Information recording medium, information recording/reproducing method, and information recording/reproducing device

• US 6,785,219 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Yoshihisa, Sasaki, Miyuki, Goto, Yoshiho
• Primary Examiner(s): EDUN, MOHAMMAD N
• Application Number:
  US09/926,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 369/47.1, 369/47.15, 369/47.21, 369/53.1, 369/53.11, 369/53.2, 369/53.31, 369/53.37, 369/53.41, 369/54.44, 369/53.45, 369/59.1, 369/59.25, 369/275.1, 369/275.3
• US Class Current: 369/275.3
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]

Abstract

A lead-out area is recorded and a session is formed each time a file is recorded with the data structure of a disc recorded with the conventional CD-R multi-session method. The latest file structure recorded in the last session is read with a multi-session disc by reading in series the start address of the next session recorded in the lead-in area of each session. This information read in series is dependent upon the number of file write operations, and as the number of writes increases, the slower the latest file structure retrieval process becomes. In a write-once medium in which the file management information and unrecorded area information are update recorded at each recording session, chaining information is recorded at each file write. Furthermore, an area for recording a plurality of continuously recorded chaining information is reserved, and access in the latest chaining information retrieval process is accelerated. Furthermore, address information for an area contiguously reserved for chaining information is recorded in part of the chaining information.

Claims

1. A data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

an area for continuously recording a plurality of chaining information areas to which is recorded chaining information containing root directory file management information having location information for a next root directory file allocated for update recording, and unallocated area management information having location information for a next unrecorded area.

2. A data storage medium as described in claim 1, wherein said area for continuously recording a plurality of said chaining information areas is located immediately following an overrun extent first recorded for recording an overrun block for preventing a performance drop as a result of wrong access to an unrecorded area.

3. A data storage medium as described in claim 1, wherein said chaining information stores address information for an unallocated chaining information area that has not been allocated in the area where a chaining information area is continuously recorded.

4. A data storage medium as described in claim 3, wherein said unallocated chaining information area address information is recorded as an allocation descriptor of an unallocated space entry that is part of the chaining information.

5. A data recording method for applying a formatting process to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure recording step for recording volume structure;

an open integrity information recording step for recording open integrity information indicating a formatting process start status;

an unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded;

a root directory file recording step for recording a root directory file; and

a chaining information recording step for recording chaining information.

6. A data recording method as described in claim 5, wherein in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step the unallocated chaining information area address information is registered as an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

7. A data recording apparatus for applying a formatting process to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure recording means for recording volume structure;

an open integrity information recording means for recording open integrity information indicating a formatting process start status;

an address calculation and registration means for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded;

a file structure recording means for recording a root directory file; and

a chaining information recording means for recording chaining information.

8. The data recording apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means the unallocated chaining information area address information is registered as an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

9. A data recording method for recording a file to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing step for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

a chaining information reproducing step for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing step for reading a file structure;

a file recording step for accomplishing data file recording;

a file structure recording step for accomplishing file structure recording;

an address calculation and registration step for calculating and registering in chaining information an address information of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where a plurality of chaining information is continuously recorded; and

a chaining information recording step for recording chaining information.

10. A data recording method as described in claim 9, wherein in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step the unallocated chaining information area address information is registered as an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

11. A data recording method as described in claim 9, wherein when the area where chaining information is continuously recorded is insufficient for a number of file write operations, the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step calculates and re-reserves an address of an area where chaining information is continuously recorded.

12. A data recording apparatus for recording a file to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing means for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

a chaining information reproducing means for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing means for reading a file structure;

a file recording means for accomplishing data file recording;

a file structure recording means for accomplishing file structure recording;

an address calculation and registration means for calculating and registering in chaining information an address infornmation of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where a plurality of chaining information is continuously recorded; and

a chaining information recording for recording chaining information.

13. A data recording apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means the unallocated chaining information area address information is registered as an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

14. A data recording apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein when the area where chaining information is continuously recorded is insufficient for a number of file write operations, the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means calculates and re-reserves an address of an area where chaining information is continuously recorded.

15. A data recording method for applying a closing process, for preventing a performance drop resulting from wrong access to an unrecorded area, to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing step for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

an integrity information reproducing step for reading the latest integrity information while reading in series completely recorded close integrity information and open integrity information according to previously read volume structure content;

a chaining information reproducing step for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing step for reading a file structure using the read chaining information;

an unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded;

a chaining information recording step for recording chaining information;

an overrun extent recording step for recording an overrun extent for preventing wrong access to an unrecorded area in a file structure and file reproducing operation; and

a close integrity information recording step for recording close integrity information indicative of recording completion.

16. A data recording method as described in claim 15, wherein the chaining information recording step is characterized by recording with padding data, which is dummy data filling an unrecorded area of the area in which chaining information is continuously recorded.

17. A data recording method as described in claim 15, wherein the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step calculates and records in chaining information address information of an area where chaining information recorded at a next file recording is continuously recorded.

18. A data recording apparatus for applying a closing process, for preventing a performance drop resulting from wrong access to an unrecorded area, to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing means for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

an integrity information reproducing means for reading the latest integrity information while reading in series completely recorded close integrity information and open integrity information according to previously read volume structure content;

a chaining information reproducing means for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing means for reading a file structure using the read chaining information;

an unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded;

a chaining information recording means for recording chaining information;

an overrun extent recording means for recording an overrun extent for preventing wrong access to an unrecorded area in a file structure and file reproducing operation; and

a close integrity information recording means for recording close integrity information indicative of recording completion.

19. A data recording apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means calculates and records in chaining information address information of an area where chaining information recorded at a next file recording is continuously recorded.

20. A data recording apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein the chaining information recording means is characterized by recording with padding data, which is dummy data filling an unrecorded area of the area in which chaining information is continuously recorded.

21. A data recording method for applying a opening process for beginning recording data to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing step for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

an integrity information reproducing step for reading the latest integrity information while reading in series completely recorded close integrity information and open integrity information according to previously read volume structure content;

a chaining information reproducing step for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

an open integrity information recording step for recording open integrity information; and

an unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded.

22. A data recording method as described in claim 21, wherein the address information calculated in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration step is an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

23. A data recording apparatus for applying a closing process, for preventing a performance drop resulting from wrong access to an unrecorded area, to a data storage medium in which a file managed using a volume/file structure is recorded and reproduced from one end of a data recording area, and in which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing means for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

an integrity information reproducing means for reading the latest integrity information while reading in series completely recorded close integrity information and open integrity information according to previously read volume structure content;

a chaining information reproducing means for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series completely recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

an open integrity information recording means for recording open integrity information; and

an unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means for calculating and registering in chaining information an address of an unallocated chaining information area that is an unallocated area in an area where chaining information is continuously recorded.

24. A data recording apparatus as described in claim 23, wherein the address information calculated in the unallocated chaining information area address calculation and registration means is an allocation descriptor for an unallocated space entry of the chaining information.

25. A data reproducing method for reproducing a file from a data storage medium to which a volume/file structure is recorded by a formatting process and to which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing step for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

a chaining information reproducing step for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series a plurality of continuously recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing step for reading file structure using the read chaining information; and

a file reproducing step for retrieving and reading a file using the read file structure.

26. A data reproducing method as described in claim 25, further comprising an integrity information reproducing step for reading the latest close integrity information while reading in series close integrity information and open integrity information according to previously read volume structure content.

27. A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing a file from a data storage medium to which a volume/file structure is recorded by a formatting process and to which a number of data recording operations to a same area is limited, comprising:

a volume structure reproducing means for reading volume structure recorded in a formatting process;

a chaining information reproducing means for reading the latest chaining information while reading in series a plurality of continuously recorded chaining information according to previously read volume structure content;

a file structure reproducing means for reading file structure using the read chaining information; and

a file reproducing means for retrieving and reading a file using the read file structure.