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

Abstract

Information recording media 101 and 102 usable for either a first recording density D 1 or a second recording density D 2 each include a user data area 106 in which user data is to be recorded, a first defect management information area 108 in which first defect management information for managing a defect area in the user data area is to be recorded, and a second defect management information area 109 in which second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information is to be recorded. The first and second defect management information areas 108 and 109 are located such that angles θ 1 and θ 2 made by start blocks thereof fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210° (θ 1: in the case of the first recording density, and θ 2: in the case of the second recording density).

1. An information recording medium usable for either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   θ 1 =(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 θ 1  is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 θ 2  is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the information recording medium. 
 
     
     
       2. An information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the first recording density D 1  is 75 mm/block, the second recording density D 2  is 80 mm/block, and the radial distance r is 60 mm. 
     
     
       3. An information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein an absolute value of the ratio of the difference between the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , with respect to the first recording density D 1 , is 0.05 to 0.1. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium, the information being recorded at either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   θ 1 =(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 θ 1  is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 θ 2  is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the information recording medium, 
 the apparatus comprising: 
 a head section for recording the information on and reproducing the information from the information recording medium; and 
 a control section for controlling an operation of the head section, 
 wherein: 
 the control section controls the operation of the head section, such that the head section reproduces the first defect management information from the first defect management information area, moves by the number of blocks N from the start block of the first defect management information area, and reproduces the second defect management information from the second defect management information area, and 
 the control section specifies defect management information to be used, among the first defect management information and the second defect management information, and controls the operation of the head section such that the head section records the user data in the user data area based on the specified defect management information. 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the control section determines whether or not there is another defect area in the user data area; and when determining that there is another defect area, the control section updates the defect management information and controls the operation of the head section such that the head section records the user data in a portion of the user data area which is different from the another defect area, based on the updated defect management information. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information being recorded at either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   θ 1 =(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 81 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 82 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial, distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the information recording medium, 
 the apparatus comprising: 
 a head section for reproducing the information recorded on the information recording medium; and 
 a control section for controlling an operation of the head section, 
 wherein: 
 the control section controls the operation of the head section, such that the head section reproduces the first defect management information from the first defect management information area, moves by the number of blocks N from the start block of the first defect management information area, and reproduces the second defect management information from the second defect management information area, and 
 the control section specifies defect management information to be used, among the first defect management information and the second defect management information, and controls the operation of the head section such that the head section reproduces the user data from the user data area based on the specified defect management information. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for recording information on an information recording medium, the information being recorded at either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   θ 1 =(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 81 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 82 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the information recording medium, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management information area; 
 moving the head section, for recording information on and reproducing information from the information recording medium, by the number of blocks N from the start block of the first defect management information area: 
 reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management information area; 
 specifying the defect management information to be used, among the first defect management information and the second defect management information; and 
 recording the user data in the user data area based on the specified defect management information. 
 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of recording includes the steps of:
 determining whether or not there is another defect area in the user data area;   updating the defect management information when it is determined that there is another defect area; and   recording the user data in a portion of the user data area which is different from the another defect area, based on the updated defect management information.   
     
     
       9. A method for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium, the information being recorded at either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   θ 1 =(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 81 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 82 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management infonnation area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management infonnation area and the start block of the second defect management infonnation area, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the infonnation recording medium, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 reproducing the first defect management infonnation from the first defect management infonnation area; 
 moving the head section, for reproducing infonnation recorded on the infonnation recording medium, by the number of blocks N from the start block of the first defect management infonnation area; 
 reproducing the second defect management infonnation from the second defect management infonnation area; 
 specifying the defect management infonnation to be used, among the first defect management information and the second defect management information; and 
 reproducing the user data from the user data area based on the specified defect management information. 
 
     
     
       10. A defect management method for managing a defect area existing in an infonnation recording medium, which is usable for either a first recording density D 1  or a second recording density D 2  among a plurality of recording densities including the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded; 
 a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and 
 a second defect management infonnation area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management infonnation having an identical content to that of the first defect management infonnation, 
 wherein: 
 the first defect management infonnation area and the second defect management information area are located so as to fulfill the relationships of 150°≦θ 1 ≦210° and 150°≦θ 2 ≦210°, where:
   81=(D 1 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (1),
 
   θ 2 =(D 2 ×N)/(2π×r)×360(Mod360)   (2),
 
 
 81 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management infonnation area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D 1 , 
 82 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management infonnation area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D 2 , 
 N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management infonnation area and the start block of the second defect management infonnation, N being a natural number, and 
 r is a radial distance of the first defect management information area from the center of the infonnation recording medium, 
 the defect management method comprising the steps of: 
 updating defect management infonnation; 
 recording the updated defect management infonnation in the first defect management infonnation area as the first defect management infonnation; 
 moving the head section, for recording information on and reproducing infonnation from the infonnation recording medium, by the number of blocks N from the start block of the first defect management infonnation area; and 
 recording the updated defect management infonnation in the second defect management infonnation area as second defect management infonnation. 
 
     
     
       11. A defect management method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first recording density D 1  is 75 mm/block, the second recording density D 2  is 80 mm/block, and the radial distance r is 60 mm. 
     
     
       12. A defect management method according to  claim 10 , wherein an absolute value of the ratio of the difference between the first recording density D 1  and the second recording density D 2 , with respect to the first recording density 01, is 0.05 to 0.1.  
     
     
       13. An information recording medium on which information is to be recorded at either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2, the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded;   a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and   a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information;   wherein:   θ1 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D1,   θ2 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D2,   N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number,   N has the same value in either a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the first recording density D1 or a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the second density D2, and   the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to satisfy the relationships of 150°≦θ1≦210° and 150°≦θ2≦210°,   wherein defect management information is multiplex-recorded on the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area.   
     
     
       14. A method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 13,
 the method comprising:   reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management area; or   reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management area.   
     
     
       15. A method for recording information on the information recording medium according to claim 13,
 the method comprising:   recording the first defect management information on the first defect management area; or   recording the second defect management information on the second defect management area.   
     
     
       16. An information recording medium on which information is to be recorded at either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2, the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded;   a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and   a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information;   wherein:   θ1 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D1,   θ2 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D2,   N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number,   N has a same value in either a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the first recording density D1 or a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the second density D2, and   the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to satisfy the relationships of 150°≦θ1≦210° and 150°≦θ2≦210°,   wherein the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located at outer circumference side of at least the user data area.   
     
     
       17. A method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 16,
 the method comprising:   reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management area; or   reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management area.   
     
     
       18. A method for recording information on the information recording medium according to claim 16,
 the method comprising:   recording the first defect management information on the first defect management area; or   recording the second defect management information on the second defect management area.   
     
     
       19. An information recording medium on which information is to be recorded at either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2, the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded;   a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and   a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information;   wherein:   θ1 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D1,   θ2 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D2,   N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number,   N has the same value in either a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the first recording density D1 or a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the second density D2, and   the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to satisfy the relationships of 150°≦θ1≦210° and 150°≦θ2≦210°,   wherein a spare area for recording user data to be recorded on the defect area existing in the user data area exists in an outer circumference side of at least the user data area.   
     
     
       20. A method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 19,
 the method comprising:   reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management area; or   reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management area.   
     
     
       21. A method for recording information on the information recording medium according to claim 19,
 the method comprising:   recording the first defect management information on the first defect management area; or   recording the second defect management information on the second defect management area.   
     
     
       22. An information recording medium on which information is to be recorded at either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2, the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded;   a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and   a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information;   wherein:   θ1 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D1,   θ2 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D2,   N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number,   N has a same value in either a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the first recording density D1 or a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the second density D2, and   the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to satisfy the relationships of 150°≦θ1≦210° and 150°≦θ2≦210°,   wherein the information recording medium includes a spare area for recording user data to be recorded on the defect area existing in the user data area is included, and recording on the spare area is performed according to a linear replacement algorithm.   
     
     
       23. A method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 22,
 the method comprising:   reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management area; or   reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management area.   
     
     
       24. A method for recording information on the information recording medium according to claim 22,
 the method comprising:   recording the first defect management information on the first defect management area; or   recording the second defect management information on the second defect management area.   
     
     
       25. An information recording medium on which information is to be recorded at either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2, the information recording medium comprising:
 a user data area in which user data is to be recorded;   a first defect management information area in which first defect management information is to be recorded, the first defect management information being for managing a defect area existing in the user data area; and   a second defect management information area in which second defect management information is to be recorded, the second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information;   wherein:   θ1 is an angle made by a start block of the first defect management information area and a start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the first recording density D1,   θ2 is an angle made by the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area when the user data is recorded in the user data area at the second recording density D2,   N is a number of blocks existing between the start block of the first defect management information area and the start block of the second defect management information area, N being a natural number,   N has a same value in either a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the first recording density D1 or a case where the information recording medium is recorded at the second density D2, and   the first defect management information area and the second defect management information area are located so as to satisfy the relationships of 150°≦θ1≦210° and 150°≦θ2≦210°,   wherein an absolute value of the ratio of the difference between the first recording density D1 and the second recording density D2 with respect to the first recording density D1, is 0.05 to 0.1.   
     
     
       26. A method for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 25,
 the method comprising:   reproducing the first defect management information from the first defect management area; or   reproducing the second defect management information from the second defect management area.   
     
     
       27. A method for recording information on the information recording medium according to claim 25,
 the method comprising:   recording the first defect management information on the first defect management area; or   recording the second defect management information on the second defect management area.