Patent ID: 7360014
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for recording or reproducing data on/from a recording medium, the recording medium including a spare area for replacing a defective unit, the spare area including a first spare area and/or an extendable second spare area, the first spare area assigned at an inner area of the recording medium and the second spare area assigned at an outer area of the recording medium, the method comprising: checking whether or not the first spare area and/or the second spare area is full; and recording first and/or second state information to identify separately whether or not the first spare area and/or the second spare area is full based on a result of the checking step, wherein the second state information further identifies whether or not the second spare area is assigned, and the second state information is set to a same value respectively when the second spare area is full and when the second spare area is not assigned.