Information recording medium information recording method and information recording/reproduction system

An information recording method for recording information on an information recording medium including a plurality of sectors, the information recording medium comprising a data recording area, the data recording area including:

• a first spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors;
• a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the replacement of the defective area including the defective sector by the replacement area including the spare sector is recorded;
• and
• a volume space in which user data can be recorded, wherein:
• in the data recording area, a second spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors can be extended;
• and
• each of the spare sector in the first spare area and the spare sector in the second spare area is assigned a physical sector number, and the physical sector number assigned to the spare sector in the first spare area is smaller than the physical sector number assigned to the spare sector in the second spare area, the information recording method comprising the steps of:
• (a) obtaining information which indicates a status of consumption of the second spare area;
• (b) determining whether or not to extend, in the data recording area, the second spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors according to the information which indicates the status of consumption of the second spare area;
• and
• (c) when the second spare area is extended, extending the second spare area by an ECC block unit in a direction along which the physical sector number decreases.

An information recording/reproduction system for an information recording medium including a plurality of sectors, the information recording medium comprising a data recording area, the data recording area including:

• a first spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors;
• a defect management information area in which defect management information for managing the replacement of the defective area including the defective sector by the replacement area including the spare sector is recorded;
• and
• a volume space in which user data can be recorded, wherein:
• in the data recording area, a second spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors can be extended;
• and
• each of the spare sector in the first spare area and the spare sector in the second spare area is assigned a physical sector number, and the physical sector number assigned to the spare sector in the first spare area is smaller than the physical sector number assigned to the spare sector in the second spare area, the information recording/reproduction system comprising:
• a remaining spare area amount detection section for obtaining information which indicates a status of consumption of the second spare area;
• a spare area extension determination section for determining whether or not to extend, in the data recording area, the second spare area having a replacement area including a spare sector for replacing a defective area including a defective sector among the plurality of sectors according to the information which indicates the status of consumption of the second spare area;
• and
• a spare extension area allocation section for, when the second spare area is extended, extending the second spare area by an ECC block unit in a direction along which the physical sector number decreases.