Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

Franz H U Frank

Cornelis Teunissen

Arnoldus Jeroen Niessen

Antonius P G E Janssen

Gusbert J Van Den Enden

Gijsbert J Van Der Enden

Reading a partly written writable record carrier having a track structure for positioning the write head above unwritten areas of the track pattern by means of a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks, yields problems when an isolated information block after an unwritten area must be read. A system is disclosed for writing and reading information blocks on a record carrier of a writable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM. The writing device is provided with status means for generating status information which is indicative of the fact that at least one area of the record carrier has been written, while the status information comprises initial-area information which is indicative of an uninterrupted written initial area which extends from the start of a track pattern area intended for writing information blocks. The status information can be fixed on the record carrier. A reading device is also described, in which the positioning is dependent on the status information. Reading instructions with addresses outside the initial area can be rejected or translated via an address translation table into addresses in the initial area.

Writing device, record carrier and method of writing information blocks, and reading device for reading information blocks

A record carrier includes write status information indicating whether at least one area of the record carrier has been written, initial area status information indicating the extent of an uninterrupted initial area contiguously written from the start of a track pattern area intended for writing information blocks, and/or conformance status information indicating whether the record carrier is written to fully comply with the requirements of a standard that specifies requirements of reading devices or only partially complies with the standard for reading devices.

Method for reading and writing an incompletely recordable optical disk

Reading partly written record carriers by means of a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks presents problems when an information block behind a non-written area must be read. This Application describes a writing device and a method of writing information blocks on a record carrier of a rewritable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM. First, record carrier areas ( ) which are in use are detected for writing information blocks, for example, via the corresponding writing instructions. Subsequently, it is detected whether boundary areas ( ) adjoining the areas which are in use are unwritten. In that case, the boundary areas are initialized by writing them with dummy information, preferably with dummy information blocks comprising address information in the conventional manner. Furthermore, the Application discloses a record carrier provided with status information which is indicative of the non-written state of areas. A reading device which is provided with search means for searching written areas is also described.

Pre-formatting an optical disk with positioning data in boundary areas between non-written information block areas

Reading partly written record carriers using a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks presents problems when an information block behind a non-written area must be read. A writing device and a method of writing information blocks on a record carrier of a rewritable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM include the following. First, record carrier areas which are in use for writing information blocks, are detected, for example, using the corresponding writing instructions. Subsequently, it is detected whether boundary areas adjoining the areas which are in use are unwritten. In that case, the boundary areas are initialized by writing them with dummy information, preferably with dummy information blocks comprising address information in the conventional manner. A record carrier is provided with status information which is indicative of the non-written state of areas. A reading device is provided with search means for searching written areas. Apparatus is provided for programming a computer system to provide programmed apparatus to implement the method.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Franz H U Frank