Write once type information recording medium, method and apparatus for formatting the same, and method and apparatus for writing data to or reading data from the same

A method for writing data into a write once type recording medium having a format that includes sectors, each of said sectors including x p-bit frames, each of said p-bit frames containing an f-bit synchronization signal region and a d-bit data region, said method comprising:

• a memory storage step of storing into a memory, at least one x-bit packet in which a v-bit error correction code is added to u-bit data;
• and
• a data writing step of writing the respective bits of said packet read out from said memory into said data regions of said x p-bit frames;
• where x, p, f, d, u and v are positive integers.

A method for reading data from a write once type recording medium having a format that includes sectors, each of said sectors including x p-bit frames, respectively containing f-bit synchronization signal regions and d-bit data regions, said data recording method comprising the steps of:

• storing into a memory, x data read out from said d-bit data regions of said x frames;
• reading information from said x data stored in said memory bit by bit;
• and
• serially connecting the read information to form an x-bit packet;
• where x, p, f and d are positive integers.

A formatting apparatus for formatting a write once type recording medium, by forming a plurality of sectors on the write once type recording medium, each of said sectors including x p-bit frames, respectively containing f-bit synchronization signal regions and d-bit data regions, comprising;

• a ROM (read only memory) for storing a program for executing an initializing process of said formatting apparatus when said formatting apparatus is energized;
• input means for inputting an instruction of a format;
• synchronization signal writing means for writing each of x synchronization signals into each of said synchronization signal regions, respectively followed by said d-bit data regions in accordance with the input instruction of a format;
• and
• output means for outputting an output indicating completion of said format after said write once type recording medium is formatted;
• where x, p, f and d are positive integers.

A data writing apparatus for writing data into a write once type recording medium having a format including a plurality of sectors, each of said sectors including x p-bit frames, respectively containing f-bit synchronization signal regions and d-bit data regions, said data writing apparatus comprising:

• a ROM (read-only memory) for storing a program for executing an initializing process of said data writing apparatus when said data writing apparatus is energized;
• a memory for storing at least one x-bit packet in which a v-bit error correction code is added to u-bit data;
• data writing means for writing each of x bits of said packet read out from said memory into each of said data regions of said x frames;
• and
• output means for outputting an output indicating that data writing is completed after said data is written;
• where x, p, f, d, u and v are positive integers.

A data reading apparatus for reading data from a write once type recording medium having a format including sectors, each of said sectors including x p-bit frames, respectively containing f-bit synchronization signal regions and d-bit data regions, said data reading apparatus comprising:

• a ROM (read-only memory) for storing a program for executing an initializing process of said data reading apparatus when said data reading apparatus is energized;
• a memory for storing x data read out from said data regions of said x frames;
• and
• reading means for reading information from said x data stored in said memory bit by bit;
• where x, p, f and d are positive integers.