Method of and apparatus for managing disc defects using temporary defect management information (TDFL) and temporary defect management information (TDDS), and disc having the TDFL and TDDS

An apparatus for use with a write-once disc comprising a user data area to store user data, a spare area other than the user data area and which comprises a substitute area for a defective area existing in the user data area, and a temporary defect management area which comprises temporary defect information and temporary defect management information recorded for disc defect management, the temporary defect information comprising a defect position pointer that points to a position of a defective area in the user data area and a replacement position pointer that points to a position of the replacement data that replaces a portion of the user data recorded in the defective area, the apparatus comprising:

• a recording unit which records data on the write-once disc;
• and
• a controller which controls the recording unit to record the temporary defect information comprising state information that specifies whether the defective area is a single defective block or a continuous defective block extending over more than one block, in the temporary defect management area of the write-once disc,
• wherein when the state information specifies that the defective area is the continuous defective block, the state information further specifies whether the defective area is a start or end of the continuous defective block,
• when the state information specifies that the defective area is the start of the continuous defective block, the defect position pointer indicates a start position of the continuous defective block and the replacement position pointer indicates a start position of a continuous replacement block for replacing the continuous defective block, and
• when the state information specifies that the defective area is the end of the continuous defective block, the defect position pointer indicates an end position of the continuous defective block and the replacement position pointer indicates an end position of a continuous replacement block for replacing the continuous defective block.

A method of managing a defect in a disc, the disc comprising a user data area and a spare area other than the user data area, the method comprising:

• recording user data in the user data area;
• again recording the user data, which is recorded in a defective area of the user data area in which a defect exists, in the spare area so as to make replacement data for the user data recorded in the defective area;
• and
• recording temporary defect information comprising a defect position pointer that points to the defective area and a replacement position pointer that points to the position of the replacement data, in a temporary defect management area that is on the disc to perform defect management,
• wherein:
• the temporary defect information further comprises state information that specifies whether the defective area is a single defective block or a continuous defective block, extending over more than one block,
• when the state information specifies that the defective area is the continuous defective block, the state information further specifies whether the defective area is a start or end of the continuous defective block,
• when the state information specifies that the defective area is the start of the continuous defective block, the defect position pointer indicates a start position of the continuous defective block and the replacement position pointer indicates a start position of a continuous replacement block for replacing the continuous defective block, and
• when the state information specifies that the defective area is the end of the continuous defective block, the defect position pointer indicates an end position of the continuous defective block and the replacement position pointer indicates an end position of a continuous replacement block for replacing the continuous defective block.