Abstract:
An information recording apparatus includes: a unit for applying a predetermined processing to record information divided into error correction units and generating processed record information including a plurality of record units; and a unit for recording the processed record information on an information record medium; a unit for recording, after the recording of the processed record information, predetermined dummy information of an information amount corresponding for the plurality of record units, on the information record medium, subsequent to the processed record information recorded.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is related with an information recording method and apparatus for adding and recording new record information subsequent to old record information recorded previously on a recordable information record medium, such as a high-density optical disc and the like, represented by DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) on which the information can be recorded only once.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Generally, in the recordable information record medium on which the information can be recorded only once, when it is tried to later overwrite the new record information to an area on which the old record information has once been recorded, both the old record information and the new record information may be broken.  
           [0005]    In the information recording method and apparatus for adding and recording the new record information to this kind of the recordable information record medium, when recording the new record information subsequent to the old record information, a linking area (or a boundary area) corresponding to an information amount of a single error correction unit, such as an ECC (Error Correcting Code) block and the like according to the error correcting system used therein, was conventionally provided at the linking or boundary portion of the old record information and the new record information. In the linking area, a meaningless dummy information or a predetermined RF (Radio Frequency) signal is recorded at a last portion of the old record information or a first portion of the new record information, and then the new record information is recorded thereon.  
           [0006]    The reason why this linking portion is provided is as follows. If the linking portion is not provided, at the time of consecutively reproducing the new record information, recorded later, as well as the old record information, the RF signal may be discontinuous at the boundary of the record area of the old record information and the record area of the new record information, thereby resulting in an unstable focus servo or tracking servo control.  
           [0007]    The reasons why the linking portion is provided for the data capacity corresponding to one ECC block is and why the meaningless dummy information or the like is recorded therein are explained below. In the conventional error correcting process, the error correction is performed by each error correction unit. If the new record information is recorded from the middle of the error correction unit, the appropriate error correction can not be performed for a head portion of the new record information, at the time of consecutively reproducing the old record information and the new record information later. Thus, the appropriately continuous reproduction can not be performed. In this regard, if the meaningless dummy information or the predetermined RF signal is recorded for one ECC block within the linking area as mentioned above, it is possible to reproduce the old record information and the new record information continuously by skipping the linking area and reproduce the new record information from an ECC block next to the linking portion, even though the overlapped portion of the old record information and the new record information in the linking portion is broken.  
           [0008]    Further, another reason why the linking area is provided is as follows. If the new record information is recorded to follow the old record information without providing the linking area, both of the old record information and the new record information may be broken at the overlapped portion of them. In that case, if the information broken portion exceeds a single error correction unit, it is impossible to recover the broken record information. For the reasons described above, the linking area is provided at the linking or boundary portion of the old record data and the new record data.  
           [0009]    However, the conventional error correction unit has relatively large capacity, for example, approximately 32 K bytes, and this area is entirely filled with meaningless information having no relation with the recorded information. Therefore, there is a problem that it results in an extremely ineffective use of the high-density disk or the like, which needs to record a large amount of information.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention is proposed from the viewpoint of the above mentioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information recording method and apparatus, which can add and record new record information with effectively utilizing a record area on an information record medium and accurately perform a consecutive and successive reproduction of old record information and new record information.  
           [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording method including the steps of: applying a predetermined processing to record information divided into error correction units and generating processed record information including a plurality of record units; recording the processed record information on an information record medium; and recording, after the recording of the processed record information, predetermined dummy information for an information amount corresponding to the plurality of record units, on the information record medium, subsequent to the processed record information recorded.  
           [0012]    In accordance with the method thus designed, a predetermined processing is applied to record information to generate processed record information. Then, the processed record information is recorded on the information record medium, and dummy information is recorded for the information amount of plural record units, subsequent to the processed record information thus recorded. Therefore, in a case of consecutively reproducing the processed record information, by replacing the reproduced dummy information with pre-set data, it is possible to perform the consecutive reproduction while carrying out the error correction within a range of an error correction capability.  
           [0013]    The method may further include the step of overwriting dummy information including the steps of: detecting a head position of an old dummy information previously recorded on the information record medium; and recording new dummy information on the information record medium, based on the detected head position, such that a total information amount of the old dummy information after the recording of the new dummy information and the new dummy information recorded is no more than an information amount of one error correction unit.  
           [0014]    In accordance with the method thus designed, a head position of an old dummy information previously recorded on the information record medium is detected. Then, new dummy information is recorded on the information record medium, based on the detected head position, such that a total information amount of the old dummy information after the recording of the new dummy information and the new dummy information recorded is no more than an information amount of one error correction unit.  
           [0015]    Further, the processed record information recording step may further include the step of recording new record information on the information recording medium from a position subsequent to the new dummy information recorded. Still further, the dummy information recording step may record the new dummy information over a part of the old dummy information previously recorded.  
           [0016]    Thus, the new record information is added and recorded subsequent to dummy information whose content is known in advance. As a result, in a case of consecutively reproducing old record information recorded prior to the old dummy information and the new record information, it is possible to perform the consecutive reproduction while carrying out the error correction within the range of the error correction capability. Since the total information amount of the old dummy information and the new dummy information is no more than that of one error correction unit, within the linking portion of the old record information and the new record information, it is possible to make an area used for recording the record information larger, as compared with the case of providing a linking portion corresponding to one error correction unit. In addition, since the recording area of the old and new dummy information, which may likely be broken due to the overwriting, is smaller than a single error correction unit, the error correction of the neighboring record information is not disturbed. As a result, it is possible to accurately perform the consecutive reproduction.  
           [0017]    Alternatively, the processed record information recording step may include the steps of: detecting a head position of the dummy information previously recorded on the information record medium; determining a recording start position from which new record information is recorded on the basis of the detected head position of the dummy information and an information amount in a single error correction block which is a minimum information unit of error correction; calculating an information removal amount corresponding to an information capacity in an area from the head position to the recording start position; removing the record information corresponding to the calculated removal amount from a head of the record information so as to produce an actual record information; and recording the actual record information from the recording start position onto the information recording medium.  
           [0018]    In accordance with the method thus designed, an information amount of the new record information at the head portion, which may likely be broken at the time of recording the new record information, is no more than the correction block that is the minimum unit for an error correcting process. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the error correction performance in consecutively reproducing the old record information and the new record information. As a result, even if there is dust or the like on the information record medium at the time of reproduction, it is possible to achieve reliable error correction performance. Moreover, there is apparently no existence of the linking portion between the old record information and the new record information because the dummy information portion recorded previously and the new record information, which is likely be broken, are restorable by the error correction. As a result, it is possible to make the area used for recording the record information larger, as compared with the case of providing the linking portion corresponding to the entire error correction unit.  
           [0019]    Also, the recording start position determining step may determine the recording start position within an area where the dummy information is previously recorded. By this, new record information is recorded subsequent to the dummy information having a content that is known in advance. As a result, it is possible to make the deterioration of the error correction performance smaller, when consecutively reproducing the old record information and the new record information.  
           [0020]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus including: a unit for applying a predetermined processing to record information divided into error correction units and generating processed record information including a plurality of record units; a unit for recording the processed record information on an information record medium; and a unit for recording, after the recording of the processed record information, predetermined dummy information of an information amount corresponding for the plurality of record units, on the information record medium, subsequent to the processed record information recorded.  
           [0021]    The apparatus may further include a unit means for overwriting dummy information including: a unit for detecting a head position of an old dummy information previously recorded on the information record medium; and a unit for recording new dummy information on the information record medium, based on the detected head position, such that a total information amount of the old dummy information after the recording of the new dummy information and the new dummy information recorded is no more than an information amount of one error correction unit.  
           [0022]    Still further, the processed record information recording unit may further include a unit for recording new record information on the information recording medium from a position subsequent to the new dummy information recorded. Also, the dummy information recording unit may record the new dummy information over a part of the old dummy information previously recorded.  
           [0023]    Alternatively, the apparatus may be so configured that the processed record information recording unit includes: a unit for detecting a head position of the dummy information previously recorded on the information record medium; a unit for determining a recording start position from which the new record information is recorded on the basis of the detected head position of the dummy information; a unit for calculating an information removal amount corresponding to an information capacity in an area from the head position to the recording start position; a unit for removing the record information corresponding to the calculated removal amount from a head of the record information to produce an actual record information; and a unit for recording the actual record information from the recording start position onto the information recording medium. Further, the recording start position determining unit may determine the recording start position within an area where the dummy information is previously recorded.  
           [0024]    The nature, utility, and further features of this invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings briefly described below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1A is a view showing a data structure of record information in an embodiment,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1B is a view showing a configuration of an ECC block in the record information of the embodiment,  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a view showing a physical format of the record information of the embodiment,  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention,  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process according to a first embodiment of an information recording operation;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a view explaining the recording manner of the record information by the process of the first embodiment;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process according to a second embodiment of the information recording operation; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a view explaining the recording manner of the record information by the process of the second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments explain the embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an information recording apparatus for recording information on a DVD-R.  
         [0034]    (I) Embodiment of Record Format  
         [0035]    At first, a generally physical format for recording record information on the DVD-R and an error correcting process in the record information are explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0036]    The error correcting process in the DVD-R of this embodiment and an ECC block, serving as an error correction unit, in the error correcting process are firstly explained with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.  
         [0037]    Generally, the record information recorded on the DVD-R has a physical structure including a plurality of data sectors  20  shown in FIG. 1A. One data sector  20  is composed of, from a head portion thereof, an ID information  21  indicative of a start position of the data sector  20 , an ID information error correction code (IEC)  22  for correcting errors of the ID information  21 , a reserve data  23 , a data  24  which is the main data to be recorded, and an error detection code (EDC)  25  for detecting errors in the data  24 . The record information to be recorded is constituted by a continuous plurality of the data sectors  20 .  
         [0038]    Next, process for constituting the ECC block by the data sectors  20  are explained with reference to FIG. 1B.  
         [0039]    When constituting an ECC block  30  by the data sectors  20 , one data sector  20  is firstly divided into plural blocks each of which is 172 bytes data, as shown in FIG. 1B, and each divided data (this is hereafter referred to as a “data block  33 ”) is arranged in a vertical direction (refer to the left side of FIG. 1B). At this time, the data blocks  33  are arranged in 12 lines in the vertical direction.  
         [0040]    For each data block  33  arranged in the vertical direction, ECC internal code (PI (Parity In) sign)  31  having 10 bytes data is affixed to the end of the data block  33  to constitute one correction block  34  (refer to right side of FIG. 1B). At this stage, the correction blocks  34  to which the ECC internal codes  31  are affixed are arranged in 12 lines in the vertical direction. After that, this process is repeated with respect to 16 data sectors  20 . Accordingly, the correction blocks  34  of 192 lines are obtained.  
         [0041]    Then, the correction blocks  34  of 192 lines are divided in the vertical direction from the beginning thereof, for each one byte, in the state that the 192 lines of the correction blocks  34  are arranged in the vertical direction. 16 ECC external codes (PO (Parity Out) signs)  32  are affixed to each of the vertically divided data blocks. It is noted that the ECC external code  32  is also affixed to a portion of the ECC internal code  31  within the correction block  34 .  
         [0042]    From the above mentioned process, one ECC block  30  including 16 data sectors  20  is produced as shown in FIG. 1B (right side). At this time, a total amount of the information included within one ECC block  30  is expressed by an equation described below.  
         (172+10) bytes×(192+16) lines=37856 bytes  
         [0043]    The actual data  24  (i.e., other than ECC codes) in it is expressed by an equation described below.  
         2048 bytes×16=32768 bytes  
         [0044]    In the ECC block  30  shown in FIG. 1B, data of one byte is indicated by [D#. *]. For example, [D1. 0] indicates the data of one byte positioned at a first line and a zeroth column, and [D190. 170] indicates the data of one byte positioned at a 190th line and a 170th column. Thus, the ECC internal codes  31  are positioned at 172nd to 181st columns, and the ECC external codes  32  are positioned at 192nd to 207th lines. The correction blocks  34  are consecutively recorded on the DVD-R.  
         [0045]    The reason why the ECC block  30  is constituted so as to include both the ECC internal code  31  and the ECC external code  32 , as shown in the right side of FIG. 1B, is that the data arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1B is corrected by the ECC internal code  31  and the data arranged in the vertical direction is corrected by the ECC external code  32 . That is, it is possible to perform the error correction in both the horizontal and vertical directions within the ECC block  30  shown in FIG. 1B. Thus, the effective and stable error correction can be performed as compared with the error correcting process used in the conventional CD (Compact Disk) and the like.  
         [0046]    More concretely, for example, even if a certain one of the correction blocks  34  (as mentioned above, consecutively recorded on the DVD-R and each totally having the data of 182 bytes including the ECC internal codes  31  for one line) is entirely broken by defect and the like existing on the DVD-R, it is merely the one-byte data break with respect to the ECC external codes  32  at one column, as viewed in the vertical direction. Thus, by carrying out the error correction using the ECC external codes  32  at each column, it is possible to appropriately carry out the error correction to restore the original correct information from the broken information, even though one correction block  34  is entirely broken.  
         [0047]    The manner of actually recording on the DVD-R the data sectors  20  included in the ECC blocks  30  shown in FIG. 1B is explained with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the data indicated in [D#. *] corresponds to the data described in the right side of FIG. 1B.  
         [0048]    In recording the ECC blocks  30 , on the DVD-R, the ECC blocks  30  are firstly aligned along one line in a horizontal direction for each correction block  34 , as shown in a top stage of FIG. 2, and then are interleaved to be divided into 16 recording sectors  40 . At this time, one recording sector  40  includes information of 2366 bytes (=37856 bytes/16), and the data sectors  20  and the ECC internal codes  31  and the ECC external codes  32  are included in the manner being mixed with each other in the recording sector  40 . However, the ID information  21  (refer to FIG. 1A) in the data sector  20  is positioned at a head portion of each recording sector  40 .  
         [0049]    The recording sector  40  is divided into a plurality of data  41  each having 91 bytes, and a header H is added to each data  41 . After that, one sync frame  42  is produced from one data  41  by 8-16-modulating the recording sector  40  including the pairs of the header H and the data  41 . At this time, one sync frame  42  is composed of a header H′ and data  43 . Further, an information amount within one sync frame  42  is expressed by an equation described below.  
         91 bytes×8×(16/8)=1456 bytes  
         [0050]    Then, the information is written to the DVD-R  1  in a form of the continuous sync frames  42 . At this time, one recording sector  40  includes 26 sync frames  42 .  
         [0051]    By constituting the above explained physical format to record the information on the DVD-R, the 8-16-demodulation and de-interleave (refer to FIG. 2) are performed at the time of reproducing the recorded information to thereby reproduce the original ECC block  30  and to perform the effective error correction to accurately reproduce the information.  
         [0052]    (II) Embodiment of Information Recording Apparatus  
         [0053]    Next, an embodiment of an information recording apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, for recording information on the DVD-R  1  according to the physical format explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is explained with reference to FIGS.  3  to  7 . Here, the following assumptions are made in the embodiment described below. That is, in the DVD-R  1 , pre-pits carrying address information on the DVD-R  1  and the like are formed in advance on the information tracks, on which the record information is to be recorded. Then, in recording the record information, the address information on the DVD-R  1  is obtained by detecting the pre-pits. By this, a record position on the DVD-R  1  where the record information is to be recorded is detected, and then the record information is recorded.  
         [0054]    A configuration of the information recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention is firstly explained with reference to FIG. 3.  
         [0055]    As shown in FIG. 3, an information recording apparatus S of the embodiment is provided with a pick-up  2 , a reproduction amplifier  3 , a decoder  4 , a pre-pit signal decoder  5 , a spindle motor  6 , a servo circuit  7 , a processor  8 , an encoder  9 , a switch  10 , a power control circuit  11  and a laser drive circuit  12 .  
         [0056]    Next, a whole operation is explained.  
         [0057]    The pick-up  2  includes a laser diode, a deflection beam splitter, an objective lens, light detectors and the like (not shown), and irradiates a light beam B onto the information record surface of the DVD-R  1  on the basis of a laser drive signal S DL , and detects the pre-pits on the basis of a reflected light thereof to thereby record the record information. Moreover, in a case of the existence of old record information that has already been recorded, the pick-up  2  detects the old record information on the basis of the reflected light of the light beam B.  
         [0058]    Then, the reproduction amplifier  3  amplifies a detection signal S DT  including the pre-pits outputted by the pick-up  2  and the information corresponding to the old record information that has already been recorded, outputs a pre-pit signal S PP  corresponding to the pre-pits, and also outputs an amplification signal S P  corresponding to the old record information.  
         [0059]    After that, the decoder  4  applies the 8-16-demodulation and the interleave to the amplification signal S P  to thereby decode the amplification signal S P  and then outputs a demodulation signal S DM  and a servo demodulation signal S SD .  
         [0060]    On the other hand, the pre-pit signal decoder  5  decodes the pre-pit signal S PP  to thereby output the demodulation pre-pit signal S PD .  
         [0061]    The servo circuit  7  outputs a pick-up servo control signal S SP  for focus servo control and tracking servo control in the pick-up  2 , on the basis of the demodulation pre-pit signal S PD  and the servo demodulation signal S SD , and also outputs a spindle servo signal S SS  for servo-controlling the rotation of the spindle motor  6  for rotating the DVD-R  1 .  
         [0062]    Along with this, the processor  8  temporally stores and outputs a record information signal S R  corresponding to the record information that is inputted from an external portion, and also outputs to the external a reproduction signal S OT  corresponding to the old record information on the basis of the demodulation signal S DM , and further outputs a switch signal S SW  described later, on the basis of the demodulation pre-pit signal S PD .  
         [0063]    The encoder  9  affixes the ECC internal code  31  and the ECC external code  32  to the record information signal S R  to thereby constitute the ECC block  30 , and also applies the interleave and the 8-16-modulation to the ECC block  30  to thereby output an encode signal S RE .  
         [0064]    At this time, the switch  10  switches between the encode signal S RE  and a ground signal to thereby output as an output signal S PC .  
         [0065]    Then, the power control circuit  11  outputs a drive signal S D  for controlling an output of the laser diode (not shown) within the pick-up  2  on the basis of the output signal S PC .  
         [0066]    After that, the laser drive circuit  12  actually drives the laser diode on the basis of the drive signal S D  to thereby output a laser drive signal S DL  for emitting the light beam B.  
         [0067]    Further, the information recording apparatus S may reproduce the information recorded on the DVD-R  1 . In that case, the reproduction signal S OT  is outputted to the external through the processor  8  on the basis of the demodulation signal S DM .  
         [0068]    An operation for finishing the recording of record information and an operation for starting the additional recording of new record information, according to the present invention, are explained with reference to FIGS.  4  to  7 , with classifying the cases.  
         [0069]    (III) First Embodiment of Information Recording Operation  
         [0070]    The first embodiment of the recording operation of the record information is firstly explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0071]    In the information recording operation of the first embodiment, when the recording of old record information (hereinafter referred to as “old data”) is finished, old dummy information (hereinafter referred to as “old dummy data”)  44  having an information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42  is recorded, with an ID information  21  at a head portion, subsequent to the old data. When the additional recording of new record information (hereinafter referred to as “new data”) is started, new dummy information (hereinafter referred to as “new dummy data”)  45  having the same content as the old dummy data  44  is firstly recorded (i.e., overwritten) on an area corresponding to the second sync frame  42  of the areas on which the old dummy data  44  is previously recorded. At this time, a data amount of the new dummy data  45  is determined in such a way that a total data amount of the remainder of the old dummy area after the additional recording of the new dummy data  45  and an area of the new dummy data  45  is equal to or less than the data amount of a single recording sector  40 . After that, the new data which is to be primarily recorded is recorded subsequent to the new dummy data  45 .  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating the process of additionally recording information on the DVD-R. FIG. 5 shows the information recording manner of the DVD-R  1  before and after the new data is recorded, according to the first embodiment of the information recording operation.  
         [0073]    In FIGS. 4 and 5, it is assumed that the ID information  21  in the final recording sector  40  of the old data is recorded at the address N, and that the ID information  21  in the recording sector  40  of the old dummy data  44  is recorded at the address (N+1).  
         [0074]    In the first embodiment of the information recording operation, as shown in FIG. 4, when the additional recording of the new data is started, the address N corresponding to the ID information  21  in the recording sector  40  of last old data is searched (Step S 1 ). This operation is performed by the processor  8 , on the basis of the demodulation signal S DM  supplied from the decoder  4 .  
         [0075]    When the ID information  21  corresponding to the address N is detected, the old data recorded on a recording sector  40  subsequent to the detected ID information  21  is detected (Step S 2 ). Then, it is judged by the processor  8 , on the basis of the demodulation signal S DM  from the decoder  4 , whether or not the ID information  21  corresponding to the address (N+1) is detected (Step S 3 ). If the ID information  21  corresponding to the (N+1) is not detected yet (Step S 3 ; NO), the detection of the old data is continued until it is detected. If it is detected, (Step S 3 ; YES), the new dummy data  45 , which contents is [0000 . . . ], for example, having an information amount corresponding to:  
         [0076]    (one recording sector—one sync frame)  
         [0077]    is supplied from the processor  8  to the encoder  9  to be temporarily stored therein. Then, a record information signal S R  corresponding to new record information to be recorded subsequent to the new dummy data  45  is supplied to the encoder  9 , which encodes it and temporarily stores the encoded data therein (Step S 4 ).  
         [0078]    At this time, an ECC block  30  for the new data may include the new dummy data  45 , or may not include it, i.e., the ECC block  30  for the new data begins from an end position of the new dummy data  45  and is composed of only new data.  
         [0079]    Next, old dummy data  44  (for example, [0000 . . . ]) recorded subsequent to the ID information  21  corresponding to the address (N+1) is detected, and header H at the head portion of each sync frame  42  is detected on the basis of the demodulation signal S DM  supplied from the decoder  4 . Then, it is judged by the processor  8  whether or not the area corresponding to a second sync frame  42  is detected in the area of the old dummy data  44  (Step S 5 ). If the area corresponding to the second sync frame  42  is not detected yet (Step S 5 ; NO), the detection of the old dummy data  44  is continued until it is detected. If it is detected (Step S 5 ; YES), the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side thereof, on the basis of the switch signal S SW  from the processor  8 . By this, the new dummy data  45  temporarily stored in the encoder  9  and new data subsequent thereto are read out as the encode signal S RE , and then are outputted as the output signal S PC  via the switch  10  (Step S 6 ). Accordingly, the new dummy data  45  and the new data subsequent thereto are recorded on the DVD-R  1  by means of the light beam B emitted from the pick-up  2 .  
         [0080]    The power of the light beam B is maintained to be a constant reproducing power, until the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side, as shown in FIG. 5. After the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side (on and after the position corresponding to the head portion of the second sync frame  42  in the area of the old dummy data  44 ), the power of the light beam is repeatedly switched between the recording power and the reproducing power in correspondence with the contents of the new dummy data  45  included in the output signal S PC  and the new data subsequent thereto. The reason why the emission of the light beam B is continuously kept at the reproducing power even when the data is not recorded is that the reflected light used for the tracking servo control is required in order to permit the light beam B to trace the information track on the DVD-R  1 , even if the data is not recorded there.  
         [0081]    At the step  6 , when the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side and thereby the new dummy data  45  and the new data are recorded, it is judged by the processor  8  whether or not the new data from the encoder  9  ends (Step S 7 ). If it does not end (Step S 7 ; NO), the recording of the new data is continued while maintaining its original state. If the new data ends (Step S 7 ; YES), the dummy data (for example, [0000 . . . ]) having an information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42  is outputted by the encoder  9  and recorded subsequent to the last new data (Step S 8 ). When the recording of the dummy data is finished, the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal B side (i.e., the ground side), and the power of the light beam B is changed to the reproducing power (Step S 9 ). By this, the additional recording process for the new data is completed.  
         [0082]    In the above mentioned process shown in FIG. 4, the new data is recorded subsequent to the new dummy data  45  as shown in FIG. 5. Moreover, when the recording of the new data is finished, the dummy data is recorded, for the information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42 , subsequent to the new data thus recorded (the old data in FIG. 5 have been recorded previously by this operation), and then the process is finished. The additional recording of the record information is performed by repeating the above mentioned process. However, in this case, as for the state of the DVD-R  1  at the linking portion between the old data and the new data, the dummy data ([0000 . . . ]) is recorded for the information amount equal to or less than one recording sector  40 , as shown in the lowest stage of FIG. 5. Here, in a portion where the old dummy data  44  and the new dummy data  45  are overlapped with each other (this is the information amount corresponding to the one sync frame  42  and indicated as the data broken area D (hatched area) in FIG. 5), both of the old dummy data  44  and the new dummy data  45  may be broken due to the overwriting of the new dummy data  45 . However, in the case of consecutively reproducing the old data and the new data later, it is known that the dummy data at a boundary between the old data and the new data is [0000 . . . ], even if the data in the D is broken. Therefore, by replacing the data detected from the data broken area D with the known data [0000 . . . ], it is possible to perform the consecutive reproduction without disturbing the error correction in the consecutive reproduction (without deteriorating the error correcting performance in the consecutive reproduction).  
         [0083]    In this embodiment, the dummy data is recorded for the data amount corresponding to at most only one recording sector  40 . As a result, it is possible to record more record information by effectively using the recording capacity of the DVD-R  1 , as compared with a case of providing a linking area for one ECC block  30  in the conventional manner.  
         [0084]    Moreover, the ID information  21  (at the address (N+1)) corresponding to the recording sector  40  positioned at the linking portion between the old data and the new data is never broken because no overwriting is executed on the ID information area  21  (see. address (N+1) in FIG. 5). As a result, it is possible to accurately perform the consecutive reproduction of the recorded information.  
         [0085]    (IV) Second Embodiment of Information Recording Operation  
         [0086]    The second embodiment of the recording operation of record information is explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.  
         [0087]    In the information recording operation of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, old dummy data  44  of an information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42  is recorded, with an ID information  21  at the head portion, subsequent to the record information.  
         [0088]    On the other hand, at the time of the additional recording of new data, the recording is started from the second sync frame of new data, i.e., new data corresponding to first one sync frame  42  is removed from the beginning of the new data.  
         [0089]    [0089]FIG. 6 is a flow chart indicating the operation of additional recording of the new data after the old data which has already been recorded. FIG. 7 shows the recording manner of the DVD-R  1  before and after the new data is recorded by the second embodiment of the information recording operation.  
         [0090]    In FIGS. 6 and 7, it is assumed that the ID information  21  in the final recording sector  40  of the old data is recorded at the address N, and that the ID information  21  in the recording sector  40  of the old dummy data  44  is recorded at the address (N+1). Moreover, the identical step numbers are given to the operations identical to those of the first embodiment of the information recording operation shown in FIG. 4, and the explanation of the detailed portions is omitted for those steps.  
         [0091]    In the second embodiment of the information recording operation, as shown in FIG. 6, when the additional recording of the new data is started, the operations identical to the steps S 1  to S 3  shown in FIG. 4 are firstly executed. Then, the ID information  21  at the head portion of the area of the old dummy data  44  is detected.  
         [0092]    If the ID information  21  corresponding to the address (N+1) is detected (Step S 3 ; YES), a record information signal S R  corresponding to the new record information to be recorded is outputted, without inserting the dummy data, from the processor  8  to the encoder  9 , which encodes the new data and temporarily stores the encoded data therein (Step S 10 ).  
         [0093]    After that, the operations identical to those of the steps S 5  to S 9  shown in FIG. 4 are executed. New data from the second sync frame (i.e., after new data of first one sync frame  42  is removed from the beginning of the new data) is recorded from the position corresponding to the second sync frame  42  of the area of the old dummy data  44 . When the all new data is recorded, dummy data of an information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42  is recorded subsequent to the new data. Then, the recording of the new data ends.  
         [0094]    The power of the light beam B is maintained to be a constant reproducing power, until the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side, as shown in FIG. 5. After the switch  10  is changed over to the terminal A side (on and after the position corresponding to the head portion of the second sync frame  42  in the area of the old dummy data  44 ), the power of the light beam is switched between the recording power and the reproducing power in correspondence with the contents of the new dummy data  45  included in the output signal S PC  and the new data subsequent thereto.  
         [0095]    According to the above mentioned process shown in FIG. 6, at the time of the additional recording of the new data, the recording is performed from the new data of second sync frame, i.e., the new data from which first one sync frame  42  thereof is removed from its beginning, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, when the recording of the new data is finished, the dummy data is recorded for the information amount corresponding to two sync frames  42 , subsequent to the new data thus recorded (like the manner of old data shown in FIG. 7). In this way, the process is finished. The additional recording of the record information is performed by repeating the above mentioned process.  
         [0096]    In this case, as for the state of the DVD-R  1  at a linking portion between the old data and the new data in the additional recording, data different from the new data is recorded in a portion of first two sync frames  42  from the beginning of the new data, as shown in the lowest stage of FIG. 7. That is, the old dummy data  44  is recorded at the first one sync frame  42 , and the second sync frame  42  subsequent to it becomes the data broken area D (hatched area). However, in the case of the consecutive reproduction of the old data and new data, since both the ECC blocks of the old data and the new data have the structures of the ECC blocks  30  shown in FIG. 1, the data amount of the two sync frames  42  corresponds to the one correction block  34  in the ECC block  30 . Thus, as mentioned in the explanation of the ECC block  30 , according to the structure of the ECC block  30  in which the error correction is performed in both the vertical and horizontal directions using the ECC internal code  31  and the ECC external code  32 , even if one correction block  34  is entirely broken, it is only the data break of one byte for the ECC external code  32  at one column as viewed in the vertical direction. Therefore, by carrying out the error correction using the ECC external code  32  at each column, it is possible to appropriately carry out the error correction for the two sync frames  40  (i.e., one correction block  34 ) to thereby perform the accurate reproduction. As a result, the consecutive reproduction can be performed without having substantial influence on the error correction.  
         [0097]    Further, the total data amount of the dummy data area and the data broken area D is at most equal to two sync frames  42 , this may not put any substantial influence on the error correction in the consecutive reproduction. Therefore, the consecutive reproduction can be performed without providing relatively large linking area between the old data and the new data (the dummy area becomes a meaningless area in the consecutive reproduction of the old data and the new data). As a result, it is possible to record more information by effectively utilizing the record area on the DVD-R  1 , as compared with the case of providing the linking area corresponding to one ECC block  30  in the conventional manner.  
         [0098]    Further, the second embodiment provides more improved use of data capacity of the DVD-R  1 , compared with the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the dummy data is recorded in first one recording sector  40  beginning from the address (N+1), and hence one recording area  40  is used entirely in vain (see. FIG. 5, lowest stage). In contrast, according to the second embodiment, the recording sector  40  beginning from the address (N+1) is recorded with new data, and even though the data brake takes place there, the broken data can be corrected by the ECC function as described above. Therefore, no recording sector is vainly filled with dummy data in the second embodiment, and the data recording efficiency is further improved.  
         [0099]    Furthermore, the ID information  21  (corresponding to the address (N+1)) in the recording sector  40  at the linking portion of the old data and the new data is never broken because, in either of the first and the second embodiments, no data is overwritten on the ID information  21  at the address (N+1). As a result, the consecutive reproduction is not suffered by the lack or break of the ID information  21 , thereby enabling the stable consecutive reproduction.