Abstract: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management and the management information of the spare area, a spare area allocation method, and a defect management method. When a primary spare area is allocated for slipping replacement and linear replacement upon initialization, and a remaining portion of the primary spare area after slipping replacement and allocated for linear replacement after initialization are insufficient, a supplementary spare area is allocated. The sizes of the primary and supplementary spare areas are determined by the number of defects generated upon initialization. The information on the sizes of the spare areas, and the remainder state information representing the degree of use of the spare areas, are recorded, so that the spare areas can be efficiently managed.

Abstract: This invention provides an information recording medium, and a method and apparatus for writing to/reading from a recording medium in which a starting point of a spare area is variable relative to a starting point of a data area. Information concerning a variable boundary between the data area and the spare area is stored on the recording medium. A method and apparatus for writing/reproducing data to/from the recording medium is also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the recording medium is an optical disc.

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 are 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: A spare area management method of an optical recording medium is disclosed. The spare area management method utilizes an identification information to indicate whether a primary spare area is full or a supplementary spare area has been assigned or extended, as necessary. Also, the present spare area management method improves the performance of the driver by replacing a defect block with a spare block nearer to the defect block.

Abstract: In an information storage apparatus, a substitution process for substitutionally storing information, when an error occurs in storing the information is prevented from being repeatedly performed with a substitutional area defined in the same recording zone, so that wasteful execution of the substitution process is prevented. The information storage apparatus stores information on a recording medium having a plurality of recording zones, each of the recording zones being divided into a plurality of sectors. A substitutional area is defined in each of the recording zones so as to substitutionally store information when an error occurs in storing the information. A defective sector detecting unit detects a defective sector in each of the recording zones.

Abstract: A technology for managing a defective area of a rewritable optical recording medium is disclosed. This technology (1) returns information on a defective area to a host when the defective area is first encountered, (2) writes the data intended for the defective area to another area within the user area (also known as the data area) under the control of the control unit, (3) writes positional information about the defective area on a particular position in the data area, and (4) corrects information in the ICB with reference to the positional information about the defective area. This prevents the reduction of recording capacity otherwise caused by the use of spare areas and improves an efficiency of use of the disk in a rewritable optical recording medium. This is achieved by replacing a defective block with another block within the data area only when a defect is encountered and making a file system to manage the defective areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to recording of information, in particular a real-time audio and/or video signal, in a recording track of a recording medium divided into blocks. The recording medium contains a defect list of addresses of blocks which are known to be defective. This list is read and during the recording process the defective blocks are skipped. The recording process is performed without any read-after-write check so as to speed up the process. The defect list is updated by noting, during playback, which blocks give rise to reading problems and by including the addresses of these blocks in the defect list on the recording medium.

Abstract: A defect area management method of an optical recording medium is disclosed. The present method is capable of managing a defective areas by storing information of defective blocks in the user block upon formatting as well as information of defective replacement blocks by extension of the user area by slipping.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: A disc recording apparatus (A) for writing data onto a sector providing a recording area (B2) on a magneto-optical disc (B) performs a retry upon failure in the writing until a predetermined number of retries is reached, treats the sector as a defective sector upon failure in the last retry of the predetermined number of retries, and writes the data onto another sector. During a physical formatting, A CPU (11) records in medium management information (B1) on the recording disc (B) a retry count as retry count information for each of recovered sectors recovered from the failure through success in the writing of data during the retry. When actual data is written onto the physically formatted magneto-optical disc (B), and upon detection of a defective sector failed in the writing of the actual data, the CPU (11) selects a replacement sector for the defective sector. The replacement sector has a retry count stored as the retry count information smaller than that of the defective sector.

Abstract: A method and device for searching a first available good spare block from an optical recording medium is disclosed. In the present invention, a first good block in a spare area is determined to be the first available spare block when there is at least one entry to a SDL without an entry of a replacement block assignment. Therefore, the present invention prevents searching a wrong replacement block when SDL entries without replacement block assignment are present.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical recording medium in which ratios of spare areas to data areas differ from one zone to another, and which has information concerning the unequal or non-uniform boundaries between the data areas and the spare areas, and a method and apparatus for writing/reproducing data to/from the optical recording medium. The apparatus for manufacturing the optical recording medium comprises a ratio setting unit for keeping each zone's ratio of spare area to data area, which depends on the relative location of the zone on the optical recording medium; a laser beam generator for generating a laser beam; a beam permeating unit for selectively controlling transmission of the laser beam; a pickup location detector for detecting a focused position of the transmitted beam onto the optical recording medium; and an optical transmission controller for controlling the transmission of the laser beam which passes through the optical transmitting unit.

Abstract: The optical disk device according to the present invention has a means which reads data of an optical disk, the disk being provided in advance with an alternate area that serves as its substitute when there exists a defect in a data area, and being recorded in advance with list information consisting of a plurality of sets each of the set being formed of a position on the disk of the data area and an address of the alternate area, and buffers a data area being defective after correcting it, and a means which stores a new alternate list on which is recorded the correspondence relationship between the alternate area and its buffer destination.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are arranged by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient defect management in a magneto-optical data storage system store a map of current and predicted defective physical addresses of a recording disk, and then skips defective data wedges to more completely utilize the non-defective recording surface area available for a given track. The invention also stores groups of physical addresses that share defects to decrease the number of entries in the map of defective physical addresses, and also to increase the effective defect management capacity of existing hardware and software.

Abstract: Address data recorded in each header field assured in a sector field is played back. It is checked based on the playback result of the address data if the sector field that records the playback sector data is defective. It is checked based on the defect discrimination results for 16 sector fields included in one block if the block is defective. Upon recording k1 block data on an optical disk, k2 blocks more than k1 blocks actually required for recording k1 ECC block data are assigned as a recording area of the k1 ECC block data. When 16 sector data are recorded in 16 sector fields included in one block to have one-to-one correspondence with each other, the 16 sector data are replaced and recorded in 16 sector fields included in a normal block, which is not determined to be defective, while skipping a defective block which is determined to be defective.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: In order to enable recording and reproduction from optical disks with defect management formatted with different group configurations without changing the firmware of the conventional apparatus and to allow the size of the spare area to be specified at initialization, the position information indicating the position of the defect management area is recorded in the control data area provided in the read-only area of the optical disk, and the information indicating the first address or size of the spare area is included in the defect management area.

Abstract: An information recording medium according to an embodiment of this invention includes an overwritable count information area for recording overwritable count information representing an allowable number of times of overwrite.

Abstract: Possibility for an error due to the disabled access to the data on the recording/reproducing medium having the recording times restriction can be reduced. For this purpose, the information about the recording times restriction is previously stored to the recording/reproduction medium having the recording times restriction and the recording/reproducing apparatus restricts the recording operations not to exceed the recording times restriction using the recording number information of the medium management information such as the defect management table or the like for the update of information. Moreover, when the medium management information is recorded in the multiple points, update of the medium management information exceeding the recording times restriction can be executed through the management to always keep the normal points after update of the medium management information to a plurality of points.

Abstract: A storage device capable of performing diagnostics tests on itself to render an opinion of its health to a host computer is disclosed. Test commands are received over an industry-standard interface. The tests may be run in off-line or captive modes. Off-line tests are subject to interruption from the host computer whereas captive tests are not. Unless a command is received that instructs the storage device to stop testing or power-down, the storage device suspends the test, executes the host command and resumes testing. Power management is disabled while the tests are run to prevent the storage device from inadvertently powering down. A number of specific tests may be performed, including a general quick test and a comprehensive test. Failures detected during the tests are logged in a non-volatile memory of the storage device and include an indication of which component failed and at which point in the test that component failed.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are arranged by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: A spare area management method of an optical recording medium is disclosed. The spare area management method utilizes an identification information to indicate whether a primary spare area is full or a supplementary spare area has been assigned or extended, as necessary. Also, the present spare area management method improves the performance of the driver by replacing a defect block with a spare block nearer to the defect block.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing defect management information to record real time data, a defect managing method therefor, and a method of recording real time data. The recording medium stores information representing use or non-use of linear replacement defect management in which a defective area on the recording medium is replaced with the spare area, in order to record real time data. While maintaining compatibility between the defect managing method and a defect managing method based on a current DVD-RAM standard, i.e., while allowing a report of the fact that there are blocks which have not been linearly replaced, linear replacement is not performed when real time data is recorded. Thus, real time data can be recorded and reproduced.

Abstract: If necessary, problematic sectors are isolated when an attempt to write a group of data blocks to corresponding disk sectors returns a write error by attempting to write each data sector individually, registering each individual sector which returns a write error for separate, further examination. Since disk drive vendors do not employ consistent write error messages in device drivers, true write faults—those caused by failure of disk media such that a sector becomes unreliable or unrecoverable—are then identified by an operating system device manager for the disk drive by writing the data block to a reserved replacement sector and monitoring the status of that write. If the write to the replacement sector also fails with a write error, the error signaled likely indicates a true drive status and an appropriate error is returned to the file system which issued the write request. If the write to the replacement sector succeeds, however, the write error most likely reflects a failing sector.

Abstract: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management, and a method of allocating 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 are 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: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management, and a method of allocating 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 are 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: For recording data on and reproducing data from an optical disk of a single spiral land/groove configuration, a header detector detects header regions on the optical disk, a PID error detector judges whether the address information read from the header regions is erroneous, using error detection codes, and detects the number of errors per sector. An error count comparator compares the number of errors per sector with a predetermined value, and a state judging circuit identifies the state of the optical disk device by causing transition to a higher or lower state according to the output of the error count comparator. The recording and reproduction are controlled according to the state thus identified.

Abstract: Method for recording/reproducing a data to/from a rewritable optical recording medium, including the steps of (1) conducting data writing/reading to/from a defective block if the defective block is encountered during a realtime writing/reading, and (2) conducting data writing/reading to/from a replacement block of the defective block if the defective block is encountered during a non-realtime writing/reading, whereby simplifying interface between the host and the optical disk recording/reproducing device, particularly in realtime writing/reproducing, that permits to reduce a burden on the host.

Abstract: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management and the management information of the spare area, a spare area allocation method, and a defect management method. When a primary spare area is allocated for slipping replacement and linear replacement upon initialization, and a remaining portion of the primary spare area after slipping replacement and allocated for linear replacement after initialization are insufficient, a supplementary spare area is allocated. The sizes of the primary and supplementary spare areas are determined by the number of defects generated upon initialization. The information on the sizes of the spare areas, and the remainder state information representing the degree of use of the spare areas, are recorded, so that the spare areas can be efficiently managed.

Abstract: A method of processing data of a defect sector in a DVD-RAM (Digital Video Disk-Random Access Memory) system and the DVD-RAM system. In the method, a defect list is read from a lead-in area of a DVD-RAM disk during playback of the disk. The defect list is stored in a predetermined area of a memory of a signal processing portion in the system while the predetermined area of the memory is not full and a remaining part of the defect list is stored in an ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) buffer memory once the predetermined area of the memory is full. A sector having the title of a user-input file is searched, a physical sector address for the searched sector is designated, the defect list is read, and it is determined whether the physical sector address is in the defect list.

Abstract: Address data recorded in each header field assured in a sector field is played back. It is checked based on the playback result of the address data if the sector field that records the playback sector data is defective. It is checked based on the defect discrimination results for 16 sector fields included in one block if the block is defective. Upon recording k1 block data on an optical disk, k2 blocks more than k1 blocks actually required for recording k1 ECC block data are assigned as a recording area of the k1 ECC block data. When 16 sector data are recorded in 16 sector fields included in one block to have one-to-one correspondence with each other, the 16 sector data are replaced and recorded in 16 sector fields included in a normal block, which is not determined to be defective, while skipping a defective block which is determined to be defective.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording data into a recording medium taking as recording unit a sector corresponding to a predetermined amount of information signal, comprises a file management unit (5) to classify an information signal for recording into the recording medium (101) into a number, two or more, of groups depending upon the importance of the information signal, and a write/read unit (6) to record the information signal into the recording medium (101) while dealing with a defective sector, if any, in the recording medium (101) in a manner designated for the group to which the information signal has been classified to belong at the above classifying step, and record a highly important information signal, when a defective sector is found by checking up the information signal recorded in the recording medium (101), into another sector.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: A method of replacement processing for secondary defects is provided that can maintain both the transfer rate and quality of write/read data at high levels. According to the method, a change-permitted range in which changes in the assignment of logical addresses is allowed is acquired, and when sectors having secondary defects due to write abnormalities are detected, replacement of sectors is carried out as long as changes in the assignment of logical addresses do not go beyond sectors in the change-permitted range by: omitting the secondary defect sectors by additionally registering the defective sectors in a slip replacement list, and shifting back the assignment of logical addresses as long as there are free sectors following the abnormal sectors.

Abstract: In a recording and reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium, and a defect substitution method for a disc-shaped recording medium (8), whether reproduction of recorded data is good is determined by sector unit and not by product code unit, defective sector discrimination is performed by sector unit, and only sectors determined defective are alternately recorded, when using a recording format in which data that is error detection and correction coded with a product code is segmented and recorded to a plurality of sectors.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus and a disk reproducing method which permit continuous reproduction of data of the RTR type without interruption and without affecting real time reproduction.

Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes: a volume space in which user data is recorded; a spare area including a replacement area which may be used in place of a defective area included in the volume space; and a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the defective area is recorded. The defect management information includes status information indicating whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area.

Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes: a volume space in which user data is recorded; a spare area including a replacement area which may be used in place of a defective area included in the volume space; and a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the defective area is recorded. The defect management information includes status information indicating whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area.

Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes: a volume space in which user data is recorded; a spare area including a replacement area which may be used in place of a defective area included in the volume space; and a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the defective area is recorded. The defect management information includes status information indicating whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area.

Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes: a volume space in which user data is recorded; a spare area including a replacement area which may be used in place of a defective area included in the volume space; and a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the defective area is recorded. The defect management information includes status information indicating whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area.

Abstract: Tracks of respective discs of plural disc drives are divided into plural blocks and spare sectors are disposed (assigned) at predetermined intervals between blocks. Moreover, blocks including defect sector is replaced so that sectors are continuously disposed (assigned) on the disc except for the defect sector in alternative area designated on the basis of defect list where address of detected defect sector is registered and correspondence relationship set in advance. At the time of reproduction of replaced data, all data within the read-designated range are continuously read out to store those data into a memory. In reading out data from the memory, data of defect sector is deleted. Further, at the time of recording, data are continuously written into the write-designated range. At this time, dummy data is written into the defect sector.