Method of recording erase pattern information on an optical recording medium, erasing information on the optical recording medium based on the erase pattern information, and optical recording medium therefor

Abstract

An optical recording medium is provided for allowing data to be recorded on, erased from, and reproduced from, and storing information about power levels of an erase pulse. The recorded erase pattern information may include information about power levels of first and last pulses of an erase pattern for erasing data. The first and last pulses of the erase pattern can be differently set depending on the differing kind of recording layer or layers of a disk or differing kinds of disks and recorded in a reproducible only area or rewritable area of the optical recording medium. Thus, by presetting the appropriate erase power levels, the time required for selecting an optimal erase power for the optical recording medium can be considerably reduced.