Recording medium, recording apparatus and recording method

Abstract

A recording medium of the recordable type in the form of a multi-layer disc or the like which is improved in compatibility and feasibility in use and a recording apparatus and a recording method ready for the recording medium are disclosed. A region for recording interlayer folding back position information is set on the recording medium (for example, “End sector number in Layer 0” or a session item type 3). In response to a fact that recording on a certain recording layer reaches a maximum recording range or that data recording advances from a certain recording layer to a next recording layer, interlayer folding back position information is recorded on the recording medium. This signifies that such recording is performed when advancement of the data recording to another recording layer is performed at a stage prior to disc closing or session closing or when it is predicted that such advancement of the data recording occurs soon. Also where the disc is of the type for which multi-session recording is performed, interlayer folding back position information is recorded with regard to a session in which folding back is performed.

1 . A recording medium, comprising:
 a plurality of recording layers into which data can be written;   each of said recording layers having a data area into and from which main data are to be recorded and reproduced, a preceding area which is to be formed at a position preceding to said data area, and an end area succeeding said data area;   said recording medium having a region into which, in response to a fact that recording on a certain one of said recording layers reaches a maximum recording range or that data recording advances from a certain one of said recording layers to a next one of said recording layers, interlayer folding back position information indicative of a position to which the data recording advances is to be recorded.   
   
   
       2 . A recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the region into which the interlayer folding back position information is to be recoded is provided in the data area. 
   
   
       3 . A recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the region into which the interlayer folding back position information is to be recoded is provided in said preceding area or said end area.