Information recording method for preventing alteration, information recording apparatus, and information recording medium

• US 6,056,197 A
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hara, Hiroshi, Hosoya, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/025,035
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 369/275.3, 369/234, 235/454, 235/455, 235/494, 235/493, 235/492, 235/380, 235/379, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2123 Dummy operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00144 involving a user identifier, e.g. a unique customer ID
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1879 Direct read-after-write methods

Abstract

Information is recorded on an information recording medium including a partition. Predetermined information is recorded on at least the partition of the recording medium, and it is confirmed whether the predetermined information has been normally recorded. When the predetermined information is not normally recorded, rerecording is executed. After the predetermined information is normally recorded, dummy data is recorded on a remaining region other than on a region in which the predetermined information has been recorded, so as to eliminate an unoccupied region in the partition. Recording dummy data eliminates a vacant region of the partition. The dummy data can be a specific character train, a periodic repetition of data, a specific character, or continuation of data.

Claims

1. An information recording method of recording information on an information recording medium including at least a single partition, comprising the steps of:

recording predetermined information to said at least a single partition of said recording medium;

confirming whether said predetermined information has been normally recorded;

rerecording when said predetermined information is not normally recorded; and

after said predetermined information was normally recorded, recording dummy data on remaining regions of said at least a single partition so as to eliminate an occupied region in said at least a single partition.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium is an optical card.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined information is user peculiar information to identify or authorize a user of said recording medium, information to identify or authorize an issuer of said recording medium, information to authorize a system, information to authorize said recording medium, or an initial usable money amount of a card in a prepaid card system.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user peculiar information is biometric information of the user.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said dummy data is the same as at least a part of the predetermined information recorded in said partition.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said dummy data is a specific character train or a periodic repetition of data.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said dummy data is a specific character or continuation of data.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined information and dummy data are recorded when said recording medium is manufactured, when said recording medium is issued, or when said recording medium is personalized.

9. An information recording apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium including at least a single partition, comprising:

means for recording predetermined information on said at least a single partition of said recording medium; and

means for confirming whether said predetermined information has been normally recorded,

wherein when said predetermined information is not normally recorded, a rerecording is performed and after said predetermined information was normally recorded, dummy data to eliminate an occupied region in said at least a single partition is recorded on remaining regions in said at least a single partition by said recording means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said recording medium is an optical card.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined information is user peculiar information to identify or authorize a user of said recording medium, information to identify or authorize an issuer of said recording medium, information to authorize a system, information to authorize said recording medium, or an initial usable money amount of a card in a prepaid card system.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said user peculiar information is biometric information of the user.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said dummy data is the same as at least a part of the predetermined information recorded in said partition.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said dummy data is a specific character train or a periodic repetition of data.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said dummy data is a specific character or continuation of data.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined information and dummy data are recorded when said recording medium is manufactured, when said recording medium is issued, or when said recording medium is personalized.