HK1116585B - Method for allocating areas, recording/reproducing method, initialization method and reinitialization method - Google Patents

Description

Partition method, recording/reproducing method, initialization method, and reinitialization method

This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application having an application date of 11/5/2005, an application number of 200510069928.6, entitled "recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus and method, initialization method".

This application claims the benefits of korean patent application No. 10-2004-.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a disc, and more particularly, to an information recording medium, a recording/reproducing apparatus and method, an initialization method, and a re-initialization method, by which a disc is initialized to ensure recording/reproducing compatibility.

Background

In accordance with the development of optical disc technology and semiconductor technology, the standards of optical systems including optical disc drive systems and optical discs have to be frequently updated. Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining a problem regarding standard update. In general, a new standard is obtained by adding a new function to an old standard. The old standard disk 12 is designed to operate in the old standard drive system 11, while the new standard disk 14 is designed to operate in the new standard drive system 13.

The old standard and the new standard may or may not provide recording/reproducing compatibility. If recording/reproducing compatibility is ensured, the old standard disc 12 and the new standard disc 14 can be recorded/reproduced in both the old standard drive system 11 and the new standard drive system 13. For example, when a new standard disk 14 is loaded into the old standard drive system 11, the old standard drive system 11 should function properly in response to the newly added functionality in the new standard. Therefore, the standards should be designed by considering the necessity of continuously updating them.

In view of this need, it is necessary to define a rule that allows a drive system to perform a function identified by a current standard and a rule that allows the same drive system to perform a new function not identified by the current standard. In the case where the future standard is made by adding a new function to the current standard, if the future standard drive system stores information on operations on the disk that the current standard drive system needs to perform for the new function, the current standard drive system can read the information from the disk adapted to the new function and perform the operation for the new function.

In this regard, a method for enabling multiple types of drive systems to initialize and reinitialize a disk using a disk that is adapted to functions unrecognizable by the drive system is desired. Initialization is a process performed on an empty disc to initially use the empty disc. The reinitialization is a process performed on the used disc to reinitialize the used disc.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects of the present invention provide an optical recording medium, a recording/reproducing apparatus and method, an initialization method, and a re-initialization method that increase compatibility between different standards of discs and drive systems.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium including an access control area in which access control data is recorded, the access control data having common information set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of identifying a predetermined function adapted to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium, wherein the access control data regarding the function identifiable by the recording/reproducing device is recorded in the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the common information of the access control data regarding the identifiable function includes an ID of the identifiable function, formatability information regarding the information recording medium, and recordability/reproducibility information regarding a sub-area defined on the information recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the formatable information and the recordability/reproducibility information are set to "formatable" and "recordable", respectively.

According to an aspect of the present invention, after the access control data is recorded, the remaining unrecorded area in the access control area is filled with a predetermined value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a writing/reading unit for writing data onto or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which access control data is recorded, the access control data having common information set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of recognizing a predetermined function adapted to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit for controlling the write/read unit to record access control data regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including recording access control data regarding a function recognizable by a recording/reproducing apparatus in an access control area when an information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized to enable the information recording medium to be used, the information recording medium having the access control area in which the access control data is recorded, the access control data having common information set to allow access to the information recording medium to be controlled by any recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function adapted to the information recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of initializing an information recording medium, including: recording initialization information for defect management and disc management in a defect management area arranged on an information recording medium to manage defects occurring in a data area arranged on the information recording medium; and recording access control data regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in an access control area arranged on the information recording medium, the access control data having common information set for allowing any recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed for the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the initialization information includes: a Disc Definition Structure (DDS) including assignment information regarding a spare area assigned in the data area for recording data replacing defective data occurring in the data area and assignment information regarding a user data area in the data area in which user data is recorded; and a defect list (DFL) including initial information for defect management.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reinitializing an information recording medium, including: determining whether the information recording medium can be reinitialized by using initialization information recorded in a defect management area arranged on the information recording medium for defect management and disc management and using access control data recorded in an access control area arranged on the information recording medium, the access control data having common information set for allowing any recording/reproducing apparatus that cannot recognize a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; updating initialization information with the re-initialization information in the defect management area if it is determined that the information recording medium can be re-initialized; and clearing the access control area and recording access control data regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in the access control area.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reinitialization information includes: a DDS including assignment information regarding a spare area assigned in the data area for recording data replacing defective data occurring in the data area and assignment information regarding a user data area in the data area in which user data is recorded; and a DFL including initial information for defect management.

According to an aspect of the invention, the method further comprises: the size of the spare area is determined as assignment information on the spare area and the start address and the end address of the user data area are determined as assignment information on the user data area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus including: a writing/reading unit for writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which Access Control Data (ACD) is recorded and an ACD state information area in which state information regarding one of defect and recordability of an ACD block including the ACD is recorded, the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit for controlling the write/read unit to change the state information on the ACD block when the information recording medium is reinitialized.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the information recording medium is reinitialized, the control unit changes the state information indicating that the ACD block has a valid ACD to the state information indicating that the ACD block has an invalid ACD and is available for recording of the ACD.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the information recording medium is reinitialized, the control unit does not change the state information indicating that the ACD block is a defective block and the state information indicating that the ACD block is available for recording of ACD.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the information recording medium is reinitialized, the control unit changes the state information indicating that the ACD block has a valid ACD and a defect at the time of reproduction to the state information indicating that the ACD block is a defective block.

According to an aspect of the invention, when the information recording medium is reinitialized, the control unit controls the writing/reading unit to write one of "00 h" and "FFh" as the ID of the ACD to indicate validity of the ACD block included in the access control area.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the validity of the ACD block indicated by the ID of the ACD does not coincide with the state information on the ACD block, the control unit controls the writing/reading unit to read data from the ACD block based on the state information on the ACD block.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when an error occurs in reproducing the state information regarding the ACD block, the control unit determines the validity of the ACD block based on the ID of the ACD.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which an ACD is recorded and an ACD status information area in which status information regarding one of defect and recordability of an ACD block containing the ACD is recorded, the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and changing the state information on the ACD block when the information recording medium is reinitialized.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus including: a writing/reading unit for writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which an ACD is recorded, the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit for controlling the write/read unit to write a default ACD in the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized, the default ACD including common information set to allow a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

According to an aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the values set for the default ACD are provided by at least one of the host and the control unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus including: a writing/reading unit for writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which an ACD is recorded, the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit for controlling the writing/reading unit to write at least a default ACD among the ACDs regarding functions recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus into the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized, the default ACD including common information set to allow a writing/reading operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus including: a writing/reading unit for writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area in which an ACD is recorded, the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium; and a control unit for controlling the writing/reading unit to change data in the ACD block regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus among the ACD blocks of the access control area when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized, and to record a value indicating "available" in the ACD block regarding a function unrecognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus among the ACD blocks of the access control area.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the write/read unit to change or remove data in the ACD block regarding the identifiable function or add a new ACD block regarding the new identifiable function according to a user's request, and updates the state information regarding the ACD block regarding the identifiable function according to a result of one of the change, removal, and addition.

According to an aspect of the invention, the ACD block regarding the new identifiable function comprises: a default ACD having common information set to allow a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the writing/reading unit to write one of "00 h" and "FFh" in the ACD block regarding the unrecognizable function to indicate that the ACD block regarding the unrecognizable function does not have valid data, and changes the state information of the ACD block regarding the unrecognizable function to indicate that the ACD block regarding the unrecognizable function is available.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized, recording a default ACD in an access control area, wherein the access control area is provided in the information recording medium to record therein the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium, wherein the default ACD includes the common information set for allowing a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: when a recording/reproducing apparatus initializes or reinitializes an information recording medium, at least a default ACD among ACDs regarding functions recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus is recorded in an access control area provided in the information recording medium to record therein the ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium, wherein the default ACD includes common information set for allowing a writing/reading operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording/reproducing method including: changing data in the ACD block regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in the access control area when the information recording medium is reinitialized; and recording a value indicating "available" in an ACD block regarding a function unrecognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus in an access control area when the information recording medium is reinitialized, wherein the access control area is provided in the information recording medium to record therein an ACD having common information set for allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing a predetermined function employed to the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Drawings

The above and other features and/or advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining compatibility between different standards of a disc and a drive system in the conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining compatibility between different standards of disk and drive systems in initialization and re-initialization, according to an aspect of the present invention;

fig. 3 shows a structure of an optical recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a detailed structure of a Defect Management Area (DMA) #1 shown in FIG. 3;

fig. 5 illustrates a detailed structure of the Access Control Area (ACA) shown in fig. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of Access Control Data (ACD) recorded in an ACA during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.0 drive system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an ACD recorded in an ACA during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.1 drive system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an ACD recorded in an ACA during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.2 drive system shown in FIG. 2;

fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus that performs initialization and re-initialization according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an initialization method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method of reinitialization according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows another example of the detailed structure of the DMA #1 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the ACD status information shown in FIG. 12;

fig. 14A and 14B show examples of an ACD block and ACD status information before a disc re-initialization for explaining updating of ACD status information when the disc is re-initialized according to an aspect of the present invention, respectively;

fig. 15A and 15B show examples of an ACD block and ACD status information after a disk is reinitialized for explaining the update of the ACD status information when the disk is reinitialized according to an aspect of the present invention, respectively;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method of reinitialization according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates the structure of a default ACD in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

fig. 18 is a flowchart of an initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 19 is a flowchart of a re-initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 20 illustrates a structure of a write-once recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 21 is a flowchart of an initialization method of a write once recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 22 is a flowchart of a re-initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the 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 are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining compatibility between disc and drive systems of different standards in initialization and re-initialization according to an aspect of the present invention. Referring to fig. 2, a standard defined for rewritable recording media adapted to function a is referred to as version 1.0, and a recording/reproducing apparatus implementing version 1.0 is referred to as version 1.0 drive system 21. An updated standard obtained by adding a new function B to version 1.0 is referred to as version 1.1, and a recording/reproducing apparatus implementing version 1.1 is referred to as a version 1.1 drive system 22. A further updated standard obtained by adding a new function C to version 1.1 is called version 1.2 and a recording/reproducing device implementing version 1.2 is called version 1.2 drive system 23. Disc D is a rewritable recording medium for versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2.

The version 1.0 drive system 21 cannot recognize functions B and C. The version 1.1 drive system 22 cannot recognize function C. However, the version 1.2 driver system 23 is capable of recognizing both function B and function C. In this case, when the disc D is empty and initialized by the version 1.0 drive system 21, the version 1.0 drive system 21 needs to initialize the empty disc D so that the initialized disc D can be recognized by both the version 1.1 drive system 22 and the version 1.2 drive system 23. When the disc D is empty and initialized by the version 1.1 drive system 22, the version 1.1 drive system 22 needs to initialize the empty disc D so that the initialized disc D can be recognized by both the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.2 drive system 23. Similarly, when the disc D is empty and initialized by the version 1.2 drive system 23, the version 1.2 drive system 23 needs to initialize the empty disc D so that the initialized disc D can be recognized by both the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.1 drive system 22.

In order for a blank disc initialized by a certain version of a drive system to be usable in other versions of the drive system, information that can be recognized by all versions of the drive system must be used. In one aspect of the present invention, a disc is initialized using a Defect Management Area (DMA) and an Access Control Area (ACA) provided in a lead-in area of the disc, so that the initialized disc can be recognized by different versions of a drive system. In other words, initialization information is recorded in the DMA and the ACA during initialization of the disc, so that the initialized disc can be correctly used by different versions of a drive system based on the initialization information.

Referring to fig. 2, when a disc D is initialized by the version 1.0 drive system 21, since the function a can be recognized by all of the version 1.0 drive system 21, the version 1.1 drive system 22, and the version 1.2 drive system 23, information on the function a can be changed by the version 1.1 drive system 22 and the version 1.2 drive system 23 according to the intention of a user or a drive manufacturer.

When the disc D is initialized by the version 1.1 drive system 22, since the version 1.0 drive system 21 cannot recognize the function B, information that specifies that the version 1.0 drive system 21 needs an operation performed with respect to the function B is recorded in the ACA according to the rule and scheme specified when the version 1.0 is specified. As a result, when the disc D adapted to the function B is loaded into the version 1.0 drive system 21, the version 1.0 drive system 21 can operate properly, thereby providing convenience in using the disc D.

When the disc D is initialized by the version 1.2 drive system 23, since the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.1 drive system 22 cannot recognize the function C, information that specifies that the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.1 drive system 22 need operations performed with respect to the function C is recorded in the access control area according to rules and schemes that are formulated when the version 1.0 is formulated. As a result, when the disc D adapted to the function C is loaded into the version 1.0 drive system 21 or the version 1.1 drive system 22, the version 1.0 drive system 21 or the version 1.1 drive system 22 can operate properly, thereby providing convenience in using the disc D. In addition, according to the rule and scheme established when the version 1.0 is established, information specifying the operation of the version 1.0 driver system 21 that needs to be performed with respect to the function B is recorded in the ACA. As a result, when the disc D adapted to the function B is loaded into the version 1.0 drive system 21, the version 1.0 drive system 21 can operate properly, thereby providing convenience in using the disc D.

In the same way, the used disc is reinitialized. In order to make the used disc recognized by the drive system of the different versions, the used disc is reinitialized using the DMA and the ACA set in the lead-in area of the used disc. However, the re-initialization is different from the initialization because whether the information recorded on the used disc allows the re-initialization of the used disc to be first determined even though the user inputs the re-initialization command. Whether to reinitialize a used disc may be determined based on Access Control Data (ACD) recorded in the ACA, which will be described in detail later.

Fig. 3 illustrates the structure of a disc 100 using an aspect of the present invention. Referring to fig. 3, the disc 100 sequentially includes a lead-in area 110, a data area 120, and a lead-out area 130. The lead-in area 110 includes: a pre-recorded area 111 in which predetermined data is recorded when the disc 100 is manufactured, a test area 112, an ACA113, a DMA #2114, and a DMA # 1115. The pre-recorded area 111 can only be used for reading. The test area 112, ACA113, DMA #2114, and DMA #1115 are areas to which data can be written and rewritten.

The pre-recorded area 111 stores information about the disc 100 recorded when the disc 100 is manufactured. For example, the pre-recorded area 111 stores a disc ID such as a disc manufacturing number identifying the disc 100. However, it should be understood that the pre-recorded area 111 can include additional data.

The test area 112 is set to test recording power and the like for optimum recording on the disc 100.

The ACA113 is provided to record information that specifies an operation for a drive system to which a new function will be added later. Common information enabling a drive system incapable of recognizing a certain function to access the disc 100 is recorded in the ACA113, which will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5.

The DMA #1115 and the DMA #2114 are set to record information about a defect occurring in the User Data Area (UDA) 122. DMA #1115 and DMA #2114 will be described with reference to fig. 4.

The data area 120 includes a spare area #0121, a UDA122, and a spare area # 1123. UDAs 122 are provided to record user data. The spare areas #0121 and #1123 set spare blocks that replace the defective blocks occurring in the UDA 122. Such a spare area is allocated to the data area 122 during initialization or re-initialization of the disc 100. The lead-out area 130 includes a DMA #3131 and a DMA # 4132.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed structure of DMA #1115 shown in fig. 3. Referring to fig. 4, the DMA #1115 includes a Disc Definition Structure (DDS)410 and a defect list (DFL) 420. The DDS410 includes disc management information. In detail, the DDS410 includes spare area size information 411 and UDA start and end address information 412 as information recorded on the disc during initialization or re-initialization. When initializing or reinitializing the disc, the drive system allocates a spare area to the data area, determines the UDA122 in which user data in the data area is recorded, and records information about the spare area and the UDA122 in the DDS 410. The DFL420 contains information about defects occurring in the UDA 122. For example, the DFL420 includes an address of a defective block occurring in the UDA122, an address of a spare block replacing the defective block, and state information regarding the defect.

Fig. 5 shows a detailed structure of the ACA113 shown in fig. 3. Referring to FIG. 5, the ACA113 includes ACD #1510, ACD #2520, and ACD # 3530. The ACA113 is an area in which common information is recorded for accessing the disc regardless of existing or new standards. In other words, the ACA113 stores a common information table commonly applied to all functions used in the existing standard and the new standard. Although not required in all aspects, the ACD constitutes a common table of information about each function. For example, ACD #1510 constitutes a common information table about "function 1", ACD #2520 constitutes a common information table about "function 2", and ACD #3530 constitutes a common information table about "function 3". The driver system can recognize function 1, which cannot recognize functions 2 and 3. The ACD may also include specific information that can be recognized only by the driver system that recognizes the function corresponding to this ACD.

ACD #1510 includes common information 511 and specific information 512. The common information 511 includes an ACD _ ID513 (i.e., an ID identifying the ACD), formatting (formatting) information 514 indicating whether the disc can be formatted, DMA recordability/reproducibility (reproducibility) information 515 indicating whether the DMA is recordable or only reproducible, spare area recordability/reproducibility information 516 indicating whether the spare area is recordable or only reproducible, and UDA recordability/reproducibility information 517 indicating whether the UDA is recordable or only reproducible. The formatable information 514, the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 515, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 516, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 517 constitute a common information table.

The drive system can determine whether ACD #1510 is for an identifiable function based on ACD _ ID 513. In other words, if the drive system knows ACD _ ID513, ACD #1510 is determined to be about an identifiable function. Otherwise, ACD #1510 is determined as pertaining to an unrecognizable function. Further, even if the drive system does not know the ACD _ ID513, the drive system can perform at least minimum correct operations regarding unrecognizable functions based on the fields included in the common information table.

ACD #2520 also includes common information 521 and specific information 522. The common information 521 includes an ACD _ ID523 and a common information table containing formatting information 524, DMA recordability/reproducibility information 525, spare area recordability/reproducibility information 526, and UDA recordability/reproducibility information 527.

The ACD recorded in the ACA113 when the disc is initialized or reinitialized by each of the drive systems 21 to 23 under the condition shown in fig. 2 will be described below with reference to fig. 6 and 7.

Fig. 6 shows an example of ACD recorded in the ACA113 during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.0 drive system 21 shown in fig. 2. Referring to fig. 6, the version 1.0 drive system 21 only knows function a and thus records ACD #1610 in the ACA113 only with respect to function a. After recording of ACD #1610 in the ACA113, the version 1.0 drive system 21 fills the remaining unrecorded area 620 with ooh. The unrecorded area 620 may also be filled with FFh according to an aspect of the present invention. The unrecorded area 620 is filled with ooh or FFh to indicate that there is no ACD any more in the ACA113 and to enable the unrecorded area 620 to be used later.

ACD #1610 includes public information 611 and specific information 612. The common information 611 includes an ACD _ ID613 as an ID of the ACD #1610, in which "a" indicating the function a known by the version 1.0 drive system 21 is recorded, and the common information 611 further includes a common information table containing the formatting information 614 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 615, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 616, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 617. Since initialization or re-initialization is performed to enable the disc to be used, all the formatability and recordability information is set to be "recordable".

Since the function a whose contents are contained in the ACD #1610 recorded in the ACA113 of the initialized disc D can be recognized by all the drive systems 21 to 23, the ACD #1610 can be changed by a user or a drive manufacturer when the initialized disc D is loaded and used in any one of the drive systems 21 to 23.

Fig. 7 shows an example of ACD recorded in the ACA113 during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.1 drive system shown in fig. 2. Referring to fig. 7, the version 1.1 drive system 22 is aware of function a and function B, and thus ACD #1710 for function a and ACD #2720 for function B are recorded in the ACA 113. After the ACD #1710 and ACD #2720 are recorded in the ACA113, the version 1.1 drive system 22 fills the remaining unrecorded area 730 with ooh or FFh.

ACD #1710 includes common information 711 and specific information 712. The common information 711 contains an ACD _ ID713 as an ID of the ACD #1710, where "a" indicating the function a known by the version 1.1 drive system 22 is recorded, and the common information 711 further includes a common information table containing the formatability information 714 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 715, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 716, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 717. Since initialization or re-initialization is performed to enable the disc to be used, all the formatability and recordability information is set to be "recordable".

ACD #2720 includes common information 721 and specific information 722. The common information 721 includes an ACD _ ID723 as an ID of ACD #2720, in which "B" indicating a function B known by the version 1.1 drive system 22 is recorded, and the common information 721 also includes a common information table containing a formatter information 724 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", DMA recordability/reproducibility information 725, spare area recordability/reproducibility information 726, and UDA recordability/reproducibility information 727.

Since the function a whose contents are contained in the ACD #1710 recorded in the ACA113 of the initialized disc D can be recognized by all the drive systems 21 to 23, the ACD #1710 can be changed by a user or a drive manufacturer when the initialized disc D is loaded and used in any one of the drive systems 21 to 23. The function B regarding which ACD #2720 has been recorded in the ACA113 cannot be recognized by the version 1.0 drive system 21, but the version 1.0 drive system 21 can be operated using the common information 721 included in the ACD #2720 to access the initialized disc D.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of ACD recorded in the ACA113 during initialization or re-initialization by the version 1.2 drive system shown in fig. 2. Referring to fig. 8, the version 1.2 driver system 23 is aware of function a, function B, and function C, and thus ACD #1810 for function a, ACD #2820 for function B, and ACD #3830 for function C are recorded in the ACA 113. Thereafter, the version 1.2 drive system 23 fills the remaining unrecorded area 840 with ooh or FFh.

ACD #1810 includes common information 811 and specific information 812. The common information 811 includes an ACD _ ID813 as an ID of the ACD #1810 in which "a" indicating the function a known by the version 1.2 drive system 23 is recorded, and the common information 811 further includes a common information table containing the formatting information 814 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 815, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 816, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 817. Since initialization or re-initialization is performed to enable the disc to be used, all the formatability and recordability information is set to be "recordable".

ACD #2820 includes public information 821 and specific information 822. The common information 821 includes an ACD _ ID823 as an ID of ACD #2820 in which "B" indicating function B known by version 1.2 drive system 23 is recorded, and the common information 821 further includes a common information table containing formatting information 824 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", DMA recordability/reproducibility information 825, spare area recordability/reproducibility information 826, and UDA recordability/reproducibility information 827.

ACD #3830 includes public information 831 and specific information 832. The common information 831 includes an ACD _ ID833 as an ID of the ACD #3830 in which "C" indicating the function C known by the version 1.2 drive system 23 is recorded, and the common information 831 further includes a common information table containing the formatting information 834 set to zero (0) indicating "recordable", the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 835, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 836, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 837.

Since the function a whose contents are contained in the ACD #1810 recorded in the ACA113 of the initialized disc D can be recognized by all the drive systems 21 to 23, the ACD #1810 can be changed by a user or a drive manufacturer when the initialized disc D is loaded and used in any one of the drive systems 21 to 23. The function B regarding which ACD #2820 has been recorded in the ACA113 cannot be recognized by the version 1.0 drive system 21, but the version 1.0 drive system 21 can be operated using the common information 821 included in the ACD #2820 to access the initialized disc D. The function C regarding which ACD #3830 is recorded in the ACA113 cannot be recognized by the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.1 drive system 22, but the version 1.0 drive system 21 and the version 1.1 drive system 22 can be operated using the common information 831 included in the ACD #3830 to access the initialized disc D.

Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 9, the recording/reproducing apparatus includes a writing/reading unit 2 and a control unit 1. The writing/reading unit 2 includes a pickup and writes data onto and reads data from a disc 100, which is an optical recording medium of the present invention. The control unit 1 controls the write/read unit 2 to write data onto the disc 100 and read data therefrom according to a predetermined file system. More specifically, the control unit 1 performs control to initialize an empty disc and reinitialize a used disc. The control unit 1 includes a system controller 10, a host interface (I/F)20, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)30, a Radio Frequency (RF) Amplifier (AMP)40, and a servo 50.

During recording, the host I/F20 receives a predetermined write command from the host 3 and transmits the received write command to the system controller 10. The system controller 10 controls the DSP30 and the servo 50 to execute write commands received from the host I/F20. The DSP30 adds extra data such as parity to data accepted from the host I/F20 to be written, performs Error Correction Coding (ECC) to generate an ECC block for error correction, and modulates the ECC block in a predetermined pattern. The RF AMP40 converts data output from the DSP30 into an RF signal. The writing/reading unit 2 including the pickup writes the RF signal received from the RF amp40 onto the disc 100. The servo 50 receives a servo control command from the system controller 10 and servo-controls the pickup included in the write/read unit 2.

During reproduction, the host I/F20 receives a read command from the host 3. The system controller 10 performs initialization required for reproduction. The write/read unit 2 emits a laser beam onto the disc 100 and outputs an optical signal obtained from the laser beam reflected from the disc 100. The RF AMP40 converts an optical signal received from the write/read unit 2 into an RF signal, supplies modulated data obtained from the RF signal to the DSP30, and supplies a servo signal obtained from the RF signal to the servo 50. The DSP30 demodulates the modulated data and outputs data obtained by performing ECC on the demodulated data. Meanwhile, the servo 50 receives a servo signal from the RF AMP40 and a servo control command from the system controller 10, and servo-controls the pickup. The host I/F20 transmits data from the DSP30 to the host 3. The system controller 10 reads disc management information or defect information from the disc 100 and controls the servo 50 to read data from a position where data has been recorded on the disc 100 without defects.

The recording/reproducing apparatus shown in fig. 9 may be implemented as a separate recording apparatus, a separate reproducing apparatus, a single recording and reproducing apparatus, a stand-alone apparatus, and/or a part of a computer system according to aspects of the present invention.

An exemplary initialization method and an exemplary re-initialization method performed by a recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 10 and 11.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart of an initialization method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 10, in operation 1010, an empty disc 100 is loaded into a drive system. In operation 1020, the system controller 10 included in the drive system receives an initialization command from the host 3 through the host I/F20. The system controller 10 allocates a spare area in the data area of the disc 100 to determine the size of the spare area in operation 1030, and allocates a UDA for recording user data in the data area to determine the start address and the end address of the UDA in operation 1040. The spare area may be assigned by the host 3 or may be assigned in a predetermined size by a drive manufacturer.

In operation 1050, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the DDS and initial DFL including information on the assignment of the spare area and information on the assignment of the UDA in the DMA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100. The initialization information recorded in the DMA has been described in detail with reference to fig. 4.

In operation 1060, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the ACD regarding the function recognizable by the drive system in the ACA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100. The access control information recorded in the ACA has been described in detail with reference to fig. 5.

In operation 1070, the system controller 10 controls the writing/reading unit 2 and the servo 50 to fill the remaining unrecorded area in the ACA of the disc 100 with a predetermined value such as 00h or FFh.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart of a re-initialization method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 11, in operation 1110, a used disc 100 is loaded into a drive system. Then, the system controller 10 included in the drive system recognizes the DMA information recorded on the disc 100 and information (i.e., ACD) specifying functions known to the system controller 10 and operations that the drive system must perform, the functions not known to the system controller 10. Then, in operation 1120, the system controller 10 receives a reinitialization command from the host 3 through the host I/F20.

In operation 1130, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to read information recorded in the DMA and the ACA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100 and to fetch the information. The information recorded in the DMA may be a write protection flag, and the information recorded in the ACA may be information regarding recordability or formatability included in the common information of the ACD.

In operation 1140, the system controller 10 determines whether the information read from the DMA and the ACA allows re-initialization. For example, if the write protection flag read from the DMA is "1", the write operation to the disc 100 is disabled, and thus the re-initialization cannot be performed, so that an error message is transmitted in operation 1190. The common information of the ACD recorded in the ACA includes the formatting information and the recordability/reproducibility information regarding the sub-area of the disc 100. If the formatting of the disc 100 or the writing operation to any of the sub-areas of the disc 100 is not allowed by the formatability information and the recordability/reproducibility information, the re-initialization cannot be performed, and thus an error message is transmitted in operation 1190. Accordingly, the system controller 10 determines whether the disc 100 is recordable based on the information read from the DMA and the ACA.

If the write protection flag is set to "1" or if the common information of the ACD does not allow formatting or writing operations, the system controller 10 determines that the disc 100 cannot be reinitialized and sends an error message to the host 3 through the host I/F20 in operation 1190. However, if the write protection flag is not set to "1" and the common information of the ACD allows the formatting and writing operations, the system controller 10 determines to reinitialize the disc 100 and starts reinitializing the disc 100.

Meanwhile, when the ACD with respect to the function recognizable by the drive system has a value that does not allow the re-initialization and the ACD with respect to the function unrecognizable by the drive system has a value that allows the re-initialization, since the value of the ACD with respect to the recognizable function may be updated, the value of the ACD with respect to the recognizable function may be changed to a value that allows the re-initialization in response to a user re-initialization request, and then, it may be determined to start the re-initialization of the disc 100.

If the re-initialization is allowed, the system controller 10 allocates a spare area in the data area of the disc 100 to determine the size of the spare area and allocates a UDA for recording user data in the data area to determine the start address and the end address of the UDA in operation 1150.

In operation 1160, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear (clear) the DMA included in the lead-in area on the disc 100, and controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the initial DFL and the DDS including the determined information, i.e., spare area assignment information and UDA assignment information, in the DMA. Although it has been described that initialization information is recorded in the DMA after being erased, in practice, since the disc 100 is of a rewritable type, the initialization information recorded in the DMA is updated. Although not shown in fig. 11, file system information recorded in a predetermined portion of the UDA for managing data recorded in the UDA should be cleared.

In operation 1170, the system controller 10 controls the writing/reading unit 2 to clear the ACA in the lead-in area on the disc 100, and controls the writing/reading unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the ACD regarding a function recognizable by the drive system in the ACA in the lead-in area on the disc 100.

In operation 1180, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to fill the remaining unrecorded area in the ACA in the lead-in area on the disc 100 with a predetermined value, such as 00h or FFh. Operation 1180 is performed to indicate that there are no more ACDs in the ACA and to enable the unrecorded area to be used at a later time.

The following description relates to a method of updating ACD block state information during re-initialization of a disc when managing state information regarding recordability or defect of an ACD block in an ACA. When the state information of each ACD block included in the ACA for recording the ACD is recorded in the DDS and managed, the ACD block can be effectively managed. The state information may indicate that the ACD may be recorded in an ACD block, indicate that the ACD block is defective or stores invalid ACDs, indicate that the ACD block stores valid ACDs, and indicate that the ACD block stores valid ACDs but has defects that occur during reproduction. The ACD block physically recorded in the ACA has an ACD _ ID from which the drive system can recognize what function the ACD block is about. When the disc is loaded in the drive system, the drive system detects the position of a valid ACD block based on ACD block state information included in the DDS in the DMA recorded on the disc, and reproduces the valid ACD block.

The ACD block is good if ACD block status information indicating that the ACD block has a valid ACD is included in the DDS prior to re-initialization. After re-initialization, since the ACD recorded in the ACD block is not necessary, the ACD block status information needs to be changed to indicate that the ACD block does not have a valid ACD and can be used to record the ACD. If the ACD block status information included in the DDS indicating that the ACD block has a valid ACD is not changed during the reinitialization, the drive system will render the ACD block based on the ACD block status information. Therefore, such ACD block state information must be updated when the disk is reinitialized. In addition, since the information included in the ACD block is no longer valid after re-initialization, if the ACD block status information is not changed, the drive system may have trouble due to incorrect information obtained from the ACD block. Therefore, in addition to changing the ACD block state information included in the DDS, the entire ACD block in the ACA or only the ACD _ ID of the ACD block needs to be overwritten with a value such as "00 h" or "FFh" to be physically eliminated. When the ACD _ ID has a value of "00" or "FF," the current ACD of the ACD block is not valid and the ACD block may be used to record other ACDs. Since "00 h" or "FFh" is recorded in the ACD block when the ACD block is cleared, the ACD _ ID of the ACD block becomes a value of "00" or "FF".

Briefly, during re-initialization, a valid ACD block in the ACA on the disc is overwritten with a value such as "00 h" or "FFh", and the corresponding ACD block status information included in the DDS on the disc is changed to indicate that the ACD block does not have a valid ACD and can be used to record other ACDs.

Fig. 12 shows another example of the detailed structure of the DMA #1115 shown in fig. 3. Referring to fig. 12, a DDS410 is an area in which disc management information is recorded. Spare area size information 411, UDA start and end address information 412, and ACD status information 413 are recorded in the DDS 410. The ACD state information 413 includes state information regarding recordability or defect of each of the ACD blocks in which the ACD is recorded in the ACA. Referring to fig. 12, ACD block status information has a length of 2 bits.

Fig. 13 shows an example of ACD block status information included in ACD status information, such as the block status information shown in fig. 12. Referring to fig. 13, the state of each ACD block is represented in 2 bits, i.e., "00", "01", "10", or "11", indicating one of four states. A multiple bit "00" indicates that the ACD block is available to record ACDs. A multiple bit "01" indicates that the ACD block is defective. More specifically, a plurality of bits "01" indicates that an ACD block is detected as defective or indicates that the ACD block has an invalid ACD when the ACD is recorded in the ACA. A multi-bit "10" indicates that the ACD block has a valid ACD, but is detected as defective when the ACD is rendered from the ACA. A multiple bit "11" indicates that the ACD block has a valid ACD.

Fig. 14A to 15B are diagrams for explaining the update of ACD state information when a disc is reinitialized according to the present invention. Fig. 14A and 14B show examples of an ACD block and ACD status information, respectively, before re-initialization. Fig. 15A and 15B show examples of an ACD block and ACD status information after re-initialization, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 14A, prior to re-initialization, the ACA includes five ACD blocks: ACD block #1, with valid ACD; ACD block #2 with defective ACDs; ACD block #3, with valid ACD; ACD block #4 having no data or having one of "00" and "FF" as a value of ACD _ ID; and an ACD block #5 having valid ACD and having a defect occurring during reproduction (hereinafter, referred to as a defect at the time of reproduction). ACD _ ID with value "00" or "FF" indicates: although data has been recorded in the ACD block, since the data in the ACD block is not valid, an ACD may be recorded in the ACD block at a later time.

Fig. 14B represents status information regarding the ACD blocks #1 to #5 shown in fig. 14A. Referring to fig. 14B, a plurality of bits "11" are recorded as ACD block #1 status information to indicate that the ACD block #1 has a valid ACD. A plurality of bits "01" are recorded as the ACD block #2 status information to indicate that the ACD block #2 is defective. A plurality of bits "11" are recorded as ACD block #3 status information to indicate that ACD block #3 has a valid ACD. A plurality of bits "00" are recorded as ACD block #4 status information to indicate: because ACD block #4 has no data recorded therein or has invalid data, ACD block #4 may be used to record ACD. A plurality of bits "10" are recorded as ACD block #5 status information to indicate that the ACD block #5 has a valid ACD and a defect at the time of reproduction.

The ACD block and the ACD status information shown in fig. 14A and 14B are changed by re-initialization of the disc, as shown in fig. 15A and 15B.

Referring to fig. 15A, after the re-initialization, only the defective ACD block #2 remains in a state before the re-initialization, but the other ACD blocks, i.e., the valid ACD block, the ACD block having "00" or "FF" as a value of ACD _ ID, and the ACD block having a defect at the time of reproduction, become to have "00" or "FF" as a value of their ACD _ ID, so that these ACD blocks can be used after the re-initialization. Unrecorded blocks that have no data before re-initialization remain intact even after re-initialization.

Fig. 15B represents status information regarding the ACD blocks #1 to #5 shown in fig. 15A. Referring to fig. 15B, bits of the ACD block #1 state information, the ACD block #3 state information, and the ACD block #4 state information are changed to "00" to indicate: because ACD block #1, ACD block #3, and ACD block #4 have no data recorded therein or have invalid data, ACD block #1, ACD block #3, and ACD block #4 may be used to record ACD. A plurality of bits "01" indicating that the ACD block #2 is defective is held as ACD block #2 state information. Since the ACD block #5 has a defect at the time of reproduction, bits of the state information of the ACD block #5 are changed to "01". When the ACD block has a defect at the time of reproduction, the ACD block ACD _ ID has a value "00 h" or "FFh" indicating that the ACD block is available for recording and status information on the ACD block is represented in bits "01" indicating the defective block. In this case, when the ACD _ ID of the ACD block does not coincide with the state information on the ACD block, the ACD block is unusable due to a defect since the state information is considered to be prioritized over the ACD _ ID. However, when the state information cannot be extracted due to an error while the state information is reproduced, an ACD block having "00 h" or "FFh" as its ACD _ ID is available.

In the above arrangement, the state represented by the ACD _ ID of the ACD among the ACD blocks included in the ACA on the disc may not coincide with the state represented by the corresponding ACD block state information among the DDS recorded on the disc. In this case, the drive system is designed to rely first on ACD block status information recorded in the DDS. This will be described in detail below.

The state information of the ACD block is known from the corresponding ACD block state information recorded in the DDS and the ACD _ ID of the ACD block recorded in the ACA. If the two types of information do not coincide with each other, the drive system first relies on ACD block status information recorded in the DDS. When data cannot be reproduced from the DDS within the DMA due to, for example, a defect occurring in the DMA, the drive system determines the validity of information contained in the ACD block based on the ACD _ ID recorded in the ACA. Inconsistencies between these two types of information may occur due to defects that occur during recording. For example, when a valid ACD is recorded in ACD block a, the status of ACD block a is recorded as "11" in DDS. Thereafter, if a defect occurs when the update ACD is written to the ACD block a in response to a request to update the ACD block a, the drive system records the status information regarding the ACD block a as a block indicating the defect. However, the updated ACD is not written to ACD block a due to a defect during recording, and ACD block a still has a valid ACD. As a result, the ACD _ ID of a valid ACD is maintained in ACD block A within the ACA. In this case, to prevent erroneous operation of the system, ACD block state information must first be referred to.

However, when the ACD block status information in the DDS becomes unreliable due to error correction failure occurring when data is reproduced from the DDS, it is preferable, but not necessary, that the validity of the corresponding ACD block is determined based on the ACD _ ID of the ACD among the ACD blocks included in the ACA.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart of a re-initialization method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 16, in operation 1610, a used disc 100 is loaded in a drive system. Then, the system controller 10 included in the drive system recognizes the DMA information and information specifying functions known to the system controller 10 and operations that the drive system must perform (i.e., ACDs recorded on the disc 100) for the functions that the system controller 10 does not know. Then, the system controller 10 receives a reinitialization command from the host 3 through the host I/F20 in operation 1620.

In operation 1630, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to read information recorded in the DMA and the ACA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100 and to retrieve the information. As an example, the information recorded in the DMA may be a write protection flag, and the information recorded in the ACA may be information regarding recordability or formatability included in the common information of the ACD.

In operation 1640, the system controller 10 determines whether the information read from the DMA and ACA allows reinitialization. For example, if the write protection flag read from the DMA has a value of "1", a write operation to the disc 100 is prohibited, and thus re-initialization cannot be performed. The common information of the ACD recorded in the ACA includes the formatting information and the recordability/reproducibility information regarding the sub-area of the disc 100. If the formatting of the disc 100 or the writing operation to any one of the sub-areas of the disc 100 is not allowed by the formatting information and the recordability/reproducibility information, the re-initialization cannot be performed. Accordingly, the system controller 10 determines whether the disc 100 is writable based on the information read from the DMA and the ACA.

If the write protection flag is set to "1" or if the common information of the ACD does not allow formatting or writing operations, the system controller 10 determines that the disc 100 cannot be reinitialized and sends an error message to the host 3 through the host I/F20 in operation 1680. However, if the write protection flag is not set to "1" and the common information of the ACD allows the formatting and writing operations, the system controller 10 determines to reinitialize the disc 100 and starts reinitializing the disc 100.

Meanwhile, when the ACD with respect to the function recognizable by the drive system has a value that does not allow the re-initialization and the ACD with respect to the function unrecognizable by the drive system has a value that allows the re-initialization, since the value of the ACD with respect to the recognizable function may be updated, the value of the ACD with respect to the recognizable function may be changed to a value that allows the re-initialization in response to a user re-initialization request, and then, it may be determined to start the re-initialization of the disc 100.

If the re-initialization is allowed, the system controller 10 allocates a spare area in the data area of the disc 100 to determine the size of the spare area and allocates a UDA for recording user data in the data area to determine the start address and the end address of the UDA in operation 1650. In operation 1660, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear the ACA included in the lead-in area on the disc 100 and update the ACD status information. In detail, when clearing the ACA, the system controller 10 maintains ACD block status information only when the corresponding ACD block is defective, and fills other ACD blocks within the ACA with "00 h" or "FFh" or changes the ACD _ ID of each of the other ACD blocks to "00 h" or "FFh" to indicate that the other ACD blocks are available. In addition, the system controller 10 updates the ACD state information to reflect the changed state of the ACD block as described with reference to fig. 14A to 15B.

The system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear the DMA included in the lead-in area on the disc 100, and controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the initial DFL and the DDS including the determined information (i.e., spare area assignment information and UDA assignment information) and updated ACD status information in the DMA in operation 1670. Although it has been described that initialization information is recorded in the DMA after being erased, in practice, since the disc 100 is of a rewritable type, the initialization information recorded in the DMA is updated. Although not shown in fig. 16, file system information recorded in a predetermined portion of the UDA for managing data recorded in the UDA should be cleared.

Hereinafter, a default ACD will be described. ACDs may be classified as recognizable ACDs and unrecognizable ACDs depending on whether the drive system supports the ACD (i.e., whether the drive system can recognize a function corresponding to the ACD). The identifiable ACDs include all default ACDs that the drive system supporting the ACD must support. Such a default ACD may be recorded in the ACA during initialization or re-initialization of the disc and may be effectively utilized. In contrast to ACDs for predetermined functions, such as write protection or reproduction protection, default ACDs contain initialization information for accessing an information storage medium when the information storage medium is initialized or reinitialized.

Fig. 17 illustrates the structure of a default ACD in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. Referring to fig. 17, a default ACD1700 is recorded in a part of the ACA. The default ACD1700 has default properties and the same structure as a general ACD. Default ACD1700 includes public information 1710 and specific information 1720.

ACD _ ID1711 is included in public information 1710 and recorded as "DEFAULT" to indicate a DEFAULT ACD. Other information (i.e., the formatable information 1712, the DMA recordability/reproducibility information 1713, the spare area recordability/reproducibility information 1714, and the UDA recordability/reproducibility information 1715) is set to zero (0) to allow free use of the sub-area defined on the disc. The common information 1710 is substantially similar to that for an ACD having a predetermined function.

Specific information 1720 may be recorded during initialization or re-initialization according to the intention of a user or a drive system. The specific information 1720 relates to disc information, and the specific information for the ACD having a specific function relates to a predetermined function such as write protection or reproduction protection. The specific information 1720 may include a drive ID and a recording date. The drive ID may be provided from the drive system and the recording date may be provided from the host. When the recording date and the drive ID are included in the specific information 1720 of the default ACD1700, it can be easily known when the disc is initialized by what drive system. However, other types of information may be included in the specific information 1720 according to the intention of a user or a drive system.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart of an initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 18, in operation 1810, an empty disc is loaded in the drive system. In operation 1820, the drive system receives an initialization command from the host according to a user request to initialize the disc. In operation 1830, the drive system records the default ACD in the ACA on the disc in response to the initialization command. The recording of the default ACD may be performed automatically by a system controller included in the drive system or may be performed by recording information provided by the host for setting the default ACD in response to a write command. Alternatively, the two methods may be combined. Preferably, but not necessarily, all of the recordability/reproducibility information included in the common information of the default ACD is set to zero (0) to indicate that the disc is recordable/reproducible. The specific information included in the default ACD may be set to an appropriate value according to the intention of a user or a drive system.

In operation 1840, a spare area is allocated in a data area on the disc to replace a defective block during defect management. In operation 1850, a start address and an end address of the UDA are determined in the data area. In operation 1860, an initial DFL and a DDS including spare area assignment information, UDA size information, and ACD status information after a default ACD is recorded are recorded in a DMA on a disc. Since only the default ACD is recorded in the ACA, the ACD state information may include ACD block state information indicating that the ACD block corresponding to the default ACD has a valid ACD and ACD block state information indicating that other ACD blocks within the ACA are available.

In operation 1870, initial file system information for managing data to be recorded in the UDA is recorded in the UDA in response to a write command from the host. Operational step 1870 may be performed in any of the preceding operational steps.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart of a re-initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 19, in operation 1910, a used disc 100 is loaded into a drive system. In operation 1920, the system controller 10 included in the drive system receives a reinitialization command from the host 3 through the host I/F20. In operation 1930, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to read information recorded in the DMA and the ACA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100 and to retrieve the information. In operation 1940, the system controller 10 determines whether the information read from the DMA and the ACA allows reinitialization.

If it is determined that the information does not allow re-initialization, the system controller sends an error message to the host 3 via the host I/F20 in operation 1980. However, if it is determined that the information allows the re-initialization, the system controller 10 allocates a spare area in the data area of the disc 100 to determine the size of the spare area and allocates a UDA for recording user data in the data area to determine the start address and the end address of the UDA in operation 1950.

In operation 1960, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear the ACA included in the lead-in area on the disc 100 and record a default ACD or overwrite a default ACD recorded during initialization with a new default ACD. Here, the system controller 10 may or may not clear all ACD blocks in the ACA before recording the default ACD. Since the default ACD is recorded during initialization and values included in the default ACD are appropriately set according to the user's intention when the disc 100 is used, the default ACD recorded before re-initialization may be overwritten with values appropriately set according to the user's intention to re-initialize the disc 100. Preferably, but not necessarily, all of the recordability/reproducibility information included in the common information of the default ACD is set to zero (0) to indicate that the disc 100 is recordable/reproducible. Further, the specific information included in the default ACD may be set to an appropriate value according to the intention of a user or a drive system.

In operation 1970, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear the DMA in the lead-in area, and controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the initial DFL and the DDS including spare area allocation information, UDA size information, and updated ACD status information in the DMA.

In operation step 1990, the system controller 10 re-initializes file system information that has been recorded in the UDA for re-initializing information for managing data recorded in the UDA, in response to a write command from the host 3.

Fig. 20 illustrates a structure of a write-once recording medium 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 20, the write-once recording medium 200 includes: a lead-in area 210, a data area 220, and a lead-out area 230. The lead-in area 210 includes: a pre-recorded area 211, a test area 212, an ACA213, a DMA #1215, a DMA #2214, and a Temporary DMA (TDMA) 216. The data area 220 includes: spare area #0221, UDA222, and spare area # 1223. The lead-out area 230 includes: DMA #3231 and DMA # 4232.

The write-once recording medium 200 has substantially the same structure as the disc 100 shown in fig. 3, except that the write-once recording medium 200 further includes a TDMA 216. Temporary dds (tdds), temporary dfl (tdfl), and Recording Management Data (RMD) are recorded in the TDMA 216. During initialization, as shown in fig. 20, the TDMA216 includes: an initial TDDS217 including spare area allocation information, UDA size information, and ACD state information; an initial TDFL218 containing initial defect management information; and an initial RMD219 including initial recording management information.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart of an initialization method of a write once recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 21, an empty write-once disc is loaded in a drive system in operation 2110. In operation 2120, the drive system receives an initialization command from the host according to a user request to initialize the disc.

In operation 2130, the drive system records a default ACD in the ACA on the disc in response to the initialization command. The recording of the default ACD may be performed automatically by a system controller included in the drive system or may be performed by recording information provided by the host for setting the default ACD in response to a write command. Alternatively, the two methods may be combined. Preferably, but not necessarily, all of the recordability/reproducibility information included in the common information of the default ACD is set to zero (0) to indicate that the disc is recordable/reproducible. The specific information included in the default ACD may be set to an appropriate value according to the intention of a user or a drive system.

In operation 2140, a spare area is allocated in the data area on the disc to replace a defective block during defect management. In operation 2150, the start and end addresses of the UDA are determined in the data area. In operation 2160, a TDDS including spare area allocation information, UDA size information, and ACD status information after a default ACD is recorded, an initial TDFL, and an initial RMD are recorded in a TDMA on the disc. Since only the default ACD is recorded in the ACA, the ACD state information may include ACD block state information indicating that the ACD block corresponding to the default ACD has a valid ACD and ACD block state information indicating that other ACD blocks within the ACA are available.

In operation 2170, initial file system information for managing data to be recorded in the UDA is recorded in the UDA in response to a write command from the host. Operation 2170 may be performed in any of the previous operation.

Fig. 22 is a flowchart of a re-initialization method of a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 22, in operation 2210, the used disc 100 is loaded into a drive system. In operation 2220, the system controller 10 included in the drive system receives a reinitialization command from the host 3 through the host I/F20. In operation 2230, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to read information recorded in the DMA and the ACA included in the lead-in area of the disc 100 and to fetch the information. In operation 2240, the system controller 10 determines whether the information read from the DMA and the ACA allows re-initialization.

If it is determined that the information does not allow re-initialization, the system controller sends an error message to the host 3 through the host I/F20 in operation 2280. However, if it is determined that the information allows the re-initialization, the system controller 10 allocates a spare area in the data area of the disc 100 to determine the size of the spare area and allocates a UDA for recording user data in the data area to determine the start address and the end address of the UDA in operation 2250.

In operation 2255, the system controller 10 writes "00 h" or "FFh" in the unrecognizable ACD of the ACA, either automatically or in response to a command from the host 3, and updates status information regarding the unrecognizable ACD block to indicate that the unrecognizable ACD block is usable by the driver system, either automatically or in response to a command from the host 3. The details of the unrecognizable ACD cannot be known since it involves functions unknown to the user, the drive system, or the application. If such unrecognizable ACD is not eliminated during re-initialization of the disc, inconvenience may be caused during use of the re-initialized disc. For example, if ACD regarding a read protection function has been recorded and has not been removed from a disc during reinitialization by a driver system and an application program that do not recognize the read protection function, data recorded on the disc cannot be read during reproduction after reinitialization since the disc still has read protection. In other words, when the current user uses the disc without knowing that the disc has read protection set by the previous user, the current user cannot effectively use the disc. Basically, an ACD recorded on a disc by a drive system including an application program that recognizes the ACD includes common information according to which even a drive system including an application program that cannot recognize the ACD can use the disc. Therefore, it is preferable that the ACD is not changed or eliminated during use of the disc. However, since reinitialization is performed by the user to completely update the disc and reuse the disc, the function of the ACD is unrecognizable to the user.

In operation 2260, the system controller 10 changes or removes ACDs included in the identifiable ACD blocks or adds a new ACD block to the ACA according to a user's request, and updates ACD status information. The ACD may be identified as involving a function known to a user, a drive system, or an application. Thus, changes, deletions, or additions to an identifiable ACD block may be performed at the request of a user through a special user interface. According to the change, elimination, or addition, ACD state information included in the DDS is appropriately updated. Such identifiable ACDs may include the default ACDs described in the embodiments represented in fig. 18 and 19.

Thereafter, the system controller 10 controls the write/read unit 2 to clear the DMA in the lead-in area, and controls the write/read unit 2 and the servo 50 to record the initial DFL and the DDS including the spare area allocation information, the UDA size information, and the updated ACD status information in the DMA in operation 2270.

In operation step 2290, the system controller 10 re-initializes the file system information, which has been recorded in the UDA for re-initializing information for managing data recorded in the UDA, in response to the write command from the host 3.

Although not required in all aspects, aspects of the present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on one or more computer readable recording media. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include: read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as data transmission through the internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

According to aspects of the present invention, when a disc is initialized or reinitialized, common information on disc access control, which can be recognized by all standards of a drive system, is recorded on the disc, so that even a drive system that cannot recognize functions employed for the disc can operate properly based on the common information, thereby increasing compatibility between the disc and the drive system.

While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. These examples are to be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

Claims (29)

1. A recording/reproducing method of recording/reproducing data with respect to an information recording medium having an access control area including at least one access control data block, each access control data block including access control data having common information for a predetermined function identified by a recording/reproducing device capable of identifying the predetermined function and set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of identifying the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium, the method comprising:

when the information recording medium is reinitialized, status information indicating that the access control data block is available for recording additional access control data is recorded in the access control data status information area of the information recording medium.

2. The recording/reproducing method of claim 1, wherein the common information on the predetermined function comprises an ID of the predetermined function, formatable information on the information recording medium, recordability/reproducibility information on a sub-area defined on the information recording medium, or a combination thereof.

3. The recording/reproducing method according to claim 2, wherein the formatable information and the recordability/reproducibility information are set to "recordable" when the information recording medium is reinitialized.

4. The recording/reproducing method of claim 1, further comprising:

the unrecorded area remaining in the access control area is filled with a predetermined value after the access control data is recorded.

5. A method of initializing an information recording medium, the method comprising:

recording initialization information for defect management and disc management in a defect management area arranged on an information recording medium to manage defects occurring in a data area arranged on the information recording medium; and

access control data regarding a predetermined function that can be recognized by a recording/reproducing apparatus that performs initialization is recorded in an access control area arranged on an information recording medium, the access control data having common information set to allow any recording/reproducing apparatus that cannot recognize the predetermined function employed by the information recording medium to control access to the information recording medium and identify the predetermined function for the recording/reproducing apparatus that can recognize the predetermined function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the common information about the predetermined function comprises: an ID of the predetermined function, formatability information on the information recording medium, recordability/reproducibility information on a sub-area defined on the information recording medium, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the formatable information and the recordability/reproducibility information are set to "recordable".

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

after the access control data is recorded, an area remaining unrecorded in the access control area is filled with predetermined data.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein initializing information comprises:

a Disc Definition Structure (DDS) including assignment information regarding a spare area assigned in the data area for recording data replacing defective data occurring in the data area and assignment information regarding a user data area in which user data is recorded; and

defect list (DFL) including initial information for defect management.

10. A method of reinitializing an information recording medium, the method comprising:

determining whether the information recording medium can be reinitialized by using initialization information recorded in a defect management area for defect management and disc management arranged on the information recording medium and using access control data recorded in an access control area arranged on the information recording medium, the access control data having common information for a predetermined function employed by the information recording medium and being set to allow a recording/reproducing apparatus which cannot recognize the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium; and

if it is determined that the information recording medium can be reinitialized, the initialization information is updated with the reinitialization information in the defect management area, the access control area is cleared and access control data regarding a function recognizable by the recording/reproducing apparatus performing the reinitialization is recorded in the access control area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the common information about the predetermined function comprises: an ID of the predetermined function, formatability information on the information recording medium, recordability/reproducibility information on a sub-area defined on the information recording medium, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the formatable information and the recordability/reproducibility information are set to "recordable".

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

after the access control data is recorded, an area remaining unrecorded in the access control area is filled with predetermined data.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the reinitializing information comprises:

a Disc Definition Structure (DDS) including assignment information regarding a spare area assigned in the data area for recording data replacing defective data occurring in the data area and assignment information regarding a user data area in which user data is recorded; and

defect list (DFL) including initial information for defect management.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: the size of the spare area is determined as assignment information on the spare area and the start address and the end address of the user data area are determined as assignment information on the user data area.

16. A recording/reproducing method comprising:

writing data to or reading data from an information recording medium having an access control area having access control data and an access control data state information area having state information selectable between and indicating one of defectiveness and recordability of an access control data block containing the access control data, the access control data having common information for a predetermined function employed by the information recording medium and being set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of recognizing the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium; and

when the information recording medium is reinitialized, the state information on the access control data block is changed.

17. The recording/reproducing method of claim 16, wherein the changing of the state information comprises: the status information indicating that the access control data block has valid access control data is changed to status information indicating that the access control data block has invalid access control data and is available for recording of the access control data.

18. The recording/reproducing method of claim 16, wherein the changing of the state information comprises: status information indicating that the access control data block is a defective block and status information indicating that the access control data block is available for recording of access control data are maintained.

19. The recording/reproducing method of claim 16, wherein the changing of the state information comprises: the state information indicating that the access control data block has valid access control data and a defect at the time of reproduction is changed to state information indicating that the access control data block is a defective block.

20. The recording/reproducing method of claim 16, further comprising: when the information recording medium is reinitialized, one of "00 h" and "FFh" is recorded as an ID of the access control data to indicate validity of the access control data block included in the access control area.

21. The recording/reproducing method of claim 20, further comprising: when the validity of the access control data block indicated by the ID of the access control data does not coincide with the status information on the access control data block, data is read from the access control data block based on the status information on the access control data block.

22. The recording/reproducing method of claim 20, further comprising: when an error occurs in reproducing the status information on the access control data block, the validity of the access control data block is determined based on the ID of the access control data block, and data is read from the access control data block based on the result of the determination.

23. A recording/reproducing method comprising:

when the information recording medium is initialized or reinitialized, default access control data is recorded in the access control area,

wherein:

an access control area is provided in the information recording medium to record therein access control data having common information for a predetermined function employed by the information recording medium and set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of recognizing the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium, and

the default access control data includes common information set for allowing a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

24. The recording/reproducing method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the values set for the default access control data is provided by at least one of the host and the control unit.

25. A recording/reproducing method comprising:

when a recording/reproducing apparatus initializes or reinitializes an information recording medium, at least default access control data among access control data regarding a predetermined function that the recording/reproducing apparatus can recognize is recorded in an access control area,

wherein:

an access control area is provided in the information recording medium to record therein access control data having common information for the predetermined function and set to allow a recording/reproducing device incapable of recognizing the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium, and

the default access control data includes common information set for allowing a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

26. A recording/reproducing method comprising:

changing data in an access control data block in the access control area with respect to a predetermined function employed by the information recording medium when the information recording medium is reinitialized; and

when the information recording medium is reinitialized, changing the status information indicating that the access control data block has valid access control data to status information indicating that the access control data block has invalid access control data and is available for recording of the access control data,

wherein the access control area is provided in the information recording medium to record therein access control data having common information for the predetermined function and is provided to allow a recording/reproducing apparatus incapable of recognizing the predetermined function to control access to the information recording medium.

27. The recording/reproducing method according to claim 26, wherein,

the step of changing the data in the access control data block comprises: changing or eliminating data in the access control data block for the predetermined function or adding a new access control data block for a new function according to a user's request; and

the step of changing the state information of the access control data block comprises: updating the state information related to the access control data block based on a result of the one of the changing, removing, and adding.

28. The recording/reproducing method of claim 27, wherein the access control data block regarding the new function comprises: default access control data having common information set for allowing a write/read operation to a sub-area defined on the information recording medium and predetermined specific information.

29. The recording/reproducing method according to claim 26, wherein,

the step of changing the data in the access control data block comprises: recording one of "00 h" and "FFh" in the access control data block for the predetermined function to indicate that the access control data block for the predetermined function does not have valid data; and

the step of changing the state information of the access control data block comprises: changing status information relating to the access control data block relating to the predetermined function to indicate that the access control data block relating to the predetermined function is available.