Access apparatus, data processing system, computer program product and computer data signal

Abstract

When a storage medium is set in a control unit, a controller reads out device ID data, CIS data and Identify-Drive data from the storage medium. Based on the device ID data and the CIS data, the controller authenticates the storage medium and stores the Identify-Drive data. A CPU in the controller reads out replacement Identify-Drive data from a storage section in response to a command from a computer. Using the replacement Identify-Drive data, the CPU updates the Identify-Drive data stored in the controller. Hereafter the controller accesses the storage medium in accordance with conditions represented by the updated Identify-Drive data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A data processing system comprising a storage medium ( 3 ) which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, and an access apparatus ( 1 ) which performs acquisition of data from the storage medium, erasure of data from the storage medium and storage of data into the storage medium, wherein: 
 said access apparatus comprises a memory ( 11 ,  122 ,  123 ) and a controller ( 12 );    said memory stores an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses; and    said controller performs 
 acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased,  
 determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group of storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses,  
 updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses,  
 specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses, and  
 accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.  
   
     
     
         2 . An access apparatus ( 1 ) which performs acquisition of data, erasure of data, and storage of data from and into a storage medium which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, wherein: 
 said access apparatus comprises a memory ( 11 ,  122 ,  123 ) and a controller ( 12 );    said memory stores an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses; and    said controller performs 
 acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased,  
 determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group of storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses,  
 updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses,  
 specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses, and  
 accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.  
   
     
     
         3 . The access apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said storage medium stores condition-defined data specifying conditions for access to the storage medium; and    said controller acquires the condition-defined data from the storage medium, and performs acquisition of data from the storage medium and erasure and storage of data other than the condition-defined data from and into the storage medium in accordance with the conditions specified by the condition-defined data as acquired.    
     
     
         4 . The access apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said memory stores replacement data representing contents of a replacement for a to-be-replaced portion of the condition-defined data; and    said controller accesses the storage medium in accordance with the conditions specified by the condition-defined data, acquired from the storage medium and whose to-be-replaced portion has been replaced with the replacement data.    
     
     
         5 . The access apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said controller performs a function for replacing the replacement data stored in said memory with new replacement data.  
     
     
         6 . The access apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the storage medium includes identification data stored therein for identifying the storage medium; and    said controller acquires the identification data from the storage medium, determines whether to access the storage medium in accordance with the identification data as acquired, and refrains from accessing the storage medium when said controller determines not to access the storage medium.    
     
     
         7 . The access apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said memory stores identification data for collation; and    said controller determines whether there is a substantial match between the identification data acquired from the storage medium and the identification data for collation stored in the memory, and determines to access the storage medium when the controller determines that there is a substantial match between the acquired identification data and the identification data stored in said memory.    
     
     
         8 . The access apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said controller: 
 creates an empty area table specifying the storage areas which do not store said data, among said plurality of storage areas,    stores the empty area table in said memory; and    causes the storage areas specified by the empty area table to store said data.    
     
     
         9 . A data processing method for performing acquisition of data from a storage medium ( 3 ) which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, erasure of data from the storage medium and storage of data into the storage medium, said data processing method comprising steps of: 
 storing an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses;    acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased;    determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group of storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses;    updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses;    specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses; and    accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.    
     
     
         10 . An access method for performing acquisition of data, erasure of data, and storage of data from and into a storage medium which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, said access method comprising steps of: 
 storing an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses;    acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased;    determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group of storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses;    updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses;    specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses; and    accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.    
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable storage medium, including a program product embodied therein for causing a computer, which performs acquisition of data, erasure of data, and storage of data from and into a storage medium which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, to serve as a memory ( 11 ,  122 ,  123 ) and a controller ( 12 ), wherein: 
 said memory stores an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses; and    said controller performs 
 acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased,  
 determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group including the storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses,  
 updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses,  
 specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses, and  
 accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.  
   
     
     
         12 . A computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave and representing a program for causing a computer, which performs acquisition of data, erasure of data, and storage of data from and into a storage medium which has a plurality of storage areas assigned physical addresses and divided into groups, to serve as a memory ( 11 ,  122 ,  123 ) and a controller ( 12 ), wherein: 
 said memory stores an address translation table which shows the physical addresses assigned to the storage areas belonging to one of said groups and logical addresses associated with said physical addresses; and    said controller performs 
 acquiring logical addresses specifying the storage areas which store the data to be acquired or the storage areas which store the data to be erased,  
 determining whether it is possible to specify, based on the address translation table, the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, and specifying among said groups a group including the storage areas assigned the physical addresses associated with the acquired logical addresses, when said controller determines that it is impossible to specify said physical addresses,  
 updating the address translation table so as to show the physical addresses assigned to the specified group of storage areas and the logical addresses associated with said physical addresses,  
 specifying the physical addresses associated with the logical addresses acquired by said controller, based on the updated address translation table and the acquired logical addresses, and  
 accessing the storage areas assigned the specified physical addresses.