Information recording method and apparatus, information processing apparatus, information recording system and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

An information recording method records information in an information recording medium by acquiring driving power supply information related to a driving power supply of an information recording apparatus which records the information in the information recording medium, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium, and determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information.

1 . An information recording method for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: a first step acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply of an information recording apparatus which records information in the information recording medium, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a second step determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium, based on the driving power supply information.  
   
   
       2 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second step determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       3 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second step determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       4 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is at least one of processes selected from a group consisting of a process which automatically starts a background formatting, a temporary lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a user data recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, and an erase process.  
   
   
       5 . An information recording apparatus for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: a communication control section controlling a communication between the information recording apparatus and an external apparatus; a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply from the external apparatus, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium received from the external apparatus via the communication control section; a determination section determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and a recording control section carrying out the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, only when the determination section determines to permit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       6 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       7 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       8 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: an error notifying section notifying error information to the external apparatus when the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is prohibited.  
   
   
       9 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is at least one of processes selected from a group consisting of a process which automatically starts a background formatting, a temporary lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a user data recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, and an erase process.  
   
   
       10 . An information processing apparatus accessible to an information recording medium, comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a determination section determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section.  
   
   
       11 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       12 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       13 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising: an output section outputting a determination result of the determination section.  
   
   
       14 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the information recording medium is in conformance with standards of DVD+RW or CD-RW having the Mount Rainier specifications, and the output section outputs a Mode Select Command which is added with a Time-Out and Protect Page having the determination result of the determination section set in a predetermined bit position.  
   
   
       15 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said output section sets “1” in the predetermined bit position when the determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, and sets “0” in the predetermined bit position when the determination section determines to permit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       16 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined bit position is a bit  3  of a byte  4  of the Time-Out and Protect Page.  
   
   
       17 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising: an invalidating section invalidating at least one of a lead-out recording request and a temporary lead-out recording request after the determination section determines to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       18 . An information recording system for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: an information processing apparatus comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a determination section determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and an information recording apparatus recording the information in the information recording medium in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus.  
   
   
       19 . An information recording system for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: an information recording apparatus comprising: a communication control section controlling a communication between the information recording apparatus and an external apparatus; a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply from the external apparatus, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium received from the external apparatus via the communication control section; a determination section determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and a recording control section carrying out the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, only when the determination section determines to permit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data; and an information processing apparatus controlling the information recording apparatus.  
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to record information in an information recording medium by forming an information recording system together with an information recording apparatus, said program comprising: a first procedure causing the computer to acquire driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply of the information recording systems, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a second procedure causing the computer to determine whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium, based on the driving power supply information.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said program further comprises: a third procedure causing the computer to notify a determination result of the second procedure to the information recording apparatus.  
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to make a determination to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to make a determination to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is at least one of processes selected from a group consisting of a process which automatically starts a background formatting, a temporary lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a user data recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, and an erase process.  
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which causes a computer of an information recording apparatus to record information in an information recording medium by forming an information recording system together with an information processing apparatus, said program comprising: a first procedure causing the computer to acquire driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply of the information recording system from the information processing apparatus, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; a second procedure causing the computer to determine whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information; and a third procedure causing the computer to carry out the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data only when permitted as a result of the determination made by the second procedure.  
   
   
       26 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said program further comprises: a fourth procedure causing the computer to notify error information to the information processing apparatus when the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is prohibited.  
   
   
       27 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to make a determination to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to make a determination to prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data is at least one of processes selected from a group consisting of a process which automatically starts a background formatting, a temporary lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a lead-out recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, a user data recording process accompanying recording of the dummy data, and an erase process.  
   
   
       30 . An information recording method for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: a first step acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, when recording of dummy data in the information recording medium is started; and a second step determining whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information.  
   
   
       31 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said second step determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       32 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said second step determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       33 . The information recording method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       34 . An information recording apparatus for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, when recording of dummy data in the information recording medium is started; a determination section determining whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and a recording control section recording the dummy data in the information recording medium only when the determination section determines to continue the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       35 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said determination section determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       36 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising: a discontinuing section discontinuing the recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium when the determination section determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       37 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising: a notifying section notifying discontinuance complete information indicating completion of discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data to an external apparatus when the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data by the discontinuing section is completed.  
   
   
       38 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said notifying section sets a code indicating the discontinuance complete information in a Media Event Code of a Media Event Descriptor.  
   
   
       39 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the code indicating the discontinuance complete information is “7h”.  
   
   
       40 . The information recording apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       41 . An information processing apparatus accessible to an information recording medium via an information recording apparatus, comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a start of recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a determination section determining whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section.  
   
   
       42 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said determination section determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       43 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising: an issuing section issuing a command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the determination section determines to discontinue the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       44 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said issuing section issues a Start Stop Unit Command having predetermined bit positions set with discontinue request information which requests discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data, as the command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       45 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the predetermined bit positions are bits  0  and  1  of a byte  4  of a Descriptor Block, and “0” is set in the predetermined bit positions as the discontinue request information.  
   
   
       46 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said issuing section issues a Close Session/Track Command having predetermined bit positions set with discontinue request information which requests discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data, as the command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       47 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the predetermined bit positions are bits  0  and  1  of a byte  4  of a Descriptor Block, and “0” is set in the predetermined bit positions as the discontinue request information.  
   
   
       48 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising: a confirming section confirming the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data is issued.  
   
   
       49 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said confirming section periodically issues a Get Event/Status Notification Command.  
   
   
       50 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       51 . An information processing apparatus accessible to an information recording medium via an information recording apparatus, comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a request to record dummy data in the information recording medium; a determination section determining whether to permit or prohibit the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and an issuing section issuing a command requesting the recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium only when the recording of the dummy data is permitted as a result of a determination made by the determination section.  
   
   
       52 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       53 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said determination section determines to prohibit the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       54 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the command requesting the recording of the dummy data is a Format unit Command.  
   
   
       55 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       56 . An information recording system for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: an information processing apparatus including an issuing section periodically monitoring a remaining amount of power of a battery which forms a driving power supply during recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium, and issuing a command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount; and an information recording apparatus including a discontinuing section carrying a discontinuing process which discontinues the recording of the dummy data when the command requesting the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data is received during the recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium.  
   
   
       57 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein said information processing apparatus further includes a confirming section which confirms discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the issuing section issues the command requesting the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       58 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the confirming section periodically issues a Get Event/Status Notification Command.  
   
   
       59 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein said information recording apparatus further includes a notifying section which notifies discontinuance complete information indicating completion of the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the discontinuing section completes the discontinuing process.  
   
   
       60 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein the notifying section notifies the discontinuance complete information by setting a code which indicates the completion of the discontinuing process in a Media Event Code of a Media Event Descriptor.  
   
   
       61 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein the code which indicates the completion of the discontinuing process is “7h”.  
   
   
       62 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein the discontinuing section carries out the discontinuing process after a predetermined amount of the dummy data is recorded.  
   
   
       63 . The information recording system as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein the predetermined amount is 1 ECC block or 1 packet.  
   
   
       64 . An information recording system for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: an information processing apparatus comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a start of recording of dummy data in the information recording medium; and a determination section determining whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and an information recording apparatus recording the information in the information recording medium in response to an instruction from said information processing apparatus.  
   
   
       65 . An information recording system for recording information in an information recording medium, comprising: an information recording apparatus comprising: a power supply information acquiring section acquiring driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, when recording of dummy data in the information recording medium is started; a determination section determining whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information which is acquired by the power supply information acquiring section; and a recording control section recording the dummy data in the information recording medium only when the determination section determines to continue the recording of the dummy data; and an information processing apparatus controlling said information recording apparatus.  
   
   
       66 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus which forms an information recording system together with an information recording apparatus, said program comprising: a first procedure causing the computer to acquire driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply in response to a notification from the information recording apparatus indicating a start of a recording of dummy data in an information recording medium; and a second procedure causing the computer to determine whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information.  
   
   
       67 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 66 , wherein said program further comprises: a third procedure causing the computer to issue a command requesting discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data to the information recording apparatus, when said second procedure determines the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data.  
   
   
       68 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein said program further comprises: a fourth procedure causing the computer to confirm the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data when the command requesting the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data is issued.  
   
   
       69 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 66 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to determine the discontinuance of the recording of the dummy data, when the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       70 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 66 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       71 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus which forms an information recording system together with an information recording apparatus, said program comprising: a first procedure causing the computer to acquire driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply, in response to a request to record dummy data in an information recording medium; a second procedure causing the computer to determine whether to permit or prohibit the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information; and a third procedure causing the computer to issue a command requesting the recording of the dummy data in the information recording medium only when the recording of the dummy data is permitted as a result of a determination made by the second procedure.  
   
   
       72 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to determine to prohibit the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       73 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to determine to prohibit the recording of the dummy data if the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       74 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       75 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer of an information recording apparatus which forms an information recording system together with an information processing apparatus, said program comprising: a first procedure causing the computer to acquire driving power supply information which is related to a driving power supply during recording of dummy data in an information recording medium; a second procedure causing the computer to determine whether to continue or discontinue the recording of the dummy data based on the driving power supply information; and a third procedure causing the computer to record the dummy data only when continuance of the recording of the dummy data is determined as a result of a determination made by said second procedure.  
   
   
       76 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein said second procedure causes the computer to discontinue the recording of the dummy data when the driving power supply is a battery and a remaining amount of power of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       77 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein the recording of the dummy data accompanies a process selected from a group consisting of a background formatting by automatic resuming, a background formatting by user instruction, and a formatting by user instruction.  
   
   
       78 - 105 . (canceled)