Patent ID: 8144569

Claim:
A multi-layer optical disc having m (m is an integer equal to or larger than 3) recording layers, which is arranged in a manner that at least 1 st to k-th small areas (k is an integer of 2 b-1 ) are provided as to a b-th recording layer (b is an integer from 2 to m) to thereby provide n (n≧2 m-1 +2 m-2 + . . . +2 2 +2 1 ) small areas in total as to 2 nd to m-th recording layers, and recording is performed in a manner that with respect to the 1 st to k-th unrecorded small areas of the b-th recording layer, a combination of recorded/unrecorded states of data in (b−1) small areas at a radius position of a (b−1)-th recording layer nearer to an incident plane of a laser beam than the b-th recording layer differs from a combination of recorded/unrecorded states of data in (b−1) small areas at another radius position of the (b−1)-th recording layer.