FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)


"WRITE-ONCE READ-MANY INFORMATION RECORDING
MEDIUM, INFORMATION RECORDING METHOD,
INFORMATION REPRODUCTION METHOD, INFORMATION
RECORDING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION
REPRODUCTION APPARATUS"
PANASONIC CORPORATION, a Japanese company, of 1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka 571-8501, Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.


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DESCRIPTION
WRITE-ONCE READ-MANY INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM,
INFORMATION RECORDING METHOD, INFORMATION REPRODUCTION
5 METHOD, INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS, AND -
INFORMATION REPRODUCTION APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
10 _ - The present invention relates to a write-once read-many information recording medium, an information recording method for recording information onto the write-once read-many information recording medium, an information reproduction method for reproducing information
15 from the write-once read-many information recording medium, an information recording apparatus for recording information onto the write-once read-many information recording medium, and an information reproduction apparatus for reproducing information from the write-once read-many information
20 recording medium.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, large-capacity exchangeable information 25 recording media, and disc drive apparatuses which handle large-capacity exchangeable information recording media, are widely used. As large-capacity exchangeable inforraationrecordingraedia, optical discs (e.g. , DVDs, etc.) are well known. 30
In optical disc drive apparatuses, information is recorded onto an optical disc by forming small pits thereon using laser light. Therefore, optical disc drive

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apparatuses are capable of recording large-capacity exchangeable information. Optical discs have a disadvantage of exchangeable information recording media that the recording surface is likely to suffer from defects, 5 such as dust, scratches, or the like.
To cope with this problem, optical disc drive apparatuses have to perform defect management in order to secure the reliability of recorded or reproduced data.
10
In a conventional defect management technique, two defect management areas (DMA) are allocated at predetermined positions in each of the inner and outer peripheries of a rewritable optical disc (i.e., a total of four DMAs are
15 provided). If defect management information is updated, new defect management information is rewritten into these defect management areas (e.g., Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 5-006626).
20 Figure 23 shows the data structure of a conventional
rewritable optical disc 400.
A data area 5 contains a user data area 16 for recording/reproducing user data, and a spare area 17 for 25 providing a block (hereinafter also referred to as "replacement block") which replaces a defect block present in the user data area 16. The spare area 17 is provided in advance.
30'. A lead-in area 4 and a lead-out area 6 each contain
defect management areas for recording information about a defect block present in the data area 5. The lead-in area 4 contains a first defect management area 10 (hereinafter also

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referred to as "DMAl") and a second defect management area 11 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA2"). The lead-out area 6 contains a third defect management area 12 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA3" ) and a fourth defect 5 management area 13 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA4").
Each of the DMAl to the DMA4 has a predetermined position and a fixed length. Management information provided in each of the DMAl to the DMA4 has a length which
10 varies depending on the number of defect blocks, i.e., a variable length. Note that all of the DMAl to the DMA4 have the s#me information, i.e., a multiple of pieces of the same information are stored on a disc. This is because defects may occur in the DMAl to the DMA4 themselves. For example,
15 if information cannot be reproduced from a DMA but information can be reproduced from any one of the DMAl to the DMA4, the defect management information can be obtained.
The DMAl to the DMA4 each contain a disc definition 20 structure (hereinafter also referred to as "DDS") 14 and a defect list (hereinafter also referred to as "DFL") 15, where the DDS 14 precedes the DFL 15.
The DFL 15 contains a defect list header 32 and M 25 defect entries 33 (M: an integer of 0 or more).
The defect list header 32 contains the number of the defect entries 33 contained in a DFL 15 and the like. The defect list header 32 is located at a predetermined position 30 in the DFL 15 (e.g., the beginning of the DFL 15).
The defect entry 33 contains positional information about a defect block detected in the data area 5; replacement

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block positional information about a spare area which replaces the defect block; and the like.
The DDS 14 contains defect list beginning positional 5 information indicating the position of the DFL 15, and the like.
The DMAl to the DMA4 contained in the rewritable optical disc 400 are rewritable. Therefore, every time
10 defect management information is updated, latest defect management information can be written over the DMAl to the DMA4, i.e., updates can be performed. Thus, latest defect management information can be consistently recorded in the DMAl to the DMA4 at the fixed positions.
15
Figure 24 shows the structure of a conventional rewritable optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 200.
20 The optical disc recording/reproduction
apparatus 200 is connected via an I/O bus 170 to a higher level control apparatus {not shown) . The higher level control apparatus is typically a host computer.
25 The optical disc recording/reproduction
apparatus 200 comprises: a command processing section 110 for processing a command from the higher level control apparatus; a recording control section 120 for controlling recording of an optical disc; a reproduction control
30 section 130 for controlling reproduction of an optical disc; a defect management information storage buffer 140 for storing contents reproduced from any one of the DMAl to the DMA4; a data buffer 150 for temporarily storing recorded

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data and reproduced data; and a defect management information processing section 180 for performing processing relating to defect management information.
5 The defect management information processing
section 180 comprises: a defect management information reading section 161 for detecting a normal defect management area from the DMA1 to the DMA4 and reading and transferring contents from the normal defect management area to the defect
10 management information storage buffer 140; a defect management information updating section 164 for, when defect block information has been changed, updating the contents of the defect management information storage buffer 140 to create new defect information; a defect management
15 information writing section 162 for writing the contents updated by the defect management information updating section 164 to the DMA1 to the DMA4; and a defect management information control memory 163 for storing an operational control state of the defect management information processing
20 section 180.
However, information can be recorded into the DMA1 to the DMA4 of a write-once read-many information recording medium (write-once read-many optical disc) only once.
25 Therefore, in the case of write-once read-many information recording media, it is not possible that latest defect management information is consistently recorded at a predetermined position in the DMA1 to the DMA4 as in rewritable information recording media (rewritable optical discs).
30 Therefore, recording/reproduction apparatuses for rewritable information recording media cannot perform recording/reproduction on write-once read-many information recording media capable of defect management.

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—
The present invention iS provided to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a write-oflce read-many information 5 recording medium on which recor£ing/reProduction can be performed by a recording/reproduction apparatus for rewritable information recording media; an information recording method for recording information onto the write-once read-many informatics recording medium; an
10 information reproduction method f o^ reproducing information from the write-once read-many information recording medium; an information-recording apparatus for recording information onto the write-once read-many inf ormation recording medium; and an information reproduction apparatus for reproducing
15 information from the write-once read-many information recording medium.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
20 According to an aspect of the present invention, a
write-once read-many information recording medium is provided, wherein: at least one di£C management working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermined direction; in the at least one disc management wording area, disc management
25 information, which is management information about the write-once read-many information recording medium, and disc definition structure containing positional information about the disc management information, are provided; latest disc management information and latest disc definition
30 structure are provided, wherein the latest disc management information precedes the latest disc definition structure in the predetermined direction; the latest disc management information is disc management information provided in a

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recorded disc management working airea neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc management working area; the latest disc definition structure is a disc definition structure 5 containing positional information about the latest disc management information; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable of being calculated 10 _ based on the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information has a variable size; and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.
15
In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-many information recording medium contains a data area for recording data and a spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area; the disc management
20 information contains a replacement list containing correspondence relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between a replacement source area contained in the data area and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and the disc definition
25 structure contains replacement list positional information which is positional information about the replacement list.
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an inner 30 periphery to an outer periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded

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disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the 5 predetermined direction is a direction from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on a beginning of the 10 _ recorded disc management working area- neighboring the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working area contains a plurality of blocks; each 15 of the plurality of blocks is a unit fo^ recording/reproducing data; and the disc management information and the disc definition structure are provided In different blocks in the plurality of blocks.
20 In one embodiment of this invent ion, the disc
management working area contains one or more blocks; each of the one or more blocks is a unit f o^ recording/reproducing data; the disc management information and the disc definition structure shares at least one of the one or more blocks;
25 and the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in a predetermined block among blocks contained in the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined block being capable of being calculated, "based on \ne \>or£sr as a raifti^ce.
30
In one embodiment of this invention, a finalization identifying flag is recorded in tpe write-once read-many information recording medium; and the finalization

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identifying flag indicates prohibition of additionally recording data into the at least one disc management working area.
5 In one embodiment of this invention, at least one
of the disc definition structure and the disc management information contains the finalization identifying flag.
In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once
10 .read-many information recording medium contains at least
one disc management area; in the at least one disc management area, the last disc management information and the last disc definition structure are provided; the last disc management information is the latest disc management information
15 provided in the at least one disc management area; the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structure containing positional information about the last disc management information; and the last disc management information and the last disc definition structure are
20 provided from a beginning of the at least one disc management area, wherein the last disc definition structure precedes the last disc management information in the direction from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium.
25
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working area contains a plurality of blocks; each of the plurality of blocks is a unit for recording/reproducing data; and the disc management information and the disc
30 definition structure are provided in different blocks in the plurality of blocks.
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc

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10
management working area contains one or more blocks; each of the one or more blocks is a unit for re cording/ reproducing data; the disc management information and the disc definition structure shares at least one of the one or more blocks; and the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in a predetermined block among blocks contained in the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined block being capable of being calculated based on the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, a finalization identifying flag is recorded in the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the finalization identifying flag indicates prohibition of additionally recording data into the at least one disc management working area.
In one embodiment of this invention, at least one of the disc definition structure and the disc management 20 information contains the finalization identifying flag.
In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-many information recording medium contains at least one disc management area; in the at least one disc management
25 area, the last disc management information and the last disc definition structure are provided; the last disc management information is the latest disc management information provided in the at least one disc management area; the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structure
30 containing positional information about the last disc management information; and the last disc management information and the last disc definition structure are provided from a beginning of the at least one disc management

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area, wherein the last disc definition structure precedes the last disc management information in the direction from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium.
5
According to another aspect of the present invention, an information recording method for recording information onto a write-once read-many information recording medium, is provided, wherein at least one disc management working 10— - area is sequentially provided in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium, the information recording method comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting an unrecorded disc management working area
neighboring a border between a recorded disc management
15 working area and the unrecorded disc management working area;
(b) recording disc management information, which is
management information about the write-once read-many
information recording medium, into the unrecorded disc
management working area neighboring the border; and
20 (c) recording a disc definition structure containing positional information about the disc management information recorded in the step (b) into the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, wherein the disc management information and the disc definition structure
25 are provided in the predetermined direction, the disc management information preceding the disc definition structure in the predetermined direction, and the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring
30 the border, the predetermined position being capable of being calculated based on the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc

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management information has a variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.
In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once 5 read-many information recording medium contains a data area for recording data and a spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area; the disc management information contains a replacement list containing correspondence relationship information indicating a 10 correspondence relationship between a replacement source area contained in the data area and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area: and the disc definition structure contains replacement list positional information which is positional information about the replacement list.
15
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the disc definition
20 structure containing the positional information about the disc management information recorded in the step (b) is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on an end of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a
25 reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of the write-once read-many 30 information recording medium; and the disc definition structure containing the positional information about the disc management information recorded in the step (b) is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of

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being calculated based on a beginning of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a
reference.
5 In one embodiment of this invention, the step (b)
further comprises determining whether or not the recording of the disc management information has been normally performed; the step (c) further comprise determining whether or not the recording of the disc definition structure has
10 been normally performed; and the information recording method further comprises the step of: (d) repeatedly performing the step (b) until the recording of the disc management information is normally performed, and repeatedly performing the step (c) until the recording of the disc definition
15 structure is normally performed.
In one embodiment of this invention, the step (b) further comprises determining whether or not the recording of the disc management information has been normally
20 performed; the step (c) further comprises determining whether or not the recording of the disc definition structure has been normally performed; and the information recording method further comprises the step of: (d) repeatedly performing the step (b) until the recording of the disc
25 management inf ormationis normallyperformed, andrepeatedly performing the step (c) until the recording of the disc definition structure is normally performed.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
30 an information reproduction method for reproducing
information from a write-once read-many information
recording medium, is provided, wherein: at least one disc
management working area is sequentially allocated in a

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predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium; in the at least one disc management working area, disc management information, which is management information about the write-once read-many 5 information recording medium, and disc definition structure containing positional information about the disc management information, are provided; latest disc management information and latest disc definition structure are provided in the predetermined direction, the latest disc management
10 information preceding the latest disc definition structure in the predetermined direction; the latest disc management information is disc management information provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an
15 unrecorded disc management working area; the latest disc definition structure is a disc definition structure containing positional information about the latest disc management information; the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in the recorded disc
2 0 management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable of being calculated based on the border as a reference, the information reproduction method comprising the steps of: (a) searching for a position of the border to obtain border positional
25 information indicating the position of the border; (b) reproducing the latest disc definition structure based on the border positional information; (c) obtaining positional information about the latest disc management information based on the latest disc definition structure;
30 and (d) reproducing the disc management information based on the positional information about the latest disc management information.

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In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information has a variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.
5 In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once
read-many information recording medium contains a data area for recording data and a spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area; the disc management information contains a replacement list containing
10 correspondence relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between a replacement source area contained in the data area and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and the disc definition structure contains replacement list positional information
15 which is positional information about the replacement list.
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the write-once read-many
20 information recording medium; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.
25
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest disc definition
30 structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on a beginning of the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.

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According to another aspect of the present invention, an information recording apparatus for recording information onto a write-once read-many information recording medium, 5 is provided, wherein at least one disc management working area is sequentially provided in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium, the information recording apparatus comprising: (a) a section for selecting an unrecorded disc management working
10 _ area neighboring a border between a recorded disc management working area and the unrecorded disc management working area; (b) a section for recording disc management information, which is management information about the write-once read-many information recording medium, into the unrecorded
15 disc management working area neighboring the border; (c) a section for recording a disc definition structure containing positional information about the disc management information recorded in the step (b) into the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, wherein the disc
20 management information and the disc definition structure are provided in the predetermined direction, the disc management information preceding the disc definition structure in the predetermined direction, and the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position
25 in the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable of being calculated based on the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the disc 30 management information has a variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.
In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once

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read-many information recording medium contains a data area for recording data and a spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area; the disc management information contains a replacement list containing 5 correspondence relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between a replacement source area contained in the data area and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and the disc definition structure contains replacement list positional information 10 which is positional information about the replacement list.
In one embodiment of this invention, the
predetermined direction is a direction from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the write-once read-many
15 information recording medium; and the disc definition structure containing the positional information about the disc management information recorded by the section (b) is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on an end of the unrecorded disc
20 management working area neighboring the border as a reference.
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an outer
25 periphery to an inner periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the disc definition structure containing the positional information about the disc management information recorded by the section (b) is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of
30 being calculated based on a beginning of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.

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In one embodiment of this invention, the section (b) further comprises a section for determining whether or not the recording of the disc management information has been normally performed; the section (c) further comprise a 5 section for determining whether or not the recording of the disc definition structure has been normally performed; and the information recording apparatus further comprises: (d) a section for repeatedly performing recording of the disc management information until the recording of the disc 10 management information is normally performed, and repeatedly performing recording of the disc definition structure until the recording of the disc definition structure is normally performed.
15 In one embodiment of this invention, the section (b)
further comprises a section for determining whether or not the recording o£ the disc management information has been normally performed; the section (c) further comprises a section for determining whether or not the recording of the
20 disc definition structure has been normally performed; and the information recording apparatus further comprises: (d) a section for repeatedly performing recording of the disc management information until the recording of the disc management information is normally performed, and repeatedly
25 performing recording of the disc definition structure until the recording of the disc definition structure is normally performed.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
30 an information reproduction apparatus for reproducing
information from a write-once read-many information
recording medium, is provide, wherein: at least one disc
management working area is sequentially allocated in a

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predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium; in the at least one disc management working area, disc management information, which is management information about the write-once read-many 5 information recording medium, and disc definition structure containing positional information about the disc management information, are provided; latest disc management information and latest disc definition structure are provided in the predetermined direction, the latest disc management
10 _ information preceding the latest disc definition structure in the predetermined direction; the latest disc management information is disc management information provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an
15 unrecorded disc management working area; the latest disc definition structure is a disc definition structure containing positional information about the latest disc management information; the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position in the recorded disc
20 management working area neighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable of being calculated based on the border as a reference, the information reproduction apparatus comprising: (a) a section for searching for a position of the border to obtain border
25 positional information indicating the position of theborder; (b) a section for reproducing the latest disc definition structure based on the border positional information; (c) a section for obtaining positional information about the latest disc management information based on the latest disc
30 definition structure; and (d) a section for reproducing the disc management information based on the positional information about the latest disc management information.

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In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information has a variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.
5 In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once
read-many information recording medium contains a data area for recording data and a spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area; the disc management information contains a replacement list containing
10 correspondence relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between a replacement source area contained in the data area and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and the disc definition structure contains replacement list positional information
15 which is positional information about the replacement list.
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the write-once read-many
20 information recording medium; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.
25
In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is a direction from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of the write-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest disc definition
30 structure is provided at a predetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on a beginning of the recorded disc management working area neighboring the border as a reference.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of areas 5 in a write-once read-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a write-once read-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 10 _ _ of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing data structures of a
DDS and a defect list.
15 Figure 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an
optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flowchart of a procedure for obtaining 20 the latest defect list and the latest DDS from a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area in a write-once read-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present 25 invention.
Figure 6 is a diagram showing a process for searching for a recording end position.
30 Figure 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for
searching for a recording end position.
Figure 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a defect

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list and a DDS are additionally recorded into a DMWA contained in a temporary defect management area.
Figure 9 is a flowchart of a procedure for
5 additionally recording a defect list and a DDS into a defect
management working area of a write-once read-many optical
disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a flowchart of a procedure for
10 additionally recording a new defect list and DDS into a defect
management working area while determining whether or not
the defect list and the DDS have been normally recorded.
Figure 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a 15 defect list and a DDS are additionally recorded into a defect management working area in accordance with the procedure described with reference to Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a diagram showing a data structure of 20 another write-once read-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a flowchart of a procedure for finalization according to Embodiment 1 of the present 25 invention.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing data structures of a rewritable optical disc and a write-once read-many optical disc after finalization for comparison. 30
Figure 15 is a flowchart of another finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

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Figure 16 is a flowchart of a finalization determination procedure for determining whether or not a write-once read-many optical disc is already finalized.
5 Figure 17 is a flowchart of another finalization
determination procedure for determining whether or not a write-once read-many optical disc is already finalized.
Figure 18 is a diagram showing a data structure of 10 a DMWA according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Figure 19 is a diagram showing a structure of a SDDS.
Figure 20 is a flowchart of a procedure for obtaining 15 a SDDS and a SDFL from the latest recorded defect management working area among defect management working areas contained in a temporary defect management area.
Figure 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure for
20 additionally recording a SDFL and a SDDS into a defect
management working area in a write-once read-many optical
disc according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Figure 22 is a diagram showing an exemplary defect 25 management working area in which a space bit map information and a defect list are provided as child information.
Figure 23 is a diagram showing the data structure of a conventional rewritable optical disc.
30
Figure 24 is a diagram showing the structure of an optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus which can handle the conventional rewritable optical disc of Figure 23 .

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described 5 by way of illustrative embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the embodiments below, a write-once read-many information recording medium (hereinafter also referred to 10 as "write-once read-many optical disc") is employed.
(Embodiment 1)
1.1. Data structure of write-once read-many optical disc
15 Figure 1 shows an arrangement of areas in a write - once
read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A number of tracks 2 are spirally formed on the disc-like write-once read-many optical disc 1. Each track 2 is subdivided into a number of blocks 3- A block 3
20 is a unit for error correction, which is a minimum unit for recording or reproduction operations. For example, in the case of DVD-RAM using red laser the size of a block 3 is 1 ECC (32 KBytes) while in the case of large-capacity BD-RE usingblue laser the size of ablock 3 is 1 cluster (64 KBytes).
25
A lead-in area 4, a data area 5, and a lead-out area 6 are allocated on the write-once read-many optical disc 1. User data is recorded into or reproduced from the data area 5. The lead-in area 4 and the lead-out area 6 function as a
30 margin with which even if an optical head (not shown) accesses but overruns an end of the data area 5, the optical head can follow a designated track.

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Figure 2 shows a data structure of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
5 Areas on the write-once read-many optical disc 1 are
roughly divided into the lead-in area 4, the data area 5 and the lead-out area 6.
The lead- in area 4 contains a first defect management 10 area 10 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMAl" ) and a second defect management area 11 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA2"), and a temporary defect management area 20.
The DMAl and the DMA2 are used for management of 15 information or the like in defect blocks of the data area 5.
The data area 5 is used for recording of data, containing a user data area 16 and a spare area 17.
20 The user data area 16 is a write-once read-many area
into which any information, such as real time data (e.g., music, video, etc.), computer data (e.g., documents, databases, etc. ), or the like, can be recorded by the user.
25 The spare area 17 is a replacement area for the data
area 5. For example, when a defect block is detected in the user data area 16, data is recorded into a replacement area instead of the defect block. In the data structure of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of Figure 2, a spare
30 area 17 is provided in each of the inner (i.e., closer to the lead-in area 4) and outer (i.e., closer to the lead-out area 6) peripheries of the data area 5. However, the number of spare areas 17 or the positions of spare areas 17 may

WO 2004/059648 PCTAJP2003/016057
be arbitrarily determined but not limited to the number of spare areas or the positions of spare areas shown in Figure 2.
The lead-out area 6 contains a third defect 5 management area 12 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA3" ) and a fourth defect management area 13 (hereinafter also referred to as "DMA4B).
The DMA3 and the DMA4 are areas f or managing 10 information about a defect block in the data area 5 or the like.
Each of the DMAl to the DMA4 has a predetermined position and a fixed length. Management information 15 provided in each of the DMAl to the DMA4 has a variable length which varies depending on the number of defect blocks.
Each of the DMAl to the DMA4 contains a disc definition structure (hereinafter also referred to as "DDS") 14 and 20 a defect list (hereinafter also referred to as "DFL") 15, where the DDS 14 precedes the DFL 15.
The temporary defect management area 20 contains N defect management working areas (hereinafter also referred 25 to as "DMWA") 21, where N is an integer of 1 or more.
The defect management working area 21 is used for temporarily recording defect management information which has been updated before the write-once read-many optical 30 disc 1 is finalized. The defect management working area 21 contains a DDS 14 and a defect list 15, where the defect list 15 precedes the DDS 14 . The defect management working area 21 contains at least one block. A block is a unit for

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recording/reproducing data.
As used herein, the term "finalize a write-once read-many optical disc" means that the state of a write-once 5 read-many optical disc is changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state. For example, by recording the contents of the latest defect management working area 21 to the DMAl to the DMA4, a data structure of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 can be changed
10 to a data structure which is compatible with a data structure of a rewritable optical disc. I.e., the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state. Finalization will be described in detail below.
15
At leas t one defect management working area 21 (DMWA#1 toDMWA#N (N: an integer of 1 or more)) is sequentially allocated from the beginning toward the end of the temporary defect management area 20 (i.e., in the direction of from
20 the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1). Defect information is recorded sequentially from a defect management working area 21 at the beginning of the temporary defect management area 20 (closer to the inner periphery of the write-once read-many
25 opticaldisc 1). Ineachdefect management working area 21, a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are provided in the direction from the beginning to the end of the temporary defect management area 20 (the direction from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many optical
30 disc 1), where the defect list 15 precedes the DDS 14. In other words, a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 are provided in each defect management working area 21 in reverse order with respect to each of the DMAl to the DMA4.

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-
Note that the temporary defect management area 20 containing defect management working areas 21 may not be necessarily contained in the lead-in area 4. The temporary 5 defect management area 20 may be contained in, for example, the lead-out area 6 or the spare area 17 excluding the user data area 16.
For example, a DDS 14 is located in a recorded defect
10 management working area neighboring a border between the
recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded
defect management working area. The DDS 14 is located at
a predetermined position in a recorded defect management
working area neighboring the border, and the predetermined
15 position can be calculated based on the border. In
Embodiment 1 of the present invention, it is assumed that
a DDS 14 is located at the end of a recorded defect management
working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect
management working area and an unrecorded defect management
20 working area.
Note that the position of a DDS 14 is not limited to the end of a defect management working area. A DDS 14 may be located at a predetermined position which can be 25 calculated from a reference, i.e., the end (border) of a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area.
30 Figure 3 shows data structures of a DDS 14 and a
defect list 15,
A DDS 14 contains positional information about a

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defect list 15. For example, the DDS 14 contains a defect list beginning positional information 30 indicating a beginning position at which the defect list 15 is located and other information 31. For example, the defect list 5 beginning positional information 30 is herein a sector address which is positional information about a sector (1 sector has a size of 2 KBytes) which is the smallest addressable unit.
10 A DDS 14 has a fixed length which is, for example,
the size of 1 block. In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, it is assumed that a DDS 14 has a size of 1 block. Note that a DDS 14 may not necessarily have a fixed length if the position of information indicating the position of a defect list 15
15 (i.e., the defect list beginning positional information 30} can be calculated based on a reference, i.e., a border between a recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area. This is because the positions of defect lists can be calculated from the border
20 as a reference.
A defect list 15 contains a defect list header 32 and M defect entries 33 (M: an integer of 0 or more).
25 The defect list 15 may further contain information
indicating an anchor indicating the end of defect management information in addition to the defect list header 32 and the defect entry 33.
30 The defect list header 32 contains the number of
defect entries 33 contained in a defect list, or the like.
The defect entry 33 contains correspondence

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relationship information indicating a correspondence relationship between an area in a data area (replacement source) and an area in a spare area (replacement destination). The defect entry 33 contains, for example, positional 5 information about a defect block detected in the user data area 16 and replacement block positional information about the spare area 17 which contains a replacement destination of the defect block.
10
A defect list 15 has a variable length which depends on the number of defect entries 33 registered in the defect list 15. Specifically -, the sizes of the defect management working area #1 to the defect management working area #N are not necessarily the same (see Figure 2).
15
1.2. Configuration of an optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100
20
Figure 4 shows a configuration of an optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 is connected via an I/O bus 170 to a higher level control apparatus (not shown). The higher level 25 control apparatus is, for example, a host computer.
The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 comprises: a command processing section 110 for processing a command from the higher level control 30 apparatus; a recording control section 120 for controlling recording of a write-once read-many optical disc 1; a reproduction control section 130 for controlling reproduction of an optical disc; a defect management

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inforroation storage buffer 140 for storing contents reproduced from any one of the DMA1 to the DMA4 or contents reproduced from a defect management working area 21; a data buffer 150 for temporarily storing recorded data, asvd 5 reproduced data; and a defect management information processing section 160 for performing processing relating to defect management information.
The defect management information processing 10 section 160 comprises a defect management information reading section 161, a defect management information writing section 162, a defect management information control memory 163, a defect management information updating section 164, a defect management working information reading 15 section 165, and a defect management working information writing section 166.
The defect management information reading
section 161 detects a normal defect management area from
20 the DMA1 to the DMA4 and reads and transfers contents from
the defect management area to the defect management
information storage buffer 140.
The defect management information reading 25 section 161 further reads out data from one of a plurality of defect management areas allocated on the write-once read-many optical disc 1, determines whether or not the defect management area has been recorded, and based on the result of determination, determines whether or not the 30 write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.

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For example, the defect management information reading section 161 reads out data from at least one of the DMAl to the DMA4. If the write - once read-many optical disc 1 can be normally reproduced, it is determined that the 5 write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized. If all of the DMA1 to the DMA4 are unrecorded and data cannot be normally reproduced from these defect management areas, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been finalized.
10
If defect block information is changed or the like, the defect management information updating section 164 updates the contents of the defect management information storage buffer 140 to create new defect management
15 xnformation.
The defect management information writing section 162 writes the contents updated by the defect management information updating section 164 to the DMAl to 20 the DMA4 . In other words, the defect management information writing section 162 records defect management information to the DMAl to the DMA4" for finalization.
The defect management information control 25 memory 163 stores an operational control state of the defect management information processing section 160.
The defect management working information reading section 165 searches the defect management working areas 21 30 contained in the temporary defect management area 20 for the latest recorded defect management working area 21. Contents recorded in the latest defect management working area 21 are read out to the defect management information

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storage buffer 140.
Note that the defect management information reading section 161 reads out data from each of the DMA1 to the DMA4 5 and determines whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized. Alternatively, the defect management working information reading section 165 can determine whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized. For example, the defect
10 management working information reading section 165 determines whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized, based on whether or not a f inalization identifying flag is recorded at a "predetermined position in a defect management working area 21. The
15 flnalization identifying flag indicates that additional recording of data to at least one defect management working area 21 is prohibited.
Note that the recording position of the flnalization
20 identifying flag is not limited to a predetermined position
in a defect management working area 21. The flnalization
identifying flag may be recorded at a predetermined position
in the write-once read-many optical disc 1.
25 For example, the flnalization identifying flag may
be recorded in at least one of the disc definition structure 14 and the defect list 15. If the defect management working information reading section 165 reads out the flnalization identifying flag recorded in at least one of the disc
30 definition structure 14 and the defect list 15, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized.

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The defect management working information writing section 166 writes contents updated by the defect management information updating section 164 to an available defect management working area 21. In addition, the finalization 5 identifying flag can be written to the defect management working area 21. For example, the defect management working information writing section 166 records the finalization identifying flag to at least one of the disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15.
10
1.3. Obtaining the latest defect management information
Hereinafter, a method for obtaining (reproducing) information recorded on the write-once read-many optical
15 disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 o£ the present invention (the latest defect list and the latest DDS recorded in a defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area) will be described.
20
Figure 5 shows a procedure for obtaining the latest defect list 15 and the latest DDS 14 from a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded
25 defect management working area in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, such a procedure will be described step by step with reference to Figure 5.
30 Step 601: the defect management working information
reading section 165 searches for the position of a border between a recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area and obtains border

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positional information indicating the position of the border.
For example, the defect management working information reading section 165 searches for the end position 5 of recorded areas (hereinafter also referred to as "recording end position") in the temporary defect management area 20 and stores the position of a defect management working area 21 at the end position in a recording end position 40 of the defect management information control memory 163. For,
10 example, the position of a defect management working area 21 is herein a sector address which is positional information about a sector located at a recording end position. After the position of the defect management working area 21 at the detected recording end is stored, the process goes to
15 step 602. Note that the search for the recording endposition will be described in detail below.
Step 602: the defect management working information
reading section 165 reproduces the latest DDS 14 based on
20 the border positional information, and based on the latest
DDS 14, obtains positional information about the latest
defect list 15.
For example, the defect management working
25 information reading section 165 reads out the latest DDS 14
having a size of 1 block which ends at a recording end
position 40 to the defect management information storage
buffer 140 and stores the defect list beginning positional
information 30 contained in the latest DDS 14 at a defect
30 list beginning position 41 in the defect management
information control memory 163. After the latest DDS 14 is
. read out and the defect list beginning positional information
30 is stored, the process goes to step 603.

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Step 603: the latest defect list 15 is reproduced based on positional information about the latest defect list 15. 5
For example, the defect management working
information reading section 165 reads the latest defect list
15 located whose beginning is the defect list beginning
position 41 to the defect management information storage
10 buffer 140. After the latest defect list 15 is read out,
~ the process is ended.
In this case, if the recording end position 40 indicates that no temporary defect management area 20 is
15 recorded, reading in steps 602 and 603 is not required. Instead of reading, a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 may be previously stored in the defect management information storage buffer 140. Note that the stored DDS 14 contains the defect list beginning positional information 30 which
20 has been initialized to a predetermined value, and in the stored defect list 15, the number of defect entries in the defect list header 32 has been initialized (the number of defect entries » 0), i.e., the stored defect list 15 has no defect entry 33.
25
Note that the size of a defect list 15 to be read out may be calculated based on the number of defect entries contained in the defect list header located at the beginning of the defect list 15, or may be calculated by subtracting
30 the beginning position of a DDS 14 from the defect list beginning position.
Figure 6 shows aprocess for searching for a recording

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end position. Figure 7 shows a procedure for searching for a recording end position. Searching for a recording end position means searching for the latest recorded defect management working area 21. 5
Hereinafter, a procedure for searching for a recording end position will be described step by step with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
10 Step 801: the defect management working information
reading section 165 performs first amplitude examination. The first amplitude examination is performed at regular predetermined intervals of blocks from the beginning of the temporary defect management area 20 until no amplitude is
15 found. After no amplitude is found, the process goes to step 802.
Step 802: the defect management working information reading section 165 performs second amplitude examination-
20 In the second amplitude examination, a position at which the presence of amplitude ends is searched for between the position at which amplitude was found and the position at which no amplitude was found. After a position at which no amplitude is found, the process goes to step 803.
25
Step 803: the defect management working information reading section 165 obtains a recording endposition obtained by the examination (the position of a border between the latest recorded defect management working area and an
30 unrecorded defect management working area). After the recording end position is obtained, the process is ended.
With the above-described procedure, the defect

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

management working information reading section 165 can read out the contents of the latest recorded defect management working area 21.
5 Note that a procedure for searching for a recording
end position is not limited to the recording end position searching procedure described with reference to Figure 7. For example, a recording end position can be found by searching a beginning position having amplitude from the end to the 10 beginning of the temporary defect management area 20.
In the embodiment of Figure 5, step 601 corresponds to "searching for the position of a border and obtaining border positional information indicating the position of
15 the border" . Step 602 corresponds to "reproducing latest disc definition structure based on the border positional information" and "obtaining positional information about latest disc management information based on the latest disc definition structure". Step 603 corresponds to
20 * reproducing discmanagement information based on positional information about the latest disc management information" .
However, a procedure for obtaining the latest defect list 15 and the latest DDS 14 from a recorded defect management
25 working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is not limited to the procedure of Figure 5. Any procedure for obtaining the latest defect list 15 and the latest DDS 14
30 from a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 can be employed as long

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as the procedure comprises the above-described 'searching for the position of a border and obtaining border positional information indicating the position of the border", "reproducing latest disc definition structure based on the 5 border positional information" and "obtaining positional information about latest disc management information based on the latest disc definition structure", and "reproducing disc management information based on positional information about the latest disc management information*.
1(> - -
1.4. Update of defect management information
Hereinafter, a method for recording information (a
defect list 15 and a DDS 14) onto the write-once read-many
optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
15 invention will be described.
Figure 8 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and aDDS 14 are additionally recorded into the DMWA 21 contained in the temporary defect management area 20.
20
A portion (a) of Figure 8 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a DMWA#1 contained in the temporary defect management area 20 at a first time point. A portion (b) of Figure 8 shows a state in which a
25 defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a DMWA#2 contained in the temporary defect management area 20 at a second time point. A portion (c) of Figure 8 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a DMWA#3 contained in the temporary defect management area 20
30 at a third time.
In Figure 8, filled DMWAs indicate recorded DMWAs in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 have been recorded.

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while open DMWAs indicate unrecorded DMWAs in which the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have not been recorded.
A new defect list 15 and DDS 14 are additionally 5 recorded into an unrecorded DMWA which is located at the beginning of a plurality of unrecorded DMWAs. In other words, a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 are additionally recorded to an unrecorded DMWA neighboring a border between the unrecorded DMWA and a recorded DMWA. 10 _-_-
Therefore, the latest defect list 15 and DDS 14 are
located in a recorded DMWA neighboring the end of a plurality
of recorded DMWAs. In other words, the latest defect list 15
and DDS 14 are located in a recorded DMWA neighboring a border
15 between an unrecorded DMWA and the recorded DMWA.
Figure 9 shows a procedure for additionally recording a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into a defect management working area 21 of the write-once pead-many optical disc 1 20 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The defect management worKing information writing section 166 additionally records a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 into a defect management working area 21. 25
In this case, the defect list 15 stored in the defect management information storage buffs*" 140 is permitted by the defect management information updating section 164 to retain the latest contents.
30
Specifically, for example, when a new defect block is detected, the defect management information updating section 164 adds a defect entry corresponding to a new

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replacement block (i.e., a new defect block) to a defect list 15 stored in the defect management information storage buffer 140, and sorts defect entries based on positional information about defect blocks, which are contained in the 5 defect entries. Further, the defect management information updating section 164 adds one to the number of defect entries in the defect list header.
Hereinafter, a procedure for additionally recording
10 a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 to a defect management working
area 21 in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according
to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described
step by step with reference to Figure 9.
15 Step 901: the defect management information
updating section 164 selects an unrecorded defect management working area neighboring a border between a recorded defect management working area and the unrecorded defect management working area.
20
For example, the defect management information updating section 164 adds to one a recording end position 40 in the defect management information control memory 163 and updates a DDS 14 contained in the defect management
25 information storage buffer 140 at the resultant recording end position 40, so that an unrecorded defect management working area is selected which is located at the beginning of a plurality of unrecorded defect management working areas. In other words, by updating a DDS 14 so that defect list
30 beginning positional information 30 indicates the beginning position of an unrecorded defect management working area, an unrecorded defect management working area located at the beginning of a plurality of unrecorded defect management

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-
working areas is selected. After the DDS 14 is updated, the process goes to step 902.
Step 902: the defect management working information 5 writing section 166 records a defect list 15, which is management information about the write-once read-many optical disc 1, into an unrecorded defect management working area neighboring a border and records a DDS 14 containing positional information about the recorded defect list 15 10 _ into the unrecorded defect management working area neighboring the border.
For example, the defect management working information writing section 166 records an updated defect
15 list 15 contained in the defect management information storage buffer 140 to the beginning position of an unrecorded area and records an updated DDS 14 in such a manner as to follow the defect list 15. After the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are recorded, the process is ended.
20
With the above-described procedure, the defect management working information writing section 166 records the latest defect list 15 and DDS 14 to a defect management working area 21 contained in the temporary defect management
25 area 20.
Note that updating a defect list 15 using the defect
management information updating section 164 is only
illustrative. It may be only required that a defect list 15
3 0 contains information about defect (s). For example, sorting
defect entries may not be required.
Note that a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 may be recorded

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into a defect management working area 21 of the temporary def ect-management area 20 at any timing as long as the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are recorded in such a manner that allows the DDS 14 to be necessarily located at the end of 5 a recorded defect management working area when the state of an apparatus and the state of a medium are changed. The state of an apparatus and the state of a medium are changed, means, for example, that a write-once read-many optical disc is ejected from the optical disc recording/reproduction 10 apparatus 100 or that the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 is switched off.
Note that when a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a defect management working area, it may be 15 determined whether or not the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded.
Figure 10 shows a procedure for additionally
recording a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 into a defect
20 management working area 21 while determining whether or not
the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded.
It is now assumed that the contents of a defect list 15 stored in the defect management information storage 25 buffer 140 is permitted by the defect management information updating section 164 to retain the latest contents.
Hereinafter, a procedure for additionally recording
a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 into a defect management
30 working area 21 while determining whether or not the defect
list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded will be
described step by step with reference to Figure 10.

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Step 1101: the defect management information updating section 164 updates a DDS 14 contained in the defect management information storage buffer 140 at the recording end position 40 contained in the defect management 5 information control memory 163, to which one has been added. In other words, the DDS 14 is updated in such a manner that the defect list beginning positional information 30 indicates the beginning position of an unrecorded defect management working area. After the DDS 14 is updated, the 10 process goes to step 1102.
Step 1102: the defect management working information writing section 166 records an updated defect list 15 contained in the defect management information 15 storage buffer 140 to the beginning position of an unrecorded defect management working area. After recording, the process goes to step 1103.
Step 1103: it is determined whether or not the defect 20 list 15 has been normally recorded.
In this case, whether or not the defect list 15 has
been normally recorded is performed by, for example,
performing error correction for a block in which the defect
25 list 15 is recorded or reading recorded data and determining
whether or not the recorded data matches Intended data.
When it is determined that the defect list 15 has not been normally recorded (i.e., recording of the defect 30 list 15 has failed), the process goes to step 1101. In step 1101, the recording end position 40 is changed by adding the size of a defect list which has been previously recorded. In addition, the DDS 14 contained in the defect management

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inf ormation storage buffer 140 is updated so that a position obtained by adds to one the recording end position 40 is contained in the defect list beginning positional information 30. 5
When it is determined that the defect list 15 has been normally recorded (i.e., recording of the defect list 15 has been successful), the process goes to step 1104.
10 Step 1104: the updated DDS 14 is recorded. After
the DDS 14 is recorded, the process goes to step 1105.
Step 1105: it is determined whether or not the DDS 14 has been normally recorded. 15
When it is determined that the DDS 14 has not been normally recorded (i. e., recording of the DDS 14 has failed), the process goes to step 1104.
20 When it is determined that the DDS 14 has been
normally recorded (i.e., recording of the DDS 14 has been successful), the process is ended.
Step 1102 and step 1103 are repeated until the defect
25 list 15 has been normally recorded. Step 1104 and step 1105
are repeated until the DDS 14 has been normally recorded.
With the above-described procedure, the defect
management working area updating section 165 additionally
30 records a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 into a defect management
working area 21 while determining whether or not the defect
list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded. .

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Note that step 1101 and step H°2 may be performed in reverse order. Specifically, after a defect list 15 is recorded and it is confirmed that the recording has been normally achieved, a DDS 14 containing defect list beginning 5 positional information 30 is recorded into a defect management working area 21 in which the defect list 15 has been recorded.
Note that although a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are
10 located in different blocks among a plurality of blocks in
the procedure described "in Figure 10 > both a defect list
15 and a DDS 14 may share at least one block among a plurality
of blocks.
15 If botn a aef ect list 15 and a "DBS 14 may sliare at
least one block among a plurality of blocks, after a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded in a block shared by the defect list 15 and the DDS 14, it is determined whether or not the recording has been normally achieved. If the
20 recording has failed, positional information is changed so that a position for a next recording corresponds to the defect list beginning positional information 30 of a DDS 14., and a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded again in a block shared by the defect list 15 and tne DDS 14. Recording of
25 a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 is repeatedly attempted until the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are normally recorded.
Therefore, the data reliability of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 recorded in a defect management working area 30 21 can be improved.
■Figure 11 sVicros a state iii vflfciciv a d&£ect list \$ and a DDS 14 are additionally recorded into a defect

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management working area 21 in accordance with the procedure described with reference to Figure 10.
A portion (a) of Figure 11 shows a state in which 5 a defect block is present in a defect management working area #1 (DMWA#1), and therefore, first recording of a defect list 15 to the DMWA#1 has failed. Subsequently, recording of the defect list 15 is attempted. If recording of the defect list 15 is successful, a DDS 14 is recorded following the 10 defect list 15.
A portion (b) of Figure 11 shows a state in which no defect block is present in a DMWA#2.
15 As described above, even if a defect block is present
in a defect management working area 21 and therefore recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 fails, recording of the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 is repeatedly attempted until the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are normally recorded.
20 Thereby, recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are appropriately performed.
In the embodiment of Figure 9, step 901 corresponds to "selecting an unrecorded disc management working area
25 neighboring a border between a recorded disc management working area and the unrecorded disc management working area"; step 902 corresponds to "recording disc management information, which is management information about a write-once read-many information recording medium, into to
30 the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border" and "recordingadiscdefinition structure containing positional information about disc management information defined in the above-described recording step into the

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unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border".
However, a procedure for additionally recording a 5 defect list and a DDS into a defect management working area 21 of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is not limited to that of Figure 9. Any procedure for additionally recording a defect list and a DDS into a defect management working area
10 21 of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention may be employed as long as the procedure has functions of "selecting an unrecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between a recorded disc management working area and the
15 unrecorded disc management working area"; ^recording disc management information, which is management information about a write-once read-many information recording medium, into to the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border" and "recording a disc definition
20 structure containing positional information about disc management information defined in the above-described recording step into the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border".
25 Figure 12 shows a data structure of another
write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In the other write-once read-many optical disc 1
30 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, at least
one defect management working area 21 (DMWA#1 to DMWA#N (N:
an integer of 1 or more)) is allocated in a direction from
the end to the beginning of a temporary defect management

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area 20 (in a direction from the outer periphery to the inner periphery of the write-once read-iflany optical disc 1). A DDS X4 and a defect list 15 are recorded sequentially from a defect management working area 21 at the end of the temporary 5 defect management area 20 (closer to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1).
A DDS 14 and a defect list 1$ are provided in a defect management working area 21 in the same order as that of a
10 DDS 14 and a defect list IS provided in each of a DMA1 to a DMA4. In a defect management working area 21, a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are located in this order along a direction from the end to the beginning of the temporary defect management area 20 (i.e., in a direction from the outer
15 periphery to tb.e inner periphery of the-write-once read-many optical disc 1).
A DDS 14 is located in, for example, a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the
20 recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area, tfhe DDS 14 is located at a predetermined position which is calculated based on the beginning of the recorded defect management working area neighboring the border.
25
In the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of Figure 12, when searching for the latest recorded defect management working area 21, the defect management working information reading section 165 of the optical disc
30 recording/reproduction apparatus 100 searches for the beginning position of recorded a^eas (hereinafter also referred to as "recording beginning position") in the temporary defect management area 20 and determines that a

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

defect management working area 21 located at the recording beginning position is the latest recorded defect management working area 21. In other words, in Figure 6, a recording beginning position is searched for where a recorded area 5 is replaced with an unrecorded area. In the defect management working inf ormationwriting section 166, an unrecorded defect management working area, which is closer to the inner periphery than a recorded beginning area in the temporary defect management area 20, is regarded as an available defect 10 management working area 21.
In the write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention, at least one defect management working area is sequentially allocated in a
15 predetermined direction. The latest defect list and the latest DDS are provided in a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area, wherein the latest defect list and the latest
20 DDS are arranged in this order along the predetermined direction. Therefore, it is easy to find the latest DDS and the latest defect list.
Hereinafter, an effect of the above-described 25 write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention, in which the predetermined direction is a direction from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1, will be described in detail. 30
It is now assumed that the latest DFL 15 and the latest
DDS 14 are arranged in a defect management working area 21
. in this order along the direction from the outer periphery

WO 2004/059648„ PCT/JP2003/016057
to the inner periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 as with the latest DFL 15 and the latest DDS 14 in the DMA1 to the DMA4.
5 It is possible to search for a recording end position
in the temporary defect management area 20 (Figure 8). However, the size of a DFL 15 varies depending on the number of defect entries. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate the beginning position of a DFL 15 from the end position.
10_
In order to obtain the latest DFL 15 in the above-described data structure, the beginning position of a DFL 15 is calculated from a DDS 14 located at the beginning of the temporary defect management area 20, and the size
15 of the DFL 15 is calculated from the number of defect entries contained in the DFL 15 to determine the position of the next DDS 14. The beginning position of a DFL 15 is calculated from this DDS 14, * • • . In this manner, the temporary defect management area 20 is tracked sequentially. In the data
20 structure in which a DDS 14 precedes a DFL 15, a long time is disadvantageously required. Moreover, if a block from which data cannot be reproduced is present in a DDS 14 and a DFL 15, a search for the latest DFL 15 is hindered, so that the reliability is disadvantageously lowered.
25
If a DFL 15 has a fixed length, the problem with the search for the latest DDS 14 and the latest DFL 15 can be avoided. In this case, however, the number of times of additionally recording data into a temporary defect
30 management area 20 is reduced or a larger size of temporary defect management area 20 is required, leading to a reduction in the efficiency of use of areas.
i

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In the write-once read-many optical, disc 1 of Embodiment 1, at least one defect management working area 21 is allocated in a predetermined direction; the latest DFL 14 and the latest DDS 15 are arranged in this order along 5 the predetermined direction and located in a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area; if a DDS 14 is located at a predetermined position which can be calculated based on
10 the border, a DFL 15 having a variable size can be utilized, resulting in a high efficiency of use of a defect management working area 21; and the recording position of the latest DFL 15 is recorded in a DDS 14 in a defect management working area 21 at the recording end position in the temporary defect
15 management area 20 (i.e., a recorded defect management working area neighboring the border). Therefore, the above-described problems can be solved.
In the write-once read-many optical disc of the
20 present invention, at least one defect management working
area is allocated in a predetermined direction; the latest
DFL and the latest DDS are arranged in this order along the
predetermined direction and located in a recorded defect
management working area neighboring a border between the
25 recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded
defect management working area; and a DDS is located at a
predetermined position which can be calculated based on the
border. Therefore, it is possible to easily find the latest
DDS and the latest defect list.
30
1.5. Finalization
Figure 13 shows a procedure for finalization according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. By

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

recording a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into each of the DMAl to the DMA4 of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of the present invention, the finalization of Embodiment 1 of the present invention is performed. 5
Here, the contents of a defect list 15 stored in the defect management information storage buffer 140 are permitted by the defect management information updating section 164 to retain the latest contents. 10
Hereinafter, the finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described step by step with reference to Figure 13.
15 Step 1001: recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14
into one (e.g., DMAl) of the DMAl to the DMA4 is started.
20
25
30
Step 1002: the defect management information updating section 164 changes the latest DDS 14 to the last DDS 14 by changing positional information indicating the position of a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border to positional information indicating the position of one of at least one defect management area. For example, the defect management information updating section 164 changes the latest DDS 14 to the last DDS 14 by changing the defect list beginning positional information 30 of a DDS 14 in the defect management information storage buffer 140 to the defect list beginning positional information of the defect management area (DMAl) to be recorded. After the defect list beginning positional information 30 is changed, the process goes to step 1003.
Step 1003: the defect management information

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057
writing section 162 records the last defect list 15 into one of at least one defect management areas. For example, the defect management information writing section 162 records to the DMAl a defect list 15 in the defect management 5 information storage buffer 140. After the defect list 15 is recorded, the process goes to step 1004.
Step 1004: the defect management information writing section 162 records the last DDS 14 into one of at
10 least one defect management areas based on the last defect list 15. For example, the defect management information writing section 162 records to the DMAl a DDS 14 in the defect management information storage buffer 140. After the DDS 14 is recorded, the process goes to step 1005.
15
Step 1005: recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into one (DMAl) of the DMAl to the DMA4 is completed. After recording is completed, the process goes to step 1001.
20 Step 1002 to step 1004 are performed for all of the
remaining defect management areas (i.e., the DMA2 to the DMA4).
After recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into 25 the DMAl to the DMA4 is completed, f inalization is completed.
Note that in step 1001 to step 1005, the last defect list 15 is the latest defect list 15 located in at least one defect management area, and the last disc definition 30 structure 14 is a disc definition structure 14 containing positional information about the last defect list 15. The latest defect list 15 is generally a defect list 15 which is recorded in a recorded defect management working area

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area. The latest disc definition structure 14 is generally a disc definition structure 14 which contains positional 5 information about the last defect list 15.
With the above-described procedure, the defect management information processing section 160 can record the last DDS 14 and the last defect list 15 into the DMA! 10 _ to the DMA4 for finalizatlon.
Figure 14 shows data structures of a rewritable optical disc 400 and a write-once read-many optical disc after finalizatlon for comparison.
15
By performing the finalizatlon procedure of Figure 13, the data structure of theDMAl to the DMA4 provided in a write-once read-many optical disc after finalizatlon is the same as the data structure of the DMA1 to the DMA4
20 provided in the rewritable optical disc 400. Thus, data can be reproduced from the finalized write-once read-many optical disc by the rewritable optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 200 of Figure 24, resulting in a compatible optical disc for reproduction.
25
Note that generally, in finalizatlon, information having the same contents as those of a defect list 15 recorded in a recorded defect management working area neighboring a border between the recorded defect management working area
30 and an unrecorded defect management working area is recorded in a defect management working area. Therefore, in an apparatus capable of handling the data structure of the write-once read-many optical disc of the present invention.

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

if the contents of the latest defect management working area 21 can be obtained, it is not necessary to obtain the contents of the DMA1 to the DMA4, so that a time required for obtaining defect management information can be reduced. Even when 5 recording of a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 into the DMA1 to the DMA4 is totally failed, data can be reproduced from the write-once read-many optical disc 1 by obtaining a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 from the latest defect management working area 21.
10
Thus, according to the finalization of the present invention, the data structure of a finalized write-once read-many optical disc is the same as the data structure of a rewritable optical disc. As a result, a rewritable
15 optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus can reproduce data from a finalized write-once read-many optical disc, thereby obtaining compatibility.
In the example of Figure 13, the defect management
20 information writing section 162 functions as "a section for
recording the last disc management information into at least
one disc management area" and "a section for recording the
last disc definition structure into at least one disc
management area based on the last disc management
25 information". However, the defect management information
writing section 162 only shows an exemplary portion of the
function of the present invention. A section having any
constitution may be employed as long as the above-described
function can be achieved.
30
Note that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 can be finalized by recording a finalization identifying flag onto the write-once read-many optical disc 1.

WO 2004/059648

PCT/JP2003/016057

For example, the defect management working information writing section 166 records the finalization identifying flag into at least one of a disc definition 5 structure 14 and a defect list IS-
Figure 15 shows another finalization procedure
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The
other finalization is performed by recording a finalization
10 identifying flag into the write-once read-many optical disc 1
of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the other finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be 15 described step by step with reference to Figure 15.
Step 2201: a finalization identifying flag is recorded onto the write-once read-many optical disc 1. The finalization identifying flag is recorded at a predetermined 20 position on the write-once read-many optical disc 1. The predetermined position is any position from which the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus of the present invention can read the finalization identifying flag.
25 If the predetermined position is a defect management
working area 21, the defect management working information writing section 166 records the finalization identifying flag into at least one of a disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15 in a defect management working area 21.
30 In this case, the defect management working information reading section 165 reads the finalization identifying flag.
After the finalization identifying flag is recorded

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

into at least one of a disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15, the process is ended.
1.6. Finalization determination
5 Figure 16 shows a finalization determination
procedure for determining whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized. Hereinafter, the finalization determination procedure (step 2301 to step 2303) for determining whether or not the write-once 10 read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized will be described step by step with reference to Figure 16.
Note that in step 2301 to step 2303, the last defect list 15 is the latest defect list 15 provided in at least
15 one defect management area; the last disc definition structure 14 is a disc definition structure 14 containing positional information about the last defect list 15; and the latest defect list 15 is a defect list 15 which is recorded in a recorded defect management working area neighboring
20 a border between the recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defect management working area.
Step 2301: the defect management information
reading section 161 selects one of at least one defect
25 management areas allocated in the write-once read-many
optical disc 1. After one of at least one defect management
areas is selected, the process goes to step 2302.
Step 2302: the defect management information
30 reading section 161 reads out data from one of the at least
one defect management areas allocated in the write-once
read-many optical disc 1 and determines whether or not the
defect management area has been recorded. For example, the

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057
defect management Information reading section 161 reads out data from one of the DMA1 to the DMA4, and based on the result of reading, determines whether or not the last defect list and the last DDS are recorded in one of the DMft.1 to the DMA4. 5
If the amplitude value of a read signal indicating the result of reading data is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the defect management area has been recorded. If the amplitude
10 _ value of a read signal indicating the result of reading data does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the defect management area is unrecorded. For example, data is read from the DMA1, and based on the result of reading, it is determined whether or not the DMA1
15 has been recorded.
Data to be read out is not limited to the last defect list 15 and the last DDS 14. The contents of the data are not particularly limited as long as the data is used to 20 determine whether or not a defect management area has been recorded in accordance with the procedure described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
The procedure for determining whether or not a defect 25 management area has been recorded is similar to the procedure described in Figures 6 and 7 and the description is omitted. Note that in the procedure described in Figures 6 and 7 the defect management working information reading section 165 examines amplitude, while in the f inalization determination 30 procedure the defect management information reading section 161 examines amplitude.
Note that the procedure for determining whether or

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057

not a defect management area has been recorded is not limited to the procedure described in Figures 6 and 7. By examining whether or not data is correctly read out, it may be determined whether or not a defect management area has been recorded. 5 For example, based on the result of examining whether or not the last defect list 15 or the last DDS 14 is correctly read from a defect management area, it is determined whether or not a defect management area has been recorded.
10 If a defect management area has been recorded, it
is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state, and the process is ended.
15
If a defect management area is *vot recorded, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been changed from the write-once read-many state to the non-write-once read-many state, and the process goes to step 2303.
20
Step 2303: the defect management information reading section 161 determines whether or not all of the at least one defect management areas allocated in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 are already selected.
25
30
If all of the defect management areas are already selected, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been changed from the write-once read-many state to the non-write-once read-many state, and the process is ended.
If not all of the defect management areas are already selected, the process goes to step 2301.

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057
If it is determined that at least one of the DMA1 to the DMA4 has been recorded, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been changed from 5 the write-once read-many state to the non-write-once read-many state. If it is determined that all of the DMA1 to the DMA4 are unrecorded, it is determined that the write-orice read-many optical disc 1 has not been changed from the write-once read-many state to the non-write-once 10 read-many state.
For example, the defect management information reading section 161 reads out data from at least one of the DMA1 to the DMA4. If data is normally reproduced, it is
15 determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized. If all of the DMA1 to the DMA4 are unrecorded and therefore data cannot be normally reproduced from these defect management areas, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been finalized.
20
In the embodiment of Figure 16, step 2302 corresponds to "reading out data from one of at least one disc management areas and determining whether or not the defect management area has been recorded" and step 2303
25 corresponds to "determining, based on the result of the above-described determination, whether or not a write-once read-many information recording medium has been changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state".
30
However, a finalization determination procedure for determining whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized is not limited to that of Figure 16

WO 2004/059648 PCT/JP2003/016057
Any finalization determination procedure for determining whether or not the write-once rea#-many optical disc 1 is already finalized can be employed a£ long as it has functions of "reading out data from one of at least one disc management 5 areas and determining whether or not the defect management area has been recorded" and "determining, based on the result of the above-described determination, whether or not a write-once read-many information recording medium has been changed from a write- once read-many state to a non-write-once 10 read-many state".
Figure 17 shows another firialization determination procedure for determining whether" or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized. Hereinafter, 15 the other xinalization o.etennVratiun pxoceaxtre fox determining whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized will be described step by step with reference to Figure 17.
20 Step 2401: the optical dis