Multi-scene recording medium and apparatus for reproducing data therefrom

• US 5,956,457 A
• Filed: 01/27/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimoda, Kenji, Hirayama, Koichi, Nakai, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/789,622
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 386/92, 386/95, 386/125-126, 386/108, 386/45, 386/1, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/7, 348/13, 360/27, 360/32, 360/48, 369/48, 369/49, 369/52
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1217 on discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1254 for mixed data, i.e. continuous and discontinuous data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0037 with discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9205 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9206 the additional signal being a character code signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9208 involving the use of subcodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9267 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/806 : with processing of the sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8087 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/877 : by assembling picture element blocks in an intermediate memory

Abstract

A multi-scene recording disk and a data reproducing apparatus which enables a user to select and enjoy one of simultaneously proceeding scenes, and also enables a program editor to edit programs using a new concept and novel fashion. Related program movements, each consisting of program bars, are recorded on the disk 100. The data reproducing apparatus includes a data string processing section 203, a system control section 204, an operator panel 205, a video processing section 206, and audio processing sections 211 and 213. The sections 203 and 204 and the panel 205 select any one of the program movements and switch one movement to another, and select any one of the program bars of the movement selected and to switch one movement to one bar to another. The information thus selected is supplied to the video processing section 206 and the audio processing sections 211 and 213.

Claims

1. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, a third program information item following the second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing the second program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and fourth program information items are linked to each other,

the second and fourth program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqlv and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and fourth program information items between the first and third program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item.

2. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, a third program information item following the second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing the second program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and fourth program information items are linked to each other,

the second and fourth program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and fourth program information items between the first and third program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item.

3. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing the second program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and third program information items are linked to each other,

the second and third program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and third program information items after the first program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item.

4. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing the second program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and third program information items are linked to each other,

the second and third program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqly and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and third program information items after the first program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item.

5. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, and a third program information item following the first and second program information items,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,.

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqly and consecutively recording related data segments of the first and second program information items before the third program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item.

6. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, and a third program information item following the first and second program information items,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqly and consecutively recording related data segments of the first and second program information items before the third program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item.

7. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqly recording related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item.

8. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatinqly recording related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item.

9. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, data units of said second program information item and data units of said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded on said recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multiscene configuration data generated by said demodulation means; and

alerting display generating means for generating an alerting display indicating that it is impossible for a user to switch to a scene represented by a program information item being decoded if said multi-scene configuration data indicates that said second or fourth program information items are not being reproduced when a scene switching signal is input by a user, where

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

10. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, data units of said second program information item and data units of said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded on said recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating said pickup signals, said multi-scene configuration data being based on multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data; and

generating an alerting display indicating that it is impossible for a user to switch to a scene represented by a program information item being decoded if said multi-scene configuration data indicates that said second or fourth program information items are not being reproduced when a scene switching signal is input by a user, where

when production is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

11. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, data units of said second program information item and data units of said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded on said recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multi-scene configuration data generated by said demodulation means; and

alerting display generating means for generating an alerting display indicating that it is impossible for a user to switch to a scene represented by a program information item being decoded if said multi-scene configuration data indicates that said second or fourth program information items are not being reproduced when a scene switching signal is input by a user, where

when production is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being produced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of a program information item next to the other program information item.

12. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, data units of said second program information item and data units of said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded on said recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating said pickup signals, said multi-scene configuration data being based on multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data; and

generating an alerting display indicating that it is impossible for a user to switch to a scene represented by a program information item being decoded if said multi-scene configuration data indicates that said second or fourth program information items are not being reproduced when a scene switching signal is input by a user, where

when production is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a da ta unit of a program information item next to the other p ro g r am information item.

13. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and fourth program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded between said first and third program information items, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data being based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multi-scene configuration data generated by said demodulation means;

menu generating means for generating, by reproducing representative frames corresponding to said second and fourth program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu indicating first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said fourth program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

control means for supplying demodulated program signals from said demodulation means to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second and fourth program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

15. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and fourth program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded between said first and third program information items, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data and program data by demodulating said pickup signal, said multiscene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data;

generating, by reproducing representative frames of said second and fourth program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu showing first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said fourth program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

supplying said program data to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, said program data being supplied in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second and fourth program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

17. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and fourth program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded between said first and third program information items, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data being based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multi-scene configuration data generated by said demodulation means;

menu generating means for generating, by reproducing representative frames corresponding to said second and fourth program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu indicating first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said fourth program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

control means for supplying demodulated program signals from said demodulation means to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of a program information item next to the other program information item.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second and fourth program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

19. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, a third program information item following said second program information item, and a fourth program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and fourth program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said fourth program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded between said first and third program information items, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and fourth program information items are linked to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data and program data by demodulating said pickup signal, said multiscene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data;

generating, by reproducing representative frames of said second and fourth program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu showing first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said fourth program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

supplying said program data to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, said program data being supplied in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and fourth program information items to another of the second and fourth program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of a program information item next to the other program information item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second and fourth program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

21. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said third program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded after said first program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and third program information items are linked to each other, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data being based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multi-scene configuration data generated by said demodulation means;

menu generating means for generating, by reproducing representative frames corresponding to said second and third program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu indicating first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

control means for supplying demodulated program signals from said demodulation means to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

23. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said third program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded after said first program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and third program information items are linked to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data and program data by demodulating said pickup signal, said multiscene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data;

generating, by reproducing representative frames of said second and third program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu showing first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

supplying said program data to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, said program data being supplied in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of the other program information item.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

25. An apparatus for reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said third program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded after said first program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and third program information items are linked to each other, said apparatus comprising:

pickup means for generating signals based on information recorded on said disk;

demodulation means for generating multi-scene configuration data by demodulating signals generated by said pickup means, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data being based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

management data storage means for storing said multi-scene configuration data generated by said demodulation means;

menu generating means for generating, by reproducing representative frames corresponding to said second and third program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu indicating first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

control means for supplying demodulated program signals from said demodulation means to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of a program information item next to the other program information item.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

27. A method of reproducing information from a multi-scene recording medium including a disk having a management area and a data area, said data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following said first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing said second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes, data units forming said second program information item and said third program information item being alternatingly and continuously recorded after said first program information item, said management area recording multi-scene configuration information indicating that said second and third program information items are linked to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

reading information from said disk and generating pickup signals based on said information;

generating multi-scene configuration data and program data by demodulating said pickup signal, said multi-scene configuration data being based on said multi-scene configuration information recorded in said management area of said disk and said program data based on said program information items recorded in said data area of said disk;

storing said multi-scene configuration data;

generating, by reproducing representative frames of said second and third program information items on the basis of said multi-scene configuration data, a menu showing first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item, when said first program information item is reproduced completely; and

supplying said program data to a program information decoder when one of said first and second data is selected and input, said program data being supplied in accordance with the data selected and input, wherein

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data unit of a program information item next to the other program information item.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

29. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing the second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and third program information items are linked to each other,

the second and third program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and third program information items after the first program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item are used to generate a menu when said first program information item is reproduced completely so that reproduction may be switched between said second and third program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

30. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 29, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

31. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item following the first program information item, and a third program information item for replacing the second program information item, wherein said second and third program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the second and third program information items are linked to each other,

the second and third program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the second and third program information items after the first program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the second and third program information items to another of the second and third program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said second program information item and second data corresponding to said third program information item are used to generate a menu when said first program information item is reproduced completely so that reproduction may be switched between said second and third program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

32. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 31, wherein said second and third program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

33. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, and a third program information item following the first and second program information items, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the first and second program information items before the third program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu before said third program information item is reproduced so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

34. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 33, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

35. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item, a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, and a third program information item following the first and second program information items, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly and consecutively recording related data segments of the first and second program information items before the third program information item,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu before said third program information item is reproduced so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

36. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 35, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

37. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly recording related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

38. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 37, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

39. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly recording related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

40. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 39, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

41. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly recording information of related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

42. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 41, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.

43. A multi-scene recording medium comprising a disk having a management area and a data area,

the data area recording a first program information item and a second program information item for replacing the first program information item, wherein said first and second program information items include simultaneously proceeding scenes,

the management area recording multi-scene configuration information showing that the first and second program information items are linked to each other,

the first and second program information items each being divided into data segments, the recording medium alternatingly recording information of related data segments of the first and second program information items,

when reproduction is to be switched from one of the first and second program information items to another of the first and second program information items while the one program information item is being reproduced, reproduction of the other program information item starts from a head portion of a data segment of a program information item next to the other program information item,

where first data corresponding to said first program information item and second data corresponding to said second program information item are used to generate a menu so that reproduction may be switched between said first and second program information items based on a selection made in response to said menu.

44. The multi-scene recording medium of claim 43, wherein said first and second program information items include video data representing moving pictures.