JP3875845B2 - Recording apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording medium capable of recording using a recording method different for each predetermined recording unit, character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium, and a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and recording method for recording in
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when recording is performed by a new encoding method that cannot be normally decoded by an encoding method that has been used before, it is recorded in association with a track to be recorded in order to indicate to the user that effect. Recording apparatuses having a function of automatically adding predetermined characters to a track title are known. For example, in the case of an MD (mini-disc) recording device, when recording with ATRAC3 (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding 3), the track of the track to be recorded is shown in order to indicate that it is different from ATRAC used previously. “LP:” is added to the title.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to such a recording apparatus, since the added characters such as “LP:” are recorded in the area for the normal track title, the number of characters for the track title that the user wants to give is limited accordingly. Will be. For example, if the user does not input a track title, only “LP:” uses a 7-byte area. Therefore, if only “LP:” is given to all the tracks of 255 songs, the title area is filled up by itself, and the title cannot be input at all.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and method in view of such problems of the prior art. Since there is a recording of characters such as “LP:”, the amount of character information that a user can record is limited. It is to prevent.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention relates to each recording unit or character information corresponding to the recording medium for a recording medium capable of recording using a different recording method for each predetermined recording unit. Is recorded in a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters, and when the character information is recorded, the unused character information recording area and the character information in which the predetermined character information is already recorded. The recording apparatus includes a recording area as a recordable area.
[0006]
Here, as the recording medium, any medium capable of recording can be used, but specifically, an MD (mini disk), a CD-R (CD-Recordable), a CD-RW. (CD-ReWritable) etc. As different recording methods, different encoding methods are used. Atrac Stereo (ATRAC Stereo), Atrac Mono (ATRAC Mono), and Atrac 3x Double Length Stereo (ATRAC3 LP2) used in MD Stereo), Atrack 3-4 times long, stereo (ATRAC3 LP4 Stereo), and the like. In CD-R and CD-RW, MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III), WMA (Windows Media Audio), etc. can be mentioned. Non-compression is also included in one of the encoding methods. As the predetermined recording unit, for example, a track in MD or the like corresponds. The given character information corresponds to, for example, a track title or a disc title in MD. The predetermined character information recording area corresponds to, for example, an area for recording a track title or a disc title composed of a name slot corresponding to each track number in the MD audio format and a name slot linked to the name slot. . In this case, a character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters of character information to be recorded can be secured by sequentially linking empty slots to name slots. For example, this empty slot corresponds to an unused area. As the predetermined character information, for example, “LP:” indicating that the corresponding track is recorded in the Atrack 3-2 double length / stereo or the Atrack 3-4 double length / stereo can be mentioned.
[0007]
In this configuration, when recording of character information is instructed by a user or the like to a recording medium loaded in the apparatus, a certain recording unit recorded on the recording medium, or a recording unit to be recorded from now on, the recording is performed. The character information is recorded in the character information recording area corresponding to the unit. At this time, the character information recording area that can be used for recording the character information is only an unused character information recording area in the conventional apparatus. On the other hand, in the present invention, the character information recording area that can be used for recording the character information includes an unused character information recording area and a character information recording area in which predetermined character information is already recorded. Become.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is stored in a predetermined character information corresponding to the number of characters for a recording medium capable of recording using a different recording method for each predetermined recording unit. In the recording device for recording in the recording area, if the number of characters of the character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area, The character information recording area in which character information is already recorded is used for recording the character information to be recorded.
[0009]
In this configuration, according to the number of characters of the character information to be recorded, the corresponding character information recording area is secured by using an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area. At this time, when the number of characters of character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area, the conventional apparatus has not taken any measures. On the other hand, in the second invention, in such a case, a character information recording area in which predetermined character information is already recorded is used for recording character information to be recorded.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the recording medium is assigned a predetermined serial number to each recording unit, and uses the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded. At that time, from those character information recording areas, select the number necessary for recording the assigned character information in ascending or descending order of the serial number assigned to the corresponding recording unit, and select The character information recording area is combined with the unused area.
[0011]
Here, the predetermined serial number corresponds to a track number in the case of MD, for example. When the required number of selected character information recording areas are combined with an unused area, the character information recording area for recording the assigned character information uses the combined character information recording area as an unused area. This is an area that is expanded and large enough to record the assigned character information.
[0012]
According to a fourth invention, in the second invention, when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the character information recording area in which all the predetermined character information is already recorded It is characterized by joining to an unused area. The combined character information recording area is used as an unused area for recording the assigned character information.
[0013]
According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the recording unit corresponding thereto.
[0014]
As information relating to only the predetermined recording method, for example, only “LP:” indicating that the corresponding track is recorded in the ATRACK 3-2 times long / stereo or the ATRACK 3-4 times long / stereo Can be mentioned. This information is recorded in order to make it possible to discriminate between a track recorded by the ATRACK 3 and a track recorded by the ATRACK in a playback device that does not support the ATRACK 3. Therefore, since this information has little meaning in the apparatus corresponding to the track 3, there is no inconvenience even if the character information recording area where only this information is recorded is included in the unused area.
[0015]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, for a recording medium capable of recording using a different recording method for each predetermined recording unit, character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is determined according to the number of characters. In the recording method for recording in a recording area, when recording the character information, a step of making the unused character information recording area and the character information recording area in which predetermined character information has already been recorded a recordable area It is characterized by comprising.
[0016]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, with respect to a recording medium capable of recording using a different recording method for each predetermined recording unit, the character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is determined according to the number of characters. In the recording method of recording in the recording area, when the number of characters of the character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area, The character information recording area in which character information is already recorded is used for recording the character information to be recorded.
[0017]
According to an eighth invention, in the seventh invention, the recording medium has a predetermined serial number assigned to each recording unit, and when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, From the character information recording area, the number necessary for recording the assigned character information is selected in ascending or descending order of the serial numbers assigned to the corresponding recording units, and the selected character information recording A region is combined with the unused region.
[0018]
According to a ninth aspect, in the seventh aspect, when the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded is used, the character information recording area in which all the predetermined character information is already recorded It is characterized by joining to an unused area.
According to a tenth aspect, in the sixth to ninth aspects, the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the recording unit corresponding to the predetermined character information.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a mini disk on which audio data is recorded, 2 is a spindle motor that rotationally drives the mini disk 1, and 3 is an optical pickup for irradiating the mini disk 1 with laser light for recording or reproduction. . The optical pickup 3 performs a high level laser output for heating the recording track to the Curie temperature during recording, and a relatively low level laser output for detecting data from reflected light by the magnetic Kerr effect during reproduction.
[0020]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a magnetic head that applies a magnetic field modulated by supplied data to the mini-disc 1, 6 denotes a head driver that supplies a drive signal to the magnetic head 5 according to encoded recording data, 4 denotes an optical pickup 3 and A feed motor 7 for moving the magnetic head 5 in the radial direction of the mini disk 1, and a reproduction RF signal, a tracking error signal TE, a focus error signal FE, groove information, that is, the mini disk 1, by arithmetic processing of information supplied from the optical pickup 3. The RF amplifier extracts absolute position information (ADIP) and the like recorded as pregrooves.
[0021]
Reference numeral 8 denotes a digital signal processing circuit, an ADIP decoder for decoding address information (ADIP) as absolute position information from the RF amplifier 7, and data encoded by ATRAC included in the reproduced RF signal (hereinafter referred to as “ATRAC data”). EFM decoder that decodes addresses and subcodes, a shockproof memory controller that performs management for temporarily storing the read ATRAC data in the memory 12 and sending it to the ATRAC decoder unit, and encoding to ATRAC data An ATRAC encoder unit is included.
[0022]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a system controller composed of a microcomputer or the like, which instructs the digital signal processing circuit 8 to perform address search of the mini-disc 1, to instruct control of the optical pickup 3, to instruct to start decoding of ATRAC data, From the digital signal processing circuit 8, address information (ADIP), address information decoded by the EFM decoder, and the like are obtained. In addition, an instruction such as reproduction, stop, recording, and erasing by the user is accepted via the operation unit 10 and the operation content is displayed on the display unit 11.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows the layout of sector 0 in the UTOC area in the sector format used for the minidisk. In the sector 0 of the UTOC area, recorded music data management information and information on each track are recorded. P-TNOn (n = 1 to 255) in the figure is a pointer to the start address of a track whose track number (TNO) is n (hereinafter referred to as “track n”), and its value is the start of track n. The byte position giving the address is indicated by 76 × 4 + (P−TNOn) × 8. In each byte position indicated by P-TNOn, there is information such as the start address (Start address), end address (End address), and track mode (Track mode) of the music information of each track n recorded in the program area. To be recorded. As the track mode information of each track n, information such as the encoding method and copyright used for recording the track is recorded.
[0024]
At the time of recording on the mini disc 1, the address information and the like of each track n are recorded in the sector 0 of the UTOC area with such a sector configuration. During playback, the recording device selects a decoder based on the start address and end address information of each track n recorded in sector 0 of the UTOC area and track mode information (encoding method, copyright information, etc.). Thus, the audio data recorded on the mini disc 1 is reproduced. With such a configuration, tracks can be easily moved, combined, and deleted simply by manipulating the contents of the UTOC without directly manipulating the program area of the mini-disc 1 where the audio data is actually recorded. Can be done.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows the layout of sector 1 in the UTOC area in the sector format used for the minidisk. Sector 1 is used for recording track title and disc title information. Each title is recorded in a corresponding name slot using an ASCII code.
[0026]
P-TNAn (n = 1 to 255) in the figure is a pointer indicating the byte position where the name slot where the title of each track n is recorded is represented by 76 × 4 + (P-TNAn) × 8. The name slot dedicated to the disc title starts at a position of 76 × 4 bytes. Each name slot includes a 7-byte ASCII code storage area and a 1-byte Link-P. Link-P is a pointer indicating the byte position of the next name slot connected to the name slot. If the value is 0, there is no connection to the next and the title is completed in that name slot. If all name slots are used, a maximum of 1792 (= 7 × 256) characters can be input. However, since each name slot is controlled in units of 7 bytes, one name slot is used even for a title of 2 or 3 characters. P-Empty in the drawing is a pointer indicating the byte position of the first empty slot which is an unused name slot.
[0027]
FIG. 4 shows an example of recorded contents of sector 1. The contents of the pointers P-TNAs 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05, respectively. Therefore, the name slots of tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 start at positions 78, 80, 82, 84, and 86 (× 4 bytes), respectively, and “LP:” is recorded in each name slot. Has been. The pointer P-EMPTY to the empty slot is 06, and the empty slot starts from the position of 88 (× 4 bytes).
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows the contents of sector 1 after the name slot occupied by track 2 in the contents of sector 1 of FIG. 4 is released and added to the empty slot. The pointer P-EMPTY to the empty slot is changed from 06 to 01 indicating the name slot occupied by the track 2, the storage area of the name slot is cleared to zero, and Link-P is rewritten to 06. Further, the pointer P-TNA2 of the track 2 is also cleared to zero. That is, the name slot occupied by the track 2 is added to the beginning of each empty slot.
[0029]
Thus, in order to release the empty slot of track n, the value of pointer P-EMPTY to the empty slot is set to the value of Link-P of the name slot of track n, and the value of pointer P-EMPTY is set to track n. A pointer value is set, and a pointer P-TNAn indicating the name slot position of the track n may be set to 0. Alternatively, the contents of the pointer P-EMPTY are left as they are, and the link-P of the last empty slot that reaches each empty slot by Link-P from the first empty slot pointed to by the pointer P-EMPTY is changed to the name of the track n. By setting the pointer value to the slot, the track n may be coupled to the end of the empty slot.
[0030]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing title input processing in the apparatus of FIG. In step 61, the system controller 9 monitors the presence / absence of an instruction to start title input from the user. When the system controller 9 detects that there is an instruction, the system controller 9 selects a track number to be title input or disc in step 62. Wait for the user to make a selection to enter the title.
[0031]
When this selection is made, in step 63, the title or disc title of the selected track number is read from the corresponding name slot of UTOC1 and stored in the buffer memory. The contents of the buffer memory are displayed as input characters in the user input area on the display unit 11. Next, in step 64, the number of name slots (hereinafter referred to as “LP slots”) in which “LP:” is stored is counted. Next, in step 65, the number of characters that can be input is calculated. This calculation can be performed by the number of characters that can be input = (the number of empty slots + the number of LP slots) × 7.
[0032]
Next, in steps 66, 67, 73, and 74, the presence / absence of an instruction for inputting one character, the presence / absence of an instruction for deleting one character, the presence / absence of an instruction for confirming title input, and the presence / absence of an instruction for ending title input are monitored.
[0033]
If the input of one character is detected in step 66, it is determined in step 70 whether or not the number of characters that can be input is zero. If the number of characters that can be entered is not 0, in step 71, the input of that one character is accepted, the number of entered characters is incremented by 1, and the number of characters that can be entered is decremented by 1, and the flow returns to step 66. If it is determined that the number of characters that can be input is 0, a display indicating that the title area is full is displayed in step 72, and the process returns to step 66.
[0034]
If an instruction to delete one character is detected in step 67, it is determined in step 68 whether or not the number of input characters is zero. If it is determined that the value is 0, the process returns to step 66 as it is. If it is determined that it is not 0, an instruction to delete one character is accepted in step 69, the number of characters already entered is decremented by 1, the number of characters that can be entered is incremented by 1, and the flow returns to step 66.
[0035]
If an instruction to confirm the title input is detected in step 73, the required number of LP slots corresponding to the number of input characters is released in step 75, and further, in step 76, the buffer memory in which the title by the input characters is reflected. The contents are written in UTOC1, and the title input process is terminated.
[0036]
If it is detected in step 74 that a title input end instruction has been detected, the title input process is terminated. In this case, writing to UTOC1 is not performed.
[0037]
According to this, the number of LP slots is counted in step 64, the number of characters that can be entered is set in step 65 as the number of characters corresponding to the area obtained by adding the LP slot to the empty slot, and character input is accepted with this number of characters as the limit. Since the required number of LP slots corresponding to the number of input characters are released and the contents of the input characters are reflected, the user can input characters for the title without being restricted by the existence of the LP slots. it can. That is, since the LP slot occupying the UTOC 1 to which “LP:” is added without the intention of the user is an empty slot that can be preferentially released and used only when the empty slot is insufficient, “LP: Even with a mini-disc with "" added, the user can input the maximum standard characters without being aware of it. In addition, when title input is not performed so that there are not enough empty slots, the characters “LP:” remain as they are, so that the advantage of adding “LP:” is maintained and the maximum character input by the user is supported. be able to.
[0038]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the LP slot search process in step 64 of FIG. In step 71, the counter i is cleared to zero and the minimum track number is stored in the track number counter j. Next, in step 72, it is determined whether or not the track j is recorded by ATRAC3. This determination is made with reference to the track mode (Track mode) of track j recorded in UTOC0 (UTOC sector 0). If it is determined not to be based on ATRAC3, the process proceeds to step 75. If it is determined that it is based on ATRAC3, in step 73, it is determined with reference to the corresponding name slot of UTOC1 whether or not the track title of track j is only "LP:". If it is determined that only “LP:”, the counter i is incremented by 1 in step 74, and the process proceeds to step 75. If it is determined that it is not only “LP:”, the process proceeds to step 75.
[0039]
In step 75, the counter j is incremented by one. Next, in step 76, the counter j determines whether or not the maximum track number has been exceeded. If it is determined that it has not exceeded, the process returns to step 72 and the above-described processing is repeated. If it is determined that the maximum track number has been exceeded, the number of LP slots is set to i in step 77, and the LP slot search process is terminated.
[0040]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the slot opening process in step 75 of FIG. When this processing is started, first, in step 81, if the name slot used for the title of the track for which the title is input or the input of the disc title is input, the name slot used for that purpose is changed to the empty slot. Join and release.
[0041]
Next, in step 82, the number obtained by subtracting the number of empty slots × 7 from the number of input characters is stored in the counter k. Next, in step 83, it is determined whether or not k is greater than zero. If k is larger than 0, it means that there are characters that cannot be stored in the current number of empty slots among the input characters, and k represents the number of characters that cannot be stored at this time. .
[0042]
If it is determined in step 83 that k is not greater than 0, the current number of empty slots is sufficient, and the slot release process ends. If it is determined that k is greater than 0, in step 84, k is divided by the number of bytes in the name slot and the value after the decimal point is rounded up. Thus, k becomes a value indicating the number of name slots necessary to store the number of characters that cannot be stored. In step 85, the minimum track number is stored in the track number counter j.
[0043]
Next, at step 86, it is determined whether or not the track j is recorded by ATRAC3. This determination is made with reference to the track mode (Track mode) of track j recorded in UTOC0 (UTOC sector 0). If it is determined that the track j is not recorded by ATRAC3, the process proceeds to step 89. If it is determined that the track j is recorded by ATRAC3, it is determined in step 87 whether or not the title of the track j is “LP:” only with reference to the UTOC1 (UTOC sector 1). If it is determined that it is not only “LP:”, the process proceeds to step 89.
[0044]
If it is determined in step 87 that the title of track j is only “LP:”, in step 88, the name slot of track j is released by combining it with an empty slot, and the process proceeds to step 89.
[0045]
In step 89, the counter j is incremented by 1 and the value of k is decremented by -1. Next, in step 90, it is determined whether k is 0 or not. If not 0, the process returns to step 86. If it is 0, the slot release process is terminated.
[0046]
As a result, a required number of LP slots corresponding to the number of input characters are coupled to the empty slot and released.
[0047]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can deform | transform and implement suitably. For example, in the above description, in the slot release process in FIG. 7 (step 75 in FIG. 6), a required number of LP slots are selected in ascending order of their track numbers and combined with empty slots. Instead, the necessary number may be selected and combined in descending order.
[0048]
Further, in the slot opening process of FIG. 7, a necessary number of LP slots are selected and combined with the empty slot. Instead, all the LP slots are combined with the empty slot. Also good.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when character information is recorded, an unused character information recording area and a character information recording area in which predetermined character information is already recorded are used as recordable areas. It is possible to prevent the amount of character information that can be given by the user from being limited due to the recording of predetermined character information.
[0050]
In addition, when the number of characters of the character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area, the characters for which the predetermined character information has already been recorded Since the information recording area is used for recording character information to be recorded, the amount of character information that can be recorded by the user is prevented from being limited due to the recording of predetermined character information. Can do.
[0051]
According to the third and eighth inventions, when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information has already been recorded, it is assigned to the corresponding recording unit from the character information recording area. Since the number required for recording the assigned character information is selected in ascending or descending order of the serial number, and the selected character information recording area is combined with the unused area, the predetermined character information is already recorded. Can be used in a certain order according to the serial number assigned to the corresponding recording unit. In addition, the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information has already been recorded, which has not been used can be effectively maintained and the predetermined character information can be utilized.
[0052]
According to the fourth and ninth inventions, when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the character information recording area in which all the predetermined character information is already recorded is not used. Since it is combined with the used area, the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded can be used in addition to the unused area all at once without distinction.
[0053]
According to the fifth and tenth aspects of the invention, the predetermined character information is information relating to the predetermined recording method used for recording the corresponding recording unit. The recorded character information recording area can be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layout of a sector 0 in a UTOC area in a sector format used for a mini disk.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layout of a sector 1 in a UTOC area in a sector format used for a mini disk.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of recorded contents of sector 1 in a UTOC area.
5 shows the contents of sector 1 after the name slot occupied by track 2 in the contents of sector 1 in FIG. 4 is released and added to the empty slot.
6 is a flowchart showing title input processing in the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing LP slot search processing in step 64 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing slot release processing in step 75 of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Mini disk, 2: Spindle motor, 3: Optical pickup, 4: Feed motor, 5: Magnetic head, 6: Head driver, 7: RF amplifier, 8: Digital signal processing circuit, 9: System controller, 10: Operation Part, 11: display part, 12: memory.

Claims (8)

Recording in which character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is recorded in a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters on a recording medium capable of recording using a recording method different for each predetermined recording unit In the device
In recording the character information, the unused character information recording area and the character information recording area in which predetermined character information is already recorded are provided as a recordable area .
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the recording unit corresponding to the predetermined character information . Recording in which character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is recorded in a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters on a recording medium capable of recording using a recording method different for each predetermined recording unit In the device
If the number of characters of the character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area, the predetermined character information has already been recorded. The character information recording area is used for recording the character information to be recorded, and the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the corresponding recording unit. A recording device.   In the recording medium, a predetermined serial number is assigned to each recording unit, and when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the corresponding character information recording area is used. Selecting a necessary number for recording the assigned character information in ascending or descending order of the serial numbers assigned to the recording units, and combining the selected character information recording area with the unused area; The recording apparatus according to claim 2.   When using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the character information recording area in which all the predetermined character information is already recorded is coupled to the unused area. The recording apparatus according to claim 2. Recording in which character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is recorded in a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters on a recording medium capable of recording using a recording method different for each predetermined recording unit In the method
When recording the character information, comprising the step of making the character information recording area unused and the character information recording area in which predetermined character information has already been recorded a recordable area ,
The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the recording unit corresponding to the predetermined character information . Recording in which character information corresponding to each recording unit or the recording medium is recorded in a predetermined character information recording area corresponding to the number of characters on a recording medium capable of recording using a recording method different for each predetermined recording unit In the method
If the number of characters of the character information to be recorded exceeds the number of characters corresponding to an unused area among the areas prepared for the character information recording area, the predetermined character information has already been recorded. The character information recording area is used for recording the character information to be recorded, and the predetermined character information is information relating to a predetermined recording method used for recording the corresponding recording unit. Recording method. In the recording medium, a predetermined serial number is assigned to each recording unit, and when using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the corresponding character information recording area is used. Selecting a necessary number for recording the assigned character information in ascending or descending order of the serial numbers assigned to the recording units, and combining the selected character information recording area with the unused area; The recording method according to claim 6 . When using the character information recording area in which the predetermined character information is already recorded, the character information recording area in which all the predetermined character information is already recorded is coupled to the unused area. The recording method according to claim 6 .

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