Abstract: The optical disc apparatus of this invention includes: an optical pickup 104 to converge a light beam on an information layer of an optical disc 102; a drive section 105 to move the beam along the radius of the disc 102; a tracking error detecting section 108 for generating a tracking error signal based on a light detection signal; a tracking control section 109 to drive the drive section 105 based on the tracking error signal to make the beam follow tracks on the disc 102; a defect detecting section 124 for detecting, based on the light detection signal and with respect to a preset detection reference level, a fingerprint or a bubble on the disc 102 as a defect to output a defect detection signal; and a waveform shaping section 126 to output a hold signal that holds, in response to the defect detection signal, a signal from the tracking control section 109 at a level just before the defect has occurred.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.

Abstract: An optical disc 1 according to the present invention has a first defect management area 6, to which a first kind of defect management information about non-permanent defects may be added, and a second defect management area 7, to which a second kind of defect management information about permanent defects may be added. The second kind of defect management information added to the second defect management area 7 is non-rewritable.

Abstract: Before generating a digital photo slide show, both original digital photos and related media playing packages are burnt into a same optical disc. While the optical disc is loaded by a disc playing device, a media playing module installed on the optical disc playing device loads both the original digital photos and the related media packages on the optical disc, and generates a required digital photo slide show according to digital photos and media playing packages, both of which are chosen by a user, for preventing the problem of causing damage of resolution of the digital photos by repeatedly encoding said digital photos, and for management and reuse of said digital photos on the optical disc hereafter.

Abstract: The position of a write spot on an optical record carrier, during a write operation by an optical recording device, is important for the quality of the data recorded. Radial positioning of the spot may be facilitated by means of tracking spots, signals from which identify the location of the write spot. Signals from the tracking spots may be affected by the characteristics of the optical record carrier in the their vicinity. Specifically, effects arise from the recorded or unrecorded nature of the tracks adjacent each spot. The invention comprises rotation of the means to generate tracking spots such that tracking spots may be placed in an optimum position for recording, regardless of which data layer on an optical record carrier is to be recorded or the recording direction.

Abstract: A media processing device can identify particular attributes of the recording media, such as the type of recording medium, and can sort by attribute a plurality of intermingled recording media including recording media that may or may not have been previously used and recording media of uncertain type.

Abstract: A light receiving device generates photocurrent that corresponds to the quantity of incident light. A capacitor is arranged with one terminal set to a fixed electric potential, and is charged using the photocurrent. A comparator compares the voltage that occurs between both terminals of the capacitor with a predetermined threshold voltage, and generates a judgment signal that corresponds to the comparison result. An initialization switch initializes the voltage that occurs both terminals of the capacitor. A judgment unit acquires, as data which indicates the quantity of light, the level of the judgment signal at a timing after the passage of a predetermined judgment period of time from the commencement of charging of the capacitor using the photocurrent.

Abstract: An optical head 12 reproduces information recorded on an optical disc 11, a BCA detector 21 and a medium discriminating circuit 22 acquire waveform distortion information for specifying a waveform distortion of a reproduction signal reproduced by the optical head 12, and a variable waveform equalizer 16 changes a parameter used in a distortion reduction processing for reducing the waveform distortion of the reproduction signal based on the waveform distortion information.

Abstract: Provided is a method for easily judging that a disc is an optical disc that conforms to the DVD Download standards, without generating malfunction. A Wobble signal is detected in a data zone (21) of an optical disc (YES in a step (S2)), CSS information is detected from a lead-in zone (20) of the optical disc (YES in step (S5)), and when attribute information, which is of the optical disc and recorded in the lead-in zone (20) of the optical disc, is further read and the disc is recognized as a DVD-ROM (YES in a step (S7)), the optical disc is judged as an optical disc that conforms to the DVD Download standards.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which can promptly restart reproduction and recording by using a preceding discrimination result of a disk kind without using a memory. A mechanism for correcting an aberration is constructed by an expander lens for the aberration correction and a self-holding element as a moving mechanism of the expander lens. A detector for detecting a position of the expander lens is provided. By detecting a correcting position of the expander lens, the kind of disk to which the reproduction and recording have previously been executed can be discriminated.

Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a first recording layer (L0 layer) having (I) a first trial write area (101P-1) for trial write of first trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the first track path (TP1) from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference and (II) a first recording area for recording the first recording information along a first track path (TP1), in this order from the inner circumference side. Furthermore, the disc-shaped information recording medium includes a second recording layer (L1 layer) having (I) a second trial write area (101P-2) for trial write of second trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the second track path (TP2) from the outer circumference toward the inner circumference and (II) a second recording area for recording the second recording information along a second track path (TP2), in this order from the inner circumference side.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device includes a trial recording parameter setting section (23) and a reproduced signal quality judging section (26). The trial recording parameter setting section (23) inquires, in accordance with the recording information, a storage section (3) containing recording parameters used for controlling heat of recording marks, and sets a trial recording parameter, wherein (a) the recording parameters are used for controlling heat of at least rear edges, (b) the recording parameters are classified in accordance with recording mark lengths, and (c) recording parameters of a predetermined recording mark length or longer are classified into a same group. The reproduced signal quality judging section (26) judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality.

Abstract: A method of detection is described to be used in file system-based player devices to determine the type of compact disk that has been inserted into a player. The method automatically distinguishes between the DTS-CD format and standard audio CDs. The method allows the operating system or CPU software to take appropriate action to decode and playback the audio stream once the a decision between standard audio CD or DTS-CD is made.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device includes a trial recording parameter setting section (23) and a reproduced signal quality judging section (26). The trial recording parameter setting section (23) inquires, in accordance with the recording information, a storage section (3) containing recording parameters used for controlling heat of recording marks, and sets a trial recording parameter, wherein (a) the recording parameters are used for controlling heat of at least rear edges, (b) the recording parameters are classified in accordance with recording mark lengths, and (c) recording parameters of a predetermined recording mark length or longer are classified into a same group. The reproduced signal quality judging section (26) judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality.

Abstract: A detecting mechanism of a disc pick-and-place device comprises a first frame and a pick-and-place head, a detecting portion and a sensor respectively coupled thereto. When the pick-and-place picks up at least two stacked discs, the detecting portion then shows a state different from when the pick-and-place head picks up one disc, and when the sensor senses that the detecting portion shows the different state, it may then output a corresponding signal thereby allowing the disc pick-and-place device to detect whether at least two discs are picked up and be prevented from placing at least two discs into a disc copier to avoid the incapability of copying and the speed decreasing of copying and even the damage of the copier.

Abstract: A method for testing a burner includes the steps of: providing a rewriter (RW) disk (4) in good burning condition, and inserting the RW disk into a test burner (3) connected to a computer (1); selecting a burner type for the burner; designating a source file to be burned, and setting a counter J=0, a loop time N and a maximum time of fail test M; erasing all data on the RW disk; burning the source file onto the RW disk; determining whether the source file is successfully burned to the RW disk; executing J=J+1 if the source file is successfully burned to the RW disk; repeating the erasing step, the burning step and the determining step, and counting a time of successfully burned process by the counter J, until J=N?M+1 which denotes that the burner is in good burning condition. A related method for testing a RW disk is also provided.

Abstract: Conventional reproducing apparatuses used to perform incorrect detection or consume electricity considerably. According to the present invention, the comparator 61 comparing voltages at both ends of the spindle motor 15 and outputting the result is provided, and the control IC 12 judges whether or not the spindle motor 15 is rotating based on the output from the comparator 61. Based on this judgment, brake pulses are repeatedly supplied to the spindle motor 15 until the spindle motor 15 stops. Based on the number of times the brake pulses are supplied until the spindle motor 15 stops, the presence or absence of an optical disk in the disk drive is determined.

Abstract: In an optical disc having a multilayer structure in which recording layers are bonded to each other, the number of times additional writing can be performed is increased. A method for controlling an optical disc device according to the present invention comprises steps of calculating a displacement amount generated when the recording layers are bonded to each other; and identifying the size of a recordable area in a non-usable area predetermined on the recording layer based on the displacement amount.

Abstract: An information recording medium according to the present invention includes three or more information recording layers. Each of the plurality of information recording layers includes a test recording area usable for adjusting a recording condition. One of the plurality of information recording layers includes a reproduction-only management data area in which management data usable for managing the information recording medium is pre-recorded. Each of the other two or more information recording layers among the plurality of information recording layers includes a test recording area at a radial position partially overlapping the radial position of the management data area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining write strategy parameter values for writing data on an optical disk from a group of optical disks of different types using an optical disk drive, in particular to different types of BD disks. The method includes identifying the type of optical disk, the type of optical disk being associated with a standard write strategy with standard write strategy parameters; determining a cluster write strategy with cluster write strategy parameters, the number of cluster write strategy parameters being smaller than the number of standard write strategy parameters; initializing the cluster write strategy parameters with initial cluster write strategy parameter values; and optimizing cluster write strategy parameter values for at least a subset of the cluster write strategy parameters. The optimizing is preferably performed on optimization sets of cluster write strategy parameters in a pre-determined optimization order.

Abstract: A method for determining the type of a digital versatile disc (DVD) so that a DVD+ can be distinguished from a DVD?. The main steps for determining the type of a DVD include setting up related parameters, reading a general wobble signal or a wobble signal within the general wobble signal from a DVD to obtain a peak hold value and a trough hold value. The peak and trough hold values of the general wobble signal are read to derive a peak-to-peak voltage. Finally, if the peak-to-peak voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the DVD is classified as a DVD?, otherwise it is classified as a DVD+. Furthermore, a DVD-ROM disc can be determined.

Abstract: An optical medium has auxiliary information and control data encoded in wobble. The control data specifies action that a drive is permitted or required to take with the auxiliary information. For example, the control data may be used to specify whether a drive reading the medium is permitted to output a region of the auxiliary information. Alternatively, the control data may be used to specify whether a writing drive is permitted to copy a portion of the auxiliary information to a writeable area on the medium.

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 for determining a disk characteristic of an optical disk comprising an information layer comprising a substantially circular track is described. The optical disk drive has an optical pickup unit arranged to generate a beam, direct the beam to the optical disk for forming an incident beam, sense a reflected beam produced by the optical disk with a sensor upon receiving the incident beam with the sensor, produce a sensor output signal from sensing the reflected beam; a disk receiving device arranged to receive the optical disk; a motor arranged to provide a transition of the disk receiving device from a first mode to a second mode in at least one transition phase; and a controller arranged to receive the sensor output signal during at least one part of the at least one transition phase and perform at least part of determining the disk characteristic from at least the sensor output signal received during the at least one part of the at least one transition phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical storage medium (20) comprising a first data area (21) for storing content and a second data area (23) for storing limitation data (24) for limiting access to at least a portion of the first data area. It is desired that the period of time for which access to content stored on the storage medium is limited, such that, for instance, after said period of time unlimited access to said content is granted. To achieve this a state change means (27) is provided on the storage medium, adapted for changing its optical reflectivity and/or transmittance over time, said change directly preventing access to the second data area after a limited period of time or being indirectly used to decide whether access to the at least one portion of the first data area shall be limited according to said limitation data.

Abstract: A random access control method is provided, implemented in an optical disc drive for recording data to an optical disc. In the optical disc drive, a buffer stores a plurality of write commands each associated with a data block bound to a destination address. A processor controls the buffer to build a disc write task from the write commands in which addresses are organized in order. A drive unit is controlled by the processor, performing a recording operation to record the data blocks to the optical disc according to the disc write task; wherein the processor further controls the drive unit to verify the recorded data blocks after completing the recording operation.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes: a servo control unit, operable to execute a servo control of focusing based on a focus error signal and to execute a servo control of tracking based on a tracking error signal; a detrack regulating unit, operable to execute a detrack regulation for setting an offset voltage, which is to be added to the tracking error signal, to be a voltage for giving the highest signal quality of an output of an optical pickup; and a defocus regulating unit, operable to execute a defocus regulation for setting an offset voltage, which is to be added to the focus error signal, to be a voltage for giving the highest signal quality of the output of the optical pickup. The defocus regulation is executed in a state in which the servo control of the focusing and the servo control of the tracking are executed. The defocus regulation is executed after the detrack regulation is executed, in the state in which the servo control of the focusing and the servo control of the tracking are executed.

Abstract: An information recording medium according to the present invention includes a track on which a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks is recordable; and a recording condition recording area in which a recording condition for recording the data sequence on the track is recordable.

Abstract: On a recording medium, data is recorded on at least one of a plurality of recording layers by laser light incident on a surface of the recording medium. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer, and second through N-th recording layers (N is an integer of 3 or greater) which are sequentially located in a direction from the first recording layer toward the surface on which the laser is incident. The plurality of recording layers each have a first calibration area and a second calibration area located outer to the first calibration area. The first calibration area located in each of the first through N-th recording layers is located at a different radial position from a radial position of the first calibration area in each of the other recording layers; and the second calibration area located in each of the first through N-th recording layers is located at the same radial position as a radial position of the second calibration area in each of the other recording layers.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to DVD identification. One method accesses media content from a DVD and identifies a format of the media content. The method also determines a unique identification for the media content based upon the format.

Abstract: A device for measuring eccentricity of a lens includes a support portion, an eccentricity detector, a driving device, a vacuum absorption device, a clamping device, and a rotatable pole. The support portion includes a plurality of gear teeth and a first through hole. The eccentricity detector is positioned above the lens. The driving device includes a driving mechanism and a motor. The motor rotates the driving mechanism. The vacuum absorption device includes an air pipe and a vacuum generation element. The vacuum generation element is for removing air from the air pipe. The clamping device includes a first clamping element and a second clamping element. The first clamping element cooperates with the second clamping element to locate and fix the lens. The rotatable pole includes a second through hole. The rotatable pole is for supporting the support portion.

Abstract: This optical disk device includes a pickup head, a spindle motor, a signal generation unit, a runout amount calculation unit, and an out of balance disk detection unit. The signal generation unit generates a tracking error signal. The runout amount calculation unit controls the rotational speed of the spindle motor to first and second disk rotational speeds, and obtains, at these rotational speeds, runout amounts TE1 and TE2 of a tracking error signal, and runout amounts FE1 and FE2 of a focus error signal. And an out of balance disk detection unit detects that this optical disk is an out of balance disk, if the absolute value of (TE2×FE2)/(TE1×FE1) is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting burst cutting areas on optical discs includes an optical pickup head, a front-end processing unit, a sync pattern detector, a channel clock recovery device, and a data demodulator. The front-end processing unit generates a BCA signal in response to a radio frequency signal. The sync pattern detector counts the BCA signal according to a reference clock, detects a sync pattern of the BCA signal and outputs a channel bit length counting value. The channel clock recovery device generates a channel clock according to the reference clock and the channel bit length counting value. The data demodulator transfers the BCA signal into a BCA data according to the channel clock. The sync pattern detector continuously counts the B CA signal and continuously outputs a plurality of counting values, so that the sync pattern of the BCA signal can be determined according to at least three sequential counting values.

Abstract: Whether an optically writable label surface of an optical disc is suitable for having an image formed thereon is determined. A detectable number of encoder spokes on a control feature area of the optical disc is counted as the optical disc is rotated. Where the detectable number of encoder spokes is other than a predetermined value, an error condition with respect to the optically writable label surface of the optical disc is indicated.

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 device enabling simple detection of a recording medium placed on a tray includes at least two electrodes arranged on the tray, an electric field sensor connected to the electrodes, and a control circuit connected to the electric field sensor. The electric field sensor detects capacitance in accordance with the distance between the electrodes relative to the recording medium placed on the tray. The control circuit determines the recording media type of the recording medium based on the capacitance detected by the electric field sensor.

Abstract: On an optical disk medium, a spare area is allocated separately from a recording area. If the recording area includes a defective sector, alternate recording for the defective sector is performed in the spare area. An optical disk drive comprises: a medium information acquisition part which acquires, from the optical disk medium, medium information specific to the medium; and an area size determination part which determines the spare-area size suitable for the medium on the basis of the acquired medium information. The medium information is information about, for example, a media manufacturer, and a media type number. Further, there is provided a table which stores the relationship between the medium information and the optimum size of the spare area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive for accessing an optical record carrier (2) comprising means (4) for determining the type of record carrier, in particular for distinguishing a read-only record carrier from a recordable or rewritable record carrier having a wobbled groove in the lead-in zone, said means comprising: a DPD measuring unit (41) for measuring the differential phase detection (DPD) signal, a PP measuring unit (42) for measuring the push-pull (PP) signal in case no DPD signal could be measured, a wobble locking unit (43) for locking, in case a PP signal could be measured, to the wobble embedded in said wobbled groove using a first and/or a second polarity setting, and an indication unit (44) for generating a first indication signal indicating that the record carrier is a read-only record carrier if a DPD signal could be measured and that the record carrier is a recordable or rewritable record carrier if no DPD signal but a PP signal could be measured and if locking to the wobble has been suc

Abstract: An optical-disc testing apparatus performs test erasures on the test areas T of data layers of an optical disc while changing the power level Pe of data erasure laser light and the defocus amount if of the data erasure laser light from a target data layer. The optical-disc testing apparatus determines an optimal erasure condition that enables a simultaneous data erasure from the greatest number of data layers and an optimal erasure sequence that enables data erasure from all of the data layers with the fewest number of times. The determined optimal erasure condition and sequence are registered on the memory of an optical disc apparatus. The optical disc apparatus reads the registered optimal erasure condition and sequence of the optical disc from its memory and erases data from each of the data layers of the optical disc based on the read optimal erasure condition and sequence.

Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a laminate of recording layers on and from which an information signal can be optically recorded and reproduced from one side of the medium. Data areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. The information signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the data areas while a laser beam emitted from an optical pickup is applied to the data areas. Optical recording test areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. A test signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the optical recording test areas to decide optimum power values of the laser beam for signal recording. The test areas are out of overlap as viewed in a direction of propagation of the laser beam.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproduction apparatus includes a correction device that corrects aberration, due to a change in thicknesses of a transparent substrate and spherical aberration generated by inserting an optical attenuation device into an optical path or retreating the optical attenuation device from the optical path, by changing intervals between a plurality of lenses. The correction device is disposed between an objective lens and a light source. The correction device also functions as a collimator lens. The optical attenuation device is provided in an optical path of diverging light flux from the light source to the correction device, for attenuating an optical output from the light source. A discrimination circuit discriminates (i) a kind of the optical recording medium and (ii) an insertion of the optical attenuation device into the optical path or a retreating of the optical attenuation device from the optical path, and produces a discrimination result.

Abstract: Provided are a device and a method for identifying whether or not an information recording medium is a pre-formatted disc, and an information recording medium as a pre-formatted disc. In an information processing device that executes recording of data onto a disc, such as a video camera, a process of identifying which one of the following discs a loaded disc is, that is, whether the loaded disc is (a) an unrecorded blank disc, (b) a pre-formatted disc to which a padding process has been applied, or (c) an already-recorded disc, is executed as a process of recognizing the loaded disc. With this configuration, a padding process that needs to be executed during a formatting process or finalizing process in conventional devices becomes unnecessary, thus enabling quick processing without making the user wait during the start of recording or finalizing process.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention includes a disc type recognizing section 109 for determining whether the optical disc 100 loaded is a first type, of which the number of information storage layers is less than a setting T (where T is an integer that is greater than two), or a second type, of which the number of information storage layers is equal to or greater than the setting T. Depending on whether the optical disc loaded has turned out to be the first type or the second type, the apparatus decides what to do as the read/write preprocessing (such as whether a fingerprint detection process needs to be performed or not).

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: Before playing a digital photo slide show, both required digital photos and a guiding program are burnt on an optical disc in advance. While the disc is loaded into an optical disc play device, the guiding program triggers the optical disc play device to connect with an external network for updating media play effect packages, which are related to the digital photos, and for storing the updated media play effect packages in a preserved database of said optical disc play device. Then a corresponding digital photo slide show is dynamically generated and played according to both the updated media play effect packages, which are stored in the preserved database, and the digital photos burnt on the optical disc.

Abstract: The subject matter is a test device for characterizing a material used in an optical storage medium (10). It comprises a laser source (20) intended to direct an incident laser beam (21) towards the optical storage medium (10), the incident laser beam (21) passing through a focusing objective (22) before reaching the optical storage medium (10) and before being reflected thereat as a reflected laser beam (25). It furthermore comprises a diaphragm (23) for reducing the numerical aperture of the incident laser beam (21) below that of the focusing objective (22), this diaphragm (23) being situated between the laser source (20) and the focusing objective (22) and an interception device (26) for intercepting a cross section of the reflected laser beam (25) after it traverses the focusing objective (22) but before it reaches the diaphragm (23).

Abstract: An optical disk inspecting apparatus 10 plays an optical disk at a high speed and determines, based on error information provided during the high-speed reproduction, whether or not errors of a number exceeding a first threshold value have occurred. Then, when it is determined that errors of a number exceeding a first threshold value have occurred, the optical disk inspecting apparatus 10 performs high-speed principal determination of executing high-speed reproduction in this segment and determining presence or absence of errors of a number exceeding a second threshold value and also performs low-speed principal determination of executing low-speed reproduction in this segment and determining presence or absence of errors of a number exceeding the second threshold value. When errors of a number exceeding the second threshold value are detected, it is determined that there is a defect, and NG is outputted.

Abstract: In one embodiment the method includes reading speed information from a specific area of the recording medium. The speed information includes one or more speed flags to indicate whether a corresponding speed is applicable to the recording medium. A first speed flag for a first recording speed lower than a second recording speed is set to be dependent on a second speed flag for the second recording speed. Data is recorded on a main data area of the optical recording medium based on the read speed information.

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: A recordable optical disc (1, 1?, 1?, 100) comprises at least one user data area (12) for storing user data, and at least one controlling data area (6, 8, 10, 11) for storing controlling data necessary for accessing stored user data and/or for recording user data into a user data area (12), wherein at least a part of the physical structure of the optical disc corresponding to at least a part of at least one controlling data area (6, 8, 10, 11) and/or to at least a part of at least one user data area (12) has a modified physical structure (118, 120, 122, 123) which is arranged such that a standard optical disc recorder cannot record user data into at least a part of at least one user data area and/or controlling data area (6, 8, 10, 11).