Recording method and recording apparatus that limits number of rewrites to the same storage area

A recording method for recording data into an information recording medium, wherein the number of data rewrites into the same area is limited, the recording method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing a search for unallocated areas in an information recording area and retaining, in a memory, unallocated area identifying information for identifying at least one unallocated area found by the search;
• (b) determining whether or not an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information;
• and
• (c) when an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information, allocating the unallocated area as an area for recording data and recording data into the allocated area,
• further comprising the steps of:
• (d) searching for a new file recorded in the information recording area;
• and
• (e) generating a pointer indicating a position based on an end position of an area in which the new file is recorded,
• wherein the search for unallocated areas in the information recording area in step (a) is performed in a fixed direction from a position following the position indicated by the pointer.

A recording method for recording data into an information recording medium, wherein the number of data rewrites into the same area is limited, the recording method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing a search for unallocated areas in an information recording area and retaining, in a memory, unallocated area identifying information for identifying at least one unallocated area found by the search;
• (b) determining whether or not an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information;
• and
• (c) when an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information, allocating the unallocated area as an area for recording data and recording data into the allocated area,
• further comprising the step of:
• (d) generating a pointer indicating a random position in the information recording area,
• wherein the search for unallocated areas in the information recording area in step (a) is performed from a position following the position indicated by the pointer in a fixed direction.

A recording method for recording data into an information recording medium, wherein the number of data rewrites into the same area is limited, the recording method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing a search for unallocated areas in an information recording area and retaining, in a memory, unallocated area identifying information for identifying at least one unallocated area found by the search;
• (b) determining whether or not an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information;
• and
• (c) when an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information, allocating the unallocated area as an area for recording data and recording data into the allocated area,
• wherein the search for unallocated areas in the information recording area in step (a) is performed from a start of the information recording area in a fixed direction.

A recording apparatus for recording data into an information recording medium, wherein the number of data rewrites into the same area is limited, the recording apparatus comprising:

• a holding section for performing a search for unallocated areas in an information recording area and retaining, in a memory, unallocated area identifying information for identifying at least one unallocated area found by the search;
• a determining section for determining whether or not an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information;
• a recording section for, when an unallocated area satisfying a record request is present among the at least one unallocated areas identified by the unallocated area identifying information, allocating the unallocated area as an area for recording data and recording data into the allocated;
• and
• an allocating section for allocating unallocated areas identified in the search performed by the holding section with higher precedence than unallocated areas that have become unallocated areas only after the search performed by the holding section.