Abstract: An information recording medium, a method of recording and/or reproducing data to/from the medium, and a recording/reproducing apparatus using the medium, the medium having a data area including a user data area to record user data, and a spare area to record replacement blocks that replace defect blocks occurring in the user data area, wherein defect list entries include status information of the defect blocks and the replacement blocks, and the status information of the defect blocks in the user data area is changed, and the status information of the replacement blocks in the spare area is changed, in response to the spare area being newly allocated to re-initialize the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and reproducing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for recording management information on a writable recording medium, the recording medium including one or more temporary management areas being used in a designated order for storing therein temporary management information until the recording medium is closed and a final management area for storing therein final management information when the recording medium is to be closed, the apparatus comprising a pickup adapted for recording data on the recording medium and a microcomputer configured to control the pickup to record data onto a first indicator when closing the recording medium so as to indicate that the recording medium is closed, the first indicator located at the most front position of a first temporary management area being used first among the one or more temporary management areas.

Abstract: When playback of a recording medium, which stores content data that is only allowed to be played back for a limited number of times, is forcibly terminated due to a scratch on the recording medium, the playback of the content data residing at a subsequent location that follows a location having the scratch is performed without the number of playbacks being counted, and without a particular operation such as skip. Upon the playback after the forced termination, an address of an optical disk at which the playback was performed at the time of the forced termination is stored in a RAM unit. The address stored in the RAM unit is read out, and the content data residing at a subsequent address that follows the read address in terms of a predetermined number of addresses is played back.

Abstract: A method of recording, and an apparatus to record, data on a write-once disc, and the write-once disc used with the method and apparatus. The write-once disc includes a plurality of update areas in which to record a predetermined type of updated information, at least one main access information area (AIA) in which to record main access information (AI), the main AI indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded, among the plurality of update areas, and at least one sub AIA in which to record sub AI, the sub AI indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area.

Abstract: An information recording medium reading method is provided. The information recording medium has a user data area for recording data and at Least one spare area for recording replacements for defects of the user data area. The method includes steps of sequentially reading the user data area upon a registered defect is read. searching a corresponding replacement for the registered defect in a cache buffer; reading the corresponding replacement and neighboring replacements thereof from the spare area if the corresponding replacement is failed to be found in the searching step; storing the read replacements in the cache buffer; and repeating the above steps until a reading procedure is completed. A reading apparatus, which includes the cache buffer for storing the replacements and implements the above method, is also provided.

Abstract: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management, and a method and apparatus for allocating and assigning the spare area. A plurality of zones are formed as one group without prescribing the relationship between a zone and a group. Spare areas include a spare area for slipping replacement and a spare area for linear replacement. The spare area for slipping replacement is first allocated, and the spare area for linear replacement is allocated according to the size of an area remaining after the spare area for slipping replacement is used and the purpose for which a disc is used. When the spare area for linear replacement becomes deficient during use of the disc, a supplementary spare area for linear replacement is allocated in sequence from the rearmost of a logical file area, such that the spare area can be more flexibly and effectively allocated.

Abstract: When there is a defect area in a specific recording layer, recording of information is continued to restrain reduction in a recording rate. In an optical recording method for recording information on a multilayer optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers by irradiating the recording layer with a beam spot, when a defect area is detected while the information is recorded on a specific recording layer selected from the plurality of recording layers, an escape recording layer which is selected from among the other recording layers except for the specific recording layer is irradiated with the beam spot to continue recording the information.

Abstract: A write-once optical recording medium, a method for allocating a defect management area of the write-once optical recording medium, and a method for allocating a spare area of the write-once optical recording medium are provided. A method of managing defects on a write-once optical recording medium having at least one recording layer includes the steps of allocating at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size to said optical recording medium, respectively, recording defect management information on the at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and the at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size; and using the at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and the at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size is provided herein.

Abstract: An optical disk device capable of increasing access speed and an image pickup device having such an optical disk device. In a region at the inside of an optical disk where the rotational speed of the spindle motor reaches its limit, a CAV mode is used for access, while in a region at the outside of the optical disk where a frequency band of an RF signal processor reaches its limit, a CLV mode is used for access. High-speed access to a maximum extent in a range of performance limits of the spindle motor and the RF signal processor is achieved. A retry feature retries failed access attempts to the optical disk when access failure is determined and a controller judges whether or not a defect of the optical disk has caused the access failure. The controller further judges if the predetermined cause of the access failure repeatedly occurs in a predetermined nearby range on the optical disk.

Abstract: A disc with a temporary defect management information area and a defect management area includes a defect management area that is present in at least one of a lead-in area, a lead-out area, and an outer area, a temporary defect information area which is formed in the data area and in which temporary defect information is recorded, and a temporary defect management information area which is present in at least one of the lead-in area, and the lead-out area. Accordingly, it is possible to record user data in a recordable disc, especially, a write-once disc, while performing defect management thereon, thereby enabling efficient use of a defect management area having a limited recording capacity.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing management information on/from the recording medium are discussed. According to an embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus includes components so that the apparatus finalizes the recording medium when receiving request of an external host or when a temporary defect management area located in at least one of a non-data area and a non-user data area becomes full, where a controller is configured to control the components so that the apparatus records the latest defect list information written in the temporary defect management area onto a final defect management area when finalizing the recording medium.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to a method and optical storage media reading device for restoring data stored along a data storage path of an optical storage media, the data being stored on the optical storage media and being at least in part unreadable by a conventional optical storage media reading device due to chemical or physical changes within a recording layer or a reflective layer of the optical storage media. The method and device includes detecting deformations of a shape of a groove and lands of the groove extending along the data storage path, the deformations having been generated by a laser beam during a recording process of the optical storage media, and determining the data to be restored from the detected deformations and lands.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus includes the following elements. A reproducing head unit irradiates an optical disk with a laser beam to obtain a reproduced signal. An offset cancellation circuit cancels an offset element of the reproduced signal. An automatic gain control circuit adjusts the amplitude of the reproduced signal processed through the offset cancellation circuit. A band switching control unit detects a fingerprint period during which the reproduced signal is affected by a fingerprint on the surface of the optical disk and, for the fingerprint period, switches a frequency band in which the offset cancellation circuit and the automatic gain control circuit function to a higher frequency band than that associated with a non-fingerprint period. A decoding unit decodes the reproduced signal processed through the automatic gain control circuit to output binary data. A data reproduction processing unit performs reproduction processing on the binary data to obtain reproduced data.

Abstract: A write-once optical disc and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the optical disc are provided. The optical disc includes at least one recording layer and a plurality of temporary defect management areas (TDMAs) on the at least one recording layer. At least one of the TDMAs includes an indicator indicating which one of the TDMAs has an in-use status.

Abstract: A media processor, such as an optical disk publisher, is capable of efficiently discarding media such as a defective CD without using a manual discarding process. At the time of media publication of an optical disk publisher 5, blank media 14 stored in a supply-side stacker 13 is taken out by a media conveying mechanism 12 and is conveyed to a media drive 15, and predetermined data is written into the blank media 14. Printing is performed on printing surfaces of the media into which data has been normally written by means of a label printer 19. The published media is stored in a storage-side stacker 22. Defective media on which a failure in writing has occurred is disposed of so as not to be readable by mechanically destroying a recording surface of the defective media by means of a media disposal mechanism while moving the defective media in a state where the defective media is mounted on a media tray 71 of a printer 19. Discarded media after the disposal is ejected from a media outlet 25.

Abstract: Data recovery methods for use with a writable disc system having a writable media are presented including: detecting a write disruption in response to a shock event, the write disruption being defined by a disruption start point, a portion of off-track writing which may include a set of disruption cross-track points that contains at least one disruption cross-track point, and a disruption stop point; stopping a first write operation pertaining to a stream of data in response to a detected shock event, the shock event occurring while the writable disc system is performing the first write operation along a write track; determining whether a first data of the stream of data written in the first write operation located in the region of write disruption is readable; and if the first data is readable, resuming the first write operation.

Abstract: A write-once-type recording medium (100) on which record data can be recorded only once, provided with: a data area (108) to record therein the record data; and a shared area (104, 105) to temporarily record therein evacuation data which is record data to be recorded or already recorded at a position of a defect in the data area and defect management information (120) including an evacuation source address of the evacuation data, the evacuation data being recorded with one predetermined point which exists in the shared area as a start point, the defect management information being recorded with another predetermined point which exists at a different point from the one point as a start point, in the shared area.

Abstract: An information recording medium, a method of recording and/or reproducing data to/from the medium, and a recording/reproducing apparatus using the medium, the medium having a data area including a user data area to record user data, and a spare area to record replacement blocks that replace defect blocks occurring in the user data area, wherein defect list entries include status information of the defect blocks and the replacement blocks, and the status information of the defect blocks in the user data area is changed, and the status information of the replacement blocks in the spare area is changed, in response to the spare area being newly allocated to re-initialize the medium.

Abstract: A method of reproducing a recording medium having finalized recorded data. Data is read from the recording medium and a determination is made whether the recording medium is further recordable based on whether a temporary defect management area includes repetitions of a predetermined value or based on whether another predetermined value is recorded in response to a finalization command previously recorded.

Abstract: It has been discovered that damage to an optical disc can be used as a damage signature for that optical disc. The damage signature can be digitally represented to uniquely identify the optical disc in combination with other identifying information that identifies the optical disc. Services, such as a restore service, can be provided to a user after validation of a digital damage signature of an optical disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for analyzing abnormal regions on an optical recording medium. The method includes the steps of: detecting the abnormal region; determining the type of the abnormal region; and measuring the length of the abnormal region. Before playback or recording of an optical recording medium inserted in an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media the apparatus determines the positions, lengths and types of abnormal regions on the optical recording medium. The obtained information can then be used, for example, to avoid that during playback or recording a pickup for reading and/or recording unexpectedly encounters an abnormal region. This makes the operation of the apparatus more reliable.

Abstract: The method and apparatus can register defective areas in a recording medium not having a dedicated sparing area. A data recording area and a sparing area are not preliminarily divided. When a defective area is found, data is transferred to another area in the recording area, and the defective area is registered as being in a recorded state in a table for managing the recorded state in each of the recording areas.

Abstract: A data managing method for an optical disc drive writing data into an optical disc having defects is provided. The optical disc has a user data area and a spare area. The optical disc drive includes a first buffering space and a second buffering space. The data managing method includes: when the first buffering space receives a data corresponding to a defect, not suspending the first buffering space from receiving the user data, and transferring the data, corresponding to the defect and in the first buffering space, to the second buffering space; and when data amount in the second buffering space reaches a predetermined value, suspending the optical disc drive from writing data in the first buffering space into the user data area, and driving the optical disc drive to write data in the second buffering space into the spare area.

Abstract: Damage to removable or non-removable media or to content on the media may prevent access to content on the media. A processor may recognize a defect in the media, for example, due to read errors. The processor may request a “clean” (i.e., undamaged) or replaceable version of the non-readable media content. The processor may request the content over a network. The processor may store the requested content in local storage, such as in the cache or more permanent memory. The processor may read the requested portion directly over the network or from the stored location, rather than reading the damaged portion from the removable media. Once stored locally, the clean version may be available for subsequent access. Subsequently, the processor may request previously stored content from local storage without needing to request content over the network.

Abstract: A method of processing a readback signal generated from reading an optical storage medium is provided. The method includes: performing a defect detection according to the readback signal to generate a defect detection result indicating defective areas on the optical storage medium; and performing a parameter calibration upon at least a parameter associated with processing of the readback signal according to the defect detection result.

Abstract: The present invention is to detect an envelope defect of a read signal due to a fingerprint on a surface of a disc, an inter-layer interference of a dual disc, or the like which is a factor of a read error of an optical disc, and is to improve a read capability of an optical disc drive while avoiding a read error by performing an appropriate processing. Means for detecting an envelope defect and means for counting the number of appearances of the envelope defect are included in the present invention. A read condition for factors of a read error is set at the time of a read retry, and a read condition suitable for the decoding of a readout signal containing an envelope defect is set at the time of detection of the envelope defect in the present invention.

Abstract: When there is a defect area in a specific recording layer, recording of information is continued and reduction in a recording rate is restrained. In an optical recording method for recording information on a multilayer optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers by irradiating the recording layer with a beam spot, any recording layer is set as an escape recording layer. When a defect area is detected while information is recorded on another recording layer except for the escape recording layer, the beam spot moves to the escape recording layer to continue recording the information.

Abstract: A data signal includes a master signal generated by a master part of an optical pickup head in response to a light beam reflected from the optical recording medium and a side signal generated by a side part of the optical pickup head in response to the light beam reflected from the optical recording medium. A discriminating signal is obtained by subtracting the master signal from the side signal. Then, whether a data defect is existent in a data storage region of the optical recording medium can be determined according to the discriminating signal and optionally the side signal. When the data defect is determined existent, a servo tracking operation in the reading procedure is suspended.

Abstract: A data complementation method including a defective-data confirmation step of confirming if there is address information of defective data, a complementation-data confirmation step of confirming if complementation data is recorded, a complementation-data transmission request step of requesting a recovery server to transmit the complementation data, a complementation-data acquisition step of acquiring the complementation data through a communication network, and a complementation-data record step of recording the complementation data.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to curtail the time required from the receipt of a demand for certification processing of a rewritable optical disk from an apparatus of the higher order to the receipt of a demand for recording processing. In order to achieve this object, a digital data recording method for recording on a rewritable optical disk includes certification processing including a first step of recording certification data for the certification processing on the optical disk, a second step of recording user data different from the certification data on the optical disk after the first step, and a third step of reproducing the data recorded in the first step or the second step after the second step, and switches the certification processing based on the result reproduced in the third step.

Abstract: A system and methods for evaluating the response of an optical digital disk player to anomalies in optical digital disks are provided. The system includes a simulator configured to provide digital simulated output signals simulating the output of an optical digital disk player during playback of an optical digital disk having an anomaly. The system also includes digital-to-analog converter circuitry to convert the digital simulated output signals to analog simulated output signals and provide the analog simulated output signals to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates control signals based on the value of the analog simulated output signals, and provides the control signals as outputs.

Abstract: An information recording medium, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus and a recording and/or reproducing method are provided. The recording apparatus includes: a write/read unit for recording data on an information storage medium in which a user data area for writing user data and a spare area for replacing a defect occurring in the user data area are disposed, and a replacement recording block to replace an original recording block recorded in the user data area is recorded in a non-recorded area of the spare area or the user data area; and a control unit for controlling the write/read unit so that a replacement entry indicating that part of the recording block is replaced is recorded on the storage medium. As a result, data reproduction time can be advantageously reduced so as to improve system performance, particularly, in a system where data replacement by logical overwrite (LOW) is implemented both in a user data area and a spare area, or in a system performing defect management.

Abstract: A recordable optical disc includes a user area and a management information area. User data is recorded in a physical block used as a single unit, and the space bit map is recorded in the management information area. Integrity verification processing is performed for each of recording status information so as to verify the integrity of the recording status information indicating a recording status of the physical block and the recording status of the physical block on the recordable optical disc. The necessity of the integrity verification processing is determined by reading out the status information indicating the necessity of the integrity verification processing. When the integrity verification processing is determined to be necessary, the integrity verification processing is carried out for unverified recording status information of the recording status information of the space bit map.

Abstract: An optical disk drive of recording a re-writable optical disk and the method thereof. First, an optimum power is determined. A gain of a SBAD (Sub Beam Adder) signal is adjusted for generating an calibrated SBAD signal such that the calibrated SBAD signal maintains at the same level during a write power phase and a read power phase substantially. Then, the re-writable optical disk is recorded by using the optimum power. Next, a defect of the re-writable optical disk is detected according to the calibrated SBAD signal. Then, the optical disk drive will jump over the defect and prevent it from being data-recorded so as to avoid system malfunction.

Abstract: It has been discovered that inaccurate representations of content read from an optical disc can be restored. A representation of content read from a damaged optical disc may include data that corresponds to misread data sections. The data for the misread data sections can be replaced with portions of an accurate representation of the content. The portions can be extracted from an accurate representation maintained online or at a local repository of digital representations of content.

Abstract: A method of recording a temporary defect list on a write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporary defect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporary defect list, and the write-once recording medium. The method of recording a temporary defect list for defect management on a write-once recording medium includes recording the temporary defect list, which is created while data is recorded on the write-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-once recording medium, and verifying if a defect is generated in the at least one cluster. Then, the method includes re-recording data originally recorded in a defective cluster in another cluster, and recording pointer information, which indicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporary defect list is recorded, on the write-once recording medium.

Abstract: A disk device includes: an optical pick-up, operable to reproduce data recorded in a disk; a flaw detector, operable to output a flaw detecting signal when a flaw formed on the disk is detected; and a jump controller, operable to control a track jump of the optical pick-up including a first track jump and a second track jump subsequent to the first track jump. A timing of starting to control the track jump corresponding to a still reproduction mode is determined based on a rotational position of the disk. When the flaw detecting signal is outputted in a time period in which the jump controller controls the first track jump corresponding to the still reproduction mode, the jump controller sets a timing for stating the second track jump to a timing different from a timing for starting the first track jump.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the recording medium are discussed. According to an embodiment, the invention provides a method of recording management information on a recording medium, the recording medium including a temporary defect management area (TDMA) and a final defect management area (DMA), the DMA including a defect list area, the method comprising: recording, in the TDMA, defect list information produced while the recording medium is in use, and recording, in the defect list area of the DMA, the latest defect list information included in the TDMA when the recording medium is to be finalized, wherein the defect list area of the DMA includes a plurality of recording units, and the latest defect list information is recorded on at least one of the recording units of the defect list area.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided with: a recording area divided into a plurality of partial areas; and an information area for recording therein (i) management information for managing recording conditions of the plurality of partial areas at least for each of the plurality of partial areas and (ii) reliability information for indicating reliability of the management information for each of the plurality of partial areas.

Abstract: A defect management method applied in an optical disc drive for managing defect information of an optical disc is disclosed. The optical disc drive saves a plurality of defect tables comprising at least a first defect table and a second defect table. The first defect table records a plurality of first defect entries and the second defect table records a plurality of second defect entries. The method includes appending an adaptive defect entry comprising a new defect information corresponding to a new defect into a new defect table, a data structure of the adaptive defect entry conforming to a data structure of at least one of the defect entries recorded in the defect tables; and merging the adaptive defect entries into one of the defect tables saved in the optical disc drive when a condition is met.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); and a processing device (15) for performing a PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Semiconductor lasers emit lights having wavelengths of about 400 nm, 650 nm, and 780 nm, respectively. A transmittance adjustment element is provided in an optical path of the light reflected from a disk. The transmittance adjustment element includes a first optical thin film that changes transmittance of a 650-nm-wavelength light relatively to transmittance of 400-nm- and 780-nm-wavelength lights, and a second optical thin film that changes transmittance of a 780-nm-wavelength light relatively to transmittance of 400-nm- and 650-nm-wavelength lights. The transmittance adjustment element has the function of maintaining constant the intensity of light incident onto a photodetector irrespective of the type of medium.

Abstract: A write-once optical disc, and an apparatus and method for recording management information on the optical disc are provided. The disc includes at least one recording layer, a plurality of temporary defect management areas (TDMAs) on the at least one recording layer, and a plurality of defect management areas (DMAs) on the at least one recording layer. At least one of the TDMAs includes first and second indicators. The first indicator indicates which TDMA is an in-use TDMA, and the second indicator indicates whether or not the recording medium is closed.

Abstract: A write once optical recording medium and a method and apparatus for storing and recovering defect management information to and from the write once optical recording medium are provided. The recording medium includes at least one recording layer, and a data area on the recording layer. The data area includes at least one spare area and a user data area. The spare area contains at least one replacement cluster, each of the replacement clusters storing therein address information of a corresponding defective cluster.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing a defect scan for a disk drive. Data is recorded on a first data area of a disk substantially free from defects and on a second data area of the disk substantially affected by at least one defect. A defect scan parameter is initialized with an initial setting. The first data area is read to determine a first defect threshold, and the second data area is read to determine a second defect threshold. A margin is saved representing a difference between the first and second defect thresholds. The setting for the defect scan parameter is adjusted, and the elements of reading the first and second data areas and saving a corresponding margin are repeated at least once. A setting is then selected for the defect scan parameter in response to the saved margins.

Abstract: A write-once-type recording medium (100) on which record data can be recorded only once, provided with: a data area (108) to record therein the record data; and a shared area (104, 105) to temporarily record therein evacuation data which is record data to be recorded or already recorded at a position of a defect in the data area and defect management information (120) including an evacuation source address of the evacuation data, the evacuation data being recorded with one predetermined point which exists in the shared area as a start point, the defect management information being recorded with another predetermined point which exists at a different point from the one point as a start point, in the shared area.

Abstract: The method of detecting defect signals includes: setting a default pit length range; inputting a data signal including a plurality of pits with different pit lengths; transferring the data signal into NRZ signal and counting the pit length of each pit; accumulating the number of the pits whose pit length are within the default pit length range, and accumulating the number of the pits whose pit lengths are outside the default pit length range but within the corresponding ranges; changing the logic state of a defect flag signal when one of the accumulative value reaches a corresponding threshold. The present invention also provides an apparatus for detecting defect signals.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data in which a recording and/or reproduction velocity is be reduced when a data recording and/or reproduction error occurs due to a defect of an optical disc during recording of data on and/or reproduction of data from the optical disc. The method includes: recording data on an optical disc that is rotating at a predetermined constant angular velocity; determining whether a data recording error occurs; and if it is determined that a data recording error has occurred, recording data on the optical disc that is rotating at a constant angular velocity which is lower than the predetermined constant angular velocity.

Abstract: A light beam is emitted to an optical disc from an optical pickup. The optical pickup is moved over the optical disc so that a light spot of the light beam crosses tracks formed on the optical disc. Detected are tracking error signals carried by a light beam reflected from the optical disc. Each tracking error signal is detected when the light spot crosses a corresponding track among the tracks formed on the optical disc. Track crossing pulses are generated based on the tracking error signals. Each track crossing pulse is generated for the corresponding track. Measured next is a half period of each track crossing pulse. It is determined whether a defect occurs to each track crossing pulse, based on a latest half period measured at present and an anterior half period measured one half-period before the latest half period. Generated when determined that no defect occurs is an average half period of the latest and the anterior half periods.