Combined memory medium, drive apparatus and method therefor and playback

Abstract

A combined memory medium is constructed by an optical disc used as a read-only memory, a cartridge for holding or receiving the optical disc, and a fixed memory which is held in the cartridge. The read or write operation for the fixed memory is carried out by structure different from that used for the optical disc so that the optical disc and the fixed memory constitute an integral memory medium. A combined memory medium drive apparatus includes the combined memory medium, a disc access block for reading out the data on the optical disc, a memory access block for performing reading or writing of data for the fixed memory, and a control block for interpreting an instruction sent from an external device to control the reading of data from the optical disc through the disc access block and the reading or writing of data for the fixed memory through the memory access block, in which the optical disc and the fixed memory are complementarily used. A combined memory medium playback apparatus includes the combined memory medium drive apparatus and a processing block for controlling it to process the data output therefrom, thereby being capable of performing writing. Because the control program is stored in the fixed memory, the drive apparatus and the playback apparatus are able to be operated with the combined memory medium alone, dispensing with the need for another memory medium.