Sn and In of 3 atom % or more and 12 atom % or less in total. Recorded information is reproduced from the information recording surface of the read-only information recording portion and a BCA signal is reproduced from the BCA portion, using blue-violet laser reproducing light.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes a lead-in area, a user data zone in which user data is recorded, and a lead-out area. Write protection information is recorded in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area, together with defect management information. Information is recorded and/or reproduced according to the defect management information and the write protection information. The write protection information indicates a size of a write protected area differentiated from a plurality of sizes of write protected areas of the optical information storage medium.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes a plurality of areas and at least one transition area. Each transition area is located between two adjacent areas. The transition area allows data to be smoothly reproduced from the optical information storage medium at a low error generation rate. Also, since the optical information storage medium provides standards for the transition area, it is compatible with existing optical information storage media.

Abstract: A method for controlling a position of a laser spot of a laser beam on an optical storage medium of a land and groove recording/reproduction type is provided. The method includes: detecting a pulse occurring in a reference signal while the laser spot is passing through a boundary between a groove track and a land track, wherein the reference signal is generated according to a reflected laser beam from the optical storage medium; determining a compensation value of the reference signal according to the pulse; utilizing the compensation value to adjust the reference signal for generating an adjusted reference signal; and utilizing the adjusted reference signal to control the position of the laser spot.

Abstract: To provide an information recording apparatus and so on which can improve convenience of handling even if music information is encoded in an LPCM system with a high quality and recorded therein. Music information M obtained by encoding a musical composition which should be reproduced in an uncompressed state, first control information G1 for controlling the compressed music information PM, compressed music information PM including a content same as at least any one of the music information M, and second control information G2 for controlling the compressed music information PM, the second control information G2 including corresponding information RR representing a corresponding relationship between the music information M and the compressed music information PM.

Abstract: An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a disk-like substrate having a hole in a central portion thereof, and a light-reflective layer, a dye recording layer containing an organic dye, an intermediate layer composed of an inorganic substance, and a light-transmissive layer composed of a resin disposed in that order on one principal surface of the substrate, in which information is recorded/reproduced by irradiation of laser light from the light-transmissive layer side. In the optical information recording medium, the light-transmissive layer covers a surface of the intermediate layer from an inner peripheral edge of the intermediate layer to an outer peripheral edge of the intermediate layer, and a vicinity of an outer peripheral edge of the light-transmissive layer is in contact with the substrate in an annular region extending around an outer peripheral side of the substrate.

Abstract: A two-layer recording type optical disk capable of realizing stable recording and reproduction without being affected by another recording layer and an optical disk apparatus for the two-layer recording type optical disk are provided. In layouts of various areas in the optical disk, a position where a border between a recorded part and an unrecorded part is formed on one recording layer is set so that the position is always separated from a position where a border between a recorded part and an unrecorded part is formed on another recording layer by a predetermined clearance amount. Moreover, to a recording layer farther from an incident surface, test recording or data recording is always performed through a recorded part on a closer recording layer.

Abstract: On an optical disc, main information to be decrypted using sub information is recorded by arranging concave or convex recording marks in a spiral track and a reflective film is formed on the recording marks. First sub information is recorded as being superimposed on the main information by shifting or deforming the recording marks or altering a pattern of the recording marks. Second sub information is recorded as being superimposed on the main information by changing a reflectivity of the reflective film formed on the recording marks. The first sub information and the second sub information are recorded in an area from which the first sub information and the second sub information are to be read simultaneously. The second sub information is recorded in a manner that the second sub information is associated with the first sub information.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data in/from the recording medium are disclosed. The recording medium includes one or more recording layers, and a management area including management information, wherein the management information includes specific information indicating a presence of different format and type of recording layer in the recording medium. The management area is located at a specific recording layer. The format represents a different category in a recording layer and the type is classified by read-only or writable in a recording layer.

Abstract: A DRM disk such as a Blu-ray stores content in a high resolution version for playing by a disk player. The disk also stores the same content in a lower resolution version for playing by a secondary device such as a Playstation Portable (PSP). The disk can be engaged with the disk player and the lower resolution format transferred to the secondary player through a mechanism such as a removable medium (e.g., a Sony Memory Stick®) or a USB connection or other means in accordance with DRM restrictions on the disk.

Abstract: An information storage medium, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method, the information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, a data area, a middle area, and a dedicated area, wherein the data area is flexibly allocated according to data capacity to be recorded in each of the recording layers, the middle area is allocated behind the data area, and the dedicated area is allocated behind the middle area. The dedicated area for a special purpose may selectively be allocated in an outer circumferential area of the information storage medium, i.e., an optical disk including a plurality of recording layers. In particular, optical disks in various formats are provided in which dedicated areas for special purposes can selectively be allocated in outer circumferential areas of the optical disks depending on recording characteristics of the optical disks and the outer circumferential areas.

Abstract: A high-density read-only optical disc, and an optical disc apparatus and method using the same. The apparatus and method record data on a lead-in area of a high-density read-only optical disc such as a BD-ROM (Blu-ray disc ROM (Read Only Memory)) in the form of pre-pit strings associated with an HFM (High-Frequency Modulated) groove applied to a BD-RW (Blu-ray Disc Rewritable). Moreover, the apparatus and method continuously apply the same tracking servo operation to an entire area of the same high-density read-only optical disc or rewritable optical disc. Therefore, the apparatus and method can simplify an algorithm for controlling a plurality of tracking servo operations, and avoid an increased size of the optical disc apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for exchanging frequency bands used by a plurality of base stations are provided. A base station for exchanging frequency bands includes a receiving unit to receive first quiet time duration information of an adjacent base station, a frequency band measuring unit to determine first frequency band measuring information with respect to a first frequency band used by the adjacent base station based on the first quiet time duration information, a frequency band exchange-determining unit to determine whether to exchange frequency bands with each other based on the first frequency band measuring information, and a transmitting unit to transmit data to a terminal using the first frequency band according to the determined result.

Abstract: A guide groove is formed without wobbles. The guide groove is periodically modulated with its width. Encrypted data are recorded with marks formed on the record film along the guide groove. Information recorded by periodically modulating the guide groove with its width can be accurately detected by a band pass filter. Thus, rotation control information and address information can be stably reproduced. In addition, since the guide groove is formed without wobbles, a drive device having a pirated disc determination mechanism can reproduce encrypted content as with a ROM disc.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: A recording medium includes a substrate having a microscopic pattern, which includes a shape of continuous substance of approximately parallel grooves formed with a convex shaped section and a concave shaped section alternating on a surface of the substrate. A recording layer is formed on the microscopic pattern and a light transmitting layer has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.12 mm formed on the recording layer. The microscopic pattern satisfies a relation of P??/NA, wherein P is a pitch of the convex shaped section, ? is a wavelength of a reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of an objective lens. The microscopic pattern also includes modulated address information formed on both side walls of the convex shaped section viewed from the light transmitting layer as a wobble, both the side walls being parallel to each other, and furthermore wherein the address information is modulated by the phase-shift keying modulation system.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a main-information area in which a metal reflection film is formed on a substrate where a row of pits is formed as main data, and a sub-information area in which is recorded medium identification information, which is used to identify the optical recording medium individually, by removing the metal reflection film partially and forming a plurality of reflection-film removed areas. Information is reproduced by irradiating the metal reflection film with a beam of light. In the sub-information area, a row of pits or a guide groove is formed on the substrate, and a track pitch of the row of pits or the guide groove is at least 0.24 ?m wide and at most 0.45 ?m wide.

Abstract: A big pattern for a run-in area which allows data reproduction to be performed stably even when the recording density of an optical disc is increased is provided. An optical disc according to the present invention includes tracks, each of which divided into a plurality of recording blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks includes a run-in area and a data area. In the run-in area, a prescribed run-in bit pattern is recordable; and in the data area, bit patterns having a plurality of bit lengths obtained by modulating data as a recording target in accordance with a prescribed modulation rule are recordable. In this optical disc, at least one of spatial frequencies corresponding to the bit patterns having the plurality of bit lengths is higher than a cutoff frequency. The run-in bit pattern recordable in the run-in area includes the bit patterns having the plurality of bit lengths, from which the bit pattern corresponding to the frequency higher than the OTF cutoff frequency has been excluded.

Abstract: A single disc is configured to deal with both HD DVD information and DVD information. This invention has the following basic elements (1) a single-sided dual layer optical disc where a light transmission layer, a first recording layer accessed with a first laser beam, an space layer, and a second recording layer accessed with a second laser beam are arranged in that order in the direction in which a laser beam enters, (2) the areal recoding density of the second recording layer is three times or more that of the first recording layer, (3) information indicating that the second recording layer has been formed is formed in the first recording layer, and (4) information indicating that the first recording layer has been formed is formed in the second recording layer.

Abstract: An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes a lead-in area, a lead-out area, and a user data area between the lead-in and lead-out areas and in which user data is recorded. Pits are formed in the lead-in area, the user data area, and the lead-out area, and a track pitch in all or a portion of the lead-in area is different from a track pitch in the remaining area of the optical information storage medium.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a user data area and a lead-out area each having grooves and lands formed thereon. Wobbles are formed on at least one lateral surface of the grooves of the user data area and the lead-out area, and configured such that wobble characteristics are made different between the user data area and the lead-out area. Different types of the wobbles are formed on the grooves of either the user data area or the lead-out area, thereby preventing an optical pickup that performs recording/reproducing, from deviating from the user data area. Also, in a multi-layer optical recording medium, a whole area of a recording layer is configured to have the same condition, thereby preventing deterioration in reproducing and/or recording due to a difference in light power transmittance of another recording layer.

Abstract: A recording medium (100) is provided with: a first recording layer (L0) including a first area; and a second recording layer (L1) including a second area, wherein an edge on one side of the second area is located at a position obtained by shifting to an other side at least by a tolerance length from an area portion in the second recording layer corresponding to an edge on the one side of the first area, or an edge on the other side of the second area is located at a position obtained by shifting to the one side at least by the tolerance length from the area portion in said second recording layer corresponding to the edge on the one side of the first area, in which the tolerance length indicates an acceptable range of a relative position shift between an address which is defined on the predetermined position in the first recording layer and an address which is related to the predetermined position in the second recording layer.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: The length of a format modulation area in an address segment is limited to be 25% of the address-segment length or less, and the position of the format modulation area is selectable two possible positions. Subsequently, where a CLV optical-disk medium is used, wobble modulation areas in adjacent recording tracks do not overlap each other in the radius direction.

Abstract: Recording of data into a multilayer optical disk and reliable reproduction of the data are enabled. When user data are recorded on a multilayer optical disk having a first layer L0 and a second layer L1, the second layer L1 is formatted beforehand, to thus record dummy data. Subsequently, the user data are recorded into the first layer L0. Even after completion of recording of the user data at some point in the first layer L0, an area of the second layer L1 located immediately above or below a recorded area of the first layer L0 remains in a recorded state at all times. Compatibility with a play-only disk is maintained, and the play-only drive can reproduce the user data immediately after recording of the data.

Abstract: In a test disc, data (test data) is recorded in such a manner as to fill an entirety of a data region and, next to this test data, border-out data is recorded which contains information indicating that recording is prohibited. By determining whether the data can be played back appropriately from a position in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the disc where playback characteristics are apt to be unstable, whether the data can be played back appropriately from all of the regions is verified. Also, by determining whether it is possible to recognize that test disc is capable of recording, it is verified whether the border-out data can be smoothly acquired from the position in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disc where playback characteristics are apt to be unstable.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an optical disc player adapted to record a unique ID on a read-only optical disc and positively read the unique ID from the optical disc. The optical disc (1) played with this player has a specific physical cluster in which the unique ID is to be recorded. The optical disc (1) used herein is normally molded by a molding machine using a molding die. Thereafter, a unique ID is generated for each of the optical discs (1), and high-power laser light is irradiated to a specific land in the specific physical cluster correspondingly to the bit value of the unique ID to transit the land to a pit. The physical cluster has provided therein a first area where each bit in the unique ID is recorded by the lazering in case the bit value is 0 and a second area where each bit in the unique ID is recorded by the lazering in case the bit value is 1.

Abstract: A write once disc allowing management of a data area, a method of managing the data area of the write once disc, an apparatus recording data on the write once disc, an apparatus and method of reproducing data from a write once disc. The write once disc, includes a lead-in zone, a data area, and a lead-out zone. The write once disc includes a predetermined area storing area allocation information which indicates whether at least one section of the data area is allocated for disc defect management. In the disc and method, area allocation information specifying a structure of the data area is recorded on the disc, thus allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus to recognize the data area structure. Therefore, allocating areas, such as a spare area, for disc defect management other than an area for storing user data, to the data area is possible. The allocation of the areas for disc defect management to the data area enables effective use of the write once disc.

Abstract: A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or optical recording medium including segment information recorded thereon, and apparatus and methods for recording to and reproducing from the recording medium, in order to improve data protection, data management and/or reproduction compatibility. The recording medium may contain at least one segment area which is an area on the disc controlled by a plurality of valid PACs and if the designated segment areas overlap with one another, control information of the respective PACs which control the overlapped area may be applied to control the overlapped area.

Abstract: A combination type optical disk medium and recording or reproducing method in which the medium include first and second recording layers based on different recoding densities. First and second volume spaces are formed to the first and second recording layers, respectively. Each volume space includes identification information of a head or end of the volume space, and an area for data. One of the volume spaces is recorded with identification information of the other volume space.

Abstract: An optically-readable disk includes a device that disrupts readability of the disk when the disk is spun at an angular velocity substantially greater than required to play the disk in its intended playing device, or when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded. The device may include a fluid container that disperses a data-disruptive fluid. The device may include a membrane or layer that is disrupted when the disk is rotated above a defined angular velocity, or when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded. The device may include an electro-optical material that is activated by an electrical signal from a controller in response to an input from a sensor responsive to motion of the disk.

Abstract: In a test disc, data (test data) is recorded in such a manner as to fill an entirety of a data region and, next to this test data, border-out data is recorded which contains information indicating that recording is prohibited. By determining whether the data can be played back appropriately from a position in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the disc where playback characteristics are apt to be unstable, whether the data can be played back appropriately from all of the regions is verified. Also, by determining whether it is possible to recognize that test disc is capable of recording, it is verified whether the border-out data can be smoothly acquired from the position in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disc where playback characteristics are apt to be unstable.

Abstract: A high-density read-only optical disc, and an optical disc apparatus and method using the same. The apparatus and method record data on a lead-in area of a high-density read-only optical disc such as a BD-ROM (Blu-ray disc ROM (Read Only Memory)) in the form of pre-pit strings associated with an HFM (High-Frequency Modulated) groove applied to a BD-RW (Blu-ray Disc Rewritable). Moreover, the apparatus and method continuously apply the same tracking servo operation to an entire area of the same high-density read-only optical disc or rewritable optical disc. Therefore, the apparatus and method can simplify an algorithm for controlling a plurality of tracking servo operations, and avoid an increased size of the optical disc apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disk (100) comprises recording management areas (103, 113) in which record management data for managing data recording is recorded. The record management data includes (i) physical position information (122, 125, 126) indicating the positions of physical buffer areas in which buffer data for buffering recording operation is physically recorded and (ii) logical position information (121) indicating the position of a logical buffer area in which buffer data is logically recorded or to be recorded.

Abstract: A writable optical disc has at least two chapters comprising a first chapter and a second chapter. Management data including a partition address is written in a management area in each chapter, and information is written in an information recording area after management area in the first chapter. A partition data is written in a partition area after the information recording area of the first chapter. The partition data is erased when writing the second chapter, so that the first chapter is discriminated from the second chapter, and a partition data is written in a partition area of the second chapter after writing of information in an information recording area thereof.