Multi-layered information recording medium, recording apparatus, and recording method

A recording apparatus for recording information in a multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, wherein:

• the multi-layered information recording medium includes
• a user data area for recording user data, and
• a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region,
• wherein the plurality of spare areas are provided in at least two recording layers of the plurality of recording layers;
• the recording apparatus includes
• an optical head section capable of optically writing the information in the multi-layered information recording medium from one surface of the multi-layered information recording medium, and
• a control section for controlling execution of a defect management process using the optical head section;
• and
• the defect management process includes steps of
• finding at least one available spare area among the plurality of spare areas,
• determining whether or not the user data area includes a defect region,
• if it is determined that the user data area includes a defect region, selecting a spare area whose distance from the defect region is shortest among the at least one spare area found, and
• replacing the defect region with a replacement region included in the selected spare area.

A recording apparatus for recording information in a multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, wherein:

• the multi-layered information recording medium includes
• a user data area for recording user data, and
• a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region,
• wherein the plurality of spare areas are provided in at least two recording layers of the plurality of recording layers, and
• each of the plurality of recording layers includes a portion of the user data area;
• the recording apparatus includes
• an optical head section capable of optically writing the information in the multi-layered information recording medium from one surface of the multi-layered information recording medium, and
• a control section for controlling execution of a defect management process using the optical head section;
• and
• the defect management process includes steps of
• finding at least one available spare area among the plurality of spare areas,
• determining whether or not the user data area includes a defect region,
• if it is determined that the user data area includes a defect region, determining whether or not a recording layer, in which an area including the defect region which is a portion of the user data area exists, includes at least one of the at least one spare area found,
• if it is determined that the recording layer, in which the area including the defect region exists, includes none of the at least one spare area found, selecting a spare area whose distance from the defect region is shortest among the at least one spare area found, and
• replacing the defect region with a replacement region included in the selected spare area.

A recording method for recording information in a multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, wherein:

• the multi-layered information recording medium includes
• a user data area for recording user data, and
• a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region,
• wherein the plurality of spare areas are provided in at least two recording layers of the plurality of recording layers;
• and
• the recording method includes steps of
• finding at least one available spare area among the plurality of spare areas,
• determining whether or not the user data area includes a defect region,
• if it is determined that the user data area includes a defect region, selecting a spare area whose distance from the defect region is shortest among the at least one spare area found, and
• replacing the defect region with a replacement region included in the selected spare area.

A recording method for recording information in a multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, wherein:

• the multi-layered information recording medium includes
• a user data area for recording user data, and
• a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region,
• wherein the plurality of spare areas are provided in at least two recording layers of the plurality of recording layers, and
• each of the plurality of recording layers includes a portion of the user data area;
• and
• the recording method includes steps of
• finding at least one available spare area among the plurality of spare areas,
• determining whether or not the user data area includes a defect region,
• if it is determined that the user data area includes a defect region, determining whether or not a recording layer, in which an area including the defect region which is a portion of the user data area exists, includes at least one of the at least one spare area found,
• if it is determined that the recording layer, in which the area including the defect region exists, includes none of the at least one spare area found, selecting a spare area whose distance from the defect region is shortest among the at least one spare area found, and
• replacing the defect region with a replacement region included in the selected spare area.