Recording medium, host device, and data processing method

A host device for accessing a recording medium, the recording medium including a data region for storing content data, and a retrieval information storing region for storing management information used for reading the content data, and further storing an open flag showing possibility of inconsistency between information stored in the data region and information stored in the retrieval information storing region, the host device comprising:

• an access section that exchanges information with the recording medium, and
• a data processing section that controls operation of the host device,
• wherein the data processing section refers to the open flag, and when the value of the open flag shows possibility of inconsistency, the data processing section executes verification process of checking if inconsistency actually occurs between the information stored in the data region and the information stored in the retrieval information storing region of the recording medium, or when the value of the open flag does not show possibility of inconsistency, the verification process is omitted.

A data processing method being implemented between a host device and a recording medium, the recording medium including a data region for storing content data, and a retrieval information storing region for storing management information used for reading the content data, and storing an open flag showing possibility of inconsistency between the information stored in the data region and the information stored in the retrieval information storing region, the data processing method comprising:

• updating the open flag automatically to a value showing possibility of inconsistency in the recording medium when write process or erase process occurs in the recording medium;
• and
• transmitting a request for updating the value of the open flag to a value showing no possibility of inconsistency, from the host device to the recording medium, after completion of write process or erase process, only when inconsistency does not occur between the information stored in the data region in the recording medium and the information stored in the retrieval information storing region.