Patent ID: 7680020

Claim:
A method of recording a signal on a disc-shaped information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers on and from which an information signal can be optically recorded and reproduced from one side of the medium, the recording layers including a first recording layer and a second recording layer which is remoter from an optical pickup than the first recording layer is, data areas provided in the recording layers respectively, wherein the information signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the data areas while a laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is applied to the data areas, and optical recording test areas provided in the recording layers respectively, the method comprising the steps of: a) recording a signal on an area in the first recording layer by using a laser beam applied from the optical pickup to the area in the first recording layer, wherein the area in the first recording layer is opposed to the optical recording test area in the second recording layer and covers the optical recording test area in the second recording layer as viewed in a direction of propagation of the laser beam, and the area in the first recording layer is wider than the optical recording test area in the second recording layer along both inward and outward radial directions; and b) recording the test signal on the optical recording test area in the second recording layer after the step a).