Information recording medium, information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method, computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave

Abstract

DVD 1 ′ has recording information areas VOR, AOR in which recording information is recorded and reproducing procedure information recording areas VNA, ANA in which reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedures of the recording information is recorded. In addition, this DVD 1 ′ has an integrated reproducing procedure information recording area GNA in which an integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded. The integrated reproducing procedure information indicates reproducing procedures to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other DVD. Upon reproducing, the recording information recorded astride a plurality of DVDs is reproduced in accordance with the integrated reproducing procedure information.

1. An information recording medium including recording information area in which recording information is recorded and reproducing procedure information recoding  recording area in which reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information is recorded,
 wherein the information recording medium further includes integrated reproducing procedure information recoding  recording area in which integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of the recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium.  
 
     
     
       2. The information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       3. The information recording medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       4. The information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the reproducing procedure information includes at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce each of the recording information in accordance with a procedure that differs from a recording procedure when each of the recording information is recorded in the information recording medium. 
     
     
       5. The information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the recording information is any one of video information, audio information and data information. 
     
     
       6. The information recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the information recording medium is a DVD. 
     
     
       7. An information recording apparatus for recording integrated reproducing procedure information in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information recording apparatus comprising:
 a selecting device for selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information;  
 a generating device for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and  
 a recording device for recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information in said information recording medium.  
 
     
     
       8. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a procedure information generating device for newly generating required reproducing procedure information when the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information does not exist in any one of said information recording medium and said other information recording medium,  
 wherein the generating device generates the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information and the newly generated reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       9. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       10. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       11. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       12. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       13. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the recording information is any one of video information, audio information and data information. 
     
     
       14. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the information recording medium is a DVD. 
     
     
       15. An information recording method for recording integrated reproducing procedure information in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information recording method comprising the processes of:
 selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information from a plurality of information recording mediums;  
 generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and  
 recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information in said information recording medium.  
 
     
     
       16. The information recording method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the process of:
 newly generating required reproducing procedure information when the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information does not exist in any one of said information recording medium and said other information recording medium,  
 wherein the process of generating the integrated reproducing procedure information generates the integrated generating procedure information by employing the selected generating procedure information and the newly generated reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       17. The information recording method according to  claim 15 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       18. The information recording method according to  claim 16 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       19. The information recording method according to  claim 17 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       20. The information recording method according to  claim 18 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       21. An information recording medium in which an information recording control program is readably recorded by a computer included in an information recording apparatus for recording integrated reproducing procedure information in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information recording control program causing the computer to function as:
 a selecting device for selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information;  
 a generating device for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and  
 a recording device for recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information in said information recording medium.  
 
     
     
       22. The information recording medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the information recording control program is readably recorded by the computer, the information recording control program causing the computer to further function as:
 a procedure information generating device for newly generating required reproducing procedure information when the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information does not exist in any one of said information recording medium and said other information recording medium,  
 wherein the generating device generates the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information and the newly generated reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       23. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a selecting device for selecting any one of the integrated reproducing procedure information from a plurality of information recording mediums;  
 an acquiring device for acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of said plurality of information recording mediums, said reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the selected integrated reproducing procedure information; and  
 a reproducing device for reproducing the recoding  recording information in accordance with at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       24. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information includes at least: indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information that corresponds to the recording information to be sequentially reproduced; and recording medium identification information indicating the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       25. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information further includes the indicative information indicating the reproducing procedure information contained in the recording medium itself in which the integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded, and the recording medium identification information indicates only said other information recording medium. 
     
     
       26. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the reproducing procedure information includes at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce each of the recording information in accordance with a procedure that differs from a recording procedure when each of the recording information is recorded in the information recording medium. 
     
     
       27. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the recording information is any one of video information, audio information and data information. 
     
     
       28. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the information recording medium is a DVD. 
     
     
       29. An information reproducing method for reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information reproducing method comprising the processes of:
 selecting any one of the integrated reproducing procedure information from a plurality of information recording mediums;  
 acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of said plurality of information recording mediums, said reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the selected integrated reproducing procedure information; and  
 reproducing the recoding  recording information in accordance with at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       30. An information recording medium in which an information reproducing control program is readably recorded by a computer included in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said information reproducing control program causing the computer to function as:
 a selecting device for selecting any one of the integrated reproducing procedure information from a plurality of information recording mediums;  
 an acquiring device for acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of said plurality of information recording mediums, said reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the selected integrated reproducing procedure information; and  
 a reproducing device for reproducing the recoding  recording information in accordance with at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.  
 
     
     
       31. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer to perform steps to execute a recording process in an information recording apparatus for recording integrated reproducing procedure information in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said steps comprising:
 a selecting step for selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information;    a generating step for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and    a recording step for recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information in said information recording medium.    
     
     
       32. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer to perform steps to execute a recording process in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded in an information recording medium in which recording information is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce the recording information, said integrated reproducing procedure information indicating at least one reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other information recording medium, said steps comprising:
 a selecting step for selecting any one of the integrated reproducing procedure information from a plurality of information recording mediums;    an acquiring step for acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of said plurality of information recording mediums, said reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the selected integrated reproducing procedure information; and    a reproducing step for reproducing the recoding information in accordance with the reproducing procedures indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.    
     
     
       33. An information recording medium comprising:
   a recording information recording area in which at least a first recording information item is recorded;        a reproducing procedure information recording area in which reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure of the first recording information item;        an integrated reproducing procedure information recording area in which integrated reproducing procedure information and start address information is recorded, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce the first recording information item and at least a second recording information item recorded in other information recording medium, the start address information indicating a start address of the integrated reproducing procedure information; and        a relation information recording area in which relation information is recorded, the relation information indicating that the first recording information item is related to the other information recording medium.     
     
     
       34. The information recording medium according to  claim 33 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information comprises reference information to refer to the reproducing procedure information and other reproducing procedure information which indicates reproducing procedure of the second recording information item recorded in the other information recording medium and is recorded in the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       35. The information recording medium according to  claim 33 , wherein each of the reproducing procedure information includes at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce each of the recording information items in accordance with a procedure that differs from a recording procedure when each of the recording information items is recorded in the information recording medium. 
     
     
       36. An information recording apparatus for recording integrated reproducing procedure information, start address information and relation information in an information recording medium in which at least a first recording information item is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure of the first recording information item, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce the first recording information item and at least a second recording information item recorded in other information recording medium, the start address information indicating a start address of the integrated reproducing procedure information, the relation information indicating that the first recording information item is related to the other information recording medium, the information recording apparatus comprising:
   a selecting device for selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information;    
   a generating device for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and    
   a recording device for recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information, the start address information and relation information in the information recording medium.   
 
     
     
       37. The information recording apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information comprises reference information to refer to the reproducing procedure information and other reproducing procedure information which indicates reproducing procedure of the second recording information item recorded in the other information recording medium and is recorded in the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       38. An information recording method of recording integrated reproducing procedure information, start address information and relation information in an information recording medium in which at least a first recording information item is recorded together with reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure of the first recording information item, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce the first recording information item and at least a second recording information item recorded in other information recording medium, the start address information indicating a start address of the integrated reproducing procedure information, the relation information indicating that the first recording information item is related to the other information recording medium, the information recording method comprising the processes of:
   selecting the reproducing procedure information to be employed for generating the integrated reproducing procedure information;        generating the integrated reproducing procedure information by employing the selected reproducing procedure information; and        recording the generated integrated reproducing procedure information, the start address information and relation information in the information recording medium.     
     
     
       39. The information recording method according to  claim 38 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information comprises reference information to refer to the reproducing procedure information and other reproducing procedure information which indicates reproducing procedure of the second recording information item recorded in the other information recording medium and is recorded in the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       40. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information, start address information, relation information, at least a first recording information item, and reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure of the first recording information is recorded, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce the first recording information item and at least a second recording information item recorded in other information recording medium, the start address information indicating a start address of the integrated reproducing procedure information, the relation information indicating that the first recording information item is related to the other information recording medium, the information reproducing apparatus comprising:
   an extracting device for extracting the integrated reproducing procedure information and the relation information from data read out from information recording media;        an acquiring device for acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of the plurality of information recording media, the reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the extracted integrated reproducing procedure information; and        a reproducing device for reproducing the recording information in accordance with at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.     
     
     
       41. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information comprises reference information to refer to the reproducing procedure information and other reproducing procedure information which indicates reproducing procedure of the second recording information item recorded in the other information recording medium and is recorded in the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       42. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein each of the reproducing procedure information includes at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce each of the recording information in accordance with a procedure that differs from a recording procedure when each of the recording information is recorded in the information recording medium. 
     
     
       43. An information reproducing method of reproducing recording information from an information recording medium in which integrated reproducing procedure information, start address information, relation information, at least a first recording information item, and reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure of the first recording information is recorded, the integrated reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedure to sequentially reproduce the first recording information item and at least a second recording information item recorded in other information recording medium, the start address information indicating a start address of the integrated reproducing procedure information, the relation information indicating that the first recording information item is related to the other information recording medium, the information reproducing method comprising the processes of:
   extracting the integrated reproducing procedure information and the relation information from data read out from information recording media;        acquiring the reproducing procedure information from any one of the plurality of information recording media, the reproducing procedure information corresponding to at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the extracted integrated reproducing procedure information; and        reproducing the recording information in accordance with at least one reproducing procedure indicated by the acquired reproducing procedure information.     
     
     
       44. The information reproducing method according to  claim 43 , wherein the integrated reproducing procedure information comprises reference information to refer to the reproducing procedure information and other reproducing procedure information which indicates reproducing procedure of the second recording information item recorded in the other information recording medium and is recorded in the other information recording medium. 
     
     
       45. The information reproducing method according to  claim 43 , wherein each of the reproducing procedure information includes at least one reproducing procedure to reproduce each of the recording information in accordance with a procedure that differs from a recording procedure when each of the recording information is recorded in the information recording medium.