Information recording medium, recording apparatus, reproduction apparatus, recording method, and reproduction method

Abstract

An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

1. An information recording medium, comprising:
 a plurality of recording layers; and  
 a disc information area in which disc information relating to the plurality of recording layers are  is stored,  
 wherein the disc information area is provided in at least one of a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers and a second recording layer which is another one of the plurality of recording layers,  
 a dummy data is recorded in a remaining area of the disc information area, and  
 a length of an area for storing the dummy data is an integer multiple of a length of an area for storing the disc information area .  
 
     
     
       2. A recording/reproduction apparatus for performing at least one of recording information into an information recording medium and reproducing information from the information recording medium, wherein the information recording medium comprises:
 a plurality of recording layers; and  
 a disc information area in which disc information relating to the plurality of recording layers are stored,  
 wherein the disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers and a second recording layer which is another one of the plurality of recording layers,  
 a dummy data is recorded in a remaining area of the disc information area, and  
 a length of an area for storing the dummy data is an integer multiple of a length of the disc information area, the recording/reproduction apparatus comprises: 
 an optical head capable of performing at least one of optically writing the information into the information recording medium and optically reading the information from the information recording medium; and  
 a control section for controlling a recording/reproduction process using the optical head, and  
 
 wherein the recording/reproduction process comprises: 
 reproducing the disc information stored in the disc information area; and  
 at least one of recording the information into the information recording medium and reproducing the information from the information recording medium, based on the reproduced disc information. A reproducing method for reproducing information from an information recording medium according to  claim 1 , the reproducing method comprising:  
 
   reproducing the disc information from the disc information area by emitting a light beam.   
 
     
     
       3. A recording/reproduction control apparatus for performing at least one of a recording information into an information recording medium and reproduction information into an information recording medium and reproducing information from the information recording medium, wherein
 the information recording medium comprises: 
 a plurality of recording layers; and  
 a disc information area in which disc information relating to the plurality of recording layers are stored,  
 wherein the disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers and a second recording layer which is another one of the plurality of recording layers,  
 a dummy data is recorded in a remaining area of the disc information area, and  
 a length of an area for storing the dummy data is an integer multiple of a length of the disc information area,  
 
 the recording/reproduction control apparatus comprises: 
 reproducing the disc information stored in the disc information area; and  
 at least one of recording of the information into the information recording medium and reproducing the information from the information recording medium, based on the reproduced disc information. A recording method for recording information onto an information recording medium according to  claim 1 , the recording method comprising:  
 
   reproducing the disc information and    
   performing a recording based on the disc information.   
 
     
     
       4. A recording/reproduction apparatus for performing at least one of recording information into an information recording medium and reproducing information from the information recording medium, wherein the information recording medium comprises:
   a plurality of recording layers; and        a disc information area in which disc information is stored,        wherein the disc information area is provided in at least one of a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers and a second recording layer which is another one of the plurality of recording layers,        a dummy data is recorded in a remaining area of the disc information area, and        a length of an area for storing the dummy data is an integer multiple of a length of an area for storing the disc information,        the recording/reproduction apparatus comprises:      an optical head capable of performing at least one of optically writing the information into the information recording medium and optically reading the information from the information recording medium; and        a control section for controlling a recording/reproduction process using the optical head, and          wherein the recording/reproduction process comprises:      reproducing the disc information stored in the disc information area; and        at least one of recording the information into the information recording medium and reproducing the information from the information recording medium, based on the reproduced disc information.       
     
     
       5. A recording/reproduction control apparatus for performing at least one of a recording information into an information recording medium and reproduction information into an information recording medium and reproducing information from the information recording medium, wherein
   the information recording medium comprises:      a plurality of recording layers; and        a disc information area in which disc information is stored,        wherein the disc information area is provided in at least one of a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers and a second recording layer which is another one of the plurality of recording layers,        a dummy data is recorded in a remaining area of the disc information area, and        a length of an area for storing the dummy data is an integer multiple of a length of an area for storing the disc information,          the recording/reproduction control apparatus comprises:      reproducing the disc information stored in the disc information area; and        at least one of recording of the information into the information recording medium and reproducing the information from the information recording medium, based on the reproduced disc information.