Patent ID: 8446806

Claim:
A record/reproduce device for performing a record/reproduce operation while performing a replacement process in units of a predetermined recording block by using a rewritable medium having a user data area, a spare area, and a management information storage area which is updated at least at the time of using the spare area, the record/reproduce device comprising: format process means for performing physical formatting of the medium; replacement process means for performing the replacement process by using the spare area; DFL entry search means capable of determining and searching for DFL (Defect List) entry information indicating defect type information for each block stored in the management information storage area; and NAP decision means for deciding a first block address NAP (next available PSN) to be used next within the spare area, wherein, in the case where a block in the spare area is determined to be defective in the format process or in the replacement process, the block is determined to be registerable in the DFL as “unusable entry”; and wherein, in the case where the spare area includes a block of “unusable entry” in the format process of the medium, the NAP decision means decides the NAP in such a way as to avoid a first block address registered as “unusable entry.”