Information recording medium, apparatus, and method, using dummy data in dummy data recording area

An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto an information recording medium, at least comprising:

• a first recording layer in which dummy data including area attribute information as for an attribute of a data recording area can be recorded;
• and a second recording layer in which the dummy data can be recorded by laser light transmitted through said first recording layer, at least one of said first recording layer and said second recording layer comprising a management area in which management information can be recorded, the management information including (i) position information as for a position of a dummy data recording area in which the dummy data is recorded, and (ii) attribute information as for an attribute of the dummy data recording area,
• said information recording apparatus comprising:
• a first recording device for recording zero or a predetermined value with the same attribute as that of a data area, into the dummy data recording area;
• and
• a second recording device for recording the management information corresponding to the dummy data recording area.

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing record information from an information recording medium, at least comprising:

• a first recording layer in which dummy data including area attribute information as for an attribute of a data recording area can be recorded;
• and a second recording layer in which the dummy data can be recorded by laser light transmitted through said first recording layer, at least one of said first recording layer and said second recording layer comprising a management area in which management information can be recorded, the management information including (i) position information as for a position of a dummy data recording area in which the dummy data is recorded, and (ii) attribute information as for an attribute of the dummy data recording area, wherein the attribute of the dummy data recording area is the same as that of a data area, and zero or a predetermined value is recorded into the dummy data recording area,
• said information reproducing apparatus comprising:
• an obtaining device for obtaining the management information;
• a reproducing device for reproducing the record information;
• and
• a controlling device for controlling said reproducing device to reproduce the record information on the basis of the obtained management information.

An information recording method in an information recording apparatus comprising a recording device for recording record information onto an information recording medium, at least comprising:

• a first recording layer in which dummy data including area attribute information as for an attribute of a data recording area can be recorded;
• and a second recording layer in which the dummy data can be recorded by laser light transmitted through said first recording layer, at least one of said first recording layer and said second recording layer comprising a management area in which management information can be recorded, the management information including (i) position information as for a position of a dummy data recording area in which the dummy data is recorded, and (ii) attribute information as for an attribute of the dummy data recording area,
• said information recording method comprising:
• a first recording process of recording zero or a predetermined value with the same attribute as that of a data area, into the dummy data recording area;
• and
• a second recording process of recording the management information corresponding to the dummy data recording area.

An information reproducing method in an information reproducing apparatus comprising a reproducing device for reproducing record information from an information recording medium, at least comprising:

• a first recording layer in which dummy data including area attribute information as for an attribute of a data recording area can be recorded;
• and a second recording layer in which the dummy data can be recorded by laser light transmitted through said first recording layer, at least one of said first recording layer and said second recording layer comprising a management area in which management information can be recorded, the management information including (i) position information as for a position of a dummy data recording area in which the dummy data is recorded, and (ii) attribute information as for an attribute of the dummy data recording area, wherein the attribute of the dummy data recording area is the same as that of a data area, and zero or a predetermined value is recorded into the dummy data recording area,
• said information reproducing method comprising:
• an obtaining process of obtaining the management information;
• a reproducing process of reproducing the record information;
• and
• a controlling process of controlling said reproducing device to reproduce the record information on the basis of the obtained management information.