Reproducing device and associated methodology for playing back streams

Abstract

The present invention relates to a playback apparatus, a playback method, a program, a recording medium, a data structure, and a manufacturing method for a recording medium in which content to be played back can be switched between streams different from a main stream. A PlayList includes Main path for referring to Video and Audio within a main TS, Sub Path-A for referring to Secondary Video and Secondary Audio in a sub TS, and Sub Path-B for referring to Audio in a sub TS. STN_table( ) which is information for selecting Video and Audio in a clip AV stream file- 0 as PlayItem- 1 and selecting Secondary Video and Secondary Audio in clip AV stream file- 1 , or Audio in clip AV stream file- 2 as SubPlayItem (SPI) which is simultaneously played back with PlayItem- 1 , is used. The present invention is applicable to a playback apparatus.

1 . A playback apparatus for playing back streams, comprising:
 obtaining means for obtaining playback management information including a main playback path indicating a position of at least one stream on a time axis, at least one sub playback path indicating a position of at least one stream on the time axis, and selection information for selecting at least one category of stream, which is to be played back, from among said at least one stream referred to by the main playback path and for selecting at least one category of stream, which is to be played back, referred to by one of said at least one sub playback path;   receiving means for receiving a selection of streams to be played back based on the selection information included in the playback management information obtained by the obtaining means;   reading means for reading, if the selection of streams to be played back is received by the receiving means, by referring to the main playback path, said at least one category of stream selected from among said at least one stream referred to by the main playback path and received by the receiving means, and for reading, by referring to the corresponding sub playback path, said at least one category of stream selected from among said at least one stream referred to by said at least one sub playback path and received by the receiving means; and   combining means for combining at least two streams of a predetermined category, if said at least two streams are included in said at least one category of stream referred to by the main playback path and read by the reading means and in said at least one category of stream referred to by the corresponding sub playback path and read by the reading means,   wherein the selection information includes information indicating a combination of a first stream of the predetermined category referred to by the main playback path and a second stream of the predetermined category referred to by the corresponding sub playback path,   the receiving means receives the selection of streams to be played back based on the selection information,   the reading means reads, if the selection of the first stream and the second stream to be played back is received by the receiving means, the first stream of the predetermined category referred to by the main playback path and the second stream of the predetermined category referred to by the corresponding sub playback path,   the combining means combines the first stream and the second stream of the predetermined category read by the reading means,   at least one type of said at least one sub playback path is defined according to a category of a stream referred to by the corresponding sub playback path, and   said at least one sub playback path included in the playback management information is classified into a predetermined type of said at least one type defined, and information concerning the classified type of said at least one sub playback path is included in the playback management information.   
     
     
         2 . The playback apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one type defined includes a type in which at least one category of stream is referred to by the corresponding sub playback path. 
     
     
         3 . The playback apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one type defined includes a type in which at least one category of stream is referred to by the corresponding sub playback path and said at least one category of stream is included in a file different from a file including a stream referred to by the main playback path. 
     
     
         4 . The playback apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one type defined includes a type in which at least one category of stream is referred to by the corresponding sub playback path and said at least one category of stream is included in an identical file including a stream referred to by the main playback path. 
     
     
         5 . A playback apparatus for playing back streams, comprising:
 obtaining means for obtaining playback management information including a main playback path indicating a position of at least one stream on a time axis, at least one sub playback path indicating a position of at least one stream on the time axis, and selection information for selecting at least one category of stream, which is to be played back, from among said at least one stream referred to by the main playback path and for selecting at least one category of stream, which is to be played back, referred to by one of said at least one sub playback path;   receiving means for receiving a selection of streams to be played back based on the selection information included in the playback management information obtained by the obtaining means;   reading means for reading, if the selection of streams to be played back is received by the receiving means, by referring to the main playback path, said at least one category of stream selected from among said at least one stream referred to by the main playback path and received by the receiving means, and for reading, by referring to the corresponding sub playback path, said at least one category of stream selected from among said at least one stream referred to by said at least one sub playback path and received by the receiving means;   combining means for combining at least two streams of a predetermined category, if said at least two streams are included in said at least one category of stream referred to by the main playback path and read by the reading means and in said at least one category of stream referred to by the corresponding sub playback path and read by the reading means,   wherein the selection information includes information indicating a combination of a first stream of the predetermined category referred to by the main playback path and a second stream of the predetermined category referred to by the corresponding sub playback path,   the receiving means receives the selection of streams to be played back based on the selection information,   the reading means reads, if the selection of the first stream and the second stream to be played back is received by the receiving means, the first stream of the predetermined category referred to by the main playback path and the second stream of the predetermined category referred to by the corresponding sub playback path, and   the combining means combines the first stream and the second stream of the predetermined category read by the reading means; and   display control means for controlling display of a display screen which displays information used for assisting a user in performing an input operation,   wherein the stream of the predetermined category referred to by the main playback path is a first video stream,   if a selection of a second video stream, which is independent of the first video stream, that is played back in synchronization with the first video stream is received by the receiving means, the display control means controls a list of streams that can be played back in association with the second video stream to be displayed on the display screen, and   the receiving means receives a selection of a stream that can be played back in association with the second video stream from the user by referring to the display screen which is controlled to be displayed by the display control means.