HK1124161B - Recording/reproducing method - Google Patents

Description

Recording/reproducing method

The present application is a divisional application of application No. 200480039939.3 entitled "optical recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing method" filed on date of 12, month and 27, 2004 by the office of intellectual property of china.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium, a recording/reproducing apparatus, and a recording/reproducing method for defect management.

Background

Disc defect management is a process of compensating for data loss caused by a defective block by writing user data recorded in a defect, i.e., a defective block, in a user data area of a disc to a new portion of the user data area. Generally, disc defect management is performed using a linear replacement method or a slipping replacement method. In these methods, a defective area is replaced with a spare area having no defects. In the slipping replacement method, a defective area is slipped and the next non-defective area is used. In the linear replacement method, a block of the user data area where a defect occurs is referred to as a defective block. A replacement block for replacing a defective block is recorded in a spare area in a predetermined portion of the disc. Information on the defective block and the replacement block, i.e., information for searching the positions of the defective block and the replacement block, is represented in a defect list.

Generally, when a host reads data recorded on a disc, the host determines a logical address of the data and commands a hard disk drive to read the data. Then, the hard disk drive searches for a physical address corresponding to the logical address and reads data recorded in a location on the disk corresponding to the physical address. If a defective block occurs in the data corresponding to the physical address, the hard disk drive must find a replacement block that replaces the defective block. Thus, the defect list includes defect list entries, each entry containing information about each defective block, respectively. That is, a defect list entry is generated for each defective block, thus requiring a considerable recording space for the defect list.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical problem

Therefore, effective management of a space for a defect list is required. For this reason, there is a need for effective management of information regarding defective blocks, particularly defective blocks occurring in consecutive locations of a user data area.

Technical solution

The present invention provides an optical disc on which defects are managed, a defect management apparatus and method for efficiently managing a space required for a defect list for managing defects in the disc, and a computer-readable optical disc storing a computer program for controlling an apparatus to perform the defect management method.

Advantageous effects

According to the present invention, on an optical disc where defect management is performed, a space for recording a defect list for defect management can be efficiently managed, so that the entire disc space can be efficiently managed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a structural diagram of a single record layer disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a structural diagram of a dual record layer disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a data structure diagram of an SA/DL area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a detailed data composition of DL # i shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed data structure diagram of the DL entry # i shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a reference diagram illustrating a consecutive defective block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a reference diagram illustrating a consecutive defect list according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the replacement state information and the consecutive defect information illustrated in fig. 6.

Fig. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams illustrating a continuous defective block having a replacement and a continuous defective block having no replacement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11A is a data structure diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 10B.

Fig. 11B is a data structure diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 10B, which further includes information on the number of consecutive defect list entries.

Fig. 11C is a data structure diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 10B, which further includes information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "0" and information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "1".

Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a defect management method for an optical disc on which a defective area is managed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, an optical recording medium on which defects are managed includes a replacement block replacing a defective block in a user data area and an SA/DL area in which information related to the defect is recorded. The information on the defect includes a consecutive defect list entry including information on defects located in consecutive locations of the user data area.

The consecutive defect list entry may include: a start entry corresponding to information about the first defective block; and an end entry corresponding to information about a last defective block, wherein the first and last defective blocks belong to defective blocks in consecutive locations of the user data area.

The start entry may include location information on the first defective block and location information on a replacement block replacing the first defective block.

The end entry may include location information on a last defective block and location information on a replacement block replacing the last defective block.

The information on the defect may include information on the number of consecutive defect list entries.

The information about the defect may further include information about the number of defect list entries.

The number of single defect list entries may be calculated by multiplying the number of consecutive defect list entries by a factor of 2 and subtracting the resulting product from the number of defect list entries.

The information regarding the defect may include a defect list entry including location information regarding the defective block, location information regarding the replacement block, and state information regarding the defect.

The state information may include: replacement state information indicating whether the defective block is replaced, and consecutive defect information indicating whether the defective block is a consecutive defective block.

The information related to the defect may further include: information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information indicating that the defective block is replaced.

The information related to the defect may further include: information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information indicating that the defective block is not replaced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for recording/reproducing data on an optical recording medium includes: a write/read unit for writing data on and/or reading data from the medium; and a control unit, wherein the control unit allocates an SA/DL area for the medium, a replacement block replacing a defective block having a defect in the user data area and information related to the defect are recorded in the SA/DL area, and the control unit controls the write/read unit to record the information related to the defect in the SA/DL area, the information related to the defect including consecutive defect list entries corresponding to information related to defects located in consecutive locations of the user data area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of recording/reproducing data on an optical recording medium includes: allocating an SA/DL area for a medium, in which a replacement block for replacing a defective block in a user data area and information on a defect corresponding to the defective block are recorded; recording information regarding defects in the SA/DL area, the information regarding defects including consecutive defect list entries corresponding to information regarding defects located in consecutive locations of the user data area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable optical disc storing a program for controlling an apparatus which records/reproduces data on/from an optical disc on which defects are managed to perform a defect management method, the defect management method including: allocating an SA/DL area for a medium in which a replacement block for replacing a defective block having a defect in a user data area and information related to the defect are recorded; recording information regarding defects in the SA/DL area, the information regarding defects including consecutive defect list entries corresponding to information regarding defects located in consecutive locations of the user data area.

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. Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to explain the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1, the data recording/reproducing apparatus includes a writing/reading unit 2 and a control unit 1.

According to the present invention, the writing/reading unit 2 includes a pickup, and records/reads data on/from the disc 4 on which defects are managed. The control unit 1 performs defect management according to the invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 1 finds defective data by recording data in predetermined units and verifying the recorded data using a verify-after-write method. The control unit 1 checks where defective data has occurred by writing user data in recording operation units and verifying the user data. The control unit 1 generates defect information indicating where the defect data is located after checking the defect data, stores the generated information as temporary defect information in a memory, and records the generated information on a disc after a predetermined amount of the generated information is collected.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the recording operation or the desired recording operation or the like, which is an operation determined by the user's intention, refers to an operation including loading a disc, recording data on the disc, and unloading the disc. The verify-after-write operation is performed at least once during the recording operation. Then, the temporary defect information obtained by using the verify-after-write operation is temporarily stored in a memory.

When the user presses an eject button (not shown) in order to unload the disc, the control unit 1 determines that the recording operation is terminated, and reads temporary defect information stored in the memory, and provides the information to the writing/reading unit 2 so that the information is recorded on the disc.

The control unit 1 includes: a system controller 10, a host I/F20, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)30, an RF AMP 40, and a servo 50. During the recording operation, the host I/F20 receives a predetermined write command from the host 3 (in the present embodiment, a computer) and transmits the write command to the system controller 10. The system controller 10 controls the DSP 30 and the servo 50 to perform a recording operation under a write command received from the host I/F20. The DSP 30 adds additional data such as parity to the data to be recorded received from the host I/F20 to correct data errors, and the DSP 30 performs ECC encoding, generates an ECC block as an error correction block, and modulates the ECC block in a predetermined manner. The RF AMP 40 changes data output from the DSP 30 into an RF signal. The write/read unit 2 records the RF signal transmitted from the RF AMP 40 on the disc 4. The servo 50 stores a recording command input from the system controller 10 and servo-controls the pickup of the write/read unit 2.

The system controller 10 includes a defect management unit 11 and a memory unit 12 to manage defects. According to the present invention, the defect management unit 11 reads temporary defect information stored in the memory unit 12, aggregates the temporary defect information, and then generates a defect list. That is, when the defect management unit 11 finds information on consecutive defective blocks among the read defect information, the defect management unit 11 generates a consecutive defect list entry including: a start entry corresponding to information on a first defective block of the consecutive defective blocks; and an end entry corresponding to information on a last defective block of the consecutive defective blocks. Therefore, even if, for example, 8 defective blocks occur consecutively, only 2 entries are generated instead of 8 entries because entries are not generated for each of the 8 blocks but for the first and last blocks of the 8 consecutive defective blocks. Thus, the space required to store the entries may be reduced. The defect management unit 11 also generates a DL entry comprising: continuous defect information showing whether a defect is a continuous defect or a single defect; and replacing the state information to display whether a replacement block exists. The defect management unit 11 generates a DL including such a DL entry.

To reproduce data, 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 projects a laser beam onto the disk 4 and outputs an optical signal obtained by receiving the laser beam reflected from the disk 4. The RF AMP 40 changes the optical signal output from the write/read unit 2 into an RF signal, transmits modulated data obtained from the RF signal to the DSP 30, and transmits a servo control signal obtained from the RF signal to the servo 50. The DSP 30 demodulates the modulated data and performs ECC error correction on the demodulated data. The servo 50 servo-controls the pickup after receiving the servo signal from the RF AMP 40 and a command required for controlling the servo from the system controller 10. The host I/F20 transmits data received from the DSP 30 to the host 3. To control the reproduction of data, the system controller 10 controls the servo 50 to read data from a position where the data is recorded.

The structure of an optical disc on which defects are managed according to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

Disc Management Information (DMI) recorded on an optical disc according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a Disc Definition Structure (DDS), Recording Management Data (RMD), and a Defect List (DL). A Disc Management Area (DMA) on which the DMI is recorded includes: a Temporary Disc Management Area (TDMA) for recording a temporary DMI when a disc is recorded; and a Final Disc Management Area (FDMA) for recording the final DMI.

The TDMA for recording the temporary DMI includes: a DDS/RMD area for recording DDS and RMD; and a DL area for recording DL.

The DDS includes: location information on an SA/DL area in which a replacement block and DL are recorded, the replacement block replacing a defective block when a defect occurs in a data block recorded in a data area; position information on the DDS/RMD area; location information about where the DL is recorded; location information that can be used to replace data in the SA/DL area or to update the DL; a consistency flag for checking whether the disc is normally ejected when used; and write protection information for preventing writing.

RMD is information related to managing data recorded on a disc, including: r area entries for displaying the status of each R area in the sequential recording mode; and a bitmap displayed as bit values indicating whether data associated with each recording unit block of the user area is recorded for the random recording mode.

In the single record layer disc, a DDS/RMD area for recording DDS and RMD is disposed in a lead-in area or a lead-out area, and in the dual record layer disc, the DDS/RMD area is disposed in a lead-in area, a middle area, or a lead-out area. The DDS/RMD area may be allocated in a portion of the data area to increase the number of possible updates according to the intention of a drive manufacturer or a user when initializing the disc for use of the disc.

When more data has not been recorded on the disc or a user wants to maintain the current state of the disc without recording additional data, the disc is used for reproduction only, disc finalization is performed, and final disc management information is recorded in FDMA.

The PCA area is arranged for a test of detecting an optimum recording power from among various recording powers according to a write strategy and detecting a variable according to the write strategy.

Fig. 2 is a structural diagram of a single record layer disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 2, a lead-out area is formed toward the outer circumference of the disc, a lead-in area is formed toward the center of the disc, and a data area is formed between the lead-out area and the lead-in area.

The lead-in area includes: PCA #0, FDMA #1, FDMA #2 and DDS/RMD zone # 0. The data area includes a user area, an SA/DL area #0, and an SA/DL area #1. The lead-out area includes PCA #1, FDMA #3, FDMA #4, and DDS/RMD area #1.

Fig. 3 is a structural diagram of a dual record layer disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 3, a lead-in area, a data area #0, and a middle area #0 are disposed in one recording layer L0, and a middle area #1, a data area #1, and a lead-out area are sequentially disposed in another recording area L1.

In layer L0, the lead-in area includes: PCA #0, FDMA #2, DDS/RMD zone #0, and FDMA #1. The data area includes an SA/DL area #0 and a user area # 0. The middle zone #0 includes: FDMA #3, DDS/RMD zone #2, FDMA #4 and PCA #1. On the other hand, in the layer L1, the middle zone #1 includes: FDMA #3, DDS/RMD zone #3, FDMA #4 and PCA # 3. The data area #1 includes: SA/DL area #1 and user area #1. The lead-out area includes PCA #2, FDMA #2, DDS/RMD area #1 and FDMA #1.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, when a defect occurs in the user area, a replacement block replacing the defective block is recorded in the SA/DL area together with information regarding the defect. The information on the defect includes location information on a defective block, location information on a replacement block, and information on a consecutive defect.

Fig. 4 is a data structure diagram of an SA/DL area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 4, the SA/DL zone # i includes: DL #0, replacement block #1.. replace block # k, DL #1, replacement block # k +1.. DL # m.

DL #0 is a defect list including information on defects, including initialization information.

Replacement blocks from the replacement blocks #1 to # k are disposed next to DL #0, and these replacement blocks replace defective blocks from the defective blocks #1 to # k. DL #1 is a defect list including information on defective blocks from the defective blocks #1 to # k and information on replacement blocks from the replacement blocks #1 to # k, and DL #1 is recorded next to the replacement blocks # k. Replacement blocks from the replacement blocks # k +1 to # m are disposed next to DL #1, and these replacement blocks replace the defective blocks from the defective blocks # k +1 to # m with respect to defects occurring in the user area.

In this manner, a defect list including information regarding defects according to an embodiment of the present invention is recorded in an SA/DL area in which replacement blocks replacing defective blocks are also located. That is, the defect list and the replacement block are located in one area, not in separate areas.

Fig. 5 is a detailed data structure diagram of DL # i shown in fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 5, DL # i 200 includes: DL identifier 210, DL update counter 220, DL entry number 230, DL entry #1240, and DL entry # 2250.

The DL identifier 210 is an identifier indicating a defect list. That is, since the defect list and the replacement block are located together in the SA/DL area according to the present embodiment of the present invention, an identifier indicating the defect list is required.

The DL update counter 220 is a value showing the number of updates of the defect list.

The number of DL entries 230 is the total number of entries included in the defect list.

DL entry #1240 or DL entry #2250 is an entry having information about a defect. Examples of contents included in these DL entries are shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a detailed data structure diagram of the DL entry # i shown in fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 6, the DL entry # i 300 includes: state information 310, defective block location information 320, and replacement block location information 330.

The state information 310 is state information regarding a defect represented by a corresponding DL entry. The defective block location information 320 indicates location information on a defective block recorded on the user area, for example, a sector number of the defective block. The replacement block location information 330 indicates location information on a replacement block recorded on the SA/DL area, for example, a physical sector number of the replacement block.

The state information 310 includes: replacement state information 311 having a length of 1 bit, and continuous defect information 312 having a length of 2 bits.

The replacement state information 311 indicates whether a defective block occurring in the user area is replaced. That is, the information indicates whether a defective block in the user area is replaced and a replacement block exists in the SA/DL area, or whether the defective block is not replaced and the replacement block does not exist in the SA/DL area.

The consecutive defect information 312 indicates whether a DL entry is a consecutive DL entry indicating a consecutive defective block and, if the DL entry is a consecutive DL entry, whether the DL entry is the start of the consecutive DL entry or the end of the consecutive DL entry.

Hereinafter, the consecutive defect block and the consecutive defect list entry will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8.

Referring to fig. 7, phi to phi refer to units in which a verify-after-write operation is performed. The recording apparatus records user data onto section r and then returns to the initial part of section r to check whether the data is correctly recorded or a defect occurs. If a defective part is detected, the part is designated as a defective area. Thus, defect #1 as a defective area is specified. The recording apparatus records the data recorded in defect #1 again in the SA/DL area. A portion in which the data recorded in defect #1 is recorded again is referred to as replacement #1. Then, the recording apparatus records the user data to the section (ii) and then returns to the initial part of the section (ii) to check whether the data is correctly recorded or a defect occurs. If a defective part is detected, the part is designated as defect # 2. In the same manner, replacement #2 corresponding to defect #2 is generated. In section three, defect #3 and replacement #3 are generated. Since no defective part is detected in the section (r), no defective area exists in the section.

When the termination of the recording operation #0 is predicted after the recording and verifying to the section r (when the user presses the eject button or the recording of the user data allocated in the recording operation is completed), the recording apparatus records DL #1 in the SA/DL area, the DL #1 including information on the defects #1, #2, and #3 occurring in the sections r to r.

During the recording operation #1, the recording apparatus records user data to the section(s) and then returns to the first part of the section(s) to check whether the data is correctly recorded or a defect occurs. If a defective part is detected, the part is designated as a defective area. In this way, since defect #4 and defect #5, which are defective areas, have consecutively occurred, consecutive blocks are designated as defective blocks. The recording apparatus records the data recorded in defect #4 and defect #5 again in the SA/DL area. Then, the recording apparatus records the user data to the section (c), and then returns to the first part of the section (c) to check whether the data is correctly recorded or a defect occurs. If defect #6 and defect #7, which are defective areas, occur consecutively, the consecutive blocks are designated as defective blocks. The recording apparatus records the data recorded in defect #6 and defect #7 again in the SA/DL area. In section (c), a defective portion is not detected, so that a defective area does not exist. When the termination of the recording operation #1 is predicted, the recording apparatus records DL #2 in the SA/DL area, the DL #2 including information on defects #4 to # 7.

The defective blocks occurring in consecutive locations of the user area, such as the defect occurring in recording operation #1, are consecutive defective blocks. The first defective block of the consecutive defective blocks is defect #4, and the last defective block is defect # 7.

Replacement blocks replacing consecutive defective blocks occurring consecutively in predetermined positions of the user area are recorded in consecutive positions of the SA/DL area. As shown in the SA/DL area, a replacement block #4 replacing the defective block #4 is arranged. At the next position, a replacement block #5 replacing the defective block #5 is disposed. At the next position, a replacement block #6 replacing the defective block #6 is disposed. Then, at the next position, a replacement block #7 replacing the defective block #7 is arranged. The first replacement block among the replacement blocks replacing consecutive defective blocks is the replacement block #4, and the last replacement block replacing these consecutive defective blocks is the replacement block # 7.

When consecutive defective blocks occur at consecutive positions, the positions of the remaining blocks included in the consecutive defective blocks can be known from the positions of the first and last blocks, as long as the positions of the first and last blocks of the consecutive defective blocks are known, due to the characteristic that the defective blocks included in the consecutive defective blocks are located at consecutive positions. Accordingly, by including only information on the first defective block and the last defective block of consecutive defective blocks among the information on defects, a space required to record the information on defects can be reduced. The same applies to a replacement block that replaces a consecutive defective block.

Accordingly, as shown in fig. 8, the consecutive defect list entry displaying information on consecutive defective blocks may include a start entry and an end entry.

Referring to fig. 8, the consecutive defect list entries include a start entry and an end entry. Both the start entry and the end entry have the same structure as the DL entry shown in fig. 6. The start entry contains information on a first defect of the consecutive defects, and the end entry contains information on a last defect of the consecutive defects.

The start entry includes: status information; first defective block location information indicating a location where a first defective block among the consecutive defective blocks is recorded in the user area; first replacement block location information indicating a location in the SA/DL area where a first replacement block replacing the first defective block is recorded. The end entry includes: status information; last defect block location information indicating a location where a last defect block among the consecutive defect blocks is recorded in the user area; last replacement block location information indicating a location where a last replacement block replacing the last defective block is recorded in the SA/DL area.

Fig. 9 is an example of the replacement state information and the consecutive defect information shown in fig. 6.

Referring to fig. 9, bits indicating the replacement state information are "0" and "1". If the replacement state information 311 is '1' then the defective block corresponding to the defective block location information 320 is not replaced and only the defective location is shown. If the replacement state information 311 is '0', the defective block corresponding to the defective block location information 320 is replaced with a replacement block corresponding to the replacement block location information 330.

The bits indicating the consecutive defect information are "00", "01", and "10". If the consecutive defect information 312 is '00', the DL entry is not a consecutive defect list entry but a single defect list entry. In this case, the DL entry may represent a defective block with replacement or a defective block without replacement depending on a value set as the replacement state information. In the case of having a replaced defective block, the DL entry has defective block location information and replacement block location information. In the case of a defective block without replacement, the DL entry has only defective block location information.

If the consecutive defect information 312 is '01', the DL entry indicates a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 8, the DL entry has first defective block location information on consecutive defective blocks and first replacement block location information on consecutive replacement blocks.

If the consecutive defect information 312 is '10', the DL entry indicates an end entry of the consecutive defect list entry. Therefore, as shown in fig. 8, the DL entry has last defective block location information on consecutive defective blocks and last replacement block location information on consecutive replacement blocks.

Hereinafter, the assignment of the 3-bit combination of the state information 311 having the length of 1 bit and the consecutive defect information 312 having the length of 2 bits will be described.

If the 3 bit combination is '000', the DL entry indicates a single defect list entry regarding a single defective block and a state in which the single defective block has a replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has defective block location information and replacement block location information.

If the 3-bit combination is '100', the DL entry indicates a single defect list entry regarding a single defective block and a state where the single defective block has no replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has defective block location information but no replacement block location information.

If the 3 bit combination is '001', the DL entry indicates a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry of consecutive defective blocks, and a defective block corresponding to the start entry, which is a first defective block of the consecutive defective blocks, has a replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has location information on a first defective block among consecutive defective blocks and location information on a first replacement block among consecutive replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defective blocks.

If the 3 bit combination is '010', the DL entry indicates an end entry of a consecutive defect list entry of consecutive defect blocks, and a defect block corresponding to the end entry, which is the last defect block of the consecutive defect blocks, has a replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has location information on a last defective block among consecutive defective blocks and location information on a last replacement block among consecutive replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defective blocks.

If the 3 bit combination is '110', the DL entry indicates an end entry of a consecutive defect list entry of consecutive defective blocks, and a defective block corresponding to the end entry, which is the last defective block of the consecutive defective blocks, has no replacement block. Therefore, the DL entry has location information on the last defective block among the consecutive defective blocks, but does not have location information on the last replacement block among the consecutive replacement blocks replacing the consecutive defective blocks.

Fig. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams illustrating continuous defect information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10A shows a user area in which user data is recorded, and fig. 10B shows an SA/DL area in which a replacement block and a defect list are recorded.

Referring to fig. 10A, a single defective block a, which is a first defect, appears at a user area position "5". The consecutive defective blocks b, c, d, and e, which are the second defective blocks, appear at consecutive positions "9" to "12". Consecutive defective blocks f, g, h, and i, which are third defective blocks, appear at consecutive positions "17" to "20".

Referring to fig. 10B, a replacement block, which is a replacement for a defect block occurring in the user area, and a defect list are shown in the SA/DL area.

A single replacement block a' replacing the single defective block a is disposed at a position "55" of the SA/DL area. Consecutive replacement blocks b ', c', d ', and e' that consecutively replace the consecutive defective blocks b, c, d, and e are disposed at positions "56" to "59" of the SA/DL area. A defect list DL # k updated after the fourth consecutive defect is recorded at the position "60". The consecutive defective blocks f, g, h, and i have no replacement block. Information included in the defect list DL # k is shown in fig. 11A.

Fig. 11A is a data structure diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 10B.

Referring to fig. 11A, DL # k 400 includes: DL identifier 410, DL update counter 420, DL entry number 430, and 5 DL entries, i.e., DL entry #1440, DL entry #2450, DL entry #3460, DL entry #4470, and DL entry # 5480.

The DL identifier 410 is an identifier indicating DL. In the DL update counter 420, "K" is recorded as the number of DL updates. In the DL entry number 430, "5" is recorded as the total number of entries included in DL # K.

The DL entry #1440 is an entry related to the single defective block a shown in fig. 10A. In the DL entry #1440, "0" is recorded as replacement state information, "00" as consecutive defect information, "5" as defective block location information, and "55" as replacement block location information.

DL entry #2450 and DL entry #3460 include consecutive defect list entries.

DL entry #2450 is a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry, and DL entry #3460 is an end entry of the consecutive defect list entry. That is, DL entry #2450 is an entry related to the first defective block b among the consecutive defective blocks shown in fig. 10A. In the DL entry #2450, "0" is recorded as the replacement state information because the defective block b is replaced. Since the DL entry #2450 is a start entry of the consecutive defect list entry, "01" is recorded as the consecutive defect information. "9" is recorded as the location information of the defective block b, and "56" is recorded as the location information of the replacement block b'.

DL entry #3460 is an entry related to the last defective block e among the consecutive defective blocks shown in fig. 8. In the DL entry #3460, "0" is recorded as the replacement state information because the defective block e is replaced. DL entry #3460 is an end entry of the consecutive defect list entries, so "10" is recorded as the consecutive defect information. "12" is recorded as the location information of the defective block e, and "59" is recorded as the location information of the replacement block e.

The DL entry #4470 and the DL entry #5480 include consecutive defect list entries.

DL entry #4470 is a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry, and DL entry #5480 is an end entry of the consecutive defect list entry. That is, the DL entry #4470 is an entry related to the first defective block f among the consecutive defective blocks shown in fig. 10A. In the DL entry #4470, "1" is recorded as the replacement state information because the defective block f is not replaced. Since the DL entry #4470 is a start entry of a consecutive defect list entry, "01" is recorded as consecutive defect information. "17" is recorded as the position information of the defective block f. Since a replacement block replacing the defective block f does not exist, "00" is recorded as the replacement position information.

DL entry #5480 is an entry related to the last defective block i among the consecutive defective blocks shown in fig. 10A. In the DL entry #5480, "1" is recorded as the replacement state information because the defective block i is not replaced. Since the DL entry #5480 is an end entry of the consecutive defect list entry, "10" is recorded as the consecutive defect information. "20" is recorded as the location information of the defective block i. Since a replacement block replacing the defective block i does not exist, "00" is recorded as the replacement block location information.

Fig. 11B is a structural diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 10B, which further includes information on the number of consecutive defect list entries.

DL # k shown in fig. 11B is similar to DL # k shown in fig. 11A except that DL # k shown in fig. 11B further includes a consecutive defect list entry number 490. Referring to fig. 10, "2" is recorded as the number 490 of consecutive defect list entries because there are two consecutive defect list entries.

By including a field for the number of consecutive defect list entries, the number of consecutive defect list entries and the number of single defect list entries in the defect list can be known without searching all DL entries. As shown below, the number of single defect list entries may be calculated from the number of DL entries and the number of consecutive defect list entries.

The number of single defect list entries-2 × the number of consecutive defect list entries.

Since the consecutive defect list entries include a start entry and an end entry, the above expression may be formed.

For example, in DL # k shown in fig. 11B, the number of single defect list entries may be calculated as "the number of single defect list entries is 5-2 × 2 is 1".

Fig. 11C is a data structure diagram of DL # k shown in fig. 11B, which further includes: information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information of "0"; and information on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information of "1".

DL # k shown in fig. 11C is similar to DL # k shown in fig. 11B, except that DL # k shown in fig. 11C further includes: information 500 regarding the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information of "0"; and information 510 on the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "1". Referring to fig. 11A, the consecutive defect list entry having replacement state information of "0" is a consecutive defect list entry including DL entry #2450 and DL entry # 3460. Since the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "0" is 1, "1" is recorded as the number 500 of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "0". The consecutive defect list entry having the replacement state information of "1" is a consecutive defect list entry including a DL entry #4470 and a DL entry # 5480. Since the number of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "1" is 1, "1" is recorded as the number 510 of consecutive defect list entries having replacement state information "1".

Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a defect management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 12, in operation 1201, the recording apparatus records user data in a data area in a unit in which a verify-after-write operation is performed. Next, in operation 1202, the data recorded in operation 1201 is verified to find a portion where a defect occurs. In operation 1203, the control unit 1 designates a portion where the defect occurs as a defective area, records data recorded in the defective area in the SA/DL area again to generate a replacement area, generates information regarding the defective block and the replacement block, and records the information in the memory. Operations 1201 through 1203 are repeated until termination of the recording operation is predicted.

When user data is recorded according to a user input, or a recording operation is completed and termination of the recording operation is predicted in operation 1204, the control unit 1 of the recording apparatus reads information about a defect stored in the memory in operation 1205.

If there is information on consecutive defects in the read information on defects, a consecutive defect list entry including a start entry corresponding to information on a first defect of the consecutive defects and an end entry corresponding to information on a last defect is generated, and a DL is also generated by including consecutive defect information showing whether a defect is a consecutive defect or a single defect and replacement state information showing whether a replacement block exists in each DL entry in operation 1206.

The generated DL is recorded in the SA/DL area in operation 1207.

The disc defect management method described above can also be implemented as computer readable codes stored on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording media in which computer-readable data is stored. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a stereo tape, a floppy disk, and an optical data recording apparatus. The computer-readable recording medium may also be a carrier wave (e.g., transmission via the internet). In the computer-readable recording medium distributed to computer systems connected through a network, codes readable by a computer through a distributed method may be stored and executed. Functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the disc defect management method can be easily introduced by programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Industrial applicability

The present invention is applicable to an optical recording medium, a recording/reproducing apparatus, and a recording/reproducing method for defect management.

Claims (4)

1. A method of recording data on an optical recording medium including a predetermined area in which a replacement block for replacing a defective block having a defect in a user data area is recorded, the method comprising:

recording a defect list including at least one defect list entry in the predetermined area, wherein the defect list entry has a first pointer pointing to a physical location of the defective block, a second pointer pointing to a physical location of a replacement block corresponding to the defective block, and state information,

wherein the state information includes first information indicating whether the defective block is single or continuous; if the defective blocks are consecutive, the state information further includes second information indicating whether the defective block is a start block or an end block of the consecutive defective blocks,

wherein the defect list further comprises: information on a total number of defect list entries included in the defect list, the total number of defect list entries including a total number of defect list entries having first information indicating that the defective block is consecutive and second information indicating that the defective block is a start block and a total number of defect list entries having first information indicating that the defective block is consecutive and second information indicating that the defective block is an end block.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the state information indicates whether data in the defective block is recorded in the replacement block.

3. A method of reproducing data from an optical recording medium including an area in which a replacement block for replacing a defective block having a defect in a user data area and information regarding the defect are recorded, the method comprising:

reproducing the defect list from a position of an area where the defect list is located;

wherein the defect list includes at least one defect list entry having a first pointer pointing to a physical location of the defective block, a second pointer pointing to a physical location of a replacement block corresponding to the defective block, and status information,

wherein the state information includes first information indicating whether the defective block is single or continuous; if the defective blocks are consecutive, the state information further includes second information indicating whether the defective block is a start block or an end block of the consecutive defective blocks,

wherein the defect list further comprises: information on a total number of defect list entries included in the defect list, the total number of defect list entries including a total number of defect list entries having first information indicating that the defective block is consecutive and second information indicating that the defective block is a start block and a total number of defect list entries having first information indicating that the defective block is consecutive and second information indicating that the defective block is an end block.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the state information indicates whether data in the defective block is recorded in the replacement block.