Patent ID: 7783829
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for managing a write-once optical disc including one or more sessions, each session having a session number and comprising one or more recording ranges in which data is recorded sequentially, each of the one or more recording range being one of a open recording range having a recordable position and a closed recording range having no recordable position, the apparatus comprising: a interface configured to communicate with an external device; a pickup configured to record/reproduce data to/from the disc directly; a data processor configured to receive and restore a reproduction signal from the pickup or modulate a signal proper to the disc; a servo configured to control the pickup to read/record a signal from/to the disc; a memory configured to store information associated with the disc temporarily; and a microcomputer operatively coupled to above components—the interface, the pickup, the data process, the servo and the memory, and configured to control the components so that the apparatus closes all open recording range, except an open recording range having no end address, in an open session so as to close the open session where each open recording range has a recordable area and the open session has the highest session number among the one or more sessions, wherein the microcomputer is configured to control the components so that the apparatus pads with padding data at least one recording-unit subsequent to a last recorded position in each open recording range in the open session being closed, and sets padding identification information in the at least one recording-unit to indicate that the at least one recoding-unit is padded; the microcomputer configured to control the components so that the apparatus opens a new open session including a new open recording range and a new session number higher that that of the closed session; and the microcomputer configured to control the components so that the apparatus records, onto a temporary defect management area of the disc, session start information indicating whether or not the new open recording range is a start of the new open session.