Record carrier, method of recording information on a record carrier, recording apparatus and playback device

#The invention relates to a record carrier on which an information volume is stored in tracks of the record carrier in compliance with a standard, which information volume comprises data files and control information intended to be used for controlling the search for information in the recorded information volume.

#The invention also relates to a method of recording information on a record carrier, in which method an information volume is recorded in tracks of the record carrier in compliance with a standard, which information volume comprises data files and control information intended to be used for controlling the search for information in the recorded information volume.

#The invention also relates to a recording apparatus for recording information comprising data files on a record carrier in compliance with a standard, which apparatus comprises recording means for recording information in tracks of the record carrier, formatting means for composing an information volume in accordance with predetermined formatting instructions, according to which instructions the information volume is provided with control information intended to be used for controlling the search for information in the information volume, and control means for causing the recording means to record the information volume.

#These and other aspects of the present invention are discussed in more detail with reference to the drawing.

#FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the layout of a track of a record carrier according to the invention,

#FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a recording apparatus,

#FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the layout of a track 10 of a record carrier according to the invention. The record carrier is an optically readable disc on which information is recorded according to the CD-ROM XA standard. Main information recorded in the form of one or more information volumes comprises data files and control information intended to be used for controlling the search for information in the recorded information volume. Additionally information recorded on the disc comprises sub-code information. The sub-code information is subdivided into subcode frames. The main information is subdivided in so-called sectors having a length corresponding to that of a sub-code frame of the sub-code information. The track 10 comprises a so-called lead-in referenced LI1, a program area referenced PA1 and a lead-out referenced LO1. The combination consisting of the lead-in LI1, the program area PA1 and the lead-out LO1 will henceforth be denoted information volume. The program area PA1 is intended for storing user information. The information in the program area PA1 is subdivided into so-called sectors having a length corresponding to that of a sub-code frame. Each of the sub-code frames in the program area PA1 comprises an absolute time code denoting the position at which the sub-code frame concerned is recorded relative to the beginning of a program area PA1. The sectors also have absolute time codes corresponding to the absolute time code in the sub-code frame recorded together with the sector. The program area PA1 comprises a so-called pregap referenced PG1 in which no main information is recorded and which can be used for synchronizing the readout. The pregap PG1 extends over a length referenced by the absolute time codes 0′.0″.0 to 0′.2″.0. The pregap is followed by a so-called system area reserved for use by the system. The system area extending from 0′.2″.0 to 0′.2″.16 is referenced by the letters SA1. This system area SA1 is followed by a so-called volume descriptor referenced VD1 commencing at 0′.2″.16 on each CD-ROM disc. The length of the volume descriptor VD1 is not fixed but depends on the selected use of the CD-ROM. The volume descriptor VD1, however, does comprise information about its length and is furthermore terminated by a code pattern denoting the end of the volume descriptor VD1. The program area PA1 further includes a so-called path table referenced PT1, one or more so-called directory files referenced DF1, DF2 and data files referenced F1, F2, F3. The path table PT1 comprises information about the directory structure of the information stored on the disc. The path table further includes references to sector addresses of the directory files DF1, DF2. In FIG. 1 the reference to the initial address of the directory file DF1 is denoted by line 11. The volume descriptor VD1 comprises a reference denoted by line 12 to the address of the sector in which the path table PT1 is stored. The directory files comprise information about the structure of the data files stored in the directory concerned and references denoted by the lines 13 and 14 to the addresses of the sectors in which the user files of the directory concerned are stored. The path table and directory file comprise the control information necessary for searching for the data files F1, . . . , F3.

#According to the invention the information volume VOL1 in addition comprises a File Location Table FLT1 with File Location Entries which contain an address (indicated by arrows 15, 16, 17 respectively) and identification of each of the data files F1, F2, F3. The File Location commences at absolute time code 0′.2″.15 and ends at 0′.2″.16. Analogously the record carrier contains a further information volume VOL2 with a further volume descriptor VD2, further path table PT2, further directory files DF3, DF4, and further user files F4, F5, F6. Analogously a further File Location Table FLT2 is located here in the sector of the further information volume VOL2 having logical sector number ‘offs+15’. This File Location Table contains File Location Entries with an address indicated by arrows 21, . . . , 26 and an identification of each of the data files F1, . . . , F6.

#An embodiment of the File Location Table is shown in more detail below. The File Location Table comprises File Location Entries and a header with general information. In the embodiment shown the header contains the following entries.