Data recording and reproducing apparatus

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data recording and reproducing apparatus (2) by which consecutive data such as audio data or video data and intermittent data such as computer data are recorded in and reproduced from a record medium (6) or the like. Input data is sequentially and consecutively recorded in a series of unit recording areas (sectors) on the record medium. When a recording-disabled-unit area is detected, corresponding data is stored in a memory (6). When a recording of said input data is finished, data stored in the memory is recorded in a particular area of the record medium. Further, an identifying information indicative of kinds of input data is recorded in a particular recording area of the record medium, wherein upon reproducing, a consecutive processing reproduction and an alternate processing reproduction can be automatically switched in response to the identifying information.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with the pre-characterizing parts of the claims 1 and 4 respectively. Such a data recording/reproducing apparatus is known from EP-A-0219261. Description of the Prior Art Generally, when data is recorded on a record medium, two modes, i.e., a consecutive processing mode and an alternate processing mode may be available. The consecutive processing mode is used in the recording mode for recording consecutive information such as audio data, video data or the like, whereas the alternate processing mode is generally used in the storage of computer data. A real time property is a very important factor for audio data, video data and so on used in the consecutive processing mode. In the case of audio data and video data or the like, consecutive data are correlated to each other so that they can therefore be error-compensated, thus avoiding an influence of error to some extent. In the alternate processing mode, if a sector of a hard disc or a magneto-optical disc or the like, in which data is to be written when it is shipped, is found defective such as scratches or the like, that defective sector is marked wiht a faulure secotr mark and is made useless. Then, corresponding data is written in an alternate sector prepared as a reserve sector. Alternatively, in the read-after-wirte mode, if an error rate is beyond a standard one, then data is to be written in the alternate sector. Although the above-mentioned consecutive processing mode is advantageous in real time property, error of more than a certain error rate cannot be processed. Thus, the consecutive processing mode is not so reliable. Further, although the alternate processing mode is very reliable, it has a problem of poor real time property. The data recording/reproducing apparatus which is disclosed in the EP-A-0 219 261 cited before at first carries out a read-after-write check to detect, if information cannot be recorded within a recording area. A number of a defective area is stored in a relay sector control information memory. Then, data which has been tried to record in the defective area is transferred to a relay sector buffer. After all data to be recorded is transferred and if a defective sector exists, i.e. if a defective sector number is stored in the relay sector control information memory, the recording head is accessed to the relay sector area to record the data stored in the relay sector buffer on a corresponding relay sector of the record medium. The known data recording/reproducing apparatus does not distinguish between a consecutive processing mode for recording video and audio data and an alternate processing mode for recording intermittent data, such as computer data. EP-A-0 073 330 discloses a hierarchical storage system adapted for error handling. In this known system, when input data cannot be recorded onto the medium because of a detected defect sector, the input data is buffered in a memory for recording this data onto the next non-defective sector. When the buffer becomes full, the data is recorded on the disc. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording apparatus which can record data by effectively utilizing advantages of both a consecutive processing mode and an alternate processing mode. It is another object of the present invention to provide a data reproducing apparatus which can reproduce data by effectively utilizing advantages of both a consecutive processing mode and an alternate processing mode. As a first aspect of this invention, in accordance with claim 1, a data recording apparatus for sequentially recording consecutive input data in predetermined unit recording areas of a recording medium, comprising: a) detecting means for detecting a recording-disabled-unit recording area; b) a memory for storing, in response to an output of said detecting means input data which are to be recorded in said recording-disabled-unit area, wherein data stored in said memory is recorded in a particular recording area of said recording medium at the completion of recording said input data, and a corresponding relationship between said recording-disabled-unit area and said recording area in which data, stored in said memory is to be recorded, is recorded in a particular area of said record medium, is chacterized in that the data recording apparatus further comprises: c) data identifying means for determining whether said input data is processed in a consecutive processing mode for recording video and audio data or is processed in an alternating processing mode for recording intermittent data, wherein said detecting means are searching for detecting a recording-disabled-unit recording area in said record medium only when said data identifying means determines that the input data is processed in the alternate processing mode. Advantageously, said data recording apparatus further comprises storage capacity watching means for watching amount of data stored in said memory, wherein when said data amount reaches a predetermined value, data stored in said memory is recorded in said particular recording area of said record medium. According to a further advantageous development, the data recording apparatus according to the invention records identification information for determing whether recorded data is to be reproduced in the alternate processing mode or in the consecutive processing mode. This identification signal is recorded in a particular area of said record medium which is in response to an output of the data identifying means. According to a second aspect of this invention, a data reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a record medium according to claim 1 and 3 is specified, comprising: identifying information detecting means for detecting said identifying information, wherein it is determined in response to said detected identifying information, whether data is reproduced in said consecutive processing mode or in said alternate processing mode, and detecting means for detecting a recording-disabled-unit area in said record medium, wherein in said alternate processing reproduction mode data which is recorded in a particular recording area of said record medium substituting said recording-disabled-unit recording area is reproduced in response to the output of said detecting means. The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several views. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a data recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are flow charts to which reference will be made in explaining steps involved in routine for recording data according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a flow chart to which reference will be made in explaining a reproducing operation of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a schematic planar view of a disk, and to which reference will be made in explaining a data allocation in an alternate processing mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A data recording and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. In this embodiment, a magneto-optical disk is used as a record medium. Fig. 1 shows a circuit arrangement of this embodiment. In Fig. 1, it will be seen that a host computer 1 is connected to a magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus for inputting and outputting data. The magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus 2 comprises an interface circuit 3, a write circuit 4, a memory 5, a magneto-optical disk 6, a photo pickup head 7, a read circuit 8 and a control section 9. The interface circuit 3 is connected to the host processing apparatus 1 to convert input and output signals. The write circuit 4 is supplied with an output signal of the interface circuit 3 as an input signal and supplies a signal to the photo pickup head 7 so that the photo pickup head 7 can write data in the magneto-optical disk 6. When a defective sector, which is a recording-disabled-unit area such as failure sector, address-unreadble sector or the like, is detected in the recording mode, the memory 5, which is a buffer memory utilizing, for example, a random access memory (RAM), temporarily stores data corresponding to detected data. The photo pickup head 7 reads out data recorded on the magneto-optical disk 6 and supplies the read circuit 8 with the read-out data. The control section 9 controls the whole section of the magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus 2, and is connected to the respective blocks. An operation of the data recording and reproducing apparatus of Fig. 1 will be described with reference to a flow chart of Fig. 2. In that case, the data recording and reproducing apparatus is adapted to record, for example, computer data. Referring to Fig. 2, following the Start of operation, the magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus 2 is set in the write mode by a write command issued from the host processing apparatus 1 at step 11. Then, computer data from the host processing apparatus 1 is supplied through the interface circuit 3 to the write circuit 4. In the next decision step 12, it is determined by the write circuit 4 whether the sector is a failure sector or an address-unreadable sector, or whether or not the sector is an unrecordable sector. If a NO is output at step 12, then the routine proceeds to step 13, whereat the write circuit 4 writes the input data in a predetermined sector of the magneto-optical disk 6 by means of the photo pickup head 7. If on the other hand a YES is output at step 12, then the routine proceeds to step 14, whereat the write circuit 4 stores data corresponding to the failure sector or the address-unreadable sector in the memory 5. In the next decision step 15, it is determined whether or not the data transmission is ended. If a NO is output at step 15, then the routine proceeds to step 16, whereat the recording operation is moved to the next sector and the same steps as described above are repeated. If it is determined that the transmission of all data is ended as represented by a YES at step 15, the routine proceeds to step 17, whereat the write circuit 4 reads out the data stored in the memory 5 and then writes the same in a particular unit recording area, for example, an alternate sector area of the magneto-optical disk 6 by means of the photo pickup head 7. In step 14, if the storage area of the memory 5 is all occupied, the alternate processing mode may be changed to the ordinary consecutive processing mode or the writing of data may be temporarily stopped and data may be written in the alternate sector. A recording operation of the magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus of the invention will be described with reference to a flow chart forming Fig. 3. In that case, data to be recorded is provided in the mixed form of audio data or video data and computer data. In the following description, audio data or video data is referred to as audio/video data for convenience. In Fig. 3, like parts corresponding to those of Fig. 2 are marked with the same references. Referring to Fig. 3, following the Start of operation, in step 11, the magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus 2 is set in the write mode by a write command issued from the host processing apparatus 1, and data from the host processing apparatus 1 is supplied through the interface circuit 3 to the write circuit 4. In the next decision step 18, it is determined by the write circuit 4 whether the input data is the audio/video data or not. If a YES is output at step 18, then the routine proceeds to step 13, wherein the write circuit 4 writes the input audio/video data in a predetermined sector of the magneto-optical disk 6 by means of the photo pickup head 7. If on the other hand it is determined that the input data is not the audio/video data as represented by a NO at step 18, or if the input data is the computer data, the routine proceeds to decision step 12. It is determined at decision step 12 whether the sector is the failure sector or the address-unreadable sector. If a NO is output at step 12, then the routine proceeds to step 13, in which the write circuit 4 writes the input computer data in a predetermined sector of the magneto-optical disk 6 by means of the photo pickup head 7. If a YES is output at step 12, then the routine proceeds to step 14. In step 14, the write circuit 4 stores computer data corresponding to the failure data or the address-unreadable sector in the memory 5. In decision step 15, it is determined whether the transmission of data is ended or not. If a NO is output at step 15, or all the data transmission is not ended, in step 16, the next sector is selected and the operation similar to the above will be repeated. If a YES is output at step 15 or if the transmission of data is already finished, then the routine proceeds to step 17. In step 17, the write circuit 4 reads-out the computer data stored in the memory 5, and writes the read-out computer data in a particular unit recording area, for example, an alternate sector area of the magneto-optical disk 6 by means of the photo pickup head 7. In step 14, if the storage area of the memory 5 is fully occupied, then the alternate processing mode may be changed to, for example, the ordinary consecutive processing mode or the alternate processing mode may be temporarily interrupted and the computer data may be written in the alternate sector. In the above-noted embodiment, the alternate sector area may be an intermediate portion of the disk or one portion of a predetermined track of the outer peripheral portion of the disk. Further, the alternate sector area may be distributed to a plurality of sectors or a plurality of tracks. As set out above, according to the present invention, when input data is consecutively recorded in the unit recording area of the record medium, if the recording-disabled-unit recording area such as the failure sector and the address-unreadable sector or the like is detected, the corresponding data is stored in the buffer memory. When the transmission of all data is finished, the data stored in the buffer memory is read-out and the read-out data is recorded in the particular recording area such as the alternate sector on the record medium. Thus, it becomes possible to achieve real time property and high reliability which are advantages of both the consecutive processing mode and the alternate processing mode. The processing in the reproducing mode will next be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in a flow chart forming Fig. 4, following the Start of operation, the playback of data from the magneto-optical disk 6 is started. In the next step 21, an identifying information indicative of kinds of data recorded on this record medium together with the data or the identifying information indicates whether the data is processed in accordance with the consecutive processing mode or the alternate processing mode is detected. The identifying information is recorded in a unit recording area of this record medium, i.e, a predetermined position of sector S or a directory track DT. If the identifying information detected at step 21 indicates the consecutive processing mode, or if the data is the consecutive data such as audio data, video data and so on, then the routine proceeds to step 22. In step 22, data is consecutively read-out, thereby effecting the consecutive processing. If on the other hand the identifying information detected in step 21 indicates the alternate processing mode, or if the data is intermittent data such as computer data, character data or the like, then the routine enters step 23 and the following steps. In the decision step 23, it is determined whether the sector, from which data is to be read, is the failure sector or not. If a NO is output at step 23, the routine proceeds to step 24, whereat data in that sector is read-out. Then, the routine proceeds to step 25 through which the routine returns to decision step 23. In step 23, it is determined whether the sector is the failure sector or not. If a NO is output at step 23, then the routine proceeds to step 24, whereat the data in that sector is read-out. Then, the same operation is repeated. If on the other hand it is determined that the sector, from which data is to be read-out, is the failure sector as represented by a YES at step 23, the routine proceeds to step 26. In step 26, an alternate sector corresponding to the failure sector is accessed, and the data of that alternate sector is read-out. In the next step 27, the next sector, that is, the sector next to the failure sector is accessed. Then, the routine returns to decision step 23, whereat the check of the failure sector is repeated. The operation of the alternate processing in the steps following step 23 will be described more fully with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 illustrates a recorded pattern of a record medium. In Fig. 5, a hatched sector, i.e., the fourth sector is assumed to be a failure sector, and data of corresponding relationship of sector, processed by the alternate processing mode, is recorded in the directory track DT. The first sector is determined as being not an incorrect sector in step 23 so that data recorded in the first sector is read-out in step 24. This is also true for the second and third sectors. The fourth sector is determined as a failure sector in step 23 so that a corresponding alternate sector provided in other track, for example, is accessed, and data recorded in the alternate sector AS corresponding to the fourth sector is read-out. In step 27, a fifth sector next to the fourth sector, which is the failure sector, is accessed, and then the routine returns to decision step 23. In decision step 23, it is determined whether or not the fifth sector is a failure sector. Since the fifth sector is not the failure sector, data recorded in the fifth sector is read-out in step 24. The similar operation is repeatedly carried out hereinunder. In accordance with this embodiment, when consecutive data such as audio data, video data and so on or intermittent data such as character data or the like is solely recorded or when consecutive data and intermittent data are recorded in a mixed state, by recording the identifying code in the sector or in the directory track DT, it is possible to reproduce data by selectively switching the consecutive processing mode and the alternate processing mode in response to the thus recorded identifying information. In general, consecutive data such as audio data, video data and so on can be error-compensated and need not be increased in reliability by switching the consecutive processing mode to the alternate processing mode. It is frequently requested to improve reliability at the sacrifice of real time property. The data recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to such a case. As described above, since the consecutive processing mode and the alternate processing mode are selectively switched in response to the identifying information, data can be properly reproduced by one system in accordance with various uses. Therefore, it is possible to maintain real time property and high reliability which are advantages of the consecutive processing mode and the alternate processing mode.

Claims: A data recording apparatus (2) for sequentially recording consecutive input data in predetermined unit recording areas of a recording medium (6) comprising: a) detecting means (1, 3, 4, 7) for detecting a recording-disabled-unit recording area; b) a memory (5) for storing, in response to an output of said detecting means (1, 3, 4, 7) input data which are to be recorded in said recording-disabled-unit area, wherein data stored in said memory (5) is recorded in a particular recording area of said recording medium at the completion of recording said input data, and a corresponding relationship between said recording-disabled-unit area and said recording area in which data, stored in said memory (5) is to be recorded, is recorded in a particular area of said record medium (6) characterized in that the data recording apparatus further comprises: c) data identifying means for determining whether said input data is processed in a consecutive processing mode for recording video and audio data or is processed in an alternating processing mode for recording intermittent data, wherein said detecting means are searching for detecting a recording-disabled-unit recording area in said record medium only when said data identifying means determines that the input data is processed in the alternate processing mode. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises: storage capacity watching means for watching data amount stored in said memory (5), wherein when said data amount reaches a predetermined value, data stored in said memory (5) is recorded in said particular recording area of said record medium. The data recording apparatus according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein identifying information for determining whether recorded data is to be reproduced in the alternate processing mode or in the consecutive processing mode is recorded in a particular area of said record medium in response to an output of said data-identifying means. A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a record medium, in which the data is recorded in accordance with claim 1 and 3, said data reproducing apparatus comprising: identifying information detecting means for detecting said identifying information, wherein it is determined in response to said detected identifying information, whether data is reproduced in said consecutive processing mode or in said alternate processing mode, and detecting means for detecting a recording-disabled-unit area in said record medium, wherein in said alternate processing reproduction mode data which is recorded in a particular recording area of said record medium substituting said recording-disabled- unit recording area is reproduced in response to the output of said detecting means.

Inventors: SAKO YOICHIRO C O SONY CORPORA, SAKO, YOICHIRO, C/O SONY CORPORATION
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: G11B20