Information record medium, apparatus for recording the same and apparatus for reproducing the same

An information recording apparatus for recording information onto an optical disc,

• the apparatus comprising:
• a first record device which records control information in a control information area;
• and
• a second record device which records record information in a recording information area,
• wherein the control information includes physical format information indicating a physical structure of the optical disc, and
• the physical format information includes maximum value information that indicates a selection of:
• one of a plurality of predetermined maximum values of a reading rate of the record information,
• wherein the first record device automatically selects a maximum value greater than a maximum information rate of the record information, and records the selected maximum value as said one of the plurality of predetermined maximum values.

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing record information recorded on a disk comprising a lead-in area, a recording information area for recording record information, the record information being readable by the information reproducing apparatus, and a control information area in the lead-in area for storing control information which is readable by the information reproducing apparatus, wherein the control information includes physical format information indicating a physical structure of the optical disc, and the physical format information includes maximum value information that indicates a selection of

• one of a plurality of predetermined maximum values of a reading rate of the record information,
• wherein said one of the plurality of predetermined maximum values is greater than a maximum information rate of the record information,
• the apparatus comprising:
• a read device which reads the control information and the record information;
• a disc drive device which rotates the disk based on the control information;
• a reproduction device which reproduces the record information;
• and
• a control device which controls the read device, the disc drive device, and the reproduction device,
• wherein the control device reads the control information by the read device in advance of reproducing the record information by the reproduction device, and controls the disc drive device on the basis of the maximum value information in the read control information.

An information recording method for recording information onto an optical disc,

• the method comprising the processes of:
• (a) recording control information in a control information area;
• and
• (b) recording record information in a recording information area,
• wherein the control information includes physical format information indicating a physical structure of the optical disc, and the physical format information includes maximum value information that indicates a selection of
• one of a plurality of predetermined maximum values of a reading rate of the record information,
• wherein the process of recording control information automatically selects a maximum value greater than a maximum information rate of the record information, and records the selected maximum value as said one of the plurality of predetermined maximum values.