HK1102689B - Information storage medium, and recording/reproducing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Information storage medium, and recording/reproducing apparatus and method

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in one aspect, to an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, and more particularly, to an information storage medium (i.e., an optical disc) including a dedicated area for a predetermined purpose in an outer circumferential area thereof, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method.

Background

Optical discs are information storage media widely used in optical pickup devices, which record/reproduce data in a contactless manner. Optical discs are classified into Compact Discs (CDs) and Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) according to data recording capacity. An optical disc capable of being recorded, deleted and reproduced includes: 650MB CD-R, rewritable CD (RW), 4.7GB DVD + R/RW, DVD Random Access Memory (RAM), and DVD-R/RW. Optical discs dedicated to data reproduction include 650MB CD-R and 4.7GB DVD-R/RW. Further, next-generation DVDs having a recording capacity of 15GB or more are being developed.

Fig. 1A illustrates a structure of a conventional rewritable optical disc. Fig. 1B illustrates a structure of a conventional optical disc for data reproduction. The lead-in area and the lead-out area of the rewritable optical disc shown in fig. 1A are almost the same. The lead-in area of the rewritable optical disc shown in fig. 1A includes a control data zone in which information on the rewritable optical disc and copy protection is pre-recorded. The rewritable area of the lead-in area includes a buffer zone, a reserved zone for future use, an optimum power test zone for Optimum Power Control (OPC), and an information zone in which information regarding the state of the data recording/reproducing apparatus or the rewritable optical disc is recorded. An optimum power test zone is not required in the optical disc for data reproduction.

The OPC schedules recording of user data in an optimum power test zone using various recording powers before a recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the user data on a rewritable optical disc, and then determines an optimum recording power.

In a conventional rewritable optical disc, an optimum power test zone of a fixed size is allocated in a fixed area. Therefore, it is not possible to include an additional optimum power test area or increase the size of the optimum power test area. Since the recording characteristics of an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers depend on which recording layer data is recorded first, an optimum power test zone for OPC should be arranged in consideration of the recording characteristics of the optical disc. In particular, when the optimum power test zone is located in the outer circumferential area of the optical disc, the recording characteristics of the outer circumferential area must be considered.

It is also necessary to consider the case where the recording characteristics of the outer circumferential area of an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers are inferior to those of an optical disc having a single recording layer. Similarly, when an area for other purposes than the optimum power test zone is located in the outer circumferential area of the optical disc, the recording characteristics of the outer circumferential area must be considered.

For an optical disc including two recording layers L1 and L2, the recording characteristics of the recording layer L2 depend on whether data has been recorded in the recording layer L1 near the extraction unit. In the case of recording continuous data, data is always recorded first in the recording layer L1. When recording test data in the optimum power test area for OPC included in the recording layer L2, a pre-recorded area should be allocated in the recording layer L1 in advance since the test data must be recorded in the recording layer L1 first.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical problem

However, the allocation of the pre-recorded area increases the manufacturing cost of the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary to selectively determine whether to allocate a pre-recorded area and an optimum power test area for OPC. In this case, the optical disc requires an OPC area at a predetermined position, and an OPC area that can be selectively used by the drive.

Data is efficiently recorded in the outer circumferential area of the optical disc having the two recording layers L1 and L2 according to time, and the position of the middle area in the optical disc may be different from that of the optical disc having a single recording layer, in which case different designs of the optical disc having the two recording layers L1 and L2 are required to allocate an optimum power test zone for OPC in the outer circumferential area.

When allocating a dedicated area for other purposes in the outer circumferential area of the optical disc, the same problems as with the allocation of the optimum power test area must be considered.

Technical scheme

According to an aspect of the present invention, there are provided an information storage medium, i.e., an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers in which a dedicated area for a predetermined purpose can be selectively allocated in an outer circumferential area of the information storage medium in consideration of recording characteristics of the information storage medium and the outer circumferential area thereof, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method.

Advantageous effects

According to the present invention, a dedicated area for a specific purpose can be selectively allocated in an outer circumferential area of an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers. Specifically, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical disc of various formats in which a dedicated area for a specific purpose is selectively allocated in an outer circumferential area of the optical disc based on recording characteristics of the optical disc and the outer circumferential area.

Drawings

FIG. 1A illustrates a structure of a conventional rewritable optical disc;

fig. 1B illustrates a structure of a conventional optical disc for data reproduction;

fig. 2A and 2B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 shows a case where a light beam irradiated to the recording layer L2 passes through the recording layer L1;

fig. 4A and 4B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5A and 5B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6A and 6B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7A and 7B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8A and 8B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9A and 9B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, a data area, a middle area, and a dedicated area, wherein the data area is adaptively allocated according to a capacity of recording data in each recording layer, the middle area is allocated after the data area, and the dedicated area is allocated after the middle area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the dedicated area may be adjacent to the middle area and extend from behind the middle area to an outer circumference of each recording layer. Alternatively, the dedicated area may be adjacent to the middle area and have a predetermined size.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the starting position and capacity of the dedicated area may be predetermined. The dedicated area may be used for testing data recording or reproducing conditions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage medium including: a first recording layer comprising: a first data area adaptively allocated according to a capacity of recording data of the information storage medium, a first variable dedicated area part adaptively allocated according to the allocated first data area, and a first fixed dedicated area part; and a second recording layer including: a second data area adaptively allocated according to a capacity of recording data of the information storage medium, a second variable dedicated area part adaptively allocated according to the allocated second data area, and a second fixed dedicated area part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first fixed dedicated area part may include a first dedicated area, and the second fixed dedicated area part includes a second dedicated area, wherein no data may be recorded in a first corresponding area of the second recording layer corresponding to the first dedicated area and in a second corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the second dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the data recording directions in the first dedicated area and the second dedicated area may face each other, and end positions of the first dedicated area and the second dedicated area may be adaptively determined.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in consideration of an area that cannot be used because it is within a radius of a beam that extends to the first recording layer when recording data in the second recording layer, a first buffer area may be inserted between the second corresponding area and the first dedicated area, and a second buffer area may be inserted between the first corresponding area and the second dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first fixed dedicated area part may further include a first middle area at a predetermined position in front of the first dedicated area, and the second fixed dedicated area part may further include a second middle area at a predetermined position in front of the second dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the second fixed dedicated area part may further include a third dedicated area, and data may be recorded in a third corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the third dedicated area before the third dedicated area is used. The end position of the third dedicated area may be variable or fixed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first fixed dedicated area part may further include a first middle area at a predetermined position in front of the first dedicated area, and the second fixed dedicated area part may further include a second middle area at a predetermined position in front of the second dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first flexible dedicated area part may include a third middle area and a fourth dedicated area, and the second flexible dedicated area part includes a fourth middle area and a fifth dedicated area, wherein no data may be recorded in a fourth corresponding area of the second recording layer corresponding to the fourth dedicated area and in a fifth corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the fifth dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the data recording directions in the fourth dedicated area and the fifth dedicated area may face each other, and end positions of the fourth dedicated area and the fifth dedicated area may be adaptively determined.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in consideration of an area that cannot be used because it is within a radius of a beam that extends to the first recording layer when recording data in the second recording layer, a third buffer area may be inserted between the fifth corresponding area and the fourth dedicated area, and a fourth buffer area may be inserted between the fourth corresponding area and the fifth dedicated area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the second variable dedicated area part may further include a sixth dedicated area, and data may be recorded in a sixth corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the sixth dedicated area before the sixth dedicated area is used. The end position of the sixth dedicated area may be variable or fixed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, no data may be recorded in an area between the first flexible dedicated area part and the first fixed dedicated area part and an area between the second flexible dedicated area part and the second fixed dedicated area part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a write/read unit recording data on or reading data from an information storage medium, the information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, a data area, a middle area, and a dedicated area; and a control unit adaptively allocating a data area according to a capacity of recording data in the recording layer, allocating a middle area after the data area, allocating a dedicated area after the middle area, and controlling the writing/reading unit to record or read data on or from the information storage medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a write/read unit recording data on or reading data from an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers; and a control unit adaptively allocating a first data area to a first recording layer of the information storage medium according to a capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a first variable dedicated area part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated first data area, and adaptively allocating a first fixed dedicated part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium, adaptively allocating a second data area to a second recording layer of the information storage medium according to the capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a second variable dedicated area part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated second data area, and adaptively allocating a second fixed dedicated part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium; and controlling the writing/reading unit to record or read data on or from the information storage medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: adaptively allocating a data area to an information storage medium according to a capacity of recording data in a plurality of recording layers, allocating a middle area to the information storage medium after the data area, and allocating a dedicated area to the information storage medium after the middle area, the information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, the data area, the middle area, and the dedicated area; and recording data on or reading data from the information storage medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: adaptively allocating a first data area to a first recording layer of the information storage medium according to a capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a first variable dedicated area part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated first data area, and adaptively allocating a first fixed dedicated part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium; adaptively allocating a second data area to a second recording layer of the information storage medium according to a capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a second variable dedicated area part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated second data area, and adaptively allocating a second fixed dedicated part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium; and recording data on or reading data from the information storage medium.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments of the present invention are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Fig. 2A and 2B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical discs shown in fig. 2A and 2B are dual-layer optical discs each including two recording layers L1 and L2.

Referring to fig. 2A, the recording layer L1 includes a first data area 1 and a first outer area. The first outer area includes a first middle area 2, a first unused area 3, a first buffer area 4, a first dedicated area 5, a first pre-recorded area 6, and a first unrecorded area 7, which are sequentially arranged from an inner circumference to an outer circumference thereof. The recording layer L2 includes a second data area 8 and a second outer area. The second outer region includes: a second middle area 9, a second dedicated area 10, a second buffer area 11, a second unused area 12, a third buffer area 13, a third dedicated area 14, and a second unrecorded area 15.

The first data area 1 and the second data area 8 are areas where user data is recorded. In the first and second middle areas 2 and 9, predetermined structure data indicating the ends of the first and second data areas 1 and 8 is recorded. The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus reads and decodes the predetermined structure data and recognizes that the areas where the predetermined structure data is recorded are the first and second middle areas 2 and 9, not the first and second data areas 1 and 8. Typically, the predetermined structured data has derived characteristics.

The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus uses the first to third dedicated areas 5, 10 and 14 as specific purposes. For example, the first to third dedicated areas 5, 10 and 14 may be used as test areas for Optimum Power Control (OPC). The first to third dedicated areas 5, 10 and 14 may be used for other purposes than the test area. For example, information on data recording performed before a drive records user data may be recorded in the first to third dedicated areas 5, 10 and 14. In addition, information on what is recorded by the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus may be recorded in the first to third dedicated areas 5, 10 and 14.

As their names indicate, the first unused area 3 and the second unused area 12 are areas that are not used at all. The recording characteristics of an optical disc including a plurality of rewritable recording layers depend on which recording layer data is recorded first. Specifically, the inner circumferential area of the optical disc has inferior recording characteristics to the outer circumferential area thereof. Accordingly, in the recording layer L2, an area corresponding to the first dedicated area 5 in the recording layer L1 is designated as the second unused area 12, so that no data is recorded in the second unused area 12. Similarly, an area in the recording layer L1 corresponding to the second dedicated area 10 is designated as a first unused area 3 so that no data is recorded in the first unused area 3.

If the first dedicated area 5 and the second dedicated area 10 are used as test areas and data is recorded in the recording layer L2, a laser beam passes through the recording layer L1 and additionally passes through the recording layer L2. The laser beam passes through the first unused area 3 and test-records data in the second dedicated area 10. Then, the recording condition of the recording layer L2 was identified in consideration of the attribute parameters of the recording layer L2 other than the test recording result.

The first, second, and third buffer areas 4, 11, and 13 are formed based on the eccentricity of the optical disc and the size of the irradiation beam. The first buffer area 4, the second buffer area 11 and the third buffer area 13 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows the recording layer L1 irradiated with the light beam 400, and is concentrated on the recording layer L2. When the light beam 400 is focused on the position of the recording layer L2 by the target lens 300 of the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus, an area in the recording layer L1 corresponding to the radius y of the light beam 400 is affected by the light beam 400. The sizes of the first, second, and third buffer areas 4, 11, and 13 may be predetermined according to the influence of the light beam irradiated to other recording layers on the recording data, the size of the light beam, and the eccentricity of the optical disc.

The first pre-recorded area 6 is for the third dedicated area 14. Data is pre-recorded in the first pre-recorded area 6 in various ways and a plurality of times before the third dedicated area 14 is used. For example, before manufacturing the optical disc, a pit is formed in an area designated as a pre-recorded area, and data may be recorded in the pit. Alternatively, data may be recorded in the first pre-recorded area 6 in a predetermined manner before the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus uses the third dedicated area 14. In the case of the third dedicated area 14, since the recording data is test-recorded in a state where the recording layer L1 has been recorded, it is not necessary to consider the attribute parameters of the recording layer L2 in addition to the test-recording result.

The first unrecorded area 7 and the second unrecorded area 15 are arranged at the outermost circumference of the optical disc. Data is not recorded in the first and second unrecorded areas 7 and 15 due to poor recording characteristics of the first and second unrecorded areas 7 and 15. The first and second unrecorded areas 7 and 15 may not be allocated. The unrecorded area may be referred to as an area unused by the user or a blank area.

Referring to fig. 2A, the first middle area 2 and the second middle area 9 are arranged at predetermined positions of the outer circumference of the optical disc. A variable capacity is allocated to the first dedicated area 5, the second dedicated area 10, and the third dedicated area 14, and the first pre-recorded area 6. The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus to which the optical disc is loaded determines an outer circumferential boundary between the third dedicated area 14 and the first pre-recorded area 6.

The structure of the optical disc shown in fig. 2B is the same as that of the optical disc shown in fig. 2A. However, while the outer circumferential boundary between the third dedicated area 14 and the first pre-recorded area 6 of the optical disc of fig. 2A is variable, the outer circumferential boundary between the third dedicated area 14 and the first pre-recorded area 6 of the optical disc of fig. 2B is fixed.

Fig. 4A to 9B illustrate optical discs including outer areas of various formats to increase the usability of the outer areas when the outer areas are increased.

Fig. 4A and 4B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. Each of the optical disks is a dual-layer optical disk including two recording layers L1 and L2.

In the current embodiment, when recording data on an optical disc having recording layers L1 and L2, if the capacity of recording user data is less than the total recording capacity of the optical disc and the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus can recognize in advance, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus determines the size of the data area of each of the two recording layers L1 and L2 so that the same amount of user data is recorded in the two recording layers L1 and L2. Further, different amounts of user data may be recorded in the two recording layers L1 and L2.

Since the start position of the data area of each of the two recording layers L1 and L2 is predetermined, once the size of the data area is determined, the end position of the data area can be determined. The determined size of the data area should be smaller than the original size of the data area, and thus, the size of the outer area of each of the recording layers L1 and L2 should be increased.

Referring to fig. 4A, the recording layer L1 includes a first data area 21 and a first outer area. The first outer region includes, arranged sequentially from an inner circumference thereof to an outer circumference thereof: a third middle area 22, a third unused area 23, a fourth buffer area 24, a fourth dedicated area 25, a second pre-recorded area 26, and a third unrecorded area 27, a first middle area 2, a first unused area 3, a first buffer area 4, a first dedicated area 5, a first pre-recorded area 6, and a first unrecorded area 7.

In other words, the structure of the first outer area shown in fig. 2A is repeated in the first outer area of the recording layer L1 shown in fig. 4A. However, the starting position of the first intermediate area 2 is fixed, but the starting position of the third intermediate area 22 depends on the capacity of the first data area 21.

The recording layer L2 includes: a second data area 28 and a second outer area. The second outer region includes: a fourth middle area 29, a fifth dedicated area 30, a fifth buffer area 31, a fourth unused area 32, a sixth buffer area 33, a sixth dedicated area 34, a fourth unrecorded area 35, a second middle area 9, a second dedicated area 10, a second buffer area 11, a second unused area 12, a third buffer area 13, a third dedicated area 14, and a second unrecorded area 15. In other words, the structure of the second outer area shown in fig. 2A is repeated in the second outer area of the recording layer L1 shown in fig. 4A.

In the optical disc shown in fig. 4A, the boundaries of the outer circumferences of the second pre-recorded area 26, the sixth dedicated area 34, the first pre-recorded area 6, and the third dedicated area 14 are variable. The boundary of the outer circumference is determined by the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus to which the optical disc according to the embodiment of the present invention is loaded.

The positions of the areas on the left side of the second and fourth unrecorded areas 27 and 35 may be selectively determined by the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus while always allocating the areas on the right side of the second and fourth unrecorded areas 27 and 35. In addition, when the areas allocated to the left side of the second and fourth unrecorded areas 27 and 35 are allocated, the areas allocated to the right side of the second and fourth unrecorded areas 27 and 35 may or may not be used.

The structure and use of the optical disc shown in fig. 4B is the same as described in fig. 4A. However, while the boundaries of the outer circumferences of the second pre-recorded area 26 and the sixth dedicated area 34 of the optical disc of fig. 4B are variable, the boundaries of the outer circumferences of the first pre-recorded area 6 and the third dedicated area 14 are fixed.

Based on the structures of the optical disks shown in fig. 4A and 4B according to an embodiment of the present invention, the structures and uses of the optical disks according to other embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

Fig. 5A and 5B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc shown in fig. 5A does not include the first pre-recorded area 6, the third buffer area 13, and the third dedicated area 14 included in the optical disc of fig. 4A. Similarly, the optical disc shown in fig. 5B does not include the first pre-recorded area 6, the third buffer area 13, and the third dedicated area 14 included in the optical disc of fig. 4B.

Fig. 6A and 6B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc shown in fig. 6A does not include the second pre-recorded area 26, the sixth buffer area 33, and the sixth dedicated area 34 included in the optical disc of fig. 4A. Similarly, the optical disc shown in fig. 6B does not include the second pre-recorded area 26, the sixth buffer area 33, and the sixth dedicated area 34 included in the optical disc of fig. 4B.

Fig. 7A and 7B illustrate the structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc shown in fig. 7A does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 4A. Similarly, the optical disc shown in fig. 7B does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 4B.

Fig. 8A and 8B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc shown in fig. 8A does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 5A. Similarly, the optical disc shown in fig. 8B does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 5B.

Fig. 9A and 9B illustrate a structure of an optical disc according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc shown in fig. 9A does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 6A. Similarly, the optical disc shown in fig. 9B does not include the first and second middle areas 2 and 9 included in the optical disc of fig. 6B.

The optical disc having the double recording layers has been described above. An optical disc having two or more recording layers may have the same structure and usage as an optical disc having a dual recording layer.

In addition, it has been described above that data is recorded on the optical disc in the opposite track-through (OTP) direction, but data may also be recorded in the parallel track-through (PTP) direction.

In addition, data may be recorded in the middle area using a pre-recording method or a pre-embossing method. Alternatively, after the data area is used by the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus, data may be recorded in the middle area by the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 10, the recording/reproducing apparatus 100 includes: a write/read unit 120 and a control unit 110. The write/read unit 120 records data on a disc 130 under the control of the control unit 110, and reads the recorded data to reproduce the data, the disc 130 being an information storage medium according to an aspect of the present invention. The control unit controls the write/read unit 120 to record data in a predetermined recording unit or processes data read by the write/read unit 120 to obtain valid data.

Specifically, the control unit 110 may check the capacity of data before recording the data on the disc 130, allocate a data area corresponding to the capacity of data to each of the first recording layer and the second recording layer, and designate a reserved area as a dedicated area. In this case, a middle area indicating the end of the data area may be arranged immediately after the data area, and a dedicated area may be arranged after the middle area. The dedicated area may be arranged adjacent to the middle area or may be arranged at a fixed position regardless of the position of the middle area. In addition, the capacity of the dedicated area may be variable or fixed.

If the disc space is allocated as shown in fig. 2A to 9B, the control unit 110 may determine the location and capacity of the buffer area, the pre-recorded area, or the dedicated area.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Industrial applicability

The present invention is applied to an information storage medium and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method.

Claims (17)

1. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

a write/read unit recording data on or reading data from an information storage medium, the information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each layer including a lead-in area or a lead-out area, a data area, a middle area, and a dedicated area; and

a control unit adaptively allocating a data area according to a capacity of recording data in the recording layer, allocating a middle area after the data area, allocating a dedicated area after the middle area, and controlling the writing/reading unit to record or read data on or from the information storage medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit places the dedicated area adjacent to the middle area and allocates a middle area of a fixed size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit tests a data recording or reproducing condition using the dedicated area.

4. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

a write/read unit recording data on or reading data from an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers; and

a control unit adaptively allocating a first data area to a first recording layer of the information storage medium according to a capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a first variable dedicated area part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated first data area, and adaptively allocating a first fixed dedicated area part to the first recording layer of the information storage medium, adaptively allocating a second data area to a second recording layer of the information storage medium according to the capacity of the information storage medium to record data, adaptively allocating a second variable dedicated area part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium according to the allocated second data area, and adaptively allocating a second fixed dedicated area part to the second recording layer of the information storage medium; and controlling the writing/reading unit to record or read data on or from the information storage medium.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first fixed dedicated area part comprises a first dedicated area, the second fixed dedicated area part comprises a second dedicated area,

wherein no data is recorded in a first corresponding area of the second recording layer corresponding to the first dedicated area and a second corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the second dedicated area.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the write/read unit to record data in the first dedicated area and the second dedicated area in opposite recording directions, and adaptively determines end positions of the first dedicated area and the second dedicated area.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first buffer area is inserted between the second corresponding area and the first dedicated area, and the second buffer area is inserted between the first corresponding area and the second dedicated area, based on an area that is unusable due to being within a radius of the beam that extends to the first recording layer when data is recorded in the second recording layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first fixed dedicated area part further comprises a first middle area at a predetermined position in front of the first dedicated area, and the second fixed dedicated area part further comprises a second middle area at a predetermined position in front of the second dedicated area.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second fixed dedicated area part further comprises a third dedicated area, and data is recorded in a third corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the third dedicated area before the third dedicated area is used.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an end position of the third dedicated area is variable.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first fixed dedicated area part further comprises a first middle area at a predetermined position in front of the first dedicated area, and the second fixed dedicated area part further comprises a second middle area at a predetermined position in front of the second dedicated area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first flexible dedicated area part comprises a third middle area and a fourth dedicated area, the second flexible dedicated area part comprises a fourth middle area and a fifth dedicated area,

wherein no data is recorded in a fourth corresponding area of the second recording layer corresponding to the fourth dedicated area and in a fifth corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the fifth dedicated area.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit controls the write/read unit to record data in the fourth dedicated area and the fifth dedicated area in opposite recording directions, and adaptively determines end positions of the fourth dedicated area and the fifth dedicated area.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a third buffer area is inserted between the fifth corresponding area and the fourth dedicated area, and a fourth buffer area is inserted between the fourth corresponding area and the fifth dedicated area, based on an area that is unusable due to being within a radius of the beam that extends to the first recording layer when data is recorded in the second recording layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second flexible dedicated area part further comprises a sixth dedicated area, and data can be recorded in a sixth corresponding area of the first recording layer corresponding to the sixth dedicated area before the sixth dedicated area is used.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an end position of the sixth dedicated area is variable.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein no data is recorded in an area between the first flexible dedicated area part and the first fixed dedicated area part and an area between the second flexible dedicated area part and the second fixed dedicated area part.