JP2001283529A - Prepaid recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prepaid recording medium which can limit sound recording according to the cumulative amount of recorded data when, for example, audio data are recorded and also limit sound recording according to an actual sound-recording time (length of music) when the audio data are compressed and recorded. SOLUTION: This recording medium has a user recordable area 2b where compressed data are recorded, a user TOC area 2a where cumulative data capacity which is updates each time the data are recorded in the above 1st recordable area is recorded, and a TOC area 3 where the upper-limit of the cumulative data capacity is previously recorded; and the recording of the compressed data to the user recordable area 2b is limited according to the cumulative data capacity recorded in the user TOC area 2a and the upper-limit of the cumulative data capacity recorded previously in the TOC area 3. The sale price is set according to the upper-limit of the cumulative data capacity set in the TOC area 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a prepaid recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are a plurality of types of disc-shaped recording media, for example, optical discs, such as a so-called compact disc (hereinafter referred to as a CD).
Form, write once data can be added (WO: Wr
2. Description of the Related Art An optical disk of a rewritable (RW) type, such as a rewritable (RW) type, in which data can be rewritten, such as a magneto-optical disk, is known.

On a user-recordable optical disk such as the write-once optical disk or the magneto-optical disk, a 16-bit linearly quantized audio data having a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz is used, for example, in a format adopted by a CD. (Hereinafter, referred to as a CD-DA format), or the audio data may be recorded using a format (so-called CD-I format) further subjected to a data compression process.

In these cases, for example, a problem such as so-called copyright occurs. That is, if recording and reproduction of an audio signal as a digital signal becomes possible, dubbing without any deterioration in the audio signal becomes possible. Therefore,
Some recording restrictions are required.

[0005] As the method, there is a method of completely prohibiting dubbing of an audio signal with a digital signal, and a method disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-46963 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-38881 filed earlier by the present applicant. Known techniques are known. More specifically, the former is to record in advance the cumulative recordable time indicating the time allowed for recording on the optical disc (so-called preformat), and to record the cumulative record time indicating the time of recording up to the present time. If the cumulative recording time exceeds the cumulative recordable time, the recording is limited (hereinafter referred to as a first technique).
The latter divides the recordable area of the write-once optical disc into a number corresponding to the number of songs permitted to be recorded,
Only one song can be recorded in one divided area (hereinafter referred to as a second technique).

[0006]

However, the above-described method of prohibiting dubbing with a digital signal eliminates one use of a magneto-optical disk or the like. on the other hand,
In the first technique described above, there is no problem when recording audio data conforming to the CD-DA format. However, when recording in the CD-I format, that is, when performing data compression processing on the audio data, recording is performed.
Even if the cumulative recording time is the same, the actual recording time is longer than that of the CD-DA format, and there is a problem that the fairness is lacking. Specifically, in the CD-I format, each level as shown in Table 1 below is defined.

[0007]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, for example, in the level B mode, a signal obtained by compressing audio data in the standard CD-DA format to about 1/4 is recorded or reproduced. Therefore, recording or reproduction can be performed about four times as long.

Further, in the above-mentioned second technique, even if the number of music pieces is the same, if the length of the music pieces is different, the time of music that can be actually recorded is different, which also causes a problem of lack of fairness. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. For example, when recording audio data, it is possible to limit recording based on the amount of accumulated data that has been recorded, and to perform data compression processing on audio data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prepaid recording medium capable of restricting recording based on an actual recording time (length of music) when performing recording.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a prepaid recording medium according to the present invention comprises a first recordable area in which compressed data is recorded and a first recordable area in which the compressed data is recorded. A second recordable area in which the accumulated data capacity updated each time is performed, and a reproduction-only area in which the accumulated upper limit data capacity is recorded in advance, and is recorded in the second recordable area. The recording of compressed data in the first recordable area is limited based on the accumulated data capacity and the accumulated upper limit data capacity recorded in the read-only area in advance. The selling price is set according to the accumulated upper limit data capacity.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a magneto-optical disk.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a recording form of the magneto-optical disk, and FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the magneto-optical disk 1 has a magneto-optical recording area 2 on which a user records or reproduces data, and an inner and outer magneto-optical recording area 2 which will be described later. A pit recording area (so-called lead-in) 3 in which information is recorded in advance and a pit recording area (so-called lead-out) 4 are provided.

The pit recording area 3 is a so-called TO
C (Table of Contents) recording area (hereinafter TOC)
Area), and the TOC area 3 includes:
As shown in FIG. 2, the cumulative recordable data amount indicating the data capacity permitted to be recorded on the magneto-optical disk 1 is recorded in advance as pits at the time of manufacturing the disk.

As shown in FIG. 2, the magneto-optical recording area 2 records a user TOC area 2a to which a user cannot access and an audio data.
Alternatively, it is divided into a user recordable area 2b that can be accessed by a user who reproduces the information. Then, in the user TOC area 2a, an accumulated recording data amount indicating the data amount recorded up to the present is automatically recorded, for example, every time recording is performed.

Next, an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing audio data on the magneto-optical disk 1 will be described.

In this optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus, the magneto-optical disk 1 is rotated by a spindle motor 11 as shown in FIG. For this magneto-optical disk 1,
For example, by applying a modulation magnetic field corresponding to the recording data with the magnetic head 14 while the optical head 13 is irradiating the laser light, data recording (so-called magnetic field modulation recording) is performed along the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1. In addition, the data is reproduced magneto-optically by tracing the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 with the laser light by the optical head 13. The data recording or data reproduction is performed based on a later-described cluster address and sector address recorded (pre-formatted) on the magneto-optical disk 1 in advance.

The optical head 13 includes a laser light source such as a laser diode, optical components such as a collimator lens, an objective lens, a beam splitter, and a cylindrical lens, and a photodetector divided into a predetermined arrangement. It is provided at a position facing the magnetic head 14 with the magnetic disk 1 therebetween. When recording data on the magneto-optical disk 1, the optical head 13 has a recording-system head drive circuit 26 to be described later.
Drives the magnetic head 14 and irradiates the target track of the magneto-optical disk 1 with a laser beam to which a modulation magnetic field according to recording data is applied, thereby performing data recording by thermomagnetic recording. The optical head 13
Detects a focus error by, for example, a so-called astigmatism method by detecting reflected light of a laser beam applied to a target track, and detects a tracking error by, for example, a so-called push-pull method. When reproducing data, a difference in the polarization angle (Kerr rotation angle) of the reflected light of the laser light from the target track is detected to generate a reproduced signal. The optical head 13
Reproduces the accumulated recordable data amount preformatted in the TOC area 3 of the magneto-optical disk 1 and the accumulated data amount recorded in the user TOC area 2a. The cluster address and the sector address preformatted as pits are reproduced.

The output of the optical head 13 is the RF circuit 1
5 is supplied. The RF circuit 15 extracts a focus error signal and a tracking error signal from the output of the optical head 13 and supplies the same to the servo control circuit 16, and also binarizes the reproduction signal and supplies it to a reproduction system decoder 31 described later. . The RF circuit 15 supplies the reproduced cumulative recordable data amount, the cumulative record data amount, the cluster address, and the sector address to the system controller 17 described later.

The servo control circuit 16 comprises, for example, a focus servo control circuit, a tracking servo control circuit, a spindle motor servo control circuit, a thread servo control circuit and the like. The focus servo control circuit performs focus control of the optical system of the optical head 13 so that the focus error signal becomes zero. Further, the tracking servo control circuit performs tracking control of the optical system of the optical head 13 so that the tracking error signal becomes zero. Further, the spindle motor servo control circuit controls the spindle motor 11 so as to rotate the magneto-optical disk 1 at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, a constant linear speed). The thread servo control circuit includes a system controller 17
The optical head 13 and the magnetic head 14 are moved to the target track position of the magneto-optical disk 1 designated by the following. The servo control circuit 16 that performs such various control operations transmits information indicating the operation state of each unit controlled by the servo control circuit 16 to the system controller 17.
To supply.

The system controller 17 is connected to a key input operation unit 18 and a display unit 19. The system controller 17 controls a recording system and a reproduction system in an operation mode specified by operation input information from the key input operation unit 18.

Specifically, the system controller 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes the optical head 1 based on a cluster address and a sector address reproduced from the magneto-optical disk 1.
3 and a recording position and a reproduction position on a recording track traced by the magnetic head 14. Further, the system controller 17 calculates the cumulative recordable data amount and the cumulative record data amount obtained through the RF circuit 15,
The recording limit is controlled, and each time data is recorded, a new accumulated data amount is set by the user T of the magneto-optical disk 1.
Control for recording in the OC area 2a is performed. In addition, the display unit 19 is controlled so as to display, for example, the remaining recordable data amount and the fact that recording is not possible. Further, based on the data compression ratio in the data compression mode and the cluster address and the like, the display unit 19 is controlled to display, for example, a performance time, that is, a reproduction time.

The reproduction time is indicated by the reciprocal of the data compression ratio in the data compression mode (for example, 4 in 1/4 compression) and the like, in the cluster address and sector address reproduced from the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1. By multiplication, actual time information is obtained, and this is displayed on the display unit 19. At the time of recording, it is also possible to display the current position at the actual recording time by reading the preformatted cluster address and sector address and multiplying by the reciprocal of the data compression ratio.

Next, the recording system of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus includes an A / D converter 22 to which an analog audio signal _AIN is supplied from an input terminal 20 via a low-pass filter 21.

The A / D converter 22 quantizes the audio signal _AIN, and the audio data obtained by the A / D converter 22 is converted to an AD (adaptive delta) PC.
It is supplied to the M encoder 23. The ADPCM encoder 23, the audio signal A _IN for audio data data of the predetermined transfer rate quantized by the A / D converter 22, shown in Table 1 described in the prior art C
The system controller 1 performs data compression processing corresponding to various modes in the DI format.
7 designates an operation mode. For example, in the B-level mode in Table 1, compressed data (hereinafter referred to as ADPCM audio data) having a sampling frequency of 37.8 kHz and the number of bits per sample being 4 bits is supplied to the memory 24. That is, the data transfer rate in the B-level stereo mode is reduced to 1/4 (18.75 sectors / second) of the data transfer rate (75 sectors / second) of the standard CD-DA format.

Here, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, A / D
The sampling frequency of the converter 22 is, for example, the sampling frequency of the standard CD-DA format 4
It is fixed to 4.1 kHz, and ADPCM encoder 2
3, sampling rate conversion according to the compression mode (for example, 44.1 kHz to 37.
After conversion to 8 kHz, data compression processing from 16 bits to 4 bits is performed. As another configuration example, the sampling frequency of the A / D converter 22 may be switched and controlled in accordance with the compression mode. In this case, the switching frequency of the A / D converter 22 whose switching is controlled is controlled. The cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter 21 is also switched and controlled according to the sampling frequency. That is, A / D is performed according to the compression mode.
The sampling frequency of the converter 22 and the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter 21 may be simultaneously switched and controlled.

Next, in the memory 24, the writing and reading of data are controlled by the system controller 17, and the ADP from the ADPCM encoder 23
The CM audio data is temporarily stored, and is used as a buffer memory for recording on a disk as needed. That is, in the B-level stereo mode, the data transfer rate of the ADPCM audio data from the ADPCM encoder 23 is 1/4 of the data transfer rate (75 sectors / second) of the standard CD-DA format, That is, the rate is reduced to 18.75 sectors / second, and the ADPCM audio data is continuously written to the memory 24. This ADP
For the CM audio data, it is sufficient to record one sector for every four sectors. However, such recording every four sectors is practically impossible, and therefore, continuous recording of sectors as described later is performed. In this recording, a standard CD (for example, 32 sectors + several sectors) is used as a recording unit in a standard CD through a pause period.
-Performed in bursts at the same data transfer rate as the DA format (75 sectors / second). That is, in the memory 24, 18.75 corresponding to the data compression rate is used.
ADPCM audio data in the B-level stereo mode continuously written at a low transfer rate of (= 75/4) sectors / second is read out as recording data in a burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / second. The overall data transfer rate of the read and recorded data, including the recording pause period, is as low as 18.75 sectors / sec, but within the time of the recording operation performed in bursts. The instantaneous data transfer rate in the above is the standard 75 sectors / second. Therefore, when the disk rotation speed is the same speed (constant linear speed) as that of the standard CD-DA format, the same recording density and storage pattern as those of the CD-DA format are recorded.

ADPCM audio data, ie, recording data, read from the memory 24 in a burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / sec is supplied to an encoder 25. Here, the encoder 25
In the data sequence supplied to the cluster, the unit continuously recorded in one recording is a cluster including a plurality of sectors (for example, 32 sectors) and several sectors for cluster connection arranged before and after the cluster. The cluster connection sector is set to be longer than the interleave length in the encoder 25, so that interleaving does not affect data of other clusters. Details of this cluster unit recording will be described later with reference to FIG.

The encoder 25 performs encoding processing (parity addition and interleaving processing) for error correction, EFM encoding processing, and the like on the recording data supplied in bursts from the memory 24 as described above. The recording data that has been encoded by the encoder 25 is supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 26.

The magnetic head drive circuit 26 is connected to the magnetic head 14 and drives the magnetic head 14 so as to apply a modulation magnetic field corresponding to the recording data to the magneto-optical disk 1.

Further, the system controller 17 includes:
The memory control is performed on the memory 24 as described above, and the recording position is controlled so that the recording data read from the memory 24 in a burst manner by the memory control is continuously recorded on the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1. I do. The control of the recording position is performed by managing the recording position of the recording data read from the memory 24 in a burst manner by the system controller 17 on the basis of the cluster address and the sector address. This is performed by supplying a control signal for specifying the recording position to the servo control circuit 16. Also, this system controller 17
Controls the recording of the new accumulated recording data amount obtained by adding the currently recorded data amount to the user TOC area 2a of the magneto-optical disk 1 when the recording of the recording data is completed.

Next, a reproducing system in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus will be described.

This reproducing system is for reproducing the recorded data continuously recorded on the recording tracks of the magneto-optical disk 1 by the recording system as described above. A decoder 31 is provided which reproduces a reproduction output obtained by tracing one recording track with a laser beam and binarizes the reproduction output with the RF circuit 15.

The decoder 31 corresponds to the encoder 25 in the above-described recording system.
The reproduction output binarized by the F circuit 15 is subjected to the above-described decoding processing for error correction, EFM decoding processing, and the like, and converts the B-level stereo mode ADPCM audio data to the B-level audio data. -75 sectors / faster than the normal transfer speed in stereo mode
Play at a transfer rate of seconds. The reproduction data obtained by the decoder 31 is supplied to the memory 32.

In the memory 32, writing and reading of data are controlled by the system controller 17, and reproduced data supplied from the decoder 31 at a transfer rate of 75 sectors / second is burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / second. Is written. Also, from the memory 32, the reproduction data written in a burst at the transfer rate of 75 sectors / second is continuously read at the regular transfer rate of 18.75 sectors / second in the B-level stereo mode. .

The system controller 17 writes the reproduced data to the memory 32 at a transfer rate of 75 sectors / second, and continuously writes the reproduced data from the memory 32 at a transfer rate of 18.75 sectors / second. Performs memory control such as reading.

Further, the system controller 17
The memory control is performed on the memory 32 as described above, and the reproduction position is controlled so that the reproduction data written in a burst from the memory 32 is continuously reproduced from the recording track of the magneto-optical disk 1 by the memory control. I do. The reproduction position is controlled by controlling the reproduction position of the reproduction data read from the memory 32 in a burst manner by the system controller 17 based on the cluster address and the sector address. The control is performed by supplying a control signal designating the position to the servo control circuit 16.

ADPCM audio data in the B-level stereo mode obtained as reproduction data continuously read from the memory 32 at a transfer rate of 18.75 sectors / second is supplied to an ADPCM decoder 33.

The ADPCM decoder 33 corresponds to the ADPCM encoder 23 of the recording system. When the operation mode is designated by the system controller 17, for example, the ADPCM audio data in the B level stereo mode is expanded four times. Then, the audio data data in the CD-DA mode is reproduced. This ADPCM
The audio data from the decoder 33 is D / A
It is supplied to a converter 34.

The D / A converter 34 is provided with the ADPCM.
The audio data supplied from the decoder 33 is converted into an analog signal, and an analog audio signal A _OUT
To form The audio signal A _OUT obtained by the D / A converter 34 is output from an output terminal 36 via a low-pass filter 35.

[0041] In the reproducing system of the disc recording and reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, the digital output function includes, digital output audio data data by the ADPCM decoder 33 is a digital audio signal D _OUT via a digital output encoder 37 Terminal 38
Is output from

The magneto-optical disk 1 used in such a disk recording / reproducing apparatus preferably has a capacity capable of recording a stereo audio signal for about 60 minutes to about 74 minutes. 1 /
When a data compression ratio of 4 is adopted, about 130 Mbytes are required. In addition, in order to configure a portable or pocket-sized recording and / or reproducing apparatus, it is desirable to use a disk having an outer diameter of 8 cm or smaller. Further, regarding the track pitch and the linear velocity, the same track pitch of 1.6 μm as that of the CD was used.
m and a linear velocity of 1.2 to 1.4 m / s. As a disk satisfying these conditions, for example, the outer diameter of the disk is 64 mm, and the outer diameter of the magneto-optical recording area is 6 mm.
The inner diameter of the magneto-optical recording area may be 1 mm, the inner diameter of the lead-in area may be 30 mm, and the center hole diameter may be 10 mm. If this disc is stored in a disc caddy of 70 mm × 74 mm in length and width and supplied to the market, recording and reproduction on the disc can be performed by a recording / reproducing apparatus having a pocket size. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the magneto-optical recording area of the disk for enabling recording and reproduction for about 72 to 76 minutes in the 1/4 data compression mode are as follows. Outer diameter 60mm ~
Outer diameter 71mm-7 when inner diameter is 50mm from 62mm
What is necessary is just to set suitably within the range of 3 mm.

Next, the recording operation of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus as described above will be described in more detail. First, recording data (data read from the memory 24)
Are clustered for every fixed number of sectors (or blocks), and some sectors for cluster connection are arranged between these clusters. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a cluster C is composed of, for example, 32 sectors (blocks) B0 to B31, and between these clusters C, for example, 5 connection sectors (hereinafter referred to as linking sectors). L1 to L5 are arranged and connected to the next cluster. Here, one cluster, for example, k
Th when recording data in the cluster C _k are not only 32 sectors B0~B31 the cluster C _k, 3 pieces of before and after the connection sector of the respective portions 3 sectors, namely cluster C _k-1 side Sectors L3 to L5 (run-
(In-block) and three sectors L1 to L3 (run-out block) on the cluster C _{k + 1} side, for a total of 38
Recording is performed in units of sectors. At this time, the recording data for these 38 sectors is sent from the memory 24 to the encoder 25, and the encoder 25 performs an interleaving process, so that a distance of up to 108 frames (corresponding to about 1.1 sectors) can be rearranged. is performed, the data in the cluster C _k are the run - run from the in-block L3 to L5 - out block
It is well within the range from L1 to L3, and does not affect other clusters _Ck-1 and _{Ck + 1} . The linking sectors L1 to L5 are provided with dummy data such as 0, for example, so that an adverse effect on the original data due to the interleave processing can be avoided. Further, when recording the next cluster C _{k + 1,} the three sectors L3~L5 of the five linking for sector L1~L5 between cluster C _k is a run - because used as an in-block, sector L3 Will be recorded twice, but there is no problem. Further, as the cluster, for example, 37 sectors including the sector for linking may be defined as one cluster.

The above-described recording in units of clusters is performed, for example, by preformatting, as pits, at the head of each sector, a cluster address for identifying each cluster and a sector address for identifying each sector in the cluster. Is performed based on the cluster address and the sector address obtained by reproducing the pits. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a total of 37 sectors of 32 data recording sectors and 5 linking sectors constitute one cluster, and an address composed of, for example, 12 bits is used as a cluster address for identifying the cluster. For example, 6 is assigned as a sector address for identifying a sector in the cluster.
Assign an address consisting of bits. And
The cluster address and the sector address are preformatted as pits, and the cluster address and the sector address are reproduced at the time of recording, and the recording position on the recording track is managed based on the reproduced cluster address and the sector address. I do. The cluster address and the sector address may be preformatted, for example, by giving a so-called group shift in the radial direction of the disk.

Thus, by performing recording in cluster units, it is not necessary to consider mutual interference due to interleaving with other clusters, and data processing is greatly simplified. Also, if the recording data cannot be recorded normally at the time of recording due to defocus, tracking deviation, other malfunction, etc., re-recording can be performed in cluster units, and if effective data reading cannot be performed during reproduction, Re-reading can be performed in cluster units.

Next, as described above, in the disk recording apparatus that manages data based on the cluster address and the sector address, control of the recording limit, for example, the control of the recording limit using the amount of recorded data as a scale, is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step ST1, the system controller 17 reads, from the TOC area 3 of the magneto-optical disc 1, the cumulative recordable data amount A indicating the data capacity permitted to be recorded on the magneto-optical disc 1, and reads the user TOC area. 2a to read the accumulated recording data amount B indicating the data amount recorded until the previous recording, and
Proceed to T2. By the way, for example, the accumulated recording data amount B is
It can be obtained as follows based on the cluster address and the sector address described above. For example, let L be the number of clusters for which data recording has been completed (data has been recorded in all sectors in the cluster), M be the number of valid sectors in the cluster, and M be the number of valid sectors in the cluster. Assuming that the number of sectors for which recording has been completed is N, the accumulated recording data amount B = L × M + N. Here, the effective sector number M is the number of sectors excluding the above-mentioned linking sector. For example, in the above-mentioned example, it is 32 sectors (= 37−5).

In step ST2, the system controller 17 determines whether or not the accumulated record data amount B is equal to or less than the accumulated recordable data amount A. If not, the process proceeds to step ST3. If so, the process proceeds to step ST4.

In step ST3, the system controller 17 displays a message that new audio data cannot be recorded because the accumulated recording data amount B exceeds the accumulated recordable data amount A, for example, a message that recording is prohibited. Control the unit 19 and end.

On the other hand, in step ST4, the system controller 17 sets a recording start address, obtains, for example, the number of effective sectors C from the head corresponding to the address, starts recording, and proceeds to step ST5.

In step ST5, the system controller 17 reads the current address at which the audio data is recorded, finds the number D of effective sectors from the beginning, for example, corresponding to the address, and proceeds to step ST6.

In step ST6, the system controller 17 adds the data amount (D-C) recorded up to the present time in the current recording and the accumulated recording data amount B up to the previous recording, and the addition result indicates the cumulative recordable data. It is determined whether the amount A has not exceeded (B + (D−C) <A), and if it does, the process proceeds to step ST7, and if not, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST7, the system controller 17 determines whether the recording has been completed. If not, the process returns to step ST5, and if so, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST8, the system controller 17 stops recording, and proceeds to step ST9.
That is, the system controller 17 executes step ST
In a loop from step 5 to step ST7, while judging whether the accumulated recording data amount which is the data amount recorded up to the present time does not exceed the permitted accumulated recordable data amount,
Controls the recording of audio data.
Control is performed to prohibit recording of audio data.

In step ST9, the system controller 17 sets a new accumulated recording data amount B (= B + (D
After calculating -C)), the accumulated recording data amount B is recorded in the user TOC area 2a, and the process ends.

Next, another specific example, that is, the control of the limitation of the recording based on the actual recording time, for example, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step ST1, the system controller 17 reads, from the TOC area 3 of the magneto-optical disc 1, the cumulative recordable time a during which recording is permitted on the magneto-optical disc 1, and reads from the user TOC area 2a to the previous time. Read the cumulative recording time b indicating the recording time,
Proceed to step ST2. Incidentally, for example, the accumulated recording time b can be obtained as follows based on the cluster address and the sector address. For example, let L be the number of clusters on which data recording has been completed, M be the number of valid sectors in a cluster, N be the number of sectors on which data recording has been completed in a cluster on which data recording has not been completed, and Assuming that the compression ratio is E and the recording time per sector when the data compression processing is not performed is T seconds, the cumulative recording time b = (L × M + N) × E × T.

In step ST2, the system controller 17 determines whether or not the cumulative recording time b is equal to or less than the cumulative recordable time a.
Proceed to If so, the process proceeds to step ST4.

In step ST3, the system controller 17 controls the display section 19 to display, for example, recording prohibition because the accumulated recording time b exceeds the accumulated recording possible time a, and ends the processing.

On the other hand, in step ST4, the system controller 17 sets a recording start address, obtains a recording time c from the beginning, for example, corresponding to the address, starts recording, and proceeds to step ST5.

In step ST5, the system controller 17 reads the current address where the audio data is recorded, finds the recording time d from the beginning, for example, corresponding to the address, and proceeds to step ST6.

In step ST6, the system controller 17 adds the recording time (dc) recorded so far in the current recording to the cumulative recording time b up to the previous time, and the result of the addition exceeds the cumulative recordable time a. It is determined whether or not (b + (d−c) <a). If so, the process proceeds to step ST7, and if not, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST7, the system controller 17 determines whether the recording has been completed. If not, the process returns to step ST5, and if so, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST8, the system controller 17 stops recording, and proceeds to step ST9.
That is, the system controller 17 determines in step ST
In the loop from step 5 to step ST7, even when audio data is subjected to data compression processing and recorded,
Calculate the recording time based on the data amount and data compression ratio,
While judging whether the cumulative recording time, which is the time recorded so far, does not exceed the permitted cumulative recording time,
Controls the recording of audio data.
Control is performed to prohibit recording of audio data.

In step ST9, the system controller 17 sets a new accumulated recording time b (= b + (d−
c)), the accumulated recording time b is calculated by the user TOC.
Recording in the area 2a is completed.

As is clear from the above description of the embodiment,
The cumulative recordable data amount indicating the data capacity permitted to be recorded in the TOC area 3 of the magneto-optical disk 1 or the cumulative recordable time indicating the permitted recording time is previously recorded, and is recorded in the user TOC area 2a up to the present. The accumulated recording data amount indicating the data amount or the accumulated recording time indicating the recording time up to the present is updated and recorded each time recording is performed, and the data recording is controlled based on the information to thereby record the accumulated recording. Recording can be restricted based on the amount of data or the accumulated recording time. In addition, when audio data is subjected to data compression and recorded, recording can be restricted based on the actual recording time (length of music). Further, the control of the recording restriction as described above can be dealt with by changing the software of the system controller 17, and does not increase the cost of hardware.

Further, a so-called prepaid system can be easily realized by collecting a fee according to the accumulated recordable data amount and the cumulative recordable time recorded in advance at the time of selling the disc.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above disk recording / reproducing apparatus, recording of ADPCM audio data in B-level stereo mode has been described. Can be performed in the same manner for ADPCM audio data in other modes.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to, for example, a write-once optical disc.

[0070]

As is clear from the above description, the first recordable area in which compressed data is recorded and the accumulated data capacity updated each time recording is performed in the first recordable area are recorded. A second recordable area, and a reproduction-only area in which an accumulated upper limit data capacity is recorded in advance, and a selling price is set according to the accumulated upper limit data capacity set in the reproduction-only area. For prepaid recording media,
Restricting the recording of the compressed data in the first recordable area based on the accumulated data capacity recorded in the second recordable area and the accumulated upper limit data capacity recorded in the read-only area in advance. Therefore, a so-called prepaid system can be easily realized by collecting a fee according to the amount of prerecorded data that can be recorded and the recording time at the point of sale of the disc.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a magneto-optical disk to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a recording form of the magneto-optical disk.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a disk recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of a cluster structure as a recording unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a cluster, a cluster address, and a sector address.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining control of recording restriction in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining control of recording restriction in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 magneto-optical disk, 2 magneto-optical recording area, 2a user TOC area, 2b user recordable area, 3T
OC area

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first recordable area in which compressed data is recorded; a second recordable area in which a cumulative data capacity updated each time recording is performed in the first recordable area; A reproduction-only area in which an accumulated upper limit data capacity is recorded in advance; and a cumulative data capacity recorded in the second recordable area and an accumulated upper limit data capacity recorded in the reproduction-only area in advance. A prepaid recording medium in which a selling price is set in accordance with a cumulative upper limit data capacity set in the reproduction-only area, wherein recording of compressed data in the first recordable area is restricted based on the recording capacity.