Evaluation value calculating apparatus, recording and playback apparatus, evaluation value calculating method, recording method

Abstract

An evaluation value calculating apparatus includes the following elements. A difference metric selecting unit selects a difference metric for a specific recorded sequence in recorded sequences obtained in a maximum likelihood decoding process when information expressed with marks and spaces on a recording medium is played back, the difference metric being obtained in the maximum likelihood decoding process. A difference metric error value calculating unit determines a difference metric error value for the selected difference metric using a calculation method that is selected according to an edge shift direction of each of the marks on a time axis, the difference metric error value representing an error from an ideal difference metric and the edge shift direction on the time axis. A statistical processing unit performs statistical processing on the determined difference metric error value on the basis of each of states of path meeting points to generate an evaluation value.