Method of recording a signal on an information recording medium, and method of recording and reproducing a signal on and from an information recording medium

A method of recording and reproducing a signal on and from a disc-shaped information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers on and from which an information signal can be optically recorded and reproduced from one side of the medium, the recording layers including a first recording layer and a second recording layer which is remoter from an optical pickup than the first recording layer is;

• data areas provided in the recording layers respectively, wherein the information signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the data areas while a laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is applied to the data areas;
• optical recording test areas provided in the recording layers respectively, wherein the optical recording test areas are located in different radial positions in the medium respectively so as to be out of overlap as viewed in a direction of propagation of the laser beam;
• and a signal recording area greater in size than the optical recording test area in the second recording layer and provided in a portion of the first recording layer which is opposed to the optical recording test area in the second recording layer as viewed in the direction of propagation of the laser beam, the method comprising the steps of:
• recording a first test signal on an optical recording test area in the first recording layer;
• reproducing the first test signal from the optical recording test area in the first recording layer;
• deciding a first optimum power value of a laser beam for signal recording on the first recording layer in response to the reproduced first test signal;
• recording first data on a data area in the first recording layer by using a laser beam having the decided first optimum power value;
• recording a signal on an area in the first recording layer by using a laser beam having the decided first optimum power value, wherein the area in the first recording layer is opposed to an optical recording test area in the second recording layer and covers the optical recording test area in the second recording layer as viewed in a direction of propagation of a laser beam, and the area in the first recording layer is wider than the optical recording test area in the second recording layer along both inward and outward radial directions;
• recording a second test signal on the optical recording test area in the second recording layer after the signal is recorded on the area in the first recording layer;
• reproducing the second test signal from the optical recording test area in the second recording layer;
• deciding a second optimum power value of a laser beam for signal recording on the second recording layer in response to the reproduced second test signal;
• and
• recording second data on a data area in the second recording layer by using a laser beam having the decided second optimum power value.