Patent ID: 8369197
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for writing information on a rewritable information recording medium on which a read/write operation is performed on a block-by-block basis, wherein the information recording medium includes: a user data area to store user data written thereon; a spare area including a replacement block that would replace a defective block in the user data area; and a defect management information area to store defect management information for use to manage the defective block in the user data area or the spare area, and wherein the spare area is used sequentially in a predetermined direction, and wherein the defect management information includes: a defect entry specifying the sector address of the defective block; and next available spare location information for use to manage a location in the spare area from which a next replacement block is available, and wherein the information writing method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting a defective block in the user data area; (b) detecting a defective block in the spare area; (c) allocating a replacement block to the defective block that has been detected in the step (a) so that the defective block detected in the step (b) is avoided and that blocks of the spare area are sequentially used in a predetermined direction on a first come, first use basis; (d) adding a defect entry, including the sector address of the defective block that has been detected in the step (a), to the defect management information; (e) updating the next available spare location information so that the information indicates the location of the next block that follows the replacement block allocated in the step (c); and (f) writing the defect management information that has been updated in the steps (d) and (e) on the defect management information area.