Patent ID: 6301644
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
In an information storage medium having user sectors for storing user data, and alternate sectors for storing the user data stored in secondary defect user sectors, wherein current logical block addresses (current LBAs) are sequentially assigned to said user sectors, a method for managing defect sectors by moving the user data stored in said alternate sectors to said user sectors, said managing method comprising the steps of:(a) assigning new LBAs to said user sectors, skipping said secondary defect user sectors;(b) selecting a predetermined number of sectors according to the current LBAs in descending order of address from said user sector having the largest current LBA;(c) reading the user data in said selected predetermined number of sectors;(d) writing said read user data to said user sectors according to said new LBAs;(e) selecting a predetermined number of sectors according to the current LBAs in descending order of address from a sector having a current LBA immediately preceding a sector having the smallest current LBA among the predetermined number of sectors selected in said step (b);(f) determining whether or not the smallest current LBA among the current LBAs respectively possessed by the predetermined number of selected sectors is smaller than the smallest LBA among the current LBAs respectively possessed by said secondary defect user sectors, wherein if it is determined to be smaller including a predetermined margin, said managing method is terminated without executing said step (g); and(g) repeating the steps (c) to (e).