METHOD FOR DISCRIMINATING OPTICAL DISC, OPTICAL DISC DEVICE AND PROGRAM

1 . An optical disc discriminating method for discriminating types of loaded optical discs, characterized by

judging that an optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to DVD Download standards when it is logically detected that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on disc information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc and it is also detected that there is no data recorded in a data zone of the optical disc.

2 . The optical disc discriminating method according to claim 1 , wherein when a tracking error signal with a predetermined or greater amplitude is not detected in the data zone, it can be judged that there is no data recorded in the data zone.

3 . The optical disc discriminating method according to claim 1 , wherein when it is controlled to perform tracking-on on the data zone but the tracking-on fails, it can be judged that there is no data recorded in the data zone.

4 . The optical disc discriminating method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the logical detection of being a DVD-ROM can be performed based on Book Type written in the control data zone in the lead-in zone of the optical disc.

5 . An optical disc device for recording and/or reproducing information in a loaded optical disc, the optical disc device comprising:

first identification unit adapted to logically identify that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc;

second identification unit adapted to identify that there is no data recorded in a data zone of the optical disc; and

discrimination unit adapted to judge that the optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to DVD Download standards, based on output from the first identification unit indicating that the optical disc is logically a DVD-ROM and output from the second identification unit indicating that there is no data recorded in the data zone.

6 . The optical disc device according to claim 5 , wherein when a tracking error signal with a predetermined or greater amplitude cannot be detected, the second identification unit can judge that there is no data recorded in the data zone.

7 . The optical disc device according to claim 5 , wherein when it is controlled to perform tracking-on on the data zone but the tracking-on fails, the second identification unit can judge that there is no data recorded in the data zone.

8 . The optical disc device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the logical identification of being a DVD-ROM can be performed based on Book Type written in the control data zone in the lead-in zone of the optical disc.

9 . A program for causing an information processing device to realize functions of the first identification unit, the second identification unit, and the discrimination unit according to claims 5 to 7 , when the program is installed in the information processing device.

10 . An optical disc discriminating method for discriminating types of loaded optical discs, characterized by

judging that an optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to DVD Download standards when it is logically detected that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on disc information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc, and also determined that tracking-on fails as a result of performing a tracking operation instruction on a data zone of the optical disc, and also determined that no tracking error signal is detected as a result of performing focus-on on the data zone.

11 . The optical disc discriminating method according to claim 10 , wherein among areas in the data zone of the optical disc, a start address area therein can be subjected to the focus-on.

12 . The optical disc discriminating method according to claim 10 , wherein the tracking operation is performed while moving in the radial direction of the optical disc.

13 . An optical disc device for recording and/or reproducing information in a loaded optical disc, the optical disc device comprising:

first identification unit adapted to logically identify that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on disc information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc;

tracking control unit adapted to control tracking-on on a data zone of the optical disc, and, if it is determined that the tracking-on fails, outputs an indication that the tracking-on fails;

second identification unit adapted to judge whether it is with or without a tracking error signal by performing focus-on on the data zone of the optical disc in response to the output that the tracking-on fails from the tracking control unit; and

discrimination unit adapted to judge that the optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to the DVD Download standards, based on an output from the first identification unit logically indicating that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM and the output from the second identification unit indicating absence of the tracking error signal.

14 . The optical disc device according to claim 13 , wherein among areas in the data zone of the optical disc, a start address area therein is subjected to the focus-on.

15 . The optical disc device according to claim 13 , wherein the tracking control unit controls to perform the tracking-on on the optical disc while moving in the radial direction thereof.

16 . A program for causing an information processing device to realize functions of the first identification unit, the tracking control unit, the second identification unit, and the discrimination unit of the optical disc device according to claim 13 or 14 when the program is installed in the information processing device.

17 . An optical disc discriminating method for discriminating types of loaded optical disc, characterized by

judging that the optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to DVD Download standards, if it is logically detected that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc and no tracking error signal is detected in the data zone, followed by detecting a wobble signal, and if it is also recognized that a wobble group is present in the optical disc.

18 . The optical disc discriminating method according to claim 17 , wherein

if no tracking error signal is detected in the data zone by a differential phase detection method, a push pull detection approach can be applied for detecting a wobble signal.

19 . An optical disc device for recording and/or reproducing information in a loaded optical disc, characterized by comprising:

first identification unit adapted to logically identify that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM based on information written in a lead-in zone of the optical disc;

second identification unit adapted to detect a tracking error signal in a data zone of the optical disc by a differential phase detection method when the first identification unit logically identifies that the optical disc is a DVD-ROM;

third identification unit adapted to detect a wobble signal in the data zone by a push pull detection approach when the second identification unit detects no tracking error signal; and

discrimination unit adapted to discriminate that the optical disc is a blank disc that conforms to the DVD Download standards when the third identification unit detects the wobble signal.

20 . A program for causing an information processing device to realize functions of the first identification unit, the second identification unit, the third identification unit, and the discrimination unit of the optical disc device according to claim 19 when the program is installed in the information processing device storage unit.