Method for emulating optical disk, optical disk drive using the same, and optical disk including security zone

Provided are a method for emulating a separate contents memory unit into an optical disk, an optical disk drive using the same, and an optical disk including a security zone. In the method, when an optical disk processing command from a host is present, whether an optical disk is present in the optical disk drive is judged. When the optical disk is not present in the optical disk drive as a result of the judgment, the contents memory unit is executed as a virtual optical disk. An application stored in the contents memory unit is displayed. The optical disk drive includes an optical disk storage unit, a contents memory unit, and a controller. The optical disk storage unit stores or reproduces contents using an optical disk. The contents memory unit stores contents therein and is executed as a virtual optical disk when the optical disk is not present. The controller controls the optical disk storage unit and the contents memory unit, and controls an access to be made, subject to the contents memory unit. The optical disk includes a fake zone that is accessible by all users without an authentication procedure, and a security zone that is accessible through the authentication procedure. Accordingly, a user can receive and use desired contents using the optical disk drive even when a disk is not present.

This application is a 371 of PCT/KR08/00362, filed Jan. 21, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method for emulating a separate contents memory as an optical disk, an optical disk drive using the same, and an optical disk including a security zone.

BACKGROUND ART

As demands for processing high-quality moving images increase, a high-capacity data storage optical disk is required. Consequently, high-density rewritable optical recording medium that can record and store high quality video and audio data for many hours is brought to the market, recently.

Examples of the high-density rewritable optical recording medium include a blue lay disk (BD), a high definition digital versatile disk (HD-DVD), etc. The DVD has an about 4.7 GB recording capacity and the BD has an about 25 GB recording capacity. After the BD standard has been introduced, the next generation high density/ultra miniature optical storage device has been developed. Examples of the next generation high density/ultra miniature optical storage device include technologies such as a super-lens, holography, near field recording, etc.

Recently, because these optical storage devices (e.g., compact disk (CD), DVD, BD, HD-DVD) are widely distributed, a home or office of company keeps several tens to hundreds of optical storage disks containing various contents.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a structure of a related art optical disk drive.

The related art optical disk drive includes an optical disk21, a pick-up unit11, a servo unit12, a signal processing unit14, a memory15, and a micom13. The optical disk21is a recording medium on which data are recorded, reproduced, and erased by a laser. The pick-up unit11records/reproduces management information including data recorded on the optical disk21. The servo unit12controls operations of the pick-up unit11. The signal processing unit14demodulates a reproduction signal received from the pick-up unit11into a desired signal value, or modulates a signal to be recorded into a signal having a form necessary for performing a recording operation on the optical disk21to transmit the signal. The memory15stores various information necessary for reproducing the optical disk21. The micom13controls operations of the above components. The components form a recording/reproducing unit10.

The pick-up unit11includes a laser light source such as a laser diode, a collimator lens, an objective lens driven by a focus actuator or a tracking actuator, a polarized beam splitter, an optical component such as a cylindrical lens, a photodetector converting light into an electrical signal, and a front monitor diode monitoring a laser output during a recording or reproducing operation.

The micom13detects reflected light from the optical disk21, and calculates an amount of the reflected light through the detected reflected light to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal representing a total sum of the reflected light with respect to each area of photodiodes. Additionally, the micom13generates a focus error signal FE, which is a signal detecting an out-of-focus laser illuminated by the pick-up unit11through an astigmatism method. Additionally, the micom13generates a tracking error signal TE detecting an out-of-track laser illuminated by the pick-up unit11through a push-pull method.

The memory15stores various information necessary for reproducing the optical disk21and typically includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM) to store a control program, a theoretical length of each pit and land, or existence probability in combination of each pit and land.

A controller23is responsible for controlling entire components.

A decoder22finally decodes output data in response to control of the controller23and then provides the decoded data to a user.

To record user desired data on a recoding medium, an encoder24converts an input signal into a signal of a predetermined format, e.g., a motion picture experts group 2 (MPEG2) transport stream, and then provides the converted signal to the signal processing unit14in response to control of the controller23.

As described above,FIG. 1illustrates components of recording and reproducing units of the related art optical disk drive. In relation to the reproducing of the optical disk, the optical disk21, the recording/reproducing unit10, and the decoder22are used. In relation to the recording of the optical disk, the recoding/reproducing unit10, and the decoder22are used in response to control of the controller23.

Since the optical disk drive reproduces/executes only the contents stored on the optical disk21, there is inconvenience that the optical disk21should be replaced with a new optical disk when a user intends to execute other contents.

Also, since the capacity of the optical disk is limited, the optical disk cannot satisfy the demand of a user who desires to receive a great amount of contents.

Also, since a security method for an optical storage device is not sufficiently provided, data loss due to external trespass emerges as a serious limitation.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a method for emulating a separate contents memory as an optical disk and an optical disk drive that realize a virtual optical disk even when an optical disk is not present in the optical disk drive, and provide the virtual optical disk to a user.

Embodiments also provide a method for emulating a separate contents memory as an optical disk, an optical disk drive, and an optical disk that reinforce security to allow only a user who passes a predetermined authentication process to access a memory unit in which contents have been stored.

Technical Solution

To solve related art limitations, a separate contents memory unit is provided to an optical disk drive, and the contents memory unit is emulated (virtualized), so that a virtual optical disk can be executed.

The present disclosure relates to a method for emulating a separate contents memory as an optical disk, an optical disk drive using the same, and an optical disk including a security zone.

In one embodiment, a method for emulating an optical disk in an optical disk drive having a separate contents memory unit includes: when an optical disk processing command from a host is present, judging whether the optical disk is present in the optical disk drive; when the optical disk is not present in the optical disk drive as a result of the judgment, executing the contents memory unit as a virtual optical disk; and displaying an application stored in the contents memory unit.

The executing of the contents memory unit as the virtual optical disk may include: copying a file system of the optical disk to apply the copied file system to the contents memory unit; and performing the optical disk processing command from the host using an optical disk processing instruction.

The copying of the file system may include: one of directly copying information of the file system of the optical disk to apply the copied information to the contents memory unit, and compressing information of the file system of the optical disk to apply the copied information to the contents memory unit.

The contents memory unit may be recorded in the same data form as that of the optical disk, and executed as a virtual optical disk regardless of an operating system operating the optical disk drive.

The method may further include, when the optical disk is present in the optical disk drive, displaying an application list of the optical disk.

In another embodiment, an optical disk drive includes: an optical disk storage unit storing or reproducing contents using an optical disk; a contents memory unit storing contents therein and executed as a virtual optical disk when the optical disk is not present; and a controller controlling the optical disk storage unit and the contents memory unit, and controlling an access to be made, subject to the contents memory unit.

The controller may include: an optical disk management unit controlling the optical disk storage unit and performing an optical disk processing command of a host to return a result to the host; a contents memory management unit copying a file system of the optical disk to apply the file system to the contents memory unit so that the contents memory unit is executed as a virtual optical disk; and an optical disk judgment unit judging whether an optical disk is present when the optical disk processing command of the host is present.

When the optical disk judgment unit judges that the optical is not present, the contents memory management unit may execute the contents memory unit as a virtual optical disk. The contents memory management unit may copy and apply the file system of the optical disk to the contents memory unit, perform the optical disk processing command from the host using an optical disk processing instruction, and return one of a result and a state to the host in response to the command from the host.

The optical disk processing instruction may include an advanced technology attachment packet interface.

In further another embodiment, an optical disk includes: a fake zone that is accessible by all users without an authentication procedure; and a security zone that is accessible through the authentication procedure.

A program containing the authentication procedure may be embedded in the fake zone, and the fake zone and the security zone may use the same optical disk file system. When a user passes the authentication procedure, a start position that is accessible by the user may be changed into a start position of the security zone.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present disclosure, a user can use a virtual optical disk even when an optical disk is not present in an optical disk drive, and the virtual optical disk provides the same physical characteristic that that of a real physical optical disk, so that user convenience can improve.

Also, since the virtual optical disk performs the same operation as that of a real physical optical disk, the virtual optical disk in a disk drive can be read by any device regardless of an operating system (OS).

Also, since an optical disk is realized in the form of a virtual optical disk, there is no limit in size, access speed, and no limitation such as recognition time of a physical disk.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating the construction of an optical disk drive according to an embodiment.

The optical disk drive100includes: an optical disk storage unit110storing or re-producing contents using an optical disk; a contents memory unit120storing contents therein and executed as a virtual optical disk when the optical disk is not present; and a controller130controlling the optical disk storage unit110and the contents memory unit120, and controlling an access to be made, subject to the contents memory unit120.

The controller130can include an optical disk management unit132controlling the optical disk storage unit110and performing an optical disk processing command of a host to return a result to the host; a contents memory management unit133copying a file system of an optical disk to apply the file system to the contents memory unit120so that the contents memory unit120is executed as a virtual optical disk; and an optical disk judgment unit131judging whether an optical disk is present when an optical disk processing command of the host is present.

Also, the optical disk drive100can further include an interface connection unit140providing an interface path to the host.

The optical disk drive100according to an embodiment can include not only the optical disk storage unit110reproducing/storing contents but also the separate contents memory unit120for emulation to an optical disk.

The contents memory unit120can include a separate memory unit, for example, a memory unit such as a RAM and a ROM, or can include a spare space of an internal memory of the optical disk drive.

Therefore, a limitation in the capacity of an optical disk can be solved by realizing the contents memory unit120as a virtual optical disk.

A user can access the optical disk drive100through a personal computer (PC) interface, and use the optical disk drive100through the interface connection unit140.

When receiving a command from the host, the controller130controls the optical disk storage unit110or the contents memory unit120.

More specifically, when an optical disk processing command from the host is received through the interface connection unit140, the optical disk judgment unit131of the controller130judges whether an optical disk is present in the optical disk drive100.

The optical disk judgment131can judge whether the optical disk is present using various methods. The various methods include a method of illuminating laser light and judging an optical disk is present when there is reflected light, and a method of rotating an optical disk and measuring a change in a rotation momentum to judge whether the optical disk is present.

When it is judged by the optical disk judgment unit131that an optical disk is present in the optical disk drive100, the optical disk management unit132controls the optical disk storage unit110in response to a command from the host, and returns a result to the host.

When it is judged by the optical disk judgment unit131that an optical disk is not present in the optical disk drive100, the contents memory management unit133controls the contents memory unit120to be executed as a virtual optical disk in response to a command from the host, and returns a result to the host.

A method for realizing the contents memory unit120as a virtual optical disk will be described in detail.

Virtualization according to an embodiment, that is, an emulation process means a series of processes executing the contents memory unit120as a virtual optical disk. Therefore, it is required to give the attribute of an optical disk to the contents memory unit120.

For performing emulation, the same file system managing optical disk files should be applied to the contents memory unit120, and also the same instructions processing the optical disk should be used for the contents memory unit120.

There are characteristics to be checked to emulate the contents memory unit120as the optical disk. Examples of the characteristics include a disk characteristic (whether a disk has a ROM type or R/RW type), a disk size, a disk details (tracks, session information, etc.), and read/write information.

Also, as described above, to emulate the contents memory unit120as the optical disk, the same optical disk processing commands should be used for the contents memory unit120.

For example, the optical disk processing command can include advanced technology attachment packet interface (ATAPI).

The ATAPI will be exemplarily described. Examples of the ATAPI include an instruction of Get Configuration, an instruction of Test Unit Ready, an instruction of Read Capacity, an instruction of Read TOC/PMA/ATPI or Read Disc Information, an instruction of Read Track Information, an instruction of Read, and instructions of Write, Verify, and Write and Verify. The instruction of Get Configuration returns profile information (e.g., type, size, power control characteristic) of the contents memory unit120as virtual disk information. The instruction of Test Unit Ready returns a drive ready state. The instruction of Read Capacity returns the maximum capacity of a disk. The instruction of Read TOC/PMA/ATPI or Read Disc Information returns information of virtually set track/session. The instruction of Read Track Information returns detail information of a track. The instruction of Read maps a predetermined address zone of the contents memory unit120to a predetermined zone of an optical disk, so that the predetermined address zone can be recognized as if it were an optical disk. The instructions of Write, Verify, and Write and Verity map a predetermined address zone of the contents memory unit120to a predetermined zone of an optical disk, so that the predetermined address zone is emulated as a zone for performing a data writing operation.

The above-described commands are exemplary for explanation of the present disclosure but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Therefore, when the optical disk processing command from the host is present and it is judged by the optical disk judgment unit131that an optical disk is not present, the contents memory management unit133can return a state or a result in response to the optical disk processing instruction.

As described above, the emulation is performed on the contents memory unit120stored inside the optical disk drive, so that the contents memory unit120is performed as a virtual disk. Therefore, the contents memory unit120can be given a physical characteristic regardless of an operating system operating the optical disk drive.

A method for copying and apply the file system of an optical disk to the contents memory unit120will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of an optical disk emulation process according to an embodiment.

When an optical disk processing command from the host is present (S200), the optical disk judgment unit judges whether an optical disk is present in the optical disk drive (S210and S220). When the optical disk is present in the optical disk drive as a result of the judgment, the optical disk is controlled by the optical disk management unit, and the present optical disk is displayed (S230).

When the optical disk is not present in the optical disk drive as a result of the judgment, the contents memory management unit emulates the contents memory unit according to an embodiment (S240). Next, applications stored in the contents memory unit are displayed (S250) to allow desired contents to be executed.

FIGS. 4 to 6are schematic views explaining a process of copying a file system of an optical disk and applying the copied file system to a contents memory unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4is a schematic view of a general file system of an optical disk.

The file system used for a general optical disk may be ISO9660, universal disk format (UDF), and UDF-bridge. The file system can be divided into a file system zone41and a file data zone42.

A representative name of a disk, a disk size, and a pointer indicating a data position can be stored in the file system zone41. Real data can be stored in the file data zone42.

Generally, the contents of the file system of an optical disk can be simply and directly copied, and applied to the contents memory unit. However, the above method has a limitation of requiring a large data capacity due to requirements of the file system of the optical disk even for a small capacity of file data.

Therefore, a method for compressing and applying the information of the file system of an optical disk to the contents memory unit can be used, which will be described with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5illustrates a file system copying method according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5, the file system of an optical disk includes a plurality of blocks (not shaded portions) filled with zero.

Therefore, the file system can be copied using a small memory space by extracting only actually existing data blocks and not extracting blocks filled with zero from the file system zone.

Next, the file system of the optical disk can be completely copied using only a small memory space and can be applied to the contents memory unit by allocating a virtual zero-block space while emulation is performed.

That is, in the emulated virtual disk, when a No. 0 block is read, for example, a value of zero is returned because it is a zone where no real data exist. When a No. 1 block is read, it is converted into a zone where real data exist, so that it is changed into a real data position and the data are read and returned.

FIG. 6illustrates a file system copying method according to another embodiment. Referring toFIG. 6, the file system of an optical disk includes a plurality of blocks (not shaded portions) filled with zero.

Therefore, the file system can be copied using a small memory space by extracting only actually existing data blocks and not extracting blocks filled with zero from the file system zone.

Next, a virtual zero block space is allocated while emulation is performed. Unlike the case shown inFIG. 4B, since a zero block at the lowermost end of the file system zone does not need to be accessed, it does not need to be realized upon virtualization. Therefore, in this case, management can be facilitated by compressing the file system through update of position information using address shift, and consequently reducing a shift distance upon address mapping.

FIG. 7is an exemplary view illustrating a display screen for the case where an optical disk is not present according to a related art, andFIG. 8is an exemplary view illustrating a display screen for the case where an emulation method is applied and an optical disk is not present according to an embodiment.

When an optical disk is not present in an optical disk drive, a related art optical disk drive displays DVD/CD-RW drive (E:)51on the screen of a PC to inform an empty state as illustrated inFIG. 7.

However, an optical disk drive using emulation according to an embodiment, an internal contents memory unit can be emulated and realized as if an optical disk were present even when the optical disk is not present.

That is, referring toFIG. 8, a virtual optical disk can be realized.FIG. 8exemplarily illustrates VIRTUAL52. Instead of this, a disk volume label name of the file system zone can be displayed.

FIGS. 9 and 11are schematic views illustrating the construction of a contents memory according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9is a schematic view of the contents memory unit120before a user authentication procedure is performed according to an embodiment.

To reinforce security while maintaining an existing file system, the contents memory unit120of the present disclosure can include a fake zone500and a security zone600. Also, a portion of the contents memory unit120that excludes the fake zone500and the security zone600exists as a spare memory zone700.

The contents memory unit can include only the fake zone500, include only the security zone600, and include a proper combination of the fake zone500and the security zone600.

The fake zone500is a zone that is accessible by all users, and the security zone600is a zone that is accessible only through user authentication. The security zone600can include a plurality of consecutive zones.

Since a program containing an authentication procedure can be embedded in the fake zone500, a process of having to install the authentication procedure is omitted, so that user convenience improves.

Referring toFIG. 9, a zone that can be accessed by a user before the authentication of the user is performed is only the fake zone500.

To use various contents embedded in the security zone600, the user passes through the program containing the authentication procedure and embedded in the fake zone500.

FIG. 10is a schematic view of the contents memory unit120after the user authentication procedure has been performed according to an embodiment. When the user passes through the user authentication procedure through a firmware, a start position that is accessible by the user is changed into a start position of the security zone600.

Therefore, the user can access not only the fake zone500but also the security zone600.

FIG. 11is a schematic view illustrating the construction of the contents memory unit120according to an embodiment. The file system table of the file system (for example, ISO9660 or UDF) of an optical storage medium is stored in a portion510or610of the fake zone500or the security zone600.

Referring toFIG. 11, the fake zone500and the security zone600have the same file system configuration, and only a start point of a position accessible by a user is simply changed. Therefore, the existing format is maintained and a data zone can be protected.

In the case where the security zone is set in the contents memory unit to store various contents as described above, data cannot be viewed at all without authentication. Accordingly, a separate encoding process does not need to be performed, which provides convenience to a user.

FIG. 12is a schematic view of an optical disk800including a security zone according to an embodiment. The optical disk800including the fake zone810and the security zone820is illustrated inFIG. 12. The fake zone810is a zone accessible by all users upon insertion of a disk. The security zone820is a zone that can be accessed only when the user passes through a predetermined authentication procedure. The security zone can include a plurality of consecutive zones. Since a program containing an authentication procedure is embedded in the fake zone810, a process of having to install the authentication procedure is omitted, so that user convenience improves.

Similarly to the memory unit of the optical disk drive, the fake zone810and the security zone820of the optical disk use the same file system. Also, when a user passes through the authentication procedure, a start position that is accessible by the user is changed into a start position of the security zone600, so that the user can recognize the security zone as if it were the exiting disk.

A rest portion excluding the fake zone810and the security zone820is a spare memory zone830. The spare memory zone830denotes an extra memory zone that can be used for various purposes.