Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control... – Control of information signal processing channel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-04-03
Psitos, Aristotelis M. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control...
Control of information signal processing channel
C369S032010, C369S053370, C711S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212141
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium of repeatedly rewritable type (which is referred to as a “DVD-RW”) as one of record mediums of high density recording types, which are represented by a DVD and in which the recording densities are drastically improved as compared with a CD (Compact Disc) or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a standard for the DVD, which is capable of not only recording but also reproducing the record information along with the enlargement of the application field of the DVD. For example, there are a DVD-R (DVD-Recordable), which is capable of recording the record information just once, and the DVD-RW, which is capable of reading and writing many times. From among those, the DVD-RW is capable of rewriting the data again and again at the same area on the disc by use of the phase change of the recording material. Thus, the DVD-RW has possibilities of applications in various fields such as a usage for recording the video and audio information, a usage for an external memory of the computer and so on.
When actually rewriting data repeatedly on the DVD-RW, it is necessary to record new data in accordance with a predetermined format in consideration of the characteristics etc., of the record medium. Namely, in case of firstly recording one data onto the disc in a non-recorded condition and in case of rewriting another data onto the recorded disc, the writing process is started after the initializing process of the disc is once performed.
In the initializing process for the DVD-RW, the information record surface is divided sequentially into the lead in area, the data area and the lead out area. The lead in area and the lead out area are respectively prepared for indicating the start of the data and the end of the data. Various additional information is recorded on the lead in area. The data area is an area where the data corresponding to the contents is actually recorded. Pits are formed by recording the zero data in case of the initialization since a mirror surface condition in which no pits exists causes an erroneous operation because a time difference method of identifying a phase difference of the reflection light component of the pit is employed for the tracking control in the reproducing apparatus.
However, in case of performing the initializing process with respect to the DVD-RW, it does not take much time to perform the initializing process for the lead in area and the lead out area since the information amount to be recorded therein is little, while it takes much time to write the zero data onto the data area. Namely, since the data area is an area where the data having an enormous data size is recordable, it is very difficult to shorten the time for writing the zero data having the enormous data size. As a result, when the new contents are recorded onto the DVD-RW, it takes much time to perform the initializing process, so that the actual recording process for the data cannot be immediately performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information recording apparatus and an information recording method, which can shorten the time to perform the initializing process for the record medium capable of repeatedly recording the record information.
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an information recording apparatus for initializing an information record medium of repeatedly recordable type, on which at least a lead in area and a data area following the lead in area are assigned in accordance with a predetermined format, and recording record information onto the initialized information record medium, and further recording the record information onto the initialized and recorded information record medium, the record information comprising data information in the data area as main portion of the record information to be recorded and control information in the lead in area for controlling recording and reproducing operation of the data information, the control information including a last recorded address indicating an address in the data area of a last portion of the data information which is previously recorded by the recording operation. The information recording apparatus is provided with: a writing device for writing the data information into the data area and the control information into the lead in area; and a controlling device for controlling the writing device to write a predetermined address smaller than a head address of the data area as the last recorded address into the lead in area as one portion of the control information when initializing the information record medium, and to write the data information into the data area and the last recorded address into the lead in area as one portion of the control information when recording the record information.
According to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, when initializing the information record medium, under the control of the controlling device, the writing device writes the predetermined address smaller than the head address of the data area as the last recorded address into the lead in area. This predetermined address smaller than the head address is set in advance. When recording the record information onto the initialized information record medium or the initialized and recorded information record medium, the writing device writes the data information into the data area and also writes the last recorded address into the lead in area. Thus, the last recorded address is supposed to be not smaller than the head address of the data area as long as the recording process is appropriately performed. Accordingly, by reading the last recorded address in the lead in area of the information record medium, which has been appropriately initialized, it is possible to judge that no data information is recorded in the data area if the last recorded address is the predetermined value smaller than the head address i.e., different from any possible address in the data area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the data information in the data area from being erroneously reproduced. Further, it is possible to omit the process of writing the zero data into the data area along with the initializing process as in the case of the aforementioned related art, and it is possible to shorten the time required for the initializing process.
In one aspect of the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the information recording apparatus is further provided with: a reading device for reading the control information from the lead in area when recording the record information onto the initialized information record medium; and a judging device for judging whether or not the last recorded address included in the read control information is smaller than the head address, the controlling device calculates the last recorded address on the basis of a data size of the data information to be recorded, and controls the writing device to write the calculated last recorded address into the lead in area as one portion of the control information if the last recorded address included in the read control information is judged to be smaller than the head address.
According to this aspect, when recording the record information onto the initialized information record medium, the control information, which has been written in the initializing process, is read from the lead in area by the reading device. Then, it is judged by the judging device whether or not the last recorded address included in the read control information is smaller than the head address. Then, if the last recorded address included in the read control information is judged to be smaller than the head address, it can be judged that the initializing process, the reading process and so forth are appropriately performed. Thus, the recording operation is carried on. Namely, the last recorded addre
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Pioneer Electronic Corporation
Psitos Aristotelis M.
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