Title of Invention

"A WRITE-ONCE RECORDING MEDIUM, A METHOD OF REPRODUCING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION RECORDED THEREON, AND AN APPARATUS FOR RECORDING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION THEREON"

Abstract A write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing management information recorded thereon, and an apparatus for recording management information thereon are disclosed. The method comprises accessing a first indicator (51) allocated at the most front position of a first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMAO) in the recording medium, the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMAO) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in a designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording medium is closed and determining whether or not the recording medium has been closed based on the first indicator (51). The apparatus comprises a microcomputer (16) configured to allocated a first indicator (51) at the most front position of a first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMAO) for indicating whether or not the recording medium is closed, the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMAO) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in a designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording medium is closed.
Full Text

A WRITE-ONCE RECORDING MEDIUM, A METHOD OF REPRODUCING
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION RECORDED THEREON, AND AN APPARATUS
FOR RECORDING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION THEREON
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a write-once optical disc and an apparatus
and method for recording/playing-back management information on/from
the optical disc such as a Write-Once Blu-ray Disc (BD-WO).
Background Art
As an optical recording medium, optical discs on which high-capacity data
can be recorded are widely being used. Among them, a new high-density
optical recording medium (HD-DVD), for example, a Blu-ray disc, has been
recently developed for recording and storing high-definition video data and
high-quality audio data for a long-term period.
The Blu-ray disc involves the next generation HD-DVD technology and is the
next generation optical recording solution, which has an excellent capability
to store data more than existing DVDs. Recently, a technical specification of
an international standard for HD-DVD has been established. Various
standards for Blu-ray discs are being prepared. Particularly the standards
for a write-once Blu-ray disc (BD-WO) are being proposed.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the structure of a recording area of a

rewritable Blu-ray disc (BD-RE) according to a related art. As shown
in FIG. 1, the disc is divided into a lead-in zone, a data zone and a lead-out
zone allocated in the inner-to-outer radius direction. The data zone is
provided with an inner spare area (ISA) and an outer spare area (OSA)
respectively disposed at the inner and outer radiuses to replace defective
areas, and a user data area provided between the spare areas to record user
data therein.
If a defective area is generated in the user data area while data is recorded
on the rewritable Blu-ray disc (BD-RE), data is transferred from the defective
area to the spare area and is recorded in a portion of the spare area. This
portion of the spare area is known as a replacement area for replacing the
defective area. Additionally, position information related to the defective
area, that is, position information on the defective area and on the
corresponding replacement area is recorded in defect management areas
(DMA1, DMA2, DMA3, and DMA4), which are provided in the lead-in/out
zones, to perform defect management. The BD-RE has a cluster as a
minimal recording-unit. One cluster has a total of 32 sectors, and one sector
has 2048 bytes.
Since rewriting can be performed in any area of the BD-RE, the entire area
of the disc can be randomly used irrespective of a specific recording manner.
Also, since the defect management information can be written, erased and
rewritten in the defect management areas (DMAs), it does not matter that

the size of the defect management area is small. In particular, the BD-
RE allocates and uses 32 clusters for each of the defect management areas
(DMAs).
On the other hand, in a write-once disc such as a BD-WO, writing can be
only made once in a specific area of the disc and thus, the manner of
recording is much limited. As such, defect management becomes one of the
important matters when data is to be recorded on a high-density write-once
disc such as a BD-WO. Accordingly, the write-once disc requires a
management area to record therein information on defect management and
on disc management. In this regard, the write-once optical disc requires a
larger management area for recording information on the defect
management and on the disc use state due to its unique Vrite-once'
characteristic.
However, a unified standard satisfying the above requirements is not
available for a write-once disc such as a BD-WO. Further, any standard
related to presently declared write-once optical discs cannot solve the above
drawbacks.
Disclosure of Invention
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a write-once optical disc,
and an apparatus and method for recording/playing back management
information on/from the optical disc that substantially obviate one or more

problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for
separately recording and managing management information on a write-
once disc, thereby enhancing the use efficiency of a plurality of temporary
disc/defect management areas (TDMAs) provided on the disc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and
apparatus for efficiently recording and playing back an optical disc using
management information.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth
in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to
those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or
may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure
particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well
as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the
purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is
provided a recording medium comprising: at least one recording layer; a
plurality of temporary defect management areas (TDMAs) on the at least one
recording layer; and a plurality of defect management areas (DMAs) on the
at least one recording layer, wherein at least one of the TDMAs includes first
and second indicators, the first indicator indicating which TDMA is an in-

use TDMA, and the second indicator indicating whether or not the
recording medium is closed.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording
medium comprising: at least one recording layer; a plurality of temporary
management areas on the at least one recording layer; and a plurality of
defect management areas (DMAs) on the at least one recording layer,
wherein at least one of the temporary management areas includes a DMA
access indicator indicating whether or not the recording medium is closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of recording management information on a recording medium, the
recording medium including a plurality of temporary defect management
areas (TDMAs) on at least one recording layer, and a plurality of defect
management areas (DMAs) on the at least one recording layer, the method
comprising: recording first and second indicators in at least one of the
TDMAs, the first indicator indicating which TDMA is an in-use TDMA, and
the second indicator indicating whether or not the recording medium is
closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of recording management information on a recording medium, the
recording medium including a plurality of temporary management areas on
at least one recording layer, and a plurality of defect management areas
(DMAs) on the at least one recording layer, the method comprising:

recording, in at least one of the temporary management areas, a
DMA access indicator indicating whether or not the recording medium is
closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of quickly accessing a recording medium, the method comprising:
reading TDMA (temporary disc management area) access indicator (TAI)
information from a loaded recording medium; determining whether or not
the recording medium is closed based on the TAI information; and accessing
management information from an in-use-TDMA based on the TAI
information, if the determining step determines that the recording medium
is not closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for providing management information on a recording medium,
the recording medium including a plurality of temporary defect management
areas (TDMAs) on at least one recording layer, and a plurality of defect
management areas (DMAs) on the at least one recording layer, the
apparatus comprising: a recording part to record first and second indicators
in at least one of the TDMAs, the first indicator indicating which TDMA is an
in-use TDMA, and the second indicator indicating whether or not the
recording medium is closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for providing management information on a recording medium,

the recording medium including a plurality of temporary management
areas on at least one recording layer, and a plurality of defect management
areas (DMAs) on the at least one recording layer, the apparatus comprising:
a recording part to record, in at least one of the temporary management
areas, a DMA access indicator indicating whether or not the recording
medium is closed.
In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for quickly accessing a recording medium, the apparatus
comprising: a pickup unit; and a controller controlling the pickup unit to
read TDMA (temporary disc management area) access indicator (TAI)
information from a loaded recording medium, determining whether or not
the recording medium is closed based on the TAI information, and accessing
management information from an in-use-TDMA based on the TAI
information if the recording medium is determined to be not closed.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and
explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention
as claimed.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part

of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and
together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a rewritable Blu-ray
disc according to a related art;
FIGs. 2A and 2B are views respectively illustrating the structure of a single-
layer write-once optical disc and the structure of a dual-layer write-once
optical disc according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGs. 3A-3E are views illustrating the structure of a TAI and a method for
recording and using the TAI for a single-layer write-once optical disc and a
dual-layer write-once optical disc according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIGs. 4A-4C are views illustrating the structure of a TAI and a method for
recording and using the TAI for a single-layer write-once optical disc and a
dual-layer write-once optical disc according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 5A is a view illustrating a variety of disc defect management and disc
use state information recorded in a TDMA according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 5B is a view illustrating a structure of a TDDS according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIGs. 6A and 6B are views illustrating two examples of the contents of a TAI

according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an optical recording/reproducing
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an optical recording/playback method
using an optical recording/ reproducing apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
For description convenience, a write-once optical disc is exemplified as a
write-once Blu-ray disc (BD-WO).
FIGs. 2A and 2B are views illustrating the structure of a write-once optical
disc such as a BD-WO and a method for recording management information
on the disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Particularly, FIG. 2A illustrates a single-layer write-once optical disc having
one recording layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2B illustrates a dual-layer write-once optical disc having two recording
layers according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the single-layer optical disc includes a lead-in area 30,

a data area 32 and a lead-out area 34 in the inner-to-outer radius
direction. The data area 32 includes an inner spare area (ISA) and an outer
spare area (OSA) for replacing defective areas, and a user data area for
recording user data therein. The write-once optical disc also includes a
plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas TDMAs in addition to
a plurality of disc/defect management areas (DMAs). The DMAs (DMA1-
DMA4) are provided in the lead-in and lead-out areas 30 and 34. The
TDMAs store temporarily management information whereas the DMAs store
more permanently the management information. For instance, when the
disc is to be finalized or closed, the management information stored in a
TDMA is transferred to and stored in each of the DMAs. The same
information is repeatedly stored four times using the plurality of DMAs.
Here, two TDMAs are provided on the disc, and are referred to as a TDMA0
and a TDMA1. The TDMA0 having a fixed size (for example, 2048 clusters)
is located in the lead-in area 30, and the TDMA1 having a variable size is
provided in the spare area OSA having a variable size. The TDMA0 should be
necessarily provided on the disc, whereas the TDMA1 is selectively allocated
with various sizes, appropriately. For instance, the size of the TDMA1 can
be ¼ of the size (N*256 clusters) of the OSA such that P = (N*256/4) clusters
where P = size of the TDMA1 and N is a positive integer.
Further, the plurality of TDMAs are used in a specific use sequence. For
instance, it is used in a sequence of the TDMA0 and then the TDMA1.

Identification numbers (TDMA0 and TDMA1) are given to the TDMAs in a
serial sequence depending on the use sequence.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, management
information for managing the plurality of TDMAs is recorded at the head of
the TDMA0. This TDMA management information is referred to herein as a
TDMA access indicator (TAI), e.g., element 50 in FIG. 2A. The TAI can also
be referred to as a TLI (TDMA location indicator). The TAJ identifies which
TDMA among all the TDMAs to be used in a specific use sequence/order, is
an "in-use TDMA". An "in-use TDMA" is a TDMA that is currently being
used/accessed or that is currently available for use, among all the TDMAs
having the designated use sequence. The TAI also provides information on
whether or not the disc is currently closed/finalized.
The TAI allows an initial disc access time to be reduced greatly since the TAI
identifies the in-use TDMA and thus, information on the last defect
management and on the disc use state can be quickly obtained from the
identified in-use TDMA. This is beneficial especially when the disc is
initially loaded. Without the TAI, all the TDMAs have to be scanned to
determine which TDMA is the in-use TDMA in order to obtain the necessary
management information from that in-use TDMA.
In the single-layer write-once disc of FIG. 2A, the TAI 50 is provided by first
two head clusters 50a and 50b among the fixed 2048 clusters of the TDMA0.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the dual-layer writer-once optical

disc includes a first recording layer (Layer 0) and a second recording
layer (Layer 1). The first recording layer (Layer 0) includes a lead-in area 40
and an outer zone 0 respectively at the inner and outer radius areas of the
disc. The second recording layer (Layer 1) includes a lead-out area 41 and
an outer zone 1 respectively at the inner and outer radius areas of the disc.
The lead-in and lead-out areas 40 and 41 are known as inner zones.
Further, the disc includes a data area 42 on each of the recoding layers.
The data area of the first recording layer (Layer 0) includes inner and outer
spare areas ISAO and OSAO, and a user data area 43 therebetween. The
user area of the second recording layer (Layer 1) includes inner and outer
spare areas ISA1 and OSA1 and a user data area 44 therebetween. The
ISAO has a fixed size such as 2048 clusters. The ISA1, OSAO and OSA1
have variable sizes. For instance, the size of the ISA1 may be (L*256)
clusters and the size of each of the OSAO and OSA1 may be (N*256) clusters
where L and N are positive integers. The disc also includes a plurality of
DMAs (DMA1-DMA4) in the lead-in area 40, the outer zones 0, 1 and the
lead-out area 41. The same information is repeatedly recorded in the DMAs
for the redundancy purpose.
Furthermore, the disc includes a plurality of TDMAs (TDMA0, TDMA1,
TDMA2, TDMA3 and TDMA4) in addition to the DMAs. The TDMA0 and the
TDMA1 exist in the lead-in and lead-out areas 40 and 41 (inner zones) and
have fixed sizes (e.g., 2048 clusters). The TDMA2, the TDMA3 and the

TDMA4 are provided with variable sizes that vary according to the
variable sizes of the corresponding spare areas. For instance, the size of
each of the TDMA2, TDMA3 and TDMA4 can be ¼ of the size of the
corresponding spare area. In one example, the TDMA2 and the TDMA3 each
have the size of P = N*256/4 clusters, and the TDMA4 has the size of Q =
L*256/4 clusters.
Moreover, all the TDMAs are used in a specific use sequence. For instance,
the TDMA0-TDMA4 are used in the sequence of the TDMA0 to TDMA4. This
means, whenever recording is desired to a TDMA, the TDMA0 is first used to
record therein. When the TDMA0 is full, i.e., fully used up, then the TDMA1
is next used to record therein. When the TDMA1 is full, then the TDMA2 is
next used to record therein, and so on. Identification numbers (TDMA0 to
TDMA4) are given to the TDMAs in a serial sequence depending on the use
sequence.
As in the single-layer write-once disc of FIG. 2A, the dual-layer optical disc
of FIG. 2B also includes a TAI 57 at the head area of the TDMA0 preferably
located in the lead-in area 40 of the disc. Generally since more TDMAs are
provided on the dual-layer optical disc compared to the single-layer disc,
providing the TAI on the dual-layer optical disc is of great importance.
In the dual-layer optical disc, the TAI is represented by first five head
clusters 57a-57e among the fixed 2048 clusters of the TDMA0.
FIGs. 3A to 3B are views illustrating the structure of a TAI according to an

embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates the structure and
use of a TAI in a single-layer write-once optical disc such as a single-layer
BD-WO, and FIG. 3B illustrates the structure and use of a TAI in a dual-
layer write-once optical disc such as a dual-layer BD-WO. The structures of
the TAI as shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B are applicable to the discs shown in
FIGs. 2A and 2B.
As shown in FIG. 3A, in the single-layer write-once optical disc, the TAI 50 is
composed of the first two head clusters 50a and 50b of the TDMA0 on the
disc. One of the two TAI clusters 50a and 50b is used as a DMA disc closing
indicator 51 for informing whether or not the optical disc is finalized/closed,
and the other one of the two TAI clusters 50a and 50b cluster is used as a
TDMA1 in-use indicator 52 for indicating whether or not the TDMA1 is the
in-use TDMA. In this example, the first head cluster 50a of the TAI 50
functions as the DMA disc closing indicator 51, and the second head cluster
50b functions as the TDMA1 in-use indicator. However, this allocated order
can be switched as needed.
The TDMA1 in-use indicator 52 indicates directly whether or not the
corresponding TDMA1 is the in-use TDMA. This indication is implemented
by providing certain recording in the second cluster 50b of the TAI 50. If the
TAI cluster 50b has this certain recording therein, then the TAI cluster 50b
is said to be in the 'recorded state'. If the TAI cluster 50b does not have this
certain recording therein, then the TAI cluster 50b is said to be not in the

recorded state. If the TAI cluster 50b (the TDMA1 in-use indicator 52)
is not in the recorded state, it means that the firstly used TDMA0 is the in-
use-TDMA. If the TAI cluster 50b is in the recorded state, it means that the
next TDMA1 is the in-use-TDMA, which means the firstly used TDMA0 is
full, i.e., fully used up, so that there is no recording space in the TDMA0.
Accordingly, by examining the recorded/unrecorded state of the TAI cluster
50b, a recording/reproducing apparatus can identify quickly which TDMA
can and should be currently used during a data recording operation of the
disc. This reduces the disc access time greatly and provides an efficient and
effective way to carry data recording operations of the disc.
The DMA disc closing indicator 51 functions to inform whether or not the
write-once optical disc is closed/finalized. This can be realized by recording
certain data in the first cluster 50a of the TAI. If there is such recording in
the first TAI cluster 50a, then the first TAI cluster 50a is said to be in the
recorded state and the recorded state of the first TAJ cluster 50a means the
disc is finalized/closed. If there is no such recording in the first TAI cluster
50a, then the first TAI cluster 50a is said to be not in the recorded state,
which in turn means the disc is not yet finalized/closed.
A user or host can request the disc to be closed, or the closing of the disc
can be triggered automatically if there is no user data area or management
data area to record user data/management data therein. Once the disc is
closed, the disc is essentially in a read-only state, thereby making it

impossible to record user data subsequently. The closing of the disc
is also referred to as finalizing the disc or disc finalization.
If the disc is to be closed as described above, the optical recording/playback
apparatus transfers and records the latest management information from
the latest TDMA into each of the DMAs. At this time, the first TAI cluster
50a (DMA disc closing indicator cluster 51) is recorded with data (e.g.,
dummy data or some other data) to be placed in the recorded state. The
recorded state of the first TAI cluster 50a indicates that the disc is closed.
As shown in FIG. 3C, if none of the TAI clusters 50a and 50b are in the
recorded state, it means that the in-use-TDMA is the TDMA0 as the first
TDMA and the disc is not closed.
Placing the TAI clusters 50a and 50b in the recorded state is done by
recording the TAI clusters 50a and 50b with some data. This can be realized
by recording the TAI clusters 50a and 50b with high frequency signals,
dummy data, or real data (meaningful data). For instance, the latest
temporary disc definition structure (TDDS) information of the corresponding
TDMA can be recorded into the corresponding TAI cluster as an example of
using real data to place the TAI cluster in the recorded state. Examples of
recording such real data in the TAI clusters will be described later reference
to FIGs. 6A and 6B.
Accordingly, the TAI includes the disc closing information as well as
information on the in-use-TDMA among the TDM As.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the dual-layer
disc can have up to five TDMAs (TDMA0-TDMA4). Then the TAI for such a
disc is composed of the first five head clusters of the TDMA0, where the first
head cluster of the TDMA0 functions as the DMA disc closing indicator and
the next four head clusters (second to fifth clusters) of the TDMA0 function
as the TDMA in-use indicators. The second to fifth clusters of the TDMA0
correspond respectively to the TDMA1-TDMA4 such that they function as
the TDMA1-TDMA4 in-use indicators, respectively. Each of these TDMA in-
use indicators, as discussed in connection with FIG. 3A, indicates whether
or not the corresponding TDMA is the in-use TDMA.
FIG. 3B illustrates an example of the structure of a TAI 57 for the dual-layer
write-once disc of FIG. 2B according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 3B, the TAI 57 is composed of first to fifth head
clusters 57a-57e of the TDMA0. The first TAI cluster 57a functions as a
DMA disc closing indicator 51. The second to fifth TAI clusters 57b-57e
function respectively as TDMA4-TDMA1 in-use indicators 55-52. As such,
the second to fifth TAI clusters 57b-57e are used in the order of decreasing
address, which is indicated by the 'recording direction' arrow. That is,
recording in the TAI clusters 57b-57e occurs sequentially from the cluster
57e to the cluster 57b. However, these clusters can be used in the reverse
direction.
If none of the second to fifth TAI clusters 57b-57e are in the recorded state,

it means that the firstly used TDMA0 is the in-use-TDMA. If the fifth TAI
cluster 57e (TDMA1 in-use indicator 52) alone is in the recorded state, it
means that the TDMA0 is full and the TDMA1 is the in-use-TDMA. If only
the fifth and fourth TAI clusters 57e and 57d are in the recorded state, it
means that the TDMA0 and TDMA1 are full and the TDMA2 is the in-use-
TDMA. This is illustrated in FIG. 3D. The rest of the in-use indicator
clusters are used in the similar manner.
If all the clusters 57a-57e of the TAI 57 are in the recorded state as shown in
FIG. 3E, it means that the current disc is closed, and no data can now be
recorded on any area of the disc. Thus, only a reproduction of the disc may
be allowed.
FIGs. 4A to 4C are views illustrating the structure of a TAI according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A illustrates the
structure and use of a TAI in a single-layer write-once optical disc such as a
single-layer BD-WO, and FIGs. 4B and 4C illustrate the structure and use of
a TAI in a dual-layer write-once optical disc such as a dual-layer BD-WO.
The structures of the TAI as shown in FIGs. 4A-4C are applicable to the
discs and TAI (57) shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B.
In this embodiment, the TAI indicates which TDMA is the in-use TDMA by
indicating which TDMA(s) are full. In the example of FIGs. 4A-4C, assume
that the TDMAs are used sequentially from the TDMA0 to the TDMA1
(single-layer disc), or to the TDMA4 (dual-layer disc) as discussed above.

Also the TAI is used in a sequence starting from the TAI cluster having
a low PSN to the TAI cluster having a high PSN.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in the example of the single-layer disc, two clusters
172a and 172b are allocated for a TAI 172. The first and second TAI clusters
172a and 172b function respectively as a TDMA0 full indicator 173 and a
TDMA1 full indicator 174. Accordingly, if only the TDMA0 is full, the first
TAI cluster 172a (TDMA0 full indicator 173) alone is indicated as being in
the recorded state. This means that the TDMA1 is the in-use TDMA and can
be used. If the first TAI cluster 172a is not in the recorded state, it means
that the TDMA0 is not yet full and is available for use. That is, the TDMA0 is
the in-use TDMA and can be used. If both the first and second TAI clusters
172a and 172a are in the recorded state, then the TDMA0 and TDMA1 are
all full, which means there is no TDMA available for recording management
information and the disc is closed /finalized.
As shown in FIG. 4B, in the dual-layers write-once disc, first through fifth
clusters 175a-175e are allocated for a TAI 175 and are recorded sequentially
in that order in this example. The first to fifth cluster 175a-175e correspond
to the TDMA0 to TDMA4, respectively, and function as TDMA0-TMDA4 full
indicators 176-180, respectively. Each TAI cluster indicates whether or not
the corresponding TDMA if full.
Accordingly, for instance, If no TAI cluster is in the recorded state, it means
that the TDMA0 is the in-use TDMA. If only the first TAI cluster 175a is in

the recorded state, it means that the TDMA0 is full and the in-use-TDMA
is the TDMA1. If only the first and second TAI clusters 175a and 175b are in
the recorded state, it means that the TDMA0 and TDMA1 are fully used and
the TDMA2 is currently available for use. If all five TAI clusters 175a-175e
are in the recorded state as shown in FIG. 4C, it means that the TDMA0 to
the TDMA4 are all fully used up and there is no usable TDMA. In this case,
since the corresponding disc has no area for recording the TDMS
information therein, the disc is finalized/ closed.
In the embodiment of FIGs. 4A-4C, the TDMA full indicators of the TAI can
be used to determine whether or not the disc is finalized/closed and thus
can function also as the disc closing indicator. For instance, if the TAI
cluster 174 (TDMA1 full indicator) in the example of FIG. 4A is in the
recorded state, it means that the disc is closed/finalized. In the example of
FIG. 4C, if the TAI cluster 180 (TDMA4 full indicator) is in the recorded state,
it means that the disc is closed/finalized.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, the TAI clusters
shown in FIGs 3A-4C can be used sequentially in the order of decreasing
address or increasing address. However, it may be desirable that the
recording of the TAI clusters is performed in a sequence starting from the
cluster having a high PSN (Physical Sector Number) to the cluster having a
lower PSN, as shown in FIG. 3B. This prevents interference with an OPC
(Optimum Power Calibration, not shown) disposed in the inner radius

direction adjacently to the TDMA0.
According to the present invention, since the recording/reproducing
apparatus checks for a recorded state within the TAI to determine the
location of the in-use-TDMA if the disc is loaded, the recording/reproducing
apparatus can quickly move to a start location of the in-use-TDMA to read
the lastly recorded TDMS (temporary disc management structure)
information therefrom, thereby initially obtaining a variety of initialization
information for playback. However, if there is no TAI, the
recording/reproducing apparatus has to scan all TDMAs beginning from the
TDMA0 to search for an available TDMA. This is a drawback because a long
disc access time is needed for initial playback. Thus the present invention
solves the above drawback effectively by providing and using the TAI.
Moreover, the DMA disc closing indicator of the TAI quickly indicates
whether or not any recording can be made to the disc.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the single-layer
write-once disc has more than two TDMAs or if the dual-layer write-once
disc has a certain number of TDMAs, then the total number of TAI clusters
present in the TAI as the TDMA in-use indicators changes according to the
total number of TDMAs present on the disc. For instance, if there is an X
number of TDMAs on the disc, then there is an (X-l) number of TAI clusters
that function as the TDMA in-use indicators. Each of such TAI clusters
would correspond to one of the TDMAs, generally excluding the first TDMA

(TDMA0), in the order of the TDMA use sequence.
The TAI 50, 57, 172, 175 is located at the head of the TDMA0 located in the
lead-in area of the single layer or dual-layer disc as shown in FIGs. 2A and
2B. However, any location of the TAI on the disc is acceptable if it is located
within an area which a recording/reproducing apparatus can initially
recognize as the management area. In this regard, the data area of the disc
may be excluded. For instance, the TAI can alternatively be provided at the
end portion of the TDMA0. As another alternative, the TAI can be provided
within one, some or each of the DMAs of the single-layer/dual-layer write-
once disc.
FIG. 5A illustrates a variety of information on the disc defect management
and on the disc use state, where this information is recorded in the TDMAs.
Whenever recording is performed on the disc, the recording is generally
performed by more than one cluster, a cluster being generally a minimal
recording-unit. Various disc management information recorded in the
TDMA (e.g., TDMO, TDMA1, TDMA2, TDMA3, or TDMA4) is collectively
referred to herein as TDMS (temporary disc management structure)
information. The TDMS information can be changed or added depending on
a standard.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the TDMS information includes, but is not limited to, a
Temporary Defect List (TDFL) for recording disc defect management
information, a Sequential Recording Range Information (SRRI) applied in a

sequential recording mode as information for representing the disc
use state, a Space-Bit Map (SBM) applied in a random recording mode, and
a Temporary Disc Definition Structure (TDDS) information including recent
location information of the TDFL and the SRRI (or SBM). The SRRI and the
SBM may not be concurrently used, and either the SRRI or SBM is recorded
on the disc depending on the recording mode.
As an example, in the context of the disc structure shown in FIGs. 2A and
2B, each of the TDMA0 ~ TDMA4 includes one or more TDFLs/SBMs/SRRIs
each recorded with a TDDS in one cluster at each recording/updating time,
as shown in FIG. 5A. That is, each recording of a TDFL/SBM/ SRRI with a
TDDS is allotted one cluster. Generally, the last sector of each such cluster
is designated to store therein the TDDS information as shown in FIG. 5A.
However, the first sector, instead of the last sector, of each such cluster can
also be used to store the TDDS information.
The TDDS information includes general disc record/playback information,
and is generally always checked at the time of loading the disc in the
record/playback apparatus since it includes pointer information for
indicating the recent locations of the TDFL and the SRRI (or SBM) as
described above. According to the disc use state, the TDDS information is
continuously updated and the updated TDDS information is written in the
TDMA at each update/recording time. Thus, the last TDDS in the latest
TDMA used should be checked to access a variety of management

information on a current disc use state.
FIG. 5B is a view illustrating the structure of a TDDS according to an
embodiment of the present invention. This structure can be applied to any
disc structure having a TDDS therein. Referring to FIG. 5B, a variety of
information recorded in the TDDS includes, but is not limited to: a TDDS
identifier" field 61 and a "TDDS format" field 62 for distinguishing a property
of the TDDS; a "TDDS Update Count" field 63 for indicating update times of
the TDDS; a "first PSN of Drive Area" field 64 for recording a variety of drive
information; a "first PSN of Defect List" field 65 for indicating a first physical
sector number of the defect list in case where the disc is closed; a "Location
of LSN 0 of User Data Area" field 66 (LSN = last sector number) and a "last
LSN of User Data Area" field 67 for indicating a start and an end of the user
data area; an "Inner Spare Area 0 size" field 68, an "Outer Spare Area size"
field 69 and an "Inner Spare Area 1 size" field 70 for indicating the size of
the corresponding spare area; a "Spare Area Full flags" field 71 for
selectively indicating whether or not the spare areas are fully used (full); a
"Recording Mode" field 72 for indicating a disc recording mode such as a
sequential recording mode or a random recording mode; a "general flag bits"
field 73 for indicating whether or not the write-protection of the disc exists;
an "Inconsistency flags" field 74 for indicating an update state of the TDMS
information; a "Last Recorded Address of User Data Area" field 75 for
indicating a location of the last recorded user data within the user data

area; a "Size of TDMAs in Outer Spare Area" field 76 and a "Size of
TDMS in Inner Spare Area 1" field 77 for indicating the size of the
corresponding TDMA allocated within the spare area; a "First PSN of 1st
Cluster of Defect List" field 78 for indicating a first physical sector number of
the latest defect list in the latest TDMA area to a "first PSN of 8th Cluster of
Defect List" field 79 for indicating the 8th physical sector number (Defect list
generally does not exceed four clusters in the single-layer optical disc and
eight clusters in the dual-layer optical disc); a "first PSN of SRRI/SBM for
LO" field 80 and a "first PSN of SBM for LI" field 81 for indicating the
location of the SRRI (or SBM), which is finally recorded in a sequential or
random recording mode; a "next available PSN of ISAO" field 82, a "next
available PSN of OSA0" field 83, a "next available PSN of ISA1" field 84, a
"next available PSN of OSA1" field 85 for indicating a next available physical
sector number in the corresponding spare area; and a "Year/Month/Data of
recording" field 86 for indicating a recording time, and a "Drive ID" field 87
for indicating a manufacture company, an additional identification, a serial
number and the like.
Some of these fields of the TDDS can be non-variable fields (not updated).
Such fields may include the "TDDS identifier" field 61, the "Inner Spare Area
0, 1 size" fields 68-70, the "Outer Spare Area size" field 69, the "Recording
Mode" field 72, the "Size of TDMAs in Outer Spare Area" field 76, the "Size of
TDMAs in Inner Spare Area 1" field 77 among the TDDS information

discussed above. For description convenience, information included in
these non-variable fields is called "fixed management field" information.
Since the fixed management field information is the same no matter which
TDDS is played-back, the entire structure of the disc, the recording manner
and the like can be determined through this information.
Further, some of the fields of the TDDS may need to be continuously
updated according to a need. Such fields may include the "first PSN of 1st
Cluster of Defect List" ... "first PSN Of 8th Cluster of Defect List" field 78...79,
the "next available PSN of ISAO" field 82, the "next available PSN of OSAO"
field 83, the "next available PSN of ISA1" field 84, and the "next available
PSN of OSA1" field 85. For description convenience, information included in
these variable fields is called "variable management field" information.**
Accordingly, if the TDDS information is recorded in the TAI and is played-
back according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entire disc
structure, the recording manner/mode and the like can be firstly
determined through the fixed management field information. For instance, a
corresponding TDMA is easily accessed through the size information of the
TDMA area included in the fixed management field information.
FIGs. 6A and 6B illustrate two examples of different contents of the TAI
cluster according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although FIGs.
6A and 6B show one TAI cluster, each cluster of the TAI discussed herein
can have the same or similar content structure.

Particularly, FIGs. 6A and 6B are examples of recording certain real
data into the TAI clusters to selectively place the TAI clusters into the
recorded state. Some or all of such real data recorded in the TAI can be
directly used to indicate whether or not the TAI cluster(s) is in the recorded
state so as to identify the in-use TDMA as discussed above. The use of such
real data has an advantage in that additional relevant information can be
provided by the TAI in addition to the indication of the current in-use TDMA.
It should be noted, however, that dummy data or any other designated
signals can be recorded into the TAI clusters to indicate the
recorded/unrecorded state of the TAI clusters. The TAI content structures
of FIGs. 6A and 6B are applicable to the TAI and disc structures shown in
FIGs. 2A-5B and the methods of FIG. 8.
According to one example as shown in FIG. 6A, the TAI cluster, which
corresponds to a particular TDMA (or latest TDMA in case that the TAI
cluster indicates the disc closing) as discussed above, includes the latest
TDDS information associated with the TDMA corresponding to the TAI
cluster, in addition to the information indicating whether the corresponding
TDMA is the in-use TDMA. In case where the last TDDS is recorded in the
last cluster of each TDMA, the TDMA including the latest TDDS and the in-
use-TDMA can be different from each other, which in turn can cause errors
when accessing the disc. By providing the additional information in the TAI
as in FIG. 6A, such an error can be prevented.

A detailed description of this situation is as follows by referring to
FIG. 6A. First, assume that the TAI is recorded in cluster units, a cluster
being the minimal recording-unit. In the first sector (Sector 0) of the TAI
cluster having 32 sectors, there exist an identification field 92 ("TAI
identifier") for allowing the recognition of the TAI information, a TAI format
information field 93 ("TAI format") related with a version of the current disc,
and a TAI update count field 94 ("TAI update count") for increasing a count
value by 1 whenever the TAI is updated. The update count field 94 can also
be used even as the information for indicating how many clusters may be
present within the TAI. Further, there exists a TDDS location field 95
("Latest TDDS location") for providing information on the TDMA in which the
latest TDDS information is located.
The remaining area 96 of the first sector (Sector 0) of the TAI cluster is used
to indicate the recorded or unrecorded state of the TAI cluster by using a
predetermined value (for example, setting the field to "OOh"). For instance, if
the remaining area 96 of Sector 0 of the TAI cluster has certain designated
recording as discussed above, then the TAI cluster is said to be in the
recorded state to indicate the in-use status of the corresponding TDMA or
the disc closing as discussed above in connection with FIGs. 3A-4C.
The TDDS location field 95 in the first sector (Sector 0) of the TAI cluster
identifies a TDMA in which the latest TDDS information is recorded
irrespective of whether or not that TDMA is fully used up. For example, the

values of this field 95 can be defined so that "0000 0000b" means the
latest TDDS exists in the TDMA0, "0000 0001b" means the latest TDDS
exists in the TDMA2, "0000 0011b" means the latest TDDS exists in the
TDMA3, and "0000 0100b" means the latest TDDS exists in the TDMA4.
Other examples are possible. Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 3C, if the
second cluster 50b of the TAI 50 alone is in the recorded state (e.g., the area
96 of the TAI cluster 50b in FIG. 3C is in the recorded state) and the TDDS
location field 95 (i.e., of the second TAI cluster 50b in FIG. 3C) has a value of
"0000 0000b", it means the usable TDMA is the TDMA1, but the last
updated TDDS (latest TDDS information) is located within the TDMA0 on
the disc.
In addition, the latest TDDS information is recorded into a TDDS
information field 97 ("Latest TDDS") of the second sector (Sector 1 of the TAI
cluster). As a result, the TAI can be utilized even for recovering the latest
TDDS information directly. This is advantageous since, even if the latest
TDDS information recorded in the latest TDMA as part of the TDMS
information is damaged, the important TDDS information will not be lost
since it can recovered from the TAI recorded in the TDMA0. Some or all of
the remaining sectors (98) of the TAI cluster can have a copy of the latest
TDDS information stored in the TDDS information field 97. Each TDDS
information is recorded in one sector size. Thus, for instance, if 3 sectors of
the TAI cluster are each recorded with the same latest TDDS information,

this means that the latest TDDS information is stored three times in
the TAI.
The latest TDDS information stored in the field 97 of the TAI cluster can be
the last TDDS information or the first TDDS information. For instance, if
the TDMA corresponding to the TAI cluster becomes the in-use TDMA, then
recording in the field 96 is made to indicate that the corresponding TDMA is
currently in use. At this time, the first TDDS information recorded in the
corresponding TDMA is copied and recorded into the TDDS information field
97 of the TAI cluster as the latest TDDS information. The first TDDS
information is recorded in the field 97 because the corresponding TDMA is
still in use and is not full at that time. Thus, according to a time point when
the TAI is updated, the latest TDDS information recorded in the TAI can be
the last TDDS recorded within the corresponding TDMA (e.g., when the
corresponding TDMA is full), or can be the first TDDS recorded within the
in-use-TDMA (i.e., when the corresponding TDMA is currently available for
use).
As another example, the latest TDDS information can be copied up to 32
times into the TAI cluster. Any remaining sector of the TAI cluster can be
set to a certain value such as OOh if it is not used. Since each TDDS
information recording is allotted with one sector size, this means the entire
TAI cluster can be recorded with the same latest TDDS information up to 32
times as shown in FIG. 6B. In this example, the first TDDS information

recorded in the corresponding TDMA is recorded 32 times in the TAI
cluster. And the recording of the first TDDS information in the TAI cluster is
directly used as the TDMA in-use/disc closing indicator of the TAI cluster.
This is an example of using the recording of real data (such as the TDDS
information) in the TAI cluster to selectively indicate whether or not the TAI
cluster is in the recorded state. Thus, the TAI cluster, not only indicates
which TDMA is the in-use TDMA or whether or not the disc is closed, but
also provides the latest TDDS information associated with the corresponding
TDMA.
Accordingly, the optical recording/playing-back apparatus can examine the
TAI from the loaded disc to determine whether or not the disc is closed. If
the disc is closed, the last TDDS information of the disc can be obtained by
reading the latest TDDS information recorded in the TAI cluster. Further,
the TAI can be examined to identify the location of the in-use TDMA since it
indicates which TDMA is currently the in-use TDMA. Further, by accessing
and using the "fixed management field" information within the TDDS
information recorded in the corresponding TAI cluster, the spare areas can
be allocated or not allocated on the disc, and the allocation size of the spare
areas and/or TDM As may be obtained.
After that, the recording/playing-back apparatus can move a pickup to the
in-use-TDMA area to perform the scan from the beginning of the
corresponding TDMA area, thereby confirming the last recorded TDDS.

Therefore, the "variable management field" information recorded in the
TDDS can be confirmed and the confirmed information can be used to allow
the reading of the last TDFL, SRRI (or SBM), thereby reading information on
the entire disc recording state and defect areas.
Hereinafter, the optical recording and playback method and apparatus using
the TAI according to an embodiment of the present invention is discussed.
FIG. 7 illustrates a recording/reproducing apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The methods of the present invention
can be implemented by the apparatus of FIG. 7 or other suitable
device/system. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes a
recording/reproducing unit 10 for performing reproduction and/or recording
from/on an optical disc, and a control unit (or host) 20 for controlling the
recording/reproducing unit 10. The control unit 20 sends a record
command or a reproduce command for a specific area on the disc to the
reproducing unit 10. The recording/reproducing unit 10 performs the
recording/reproduction in the specific area according to the command of the
control unit 20. The recording/reproducing unit 10 can employ an optical
drive.
The recording/reproducing unit 10 can include an interface unit 12 for
performing communication with an external device such as the control unit
20; a pickup unit 11 for directly recording or reproducing data to/from the
optical disc; a data processor 13 for receiving the reproduction signal from

the pickup unit 11 to convert the receive signal into appropriate signal
values, or for modulating a to-be-recorded signal into an appropriate
recording signal for the optical disc; a servo unit 14 for controlling the
pickup unit 11 to precisely read the signals from the optical disc, or to
precisely record the signals on the optical disc; a memory 15 for temporarily
storing a variety of information including the management information and
data; and a microprocessor 16 for controlling the operations and structural
elements within the unit 10.
A description of a disc playback method using the TAI in a
recording/reproducing apparatus according to any embodiment of the
present invention is now provided referring to FIG. 8.
As shown in FIG. 8, if the write-once optical disc is loaded in the optical
recording/ reproducing apparatus, the apparatus moves to the TDMA0 of the
disc to read the TAI (S10). It is determined whether or not the loaded disc is
closed by examining the TAI information, particularly, the DMA disc-closing
indicator of the TAI (S20).
At this time, if it is determined that the disc is closed since the DMA disc
closing indicator cluster is in the recorded state, the apparatus moves the
pick-up unit to a designated area (e.g., a DMA) to read the last recorded
management information (S30). In case where the disc is closed as described
above, recording on the disc can no longer be performed. Therefore, the
management information is utilized to perform the playback of data (S40).

On the other hand, if it is determined that if the disc is not
closed, the recording/reproducing apparatus moves to the in-use-TDMA
indicated by the TDMA in-use indicator cluster(s) of the TAI to read the
management information including the latest TDDS information recorded in
the in-use-TDMA (S50). Such TDDS information may also be obtained from
the TAI. Also the recording/reproducing apparatus first reads the "fixed
management field" information from the TDDS recorded in the TAI to obtain
information on the entire disc structure and the like and then, can also
move to the currently in-use TDMA area to read the latest "variable
management field" information.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, after the last management information of the disc is
read, the data is recorded or played-back according to a user's selection or
as needed (S60).
Applying the method of FIG.8 to the apparatus of FIG. 7, if the optical disc is
loaded, the recording/reproducing unit 10 obtains a variety of recorded disc
information from the loaded optical disc. Specifically, if the loaded optical
disc is the write-once optical disc, for example, BD-WO, the microcomputer
16 accesses the TAI and obtains the TAI information recorded in the TDMA0
area in order to determine whether or not the loaded disc is closed and to
obtain the location of the in-use-TDMA.

If the disc is determined to be closed in view of the TAI information, the
recording can be no longer performed on the disc. Therefore, the
recording/reproducing unit 10 performs the disc playback through a
playback command of the control unit 20 under the control of the
microcomputer 16. If the disc is not closed in view of the TAI information,
the location of the in-use-TDMA to obtain the last TDMS information
recorded in the in-use TDM A is obtained from the TAI, and the obtained
TDMS information is utilized to perform the playback by the
recording/reproducing unit 10 under the control of the microcomputer 16
according to a playback command of the control unit 20.
On the other hand, a method for recording the TAI using the optical
recording/reproducing apparatus of FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of
the present invention is described as follows.
The microcomputer 16 within the playback unit 10 records the TDMS
information to the plurality of TDMAs in a specific use sequence. For
example, the TDMA0 first is used. If the TDMA0 is fully used up, the TDMA1
in-use indicator cluster of the TAI within the TDMA0 is changed to be in the
recorded state to indicate that the TDMA1 is currently in use. The recorded
state of the TDMA1 in-use indicator cluster can be realized by recording the
recorded TDDS information already recorded in the TDMA0 or some other
designated data as discussed above.
In case where there is no longer any cluster to be recorded or the disc is

closed by a closing command of the control unit 20 according to a user's
request or like while recording is performed, the microcomputer 16 controls
to transfer and record the latest TDMS information, which is recorded in the
latest TDMA, into each of the DMAs (duplicate recording for redundancy
purpose), and controls to change the DMA disc closing indicator cluster of
the TAI to be in the recorded state.
When the disc is in an idle state or in a disc eject state after the disc
recording is all finished, the location of the in-use-TDMA is determined such
that the above operation can change the specific cluster within the
corresponding TAI to be in a batch record state.
As described above, the present invention has an advantage in that the
write-once optical disc is efficiently used through a method for recording and
using the TAI including both the TDMA in-use indicator(s) and the disc
closing indicator. By accessing the TAI initially, the identity of the in-use
TDMA at that time can be quickly obtained, information on whether or not
the disc is closed can be easily obtained, and management information such
as the latest TDDS information can also be easily obtained.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that
the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this
invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.

WE CLAIM :
1. A write-once recording medium comprising:
a plurality of final disc/defect management areas for storing final management
information when the recording medium is to be closed;
a first indicator (51) allocated at the most front position of a first temporary
disc/defect management area (TDMA0) in the recording medium for indicating whether
or not the recording medium has been closed, the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary
disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in
a designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording
medium is closed; and
a plurality of second indicators allocated to the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) for indicating which temporary disc/defect management
area is currently available for use, the plurality of second indicators respectively
corresponding to the plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas except the
first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0).
2. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first temporary
disc/defect management area (TDMA0) is located in an inner zone of the recording
medium.
3. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein once the recording
medium is closed, the first indicator (51) contains data recorded thereon.
4. The recording medium of any one as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the first
indicator (51) is formed of one cluster and the first head cluster (50a or 57b) of the first
temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) is used as the first indicator (51).
5. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the second
indicators is formed of one cluster and clusters started from the second head cluster
(50b or 57b) of the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) are used as
the plurality of second indicators.

6. The recording medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of second
indicators are respectively corresponding, in a direction of descending physical sector
number of a second indicator, to the plurality of temporary disc/defect management
areas being used in the designated order.
7. The recording medium as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein once a temporary
disc/defect management area in the recording medium is available for use, a cluster
corresponding to the temporary disc/defect management area once available contains a
copy of temporary disc definition structure information recorded first in the
corresponding temporary disc/defect management area.
8. A method of recording management information on a write-once recording
medium, the recording medium having a plurality of final disc/defect management areas
for storing final management information when the recording medium is to be closed,
the method comprising:
allocating a first indicator (51) at the most front position of a first temporary disc/
defect management area (TDMA0) in the recording medium for indicating whether or
not the recording medium is closed, the first temporary disc/defect management area
(TDMA0) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary disc/defect
management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in a
designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording
medium is closed; and
allocating a plurality of second indicators to the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) for indicating which temporary disc/defect management
area is currently available for use, the plurality of second indicators respectively
corresponding to the plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas except the
first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) is located in an inner zone of the recording medium.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, comprising:
recording data onto the first indicator (51) when the recording medium is to be
closed.

11. The method of any one as claimed in claims 8 to 10, wherein the first indicator is
formed of one cluster, and the step of allocating the first indicator (51) allocates the first
indicator (51) to the first head cluster (50a or 57b) of the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0).
12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the second indicators is
formed of one cluster, and the step of allocating the plurality of second indicators
respectively allocates the plurality of second indicators to clusters starting from the
second head cluster (50b or 57b) of the first temporary disc/defect management area
(TDMA0).
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of second indicators
are respectively corresponding, in a direction of descending physical sector number of a
second indicator, to the plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas being
used in the designated order.
14. The method as claimed in claim 8 or 13, comprising:
recording, onto a cluster corresponding to a temporary disc/defect management
area, a copy of temporary disc definition structure information recorded first in the
corresponding temporary disc/defect management area when the corresponding
temporary disc/defect management area becomes available for use.
15. A method of reproducing management information recorded on a write-once
recording medium, the recording medium having a plurality of final disc/defect
management areas for storing final management information when the recording
medium is to be closed, the method comprising:
accessing a first indicator (51) allocated at the most front position of a first
temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) in the recording medium, the first
temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) designated to be used first among a
plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are
used sequentially in a designated order for storing temporary management information
until the recording medium is closed;
determining whether or not the recording medium has been closed based on the

first indicator (51); and
determining which temporary disc/defect management area among the plurality
of temporary disc/defect management areas is currently for use based on at least one of
a plurality of second indicators within the first temporary disc/defect management area
(TDMA0), the plurality of second indicators respectively corresponding to the plurality of
temporary disc/defect management areas except the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0).
16. An apparatus for recording management information on a write-once recording
medium, the recording medium having a plurality of final disc/defect management areas
for storing final management information when the recording medium is to be finalized,
the apparatus comprising:
a microcomputer (16) configured to allocate a first indicator (51) at the most front
position of a first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) for indicating
whether or not the recording medium is closed, the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary
disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in
a designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording
medium is closed, and the microcomputer (16) configured to allocate a plurality of
second indicators to the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) for
indicating which temporary disc/defect management area is currently available for use,
the plurality of second indicators respectively corresponding to the plurality of temporary
disc/defect management areas except the first temporary disc/defect management area
(TDMA0).
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) is located in an inner zone of the recording medium.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the first indicator (51) is
formed of one cluster, and the microcomputer (16) is configured to allocate the first
indicator (51) to the first head cluster (50a or 57b) of the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0).
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of second

indicators is formed of one cluster, and the microcomputer (16) is configured to allocate
the plurality of second indicators to clusters starting from the second head cluster (50b
or 57b) of the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0).
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of second indicators
are respectively corresponding, in a direction of descending physical sector number of a
second indicator, to the plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas being
used in the designated order.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or 20, comprising:
a pickup (11), operatively coupled to the microcomputer (16), configured to
record data onto the recording medium.
wherein the microcomputer (16) is configured to control the pickup (11) to
record, onto a cluster corresponding to a temporary disc/defect management area, a
copy of temporary disc definition structure information recorded first in the
corresponding temporary disc/defect management area when the corresponding
temporary disc/defect management area becomes available for use.
22. The apparatus of any one as claimed in claims 16 to 20, comprising:
a pickup (11), operatively coupled to the microcomputer (16), configured to
record data onto the recording medium.
wherein the microcomputer (16) is configured to control the pickup (11) to record
data onto the first indicator (51) when the recording medium is to be closed.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising:
a host (20) configured to send a record command for a specific area of the
recording medium via an interface (12), wherein the microcomputer (16) is configured to
control the pickup (11) to perform recording of data onto the specific area according to
the command from the host (20).
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, comprising:
a data processor (13) configured to convert a signal from the pickup (11) into a
signal value or modulate a to-be-recorded signal into a recording signal for the
recording medium;

a servo (14) configured to control the pickup (11) to read/record signals from/to
the recording medium; and
a memory (15) configured to temporarily store information associated with the
recording medium,
wherein the microcomputer (16) is configured to control operations of above
elements - the pickup (11), the data processor (13), the servo (14) and the memory
(15), so that the pickup (11) records data onto the first indicator (51), under the control
of the microcomputer (16), when the recording medium is to be closed.
25. An apparatus reproducing management information recorded on a write-once
recording medium, the recording medium having a plurality of final disc/defect
management areas when the recording medium is to be closed, the apparatus
comprising:
a pickup (11) configured to reproduce data from the recording medium; and
a microcomputer (16) configured to control the pickup (11) to access a first
indicator (51) allocated at the most front position of a first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) in the recording medium, the first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) designated to be used first among a plurality of temporary
disc/defect management areas of the recording medium which are used sequentially in
a designated order for storing temporary management information until the recording
medium is closed; and configured to determine whether or not the recording medium
has been closed based on the first indicator (51) and to determine which temporary
disc/defect management area among the plurality of temporary disc/defect management
areas is currently for use based on at least one of a plurality of second indicators within
the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0), the plurality of second
indicators respectively corresponding to the plurality of temporary disc/defect
management areas except the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0).
26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first indicator (51) is formed
of the first head cluster of the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0),
wherein the microcomputer (16) is configured to control the pickup (11) to access the
first head cluster in order to determine whether or not the recording medium has been
closed.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the microcomputer (16) is
configured to determine that the recording medium has been closed when the first
indicator (51) contains data recorded thereon; and configured to control the pickup (11)
to reproduce management information from a final disc/defect management area of the
recording medium.
28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the microcomputer (16) is
configured to determine a temporary disc/defect management area corresponding to a
second indicator containing data recorded last as a temporary disc/defect management
area currently available for use; and configured to control the pickup (11) to reproduce
management information from the temporary disc/defect management area determined
currently available for use.
29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, comprising:
a host (20) configured to send a record/reproduce command for a specific area
of the recording medium via an interface (12), wherein the microcomputer (16) is
configured to control the pickup (11) to perform recording/reproducing of data onto/from
the specific area according to the command from the host (20).
A write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing management
information recorded thereon, and an apparatus for recording management
information thereon are disclosed. The method comprises accessing a first
indicator (51) allocated at the most front position of a first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) in the recording medium, the first temporary
disc/defect management area (TDMA0) designated to be used first among a
plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas of the recording medium
which are used sequentially in a designated order for storing temporary
management information until the recording medium is closed and determining
whether or not the recording medium has been closed based on the first indicator
(51). The apparatus comprises a microcomputer (16) configured to allocated a
first indicator (51) at the most front position of a first temporary disc/defect
management area (TDMA0) for indicating whether or not the recording medium
is closed, the first temporary disc/defect management area (TDMA0) designated
to be used first among a plurality of temporary disc/defect management areas of
the recording medium which are used sequentially in a designated order for
storing temporary management information until the recording medium is closed.

Documents:

00428-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-description complete.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-form-1.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-form-3.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-form-5.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-gpa.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-international search authority.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-pct forms.pdf

00428-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED CLAIMS.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED PAGES.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 2.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-FORM 5.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GPA.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-INTENATIONAL PUBLICATION 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS 1.2.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-PA.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-PCT IPER.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT 1.1.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT 1.2.pdf

428-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-00428-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 254042
Indian Patent Application Number 428/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 38/2012
Publication Date 21-Sep-2012
Grant Date 17-Sep-2012
Date of Filing 24-Feb-2006
Name of Patentee LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
Applicant Address 20, YOIDO-DONG, YOUNGDUNGPO-GU, SEOUL 150-721, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 PARK YONG CHEOL 402-803, JUGONG APT. BYEORYANG-DONG, GWACHEON-SI, GYEONGGI-DO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
PCT International Classification Number G11B 7/00, 20/10
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR2004/001965
PCT International Filing date 2004-08-04
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-2003-0073088 2003-10-20 Republic of Korea
2 60/546, 961 2004-02-24 Republic of Korea
3 10-2004-0032677 2004-05-10 Republic of Korea
4 10-2003-0054165 2003-08-05 Republic of Korea