Method and apparatus for management of information where sub directory information in a directory identifies the relative recording location of the sub directory

• US 6,122,646 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Igarashi, Tatsuya, Minami, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lintz, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/448,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/621, 369/47, 369/30, 364/200, 369/32, 707/205, 707/200, 711/1, 711/2, 711/3, 711/4, 711/200, 711/209
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/902 using more than one table in sequence, i.e. systems with three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/12 Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers within interface between computers and data recorders G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1252 for discontinuous data, e.g. digital information signals, computer programme data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/1221 cluster, i.e. a data structure which consists of a fixed number of sectors or ECC blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/1265 Control data, system data or management information, i.e. data used to access or process user data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/1285 Status of the record carrier, e.g. space bit maps, flags indicating a formatting status or a write permission
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/211 Discs having both read-only and rewritable or recordable areas containing application data; Partial ROM media
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

In this invention, data track of a magneto-optical disc is divided into a volume management area and an extent area to record data of file into the extent area, and to record directory management information and file management information into the volume management area. The volume management area is caused to consist of 32 clusters. Data allocation unit of the volume management area is caused to be 2 k bytes and data allocation unit in the extent area is caused to be 8 k bytes. Relative recording location within the volume management area of sub directory is recorded, as directory information, into the volume management area. Thus, this invention can quickly carry out access.

Claims

1. An information management method for managing information recorded on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

managing a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded, wherein management of the first area is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information;

managing a second area on the recording medium, which is distinguished from the first area, wherein management of the second area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation units by using second management information; and

wherein sub directory information in a directory constituted with at least one of the second allocation units within the second area information includes information indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that directory.

2. An information management method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second allocation units are smaller than the first allocation units.

3. An information management method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the case where one file consists of the plural first allocation units existing at discrete or separate locations, data recorded in the second area includes file extent information indicating a corresponding one or ones constituting the one file, of the first allocation units of the first area.

4. An information management method as set forth in claim 3, wherein file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes information indicating location of the second allocation unit including the file extent information in the second area.

5. An information management method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the case where one file consists of the successive first allocation units, file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones constituting the one file, of the first allocation units of the first area.

6. An information management method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the case where one directory consists of the plural second allocation units, the second management information includes link information indicating information in which the plural second allocation units are connected to each other.

7. An information management method as set forth in claim 1, wherein data recorded in the second area includes information indicating location of a root directory in the second area.

8. A data recording medium on which data having hierarchical structure are recorded, comprising:

a first area where data of a file are recorded in first allocation units;

a second area distinguished from the first area with second allocation units, with a plurality of directories recorded therein, each independent of the first allocation unit; and

wherein sub directory information in each directory includes information indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory.

9. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second allocation units are smaller than the first allocation units.

10. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 8, wherein in the case where one file consists of the plural first allocation units existing at discrete or separate locations, data recorded in the second area includes file extent information indicating a corresponding one or ones, of the first allocation units of the first area.

11. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 10, wherein file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes information indicating location of the second allocation unit including the file extent information in the second area.

12. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 8, wherein in the case where one file consists of the successive first allocation units, file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones constituting the one file, of the first allocation units of the first area.

13. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 8, wherein in the case where one directory consists of the plural second allocation units, management information within data recorded in the second area includes link information indicating information in which the plural second allocation units are connected to each other.

14. A data recording medium as set forth in claim 8, wherein data recorded in the second area includes information indicating location of a root directory in the second area.

15. A data recording method for recording data having hierarchical directory structure onto a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

recording data of file in first allocation units in a first area;

recording a plurality of directories in second allocation units, each independent of the first allocation units, in a second area distinguished from the first area; and

wherein sub directory information in each directory includes information indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory.

16. A data recording method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the second allocation units are smaller than the first allocation units.

17. A data recording method as set forth in claim 15, wherein in the case where one file consists of the plural first allocation units existing at discrete or separate locations, data recorded in the second area includes file extent information indicating a corresponding one or ones constituting the one file, of the first allocation units of the first area.

18. A data recording method as set forth in claim 17, wherein file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes information indicating location of the second allocation unit including the file extent information in the second area.

19. A data recording method as set forth in claim 15, wherein in the case where one file consists of the successive first allocation units, file information corresponding to the one file in the directory includes file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones constituting the one file, of the first allocation units of the first area.

20. A data recording method as set forth in claim 15, wherein in the case where one directory consists of the plural second allocation units, management information within data recorded in the second area includes link information indicating information in which the plural second allocation units are connected to each other.

21. A data recording method as set forth in claim 15, wherein data recorded in the second area includes information indicating location of a root directory in the second area.

22. An information retrieving method for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory constituted with at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory,

comprising the steps of:

providing an access to a root directory on the basis of a predetermined location information within data recorded in the second area; and

providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones of the of the first allocation units of the first area, constituting the desired file in file information corresponding to the desired file in the root directory.

25. An information retrieving method as set forth in claim 22, 23 or 24,

further comprising the steps of:

reading out, from the recording medium, data recorded in the second area;

storing, into a memory, the data recorded in the second memory which has been read out; and

carrying out an access to the root directory, an access to the sub directory, and/or an access to the file extent information by using the data stored in the memory.

23. An information retrieving method for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory consisting of at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory,

comprising the steps of:

providing an access to a root directory on the basis of first location information within data recorded in the second area;

providing an access to the sub directory including file information corresponding to the desired file on the basis of second location information in the root directory and parent directory; and

providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones of the first allocation units of the first area, constituting the desired file of file information corresponding to the desired file in the sub directory.

24. An information retrieving method for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory consisting of at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory,

comprising the steps of:

providing an access to a root directory on the basis of first location information within data recorded in the second area;

providing an access to the sub directory including file information corresponding to the desired file on the basis of second location information in the root directory and parent directory;

providing an access to file extent information indicating a corresponding one or ones of the first allocation units of the first area, constituting the desired file on the basis of third location information in file information corresponding to the desired file in the sub directory; and

providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of the file extent information.

26. An information retrieving apparatus adapted for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory consisting of at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory, comprising:

means for providing an access to a root directory on the basis of a predetermined location information within data recorded in the second area; and

means for providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones of the first area, constituting the desired file of file information corresponding to the desired file in the root directory.

29. An information retrieving apparatus as set forth in claim 26, 27 or 28, wherein the apparatus further includes:

means for reading out, from the recording medium, data recorded in the second area;

and a memory for storing the data recorded in the second area which has been read out,

thus to carry out an access to the root directory, an access to the sub directory and/or an access to the file extent information by using the data stored in the memory.

27. An information retrieving apparatus adapted for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory consisting of at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory, comprising:

means for providing an access to a root directory on the basis of first location information within data recorded in the second area;

means for providing an access to the sub directory including file information corresponding to the desired file on the basis of second location information in the root directory and parent directory; and

means for providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of file location information indicating a corresponding one or ones of the first allocation units of the first area, constituting the desired file in file information corresponding to the desired file in the sub directory.

28. An information retrieving apparatus adapted for retrieving a desired file from a recording medium in which management of a first area on the recording medium where data of file are recorded is carried out in first allocation units by using first management information, management of a second area on the recording medium distinguished from the first area is carried out in second allocation units each independent of the first allocation unit by using second management information, and sub directory information in a directory consisting of at least one of the second allocation units within the second area is caused to include information directly indicating location in the second area of the second allocation unit constituting that sub directory, comprising:

means for providing an access to a root directory on the basis of first location information within data recorded in the second area;

means for providing an access to the sub directory including file information corresponding to the desired file on the basis of second location information in the root directory and parent directory;

means for providing an access to file extent information indicating a corresponding one or more of the first allocation units of the first area, constituting the desired file on the basis of third location information in the file information corresponding to the desired file in the sub directory; and

means for providing an access to the desired file on the recording medium on the basis of the file extent information.

30. An information management method for a write once type information recording disc, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

recording, into a first area of said disc, predetermined data and directory management information for carrying out management of the data;

recording, into a second area of said disc, new directory management information including the directory management information recorded in the first area of said disc when new data is recorded into the second area of said disc; and

carrying out, at times subsequent thereto, management of data on the basis of the directory management information of the second area.