JP2007048451A - Recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording system capable of guaranteeing that a taken-out information recording medium is normally reproduced by a DVD-ROM drive even when a recording data size is small. <P>SOLUTION: This recording system includes a host, and an information recorder for recording data in an information recording medium in response to a request from the host. In the information recording medium, a lead-in area, a data recording area, and a lead-out area are formed. The data recording area is divided into a plurality of recording sections, and each recording section is divided into a plurality of recording blocks for recording. The host sends the request to end the last recording section to the information recorder. Upon reception of the request to end the last recording section, the information recorder forms the lead-out area so as to include a predetermined area if no data are recorded up to the predetermined area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording system that performs recording on a recordable information recording medium such as a DVD + R.

  In recent years, personal computers (PCs) have been able to handle AV (Audio-Visual) information such as music and video as their functions have improved. Since such AV information has a very large amount of information, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) type optical disc has attracted attention as an information recording medium. Are becoming popular as one of the peripheral devices of PC.

  As DVD-type recordable discs, there are discs such as DVD + R (Recorable) and DVD + RW (Rewritable). These are disks having physical characteristics close to that of a DVD-ROM disk and excellent in compatibility with a DVD-ROM drive.

  When recording data on a DVD + RW, it is necessary to perform a process called “format” prior to data recording. Conventionally, the formatting process is a process of recording the entire surface of the disk with dummy data, and therefore, an enormous amount of time is required before data recording. However, in the format process in DVD + RW, it is possible to request data recording, reproduction, etc. from the user only by recording the minimum area necessary for data recording, and the remaining area uses time when there is no access from the user. The drive employs a so-called background format method in which an unrecorded area is recorded with dummy data in the background, and the time required for formatting is significantly reduced compared to a conventional disk. It is also possible to take out the disc before recording the entire surface of the disc during background formatting. At this time, in order to be compatible with the DVD-ROM drive, a mode is prepared in which a temporary lead-out is recorded from the final recording address and the disc is taken out before the disc is ejected.

  On the other hand, DVD + R is a write-once disk that cannot rewrite data, and data recording must be performed sequentially. In order to read data added in file units with a DVD-ROM drive, the area for recording file information is reserved at the beginning of the session in advance, and the file information of the recorded data is recorded in the reserved area when the session is closed. The method to do is common.

  As described above, DVD + R data recording needs to be recorded sequentially from the inner periphery of the disc, but by dividing the recording area into a plurality of tracks (referred to as fragments in DVD + R), the head area of the session can be recorded. It becomes possible to record later. Even when a session is closed, it is possible to add data after the session is closed by adding a new session. As described above, the DVD + R employs a multitrack and multisession recording system.

  In a DVD + R, when a track is added, track information is recorded in an area called a lead-in session disc control block (SDCB). The SDCB includes information on all tracks in the session, information on all sessions preceding the session, and the like. The SDCB is updated each time a track is added and is additionally recorded in a new area. Since there is an area for updating SDCB 16 times in the lead-in, the maximum number of tracks that can be recorded in a session is 16 tracks.

  By the way, in a DVD-ROM disc, data is recorded up to a radial position of 35 mm of the disc. For this reason, when a small amount of data is recorded and the session is closed, there is a disc that cannot be read normally by the DVD-ROM drive.

  In the case of DVD + RW discs, in consideration of such a case, when a session is closed without recording a predetermined amount of data, a mode is prepared in which dummy data is recorded to a predetermined position and then (temporary) is recorded. Has been.

  That is, when there is a disk removal request from the user during background formatting, dummy data recording or user data recording size is checked, and if the recording size is smaller than a predetermined amount, a predetermined recording area is recorded with dummy data. Then add a temporary lead-out and remove the disc. Therefore, even when the data recording capacity is small, it is possible to ensure that the removed disk is normally read by the DVD-ROM drive.

  In the case of a DVD-R / RW disc or the like, when a session is closed with a predetermined recording capacity or less, the lead-out area is recorded up to a predetermined area. Also for DVD + RW, an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the length of temporary lead-out is variable has been proposed.

  However, for DVD + R, there is no mode that guarantees compatibility with such a DVD-ROM drive when closing a session, and even if the recording capacity is small, a prescribed readout is recorded and the session is closed. However, there is a possibility that a session-closed disc cannot be read normally by a DVD-ROM drive.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording system that guarantees that an information recording medium taken out can be normally reproduced by a DVD-ROM drive even when the recording data size is small.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a recording system comprising a host and an information recording apparatus for recording data on the information recording medium in response to a request from the host, wherein the information recording medium has a lead-in area. A data recording area and a lead-out area are formed, the data recording area is divided into a plurality of recording sections, and each recording section is further divided into a plurality of recording blocks for recording. The host issues a request to the information recording apparatus to end the last recording section, and when the information recording apparatus receives the end request for the last recording section, data is not recorded up to a predetermined area. The lead-out area is formed so that the lead-out area includes up to the predetermined area.

  Therefore, since the lead-out area is formed so as to include the predetermined area, the information recording medium taken out can be normally reproduced by the DVD-ROM drive even when the recording data size is small.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to the first aspect, the information recording device forms the lead-out area after recording dummy data when data is not recorded up to the predetermined area. Features.

  Therefore, by executing dummy data recording up to a predetermined area by appending a recording block, for example, a recording area can be added without violating the DVD + R standard, and the predetermined area can be used even when the amount of recording data is small. Thus, for example, reading with a DVD-ROM drive can be guaranteed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to the second aspect, the information recording apparatus forms a new recording block and records the dummy data in the recording block.

  Therefore, by executing dummy data recording up to a predetermined area by appending a recording block, for example, a recording area can be added without violating the DVD + R standard, and the predetermined area can be used even when the amount of recording data is small. Thus, for example, reading with a DVD-ROM drive can be guaranteed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the information recording medium has a disk shape, and the predetermined area is an area having a radial position up to 35 mm. It is characterized by that.

  Therefore, it is possible to specifically guarantee reading with the current DVD-ROM drive.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the information recording medium has a disk shape, and the predetermined position is an area having a radial position up to 30 mm. It is characterized by that.

  Therefore, it is possible to guarantee reading with a DVD-ROM drive even if the radius position is specifically an area up to 30 mm.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the information recording medium is an rewritable information recording medium. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to the sixth aspect, the information recording medium is a DVD + R.

  Therefore, specifically, a recording area can be added without violating the DVD + R standard, and even when the amount of recording data is small, a predetermined area is recorded. Reading with can be guaranteed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the host and the information recording device are arranged in the same casing. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the information recording device is disposed in a separate housing from the host.

  Therefore, a general-purpose recording system can be provided without being limited by the arrangement.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, when the data is not recorded up to the predetermined area, the lead-out area includes the predetermined area. A mode is provided in which a user can select whether or not to form an out region.

  Therefore, the session can be closed by a method desired by the user.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording system that guarantees that an extracted information recording medium can be normally reproduced by a DVD-ROM drive or the like even when the recording data size is small.

  The best mode for carrying out the recording system of the present invention will be described below. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical disc apparatus 1 as an information recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  This optical disk device 1 includes a spindle motor 3 for rotating and driving an optical disk 2 as an information recording medium, an optical pickup device 4, a laser control circuit 5, a motor driver 6, a reproduction signal processing circuit 7, a servo controller 8, a buffer RAM 9, A buffer manager 10, an interface 11, a ROM 12, a CPU 13, a RAM 14, and the like are provided. Note that the arrows shown in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of typical signals and information, and do not represent the entire connection relationship of each block.

  More specifically, first, as the optical disc 2, an information recording medium (hereinafter simply referred to as DVD + R) conforming to the DVD + R standard is targeted.

  The optical pickup device 4 includes a semiconductor laser as a light source, an objective lens that guides laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser to a recording surface of the optical disc 2 and guides return light reflected by the recording surface to a predetermined light receiving position. An optical system, a light receiver that is disposed at a light receiving position and receives return light, and a drive system (such as a focusing actuator, a tracking actuator, and a seek motor) (all not shown) are included. From the light receiver, a current (current signal) corresponding to the amount of received light is output to the reproduction signal processing circuit 7.

  The servo controller 8 generates a control signal for controlling the focusing actuator of the optical pickup device 4 based on the focus error signal, and generates a control signal for controlling the tracking actuator of the optical pickup device 4 based on the track error signal. These control signals are output from the servo controller 8 to the motor driver 6.

  The motor driver 6 drives the focusing actuator and tracking actuator of the optical pickup device 4 based on the control signal from the servo controller 8. Further, the motor driver 6 controls the spindle motor 3 based on an instruction from the CPU 13 so that the linear velocity of the optical disk 2 is constant. Further, the motor driver 6 drives a seek motor for the optical pickup device 4 based on an instruction from the CPU 13 to move the optical pickup device 4 in the radial direction toward the target track of the optical disc 2.

  The interface 11 is a two-way communication interface with a host (for example, PC) serving as an external device, and conforms to standard interfaces such as ATAPI and SCSI.

  The CPU 13 constitutes a microcomputer (computer) included in the optical disc apparatus 1 together with the ROM 12 and the RAM 14. The ROM 12 that also functions as a storage medium stores a program including a control program described later, which is described in a code decodable by the CPU 13. The CPU 13 controls the operation of each unit described above according to a program stored in the ROM 12 and temporarily stores data necessary for control in the RAM 14. When the optical disk device 1 is powered on, the program stored in the ROM 12 is loaded (installed) into the main memory (not shown) of the CPU 13. As one of the control processes by the CPU 13, as will be described later, the data recording capacity at the time of closing the session is checked. If the data recording capacity is small, a process such as adding a new track to a predetermined area and closing the session is performed. Contains the processing to be performed.

  Next, an example of a multi-session format of DVD + R, which is the optical disc 2 targeted in the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. It is assumed that the file system in the optical disc 2 conforms to the sequential UDF standard.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, for the sake of simplicity, for example, a session (open session or closed session) SessionN as one recording section existing on the optical disc 2 is shown. In this session SessionN, there are shown cases where three tracks (fragments in DVD + R) N, N + 1, and N + 2 exist as recording blocks. In addition, in a predetermined area of the session SessionN, for example, in the lead-in (or intro), a session disk control block SDCB (Session Disc Control Block) serving as a management information area is updated each time data recording of the session SessionN is completed. And management information related to data recording is recorded.

  Here, the principle of the session closing operation at the time of recording on the optical disc 2 of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 schematically shows how dummy data is recorded when a session is closed on the optical disc 2 by DVD + R. In the present embodiment, the threshold for a predetermined area for performing dummy data recording is set to a disk radius position of 35 mm as an example. When there is a session close request from the user, conventionally, the lead-out start position is used as the end address of the user data as shown in FIG. 2A, but in this embodiment, the data recording size is If the data recording size is smaller than the disk radius position R = 35 mm, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lead-out end address is set to the disk radius position R = 35 mm. A track N + 3 is newly added, dummy data is recorded, and a lead-out (Lead Out) is added at the end to perform a session close process. In such track recording, information on track N + 3 is added to the SDCB and updated in order to satisfy the DVD + R standard.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of such SDCB format. As shown in FIG. 3, the SDCB includes descriptions such as “Contents Descriptor”, “Unknown Contents Descriptor Actions”, “Drive ID”, and “Session Numeric (session number)”. There are a plurality (0 to N) of “Session Items”.

  There are two types of “Session Item” such as “Fragment Item” indicating fragment information in the session and “Previous Session Item” indicating session information before the session.

  FIG. 4 shows a format example of “Fragment Item”. In the "Fragment Item" format, fragment information such as "Fragment number (fragment number)", "Fragment start address (fragment start address)", "Fragment end address (fragment end address)" is described as management information. Is set to Such a “Fragment Item” is prepared as one of the “Session Items” for each fragment existing in the session. In the example shown in FIG. 2, there are three “Fragment Items” from N to N + 2 in FIG. 2A, but there are four “Fragment Items” from N to N + 3 in FIG. It becomes.

  FIG. 5 shows a format example of “Previous Session Item”. During the format of “Previous Session Item”, “Previous session number (previous session number)” “Previous session start address” (previous session start address) “Previous session end address (previous session end address)” The session information such as “is set to be described as management information. Such a “Previous Session Item” is prepared as one of the “Session Items” for each session existing before the session. In the example shown in FIG. 2, there are (N−1) “Previous Session Items” in each SDCB in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).

  In such SDCB, there are additional write areas. For example, information on SDCB is added in the same manner by adding tracks and sections.

  In such a configuration, a control example of the session closing process executed by the CPU 13 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In the recording operation, the optical disc 2 is divided into a plurality of sessions (recording sections), and each recording section (recording section) is divided into a plurality of tracks = fragments (recording blocks) for recording. Function shall be demonstrated.

  First, this process is executed when a user requests to close a session. If there is such a request, the recorded data size is checked (step S1), and the disk radius position R = It is determined whether it is 35 mm or less (S2). The processing of these steps S1 and S2 is executed as the function of the determining means. If the data size is not equal to or less than the disk radius position R = 35 mm (N in S2), the session close process is performed as usual (S6), and the session close process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the data size is less than or equal to the disk radius position R = 35 mm (Y in S2), a new track is additionally recorded so that the disk radius position R = 35 mm including the lead-out (S4) and newly added. The recorded track information is updated and recorded in the SDCB of the session (S5). Thereafter, the session close process is performed as usual (S6), and the session close process is terminated. The processes in steps S4, S5, and S6 are executed as a function of the addition end processing unit.

  By the way, in order to add a new track when the session is closed, there must be an area for adding SDCB in the lead-in. Therefore, when the data size is the disk radius position R = 35 mm or less (Y in S2) ), It is checked whether or not there is an area (free area) to which SDCB is added in the SDCB area (S3). If there is no free area in the SDCB area, an error report process is performed to the user (S7). The process of step S7 is executed as a function of the reporting means. As described above, when there is no free space in the SDCB update area, it is possible to prevent the optical disk 2 violating the DVD + R standard from being created by reporting an error to the user.

  In the present embodiment, whether or not dummy data recording is performed by the process of step S4 in correspondence with the point that data is recorded up to a disk radius position of 35 mm in the current DVD-ROM disk standard. The determination threshold value is set at the disk radius position R = 35 mm. However, among DVD + RW drives, there is a drive in which the radius threshold value of the DVD-ROM compatible mode in the background format is 30 mm. This is because reproduction compatibility with most DVD-ROM drives has been demonstrated as long as data is recorded up to about 30 mm. Accordingly, the predetermined radial position serving as a determination threshold for performing dummy data recording according to the present embodiment can be set, for example, as a disk radial position of 30 mm. This also applies to the following embodiments.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, dummy data recording up to a predetermined area (for example, the disk radius position R = 35 mm) is executed by adding a new track, so that the recording area can be recorded without violating the DVD + R standard. Can be added, and even when the amount of recording data is small, a predetermined area (for example, the disk radius position R = 35 mm) is recorded, so that reading with a DVD-ROM drive is guaranteed. be able to.

  In addition, in the process control of the present embodiment, a selection mode is prepared for whether or not to execute the process of the additional end processing means in step S4 or the like, that is, whether or not importance is attached to DVD-ROM compatibility. When the user makes a selection request and there is a session close request from the user, first, it may be checked whether or not the user request is a mode in which DVD-ROM compatibility is regarded as important (S8). If, as a result of this mode determination, a mode that places importance on DVD-ROM compatibility is not selected (N in S8), a session close process is performed as usual (S6), and the process ends. On the other hand, when a mode in which DVD-ROM compatibility is regarded as important is selected (Y in S8), the above-described processing is executed according to the data size.

  That is, even if the optical disc 2 has been session-closed with a predetermined amount of data or less, it cannot be played back by all DVD-ROM drives, and dummy data recording improves compatibility with DVD-ROM, Since it includes the disadvantages of increased processing time due to dummy data recording, it is possible to close the session in a way desired by the user by allowing the user to select whether or not to perform dummy data recording up to a predetermined area. It becomes possible.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is also omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a control example of the session closing process executed by the CPU 13 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when a user requests to close a session, the data size already recorded is checked (S1), and it is determined whether or not the disk radius position R is 35 mm or less (S2). If the data size is not equal to or less than the disk radius position R = 35 mm (N in S2), the session close process is performed as usual (S6), and the session close process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the data size is the disk radius position R = 35 mm or less (Y in S2), dummy data is recorded so that the disk radius position R = 35 mm including the lead-out (S9), and the track size is changed. The end address of the last track is updated and recorded in the updated SDCB (S10). Thereafter, the session close process is performed as usual (S6), and the session close process is terminated. The processes in steps S4, S5, and S6 are executed as a function of the addition end processing unit. The processes of these steps S9, S10, and S6 are executed as a function of the additional end processing means.

  Here, the difference from the processing example in the case of the first embodiment is that the dummy data recording is executed by adding a new track in the first embodiment, whereas the present embodiment is different from the processing example in the first embodiment. This is achieved by changing the track size of the final track.

  That is, when a track is added, SDCB including all track information existing in the session is newly recorded. Therefore, among the plurality of SDCBs present in the lead-in, the SDCB recorded on the outermost periphery is an effective SDCB. In this case, in the first embodiment, up to a predetermined area is recorded with dummy data when the session is closed, and the SDCB updated as a new track is newly added, but the SDCB information is updated as a new track. Instead, the SDCB may be updated by changing the track size of the last track. In other words, when the session is closed, the end address of the last track is changed to the last address where the dummy data was recorded, and the SDCB is updated, so that dummy data can be recorded without changing the number of tracks in the session. Become. According to this, since track recording is not performed with dummy data recording, it is possible to prevent a track unintended by the user from being generated in the session.

  Although not particularly shown in FIG. 7, it goes without saying that the processing of steps S3, S7, and S8 may be included in the present embodiment.

  In these embodiments, the case where the optical disc 2 is a DVD + R has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and data is recorded while being divided into a plurality of data areas (recording blocks) such as sessions and tracks. The management information may be recorded in a predetermined management information area, and the management information may be an information recording medium that is updated every time predetermined data recording is completed and additionally recorded in a new management information area.

  The optical disk apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may be a so-called built-in type that is disposed in the same casing as the host, or a so-called external type that is disposed in a casing separate from the host. It may be.

  Furthermore, although the case where an optical disk device is used as the information recording device has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information recording target medium is divided into a plurality of data areas such as sessions and tracks, and data recording is performed. Any information recording apparatus that uses an information recording medium that records management information in a predetermined management information area and that is updated every time predetermined data recording is completed and additionally recorded in a new management information area Good. Of course, an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a reproducing function as well as recording may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical disc device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a DVD + R multi-session format and a session closing principle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of SDCB. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of "Fragment Item". It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of "Previous Session Item". It is a schematic flowchart which shows the example of a session close process control. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the session close process control example of 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Information recording media, DVD + R
S1, S2 determining means S4, S5, S6 additional end processing means S7 reporting means S9, S10, S6 additional end processing means

Claims (10)

With the host,
An information recording apparatus for recording data on an information recording medium in response to a request from a host, and a recording system comprising:
In the information recording medium, a lead-in area, a data recording area, and a lead-out area are formed. The data recording area is divided into a plurality of recording sections, and each recording section is further divided into a plurality of recording blocks. Records can be made,
The host issues a request to the information recording device to end the last recording section,
When the information recording device receives the end request for the last recording section, the information recording device forms the lead-out area so that the lead-out area includes the predetermined area when data is not recorded up to the predetermined area. A characteristic recording system. The information recording device includes:
2. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein when the data is not recorded up to the predetermined area, the lead-out area is formed after the dummy data is recorded. The information recording device includes:
The recording system according to claim 2, wherein a new recording block is formed and the dummy data is recorded in the recording block. The information recording medium is disc-shaped,
The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an area having a radial position up to 35 mm. The information recording medium is disc-shaped,
The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is an area having a radial position of up to 30 mm. The information recording medium is
The recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recording system is an information recording medium that cannot be rewritten.   The recording system according to claim 6, wherein the information recording medium is a DVD + R.   The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the host and the information recording apparatus are arranged in the same casing.   The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the information recording apparatus is disposed in a separate housing from the host.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mode for allowing a user to select whether or not to form the lead-out area so that the lead-out area includes the predetermined area when data is not recorded up to the predetermined area. The recording system according to any one of Items 9 to 9.

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