Recording medium apparatus and method of recording and reproducing data with management information

Claim 2

An optical disk for use with an optical disk playback apparatus, said playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to a plurality of video title sets in which data is recorded; means for determining whether a title menu is present, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets are displayed for selection; a title key for designating display of said title menu; means for reproducing said title menu when said title key designates display of said title menu and when said determining means determines that said title menu is present; and means for preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said total number of titles acquired by said acquiring means, when said title key designates display of said title menu, and said determining means determines that said title menu is not present, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which said video title sets including data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which said total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID is recorded, said menu ID identifying said title menu, which is an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are displayed for selection; and a title menu recording area in which said title menu is recorded.

Claim 3

An optical disk for use with an optical disk playback apparatus, said playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of a plurality of audio streams corresponding to a plurality of video title sets in which data is recorded, and also for acquiring an audio language code corresponding to each of said audio streams; means for determining whether an audio menu is present, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said audio menu when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said number of said audio streams acquired by said acquiring means, when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and said determining means determines that said audio menu is not present, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which said video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which said number of said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to said audio streams of said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID is recorded, said menu ID identifying said audio menu, which is arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded.

Claim 4

An optical disk for use with an optical disk playback apparatus, said playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of a plurality of audio streams corresponding to a plurality of video title sets in which data is recorded, and also for acquiring an audio language code corresponding to each of said audio streams; means for determining whether an audio menu is present, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said audio menu when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said number of said audio streams acquired by said acquiring means, when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and said determining means determines that said audio menu is not present, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which said video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which said number of said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to said audio streams of said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID is recorded, said menu ID identifying said audio menu, which is arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded.

Claim 5

An optical disk for use with an optical disk playback apparatus, said playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to a plurality of video title sets in which data is recorded, and also for acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; means for determining whether a sub-picture menu is present, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said sub-picture menu when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and when said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and preparation means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said number of sub-picture streams acquired by said acquiring means, when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determination means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which said video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which said number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to said sub-picture streams of said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID is recorded, said menu ID identifying said sub-picture menu, which is an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture menu is recorded.

Claim 6

An optical disk for use with an optical disk playback apparatus, said playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to a plurality of video title sets in which data is recorded, and also for acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; means for determining whether a sub-picture menu is present, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said sub-picture menu when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and when said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and preparation means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said number of sub-picture streams acquired by said acquiring means, when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determination means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which said video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which said number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to said sub-picture streams of said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID is recorded, said menu ID identifying said sub-picture menu, which is an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture menu is recorded.

Claim 7

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including video data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to said files recorded in said file area is recorded; a title menu presence information recording area in which title menu presence information indicating whether or not a title menu is present is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which titles corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said title menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said optical disk based on said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; a title key for designating display of said title menu; means for determining whether said title menu is present by referring to said title menu presence information recorded in said title menu presence information recording area, when said title key designates display of said title menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said title menu, when said determining means determines that said title menu is present; and preparation means for preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character pattern corresponding to a character of said total number of titles acquired by said acquiring means, when said title key designates display of said title menu and said determining means determines that said title menu is not present.

Claim 8

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including video data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to said files recorded in said file area is recorded; a title menu presence information recording area in which title menu presence information indicating whether or not a title menu is present is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which titles corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said title menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said optical disk based on said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; a title key for designating display of said title menu; means for determining whether said title menu is present by referring to said title menu presence information recorded in said title menu presence information recording area, when said title key designates display of said title menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said title menu, when said determining means determines that said title menu is present; and preparation means for preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character pattern corresponding to a character of said total number of titles acquired by said acquiring means, when said title key designates display of said title menu and said determining means determines that said title menu is not present.

Claim 9

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including video data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of a plurality of audio streams corresponding to said files recorded in said file area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to a plurality of audio streams are recorded; an audio menu presence information recording area in which audio menu presence information indicating whether or not an audio menu is present is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which audio streams corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said audio menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring said number of said audio streams present on said optical disk and a plurality of audio stream types corresponding to said audio streams, by referring to an audio stream number, said audio stream number being recorded in a type recording area, and an audio stream type being recorded in said type recording area; an audio key for designating display of said audio menu; means for determining whether said audio menu is present by referring to said audio menu presence information recorded in said audio menu presence information recording area, when said audio key designates display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said audio menu, when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said audio stream number acquired by said acquiring means and a character pattern corresponding to a language code of said audio stream type, when said audio key designates display of said audio menu and said determining means determines that said audio menu is not present.

Claim 10

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including video data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of a plurality of audio streams corresponding to said files recorded in said file area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which language codes corresponding to a plurality of audio streams are recorded; an audio menu presence information recording area in which audio menu presence information indicating whether or not an audio menu is present is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which audio streams corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said audio menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring said number of said audio streams present on said optical disk and a plurality of audio stream types corresponding to said audio streams, by referring to an audio stream number, said audio stream number being recorded in a type recording area, and an audio stream type being recorded in said type recording area; an audio key for designating display of said audio menu; means for determining whether said audio menu is present by referring to said audio menu presence information recorded in said audio menu presence information recording area, when said audio key designates display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said audio menu, when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said audio stream number acquired by said acquiring means and a character pattern corresponding to a language code of said audio stream type, when said audio key designates display of said audio menu and said determining means determines that said audio menu is not present.

Claim 11

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including sub-picture data are recorded; a sub-picture channel number/type recording area in which a sub-picture channel number representing a number of sub-picture channels recorded in said file area is recorded, along with a type of each of said sub-picture channels; a sub-picture menu presence information recording area in which sub-picture menu presence information indicating whether a sub-picture menu is present is recorded, said sub-picture menu arranged to be displayed as an image on a selection screen on which said sub-picture channels corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said sub-picture menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring said number of sub-picture channels present on said optical disk and a plurality of sub-picture channel types corresponding to said sub-picture channels, by referring to said sub-picture channel number, said sub-picture channel number being recorded in a type recording area, and a sub-picture channel type being recorded in said type recording area; a sub-picture key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for determining whether said sub-picture menu is present by referring to said sub-picture menu presence information recorded in said sub-picture menu presence information recording area, when said sub-picture key designates display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said sub-picture menu, when said determination means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said sub-picture channel number acquired by said acquiring means and a character pattern corresponding to a language code of said sub-picture channel type, when said sub-picture key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present.

Claim 12

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a file area in which a plurality of files including sub-picture data are recorded; a sub-picture channel number/type recording area in which a sub-picture channel number representing a number of sub-picture channels recorded in said file area is recorded, along with a type of each of said sub-picture channels; a sub-picture menu presence information recording area in which sub-picture menu presence information indicating whether a sub-picture menu is present is recorded, said sub-picture menu arranged to be displayed as an image on a selection screen on which said sub-picture channels corresponding to said file area are displayed for selection; and a menu video data recording area in which menu video data, based on which said sub-picture menu is displayed, is recorded, said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring said number of sub-picture channels present on said optical disk and a plurality of sub-picture channel types corresponding to said sub-picture channels, by referring to said sub-picture channel number, said sub-picture channel number being recorded in a type recording area, and a sub-picture channel type being recorded in said type recording area; a sub-picture key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for determining whether said sub-picture menu is present by referring to said sub-picture menu presence information recorded in said sub-picture menu presence information recording area, when said sub-picture key designates display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said menu video data recorded in said menu video data recording area and used for display of said sub-picture menu, when said determination means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said sub-picture channel number acquired by said acquiring means and a character pattern corresponding to a language code of said sub-picture channel type, when said sub-picture key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present.

Claim 13

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a title menu is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are displayed for selection; and a title menu recording area in which said title menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets by referring to said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; means for determining whether a title menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets are displayed for selection; a title key for designating display of said title menu; means for reproducing said title menu recorded in said title menu recording area when said title key designates display of said title menu and when said determining means determines that said title menu is present; and means for preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said total number of titles acquired by said acquiring means, when said title key designates display of said title menu and said determining means determines that said title menu is not present.

Claim 14

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a title menu is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are displayed for selection; and a title menu recording area in which said title menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets by referring to said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; means for determining whether a title menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets are displayed for selection; a title key for designating display of said title menu; means for reproducing said title menu recorded in said title menu recording area when said title key designates display of said title menu and when said determining means determines that said title menu is present; and means for preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said total number of titles acquired by said acquiring means, when said title key designates display of said title menu and said determining means determines that said title menu is not present.

Claim 15

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to the video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a title menu is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are displayed for selection; and a title menu recording area in which said title menu is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets by referring to said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; determining whether said title menu is present; designating display of said title menu by referring to said menu ID stored in said menu ID recording area; reproducing said title menu when a title key designates display of said title menu and when said determining determines that said title menu is present; and preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said acquired total number of titles, when display of said title menu is designated and said title menu is determined not to be present.

Claim 16

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a total title number recording area in which a total number of titles corresponding to the video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a title menu is recorded, said title menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area are displayed for selection; and a title menu recording area in which said title menu is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a total number of titles corresponding to said video title sets by referring to said total number of titles recorded in said total title number recording area; determining whether said title menu is present; designating display of said title menu by referring to said menu ID stored in said menu ID recording area; reproducing said title menu when a title key designates display of said title menu and when said determining determines that said title menu is present; and preparing a title menu screen in accordance with a character code and format data corresponding to said acquired total number of titles, when display of said title menu is designated and said title menu is determined not to be present.

Claim 17

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of audio streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying an audio menu is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of audio streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which said data are recorded and also for acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said audio streams, by referring to said number of audio streams recorded in said audio stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said audio stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said audio streams; means for determining whether an audio menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said audio menu being arranged to be used as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said audio menu when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and preparation means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said number of audio streams acquired by said acquiring means, said language codes of said audio streams, and format data when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and said determination means determines that said audio menu is not present.

Claim 18

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of audio streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying an audio menu is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of audio streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which said data are recorded and also for acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said audio streams, by referring to said number of audio streams recorded in said audio stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said audio stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said audio streams; means for determining whether an audio menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said audio menu being arranged to be used as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said audio menu; means for reproducing said audio menu when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and when said determining means determines that said audio menu is present; and preparation means for preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said number of audio streams acquired by said acquiring means, said language codes of said audio streams, and format data when said designation key designates display of said audio menu and said determination means determines that said audio menu is not present.

Claim 19

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of audio streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying an audio menu is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a number of audio streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said audio streams, by referring to said number of audio streams recorded in said audio stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said audio stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said audio streams; determining whether an audio menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said audio menu being arranged to be used as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; designating display of said audio menu; reproducing said audio menu when display of said audio menu is designated and when said audio menu is determined to be present; and preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said acquired number of audio streams, said language codes of said audio streams, and format data, when display of said audio menu is designated and said audio menu is determined not to be present.

Claim 20

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; an audio stream number recording area in which a number of audio streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; an audio stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of audio streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying an audio menu is recorded, said audio menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams are displayed for selection; and an audio menu recording area in which said audio menu is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a number of audio streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said audio streams, by referring to said number of audio streams recorded in said audio stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said audio stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said audio streams; determining whether an audio menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said audio menu being arranged to be used as an image of a selection screen on which said audio streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; designating display of said audio menu; reproducing said audio menu when display of said audio menu is designated and when said audio menu is determined to be present; and preparing an audio menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said acquired number of audio streams, said language codes of said audio streams, and format data, when display of said audio menu is designated and said audio menu is determined not to be present.

Claim 21

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of said sub-picture streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a sub-picture menu is recorded, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams, by referring to said number of sub-picture streams recorded in said sub-picture stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said sub-picture stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; means for determining whether a sub-picture menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said sub-picture menu being used as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said sub-picture menu when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and when said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said number of said sub-picture streams acquired by said acquiring means, said language codes of said sub-picture streams, and format data, when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present.

Claim 22

An optical disk playback apparatus for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of said sub-picture streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a sub-picture menu is recorded, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture menu is recorded; said optical disk playback apparatus comprising: means for acquiring a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams, by referring to said number of sub-picture streams recorded in said sub-picture stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said sub-picture stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; means for determining whether a sub-picture menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said sub-picture menu being used as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; a designation key for designating display of said sub-picture menu; means for reproducing said sub-picture menu when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and when said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is present; and means for preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said number of said sub-picture streams acquired by said acquiring means, said language codes of said sub-picture streams, and format data, when said designation key designates display of said sub-picture menu and said determining means determines that said sub-picture menu is not present.

Claim 23

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of sub-picture streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a sub-picture menu is recorded, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a number of said sub-picture streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams, by referring to said number of sub-picture streams recorded in said sub-picture stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said sub-picture stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; determining whether a sub-picture menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said sub-picture menu being used as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; designating display of said sub-picture menu; reproducing said sub-picture menu when display of said sub-picture menu is designated and when said sub-picture menu is determined as being present; and preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said acquired number of sub-picture streams, said language codes of said sub-picture streams, and format data, when display of said sub-picture menu is designated and said sub-picture menu is determined as not being present.

Claim 24

An optical disk playback method for reproducing data from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a video title set recording area in which a plurality of video title sets including data are recorded; a sub-picture stream number recording area in which a number of sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets recorded in said video title set recording area is recorded; a sub-picture stream language code recording area in which a plurality of language codes of a plurality of sub-picture streams of said video title sets stored in said video title set recording area are recorded; a menu ID recording area in which a menu ID identifying a sub-picture menu is recorded, said sub-picture menu being arranged to be displayed as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams are displayed for selection; and a sub-picture menu recording area in which said sub-picture is recorded; said optical disk playback method comprising: acquiring a number of said sub-picture streams corresponding to said plurality of video title sets in which data are recorded, and also acquiring a language code corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams, by referring to said number of sub-picture streams recorded in said sub-picture stream number recording area and corresponding to said video title sets, and said language code recorded in said sub-picture stream language code recording area and corresponding to each of said sub-picture streams; determining whether a sub-picture menu is present by referring to said menu ID recorded in said menu ID recording area, said sub-picture menu being used as an image of a selection screen on which said sub-picture streams corresponding to said video title sets are displayed for selection; designating display of said sub-picture menu; reproducing said sub-picture menu when display of said sub-picture menu is designated and when said sub-picture menu is determined as being present; and preparing a sub-picture menu screen in accordance with a character code corresponding to said acquired number of sub-picture streams, said language codes of said sub-picture streams, and format data, when display of said sub-picture menu is designated and said sub-picture menu is determined as not being present.