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Home | Alpha Telephone | Domain Names | Web Hosting | Get Traffic | xrEvidence | xrSoccer United States Patent
Information recording medium, information recording method and apparatus, and information playback method and apparatus An information recording method for recording information on a recording medium, including providing a recording medium having first and second areas, the first area for recording ands reproducing video information, the second area for recording manager information, the manager information being referred to when the video information in the first area is reproduced, the video information including an object file for storing movie and/or still video objects, the manager information including video manager information containing information related to the movie and/or still video objects stored in the object file, the object file including manufacturer's information, the manufacturer's information including manufacturer ID and manufacturer's data, recording the movie and/or still video objects in the object file, recording the video manager information in a third area in the second area, and recording the manufacturer ID and manufacturer's data of a specific manufacturer in a fourth area in the object file.
Primary Examiner: Chevalier; Robert Attorney, Agent or Firm: CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 10-221919, filed Aug. 5, 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/172,929 (filed Jun. 18, 2002), which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/817,113 (filed Mar. 27, 2001), which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,708 (filed Aug. 3, 1999), the entire contents of all of which are herein incorporated by reference. What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. An information recording medium for use with a recording/reproducing device, comprising: a first area configured to allow an object file to be recorded therein or reproduced therefrom, the object file including at least one of a video object, a still picture object, and an audio object; a second area configured to allow management information to be recorded therein or reproduced therefrom, the management information being referred to when the object file recorded in the first area is reproduced; a third area provided in the second area configured to allow PGC control information to be recorded therein; a fourth area provided in the third area configured to allow a plurality of PGC information to be recorded therein, each of the PGC information defined in each PGC, the PGC designating a playback sequence of cells, the cells indicating a playback period in the video object, a part of the video object configured to be referred to by more than one PGC; a fifth area provided in the second area configured to allow a manufacturer's information table to be recorded therein, the fifth area is different from the third area in the second area; a sixth area provided in the fifth area configured to allow a plurality of manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; a seventh area provided in the fifth area configured to allow number information of the manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; an eighth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow manufacturer ID information to be recorded therein; a ninth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein; and a tenth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow recording time required for recording the specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein, wherein the object file of the first area is accessed by referring to the control information of the second area. 2. A method of reproducing information from an information recording medium wherein: said information recording medium comprises, a first area configured to allow an object file to be recorded therein, the object file including at least one of a video object, a still picture object, and an audio object; a second area configured to allow management information to be recorded therein, the management information being referred to when the object file recorded in the first area is reproduced; a third area provided in the second area configured to allow PGC control information to be recorded therein; a fourth area provided in the third area configured to allow a plurality of PGC information to be recorded therein, each of the PGC information defined in each PGC, the PGC designating a playback sequence of cells, the cells indicating a playback period in the video object, a part of the video object configured to be referred to by more than one PGC; a fifth area provided in the second area configured to allow a manufacturer's information table to be recorded therein, the fifth area is different from the third area in the second area; a sixth area provided in the fifth area configured to allow a plurality of manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; a seventh area provided in the fifth area configured to allow number information of the manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; an eighth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow manufacturer ID information to be recorded therein; a ninth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein; and a tenth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow recording time required for recording the specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein, and said method comprises, reproducing the management information; and reproducing the object file. 3. A method of recording information on an information recording medium wherein: said information recording medium comprises, a first area configured to allow an object file to be recorded therein or reproduced therefrom, the object file including at least one of a video object, a still video object, and an audio object; a second area configured to allow management information to be recorded therein or reproduced therefrom, the management information being referred to when the object file recorded in the first area is reproduced; a third area provided in the second area configured to allow PGC control information to be recorded therein; a fourth area provided in the third area configured to allow a plurality of PGC information to be recorded therein, each of the PGC information defined in each PGC, the PGC designating a playback sequence of cells, the cells indicating a playback period in the video object, a part of the video object configured to be referred to by more than one PGC; a fifth area provided in the second area configured to allow a manufacturer's information table to be recorded therein, the fifth area is different from the third area in the second area; a sixth area provided in the fifth area configured to allow a plurality of manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; a seventh area provided in the fifth area configured to allow number information of the manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; an eighth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow manufacturer ID information to be recorded therein; a ninth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein; and a tenth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow recording time required for recording the specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein, and said method comprises, recording the object file; and recording the management information. 4. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information from an information recording medium wherein: said information recording medium comprises, a first area configured to allow an object file to be recorded therein, the object file including at least one of a video object, a still picture object, and an audio object; a second area configured to allow management information to be recorded therein, the management information being referred to when the object file recorded in the first area is reproduced; a third area provided in the second area configured to allow PGC control information to be recorded therein; a fourth area provided in the third area configured to allow a plurality of PGC information to be recorded therein, each of the PGC information defined in each PGC, the PGC designating a playback sequence of cells, the cells indicating a playback period in the video object, a part of the video object configured to be referred to by more than one PGC; a fifth area provided in the second area configured to allow a manufacturer's information table to be recorded therein, the fifth area is different from the third area in the second area; a sixth area provided in the fifth area configured to allow a plurality of manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; a seventh area provided in the fifth area configured to allow number information of the manufacturer's information to be recorded therein; an eighth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow manufacturer ID information to be recorded therein; a ninth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein; and a tenth area provided in the sixth area configured to allow recording time required for recording the specific information of the manufacturer to be recorded therein, and said information reproducing apparatus comprises, a decoder configured to decode at least one of the video object, the still video object, the audio object, and the manufacturer's information. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information recording medium, the contents of which can be played back by a plurality of types of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors. The present invention also relates to an information recording method and apparatus for recording information on such information recording medium. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an information playback method and apparatus for playing back information recorded on such information recording medium. In recent years, optical discs as information recording media have been extensively studied and developed. Optical discs include a CD (Compact disc) that has prevailed, and a DVD (Digital Video disc) that has a large storage size. The DVD includes a DVD-Video that can record/play back video information. The formats of information recorded on information recording media such as a CD, DVD, and the like are specified by standards described in standard books. The manufacturers of information recording media record information formatted according to the standards on information recording media. Information recording/playback apparatuses that record information on information recording media and play back information recorded on the information recording media are manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers. However, as described above, since information is recorded on the information recording medium according to the standards, similar playback results are obtained irrespective of the manufacturers of information recording/playback apparatuses. That is, information recording/playback apparatuses can neither differentiate functions nor provide their originality. As a result, the principle of competition of the manufacturers does not work in term of functions, and technical development in the DVD-Video market may be disturbed. Since information is recorded on an information recording medium according to fixed standards, functions cannot be quickly expanded in correspondence with advances of technologies. That is, in order to add a new function to an information recording medium, the standards must be upgraded in correspondence with the new function to be added. However, since much time is required for upgrading the standards, it is hard to add new functions in quick response to the advances of technologies. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and has as its object to provide the following information recording medium, information recording method and apparatus, and information playback method and apparatus: (1) an information recording medium which allows to achieve differentiation and originality of functions in units of models of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors; (2) an information recording method which records information on an information recording medium to be able to achieve differentiation and originality of functions in units of models of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors; (3) an information recording apparatus which records information on an information recording medium to be able to achieve differentiation and originality of functions in units of models of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors; (4) an information playback method which plays back information from an information recording medium on which information is recorded to be able to achieve differentiation and originality of functions in units of models of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors; (5) an information playback apparatus which plays back information from an information recording medium on which information is recorded to be able to achieve differentiation and originality of functions in units of models of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors; (6) an information recording medium which has a data structure with high expandability of functions; (7) an information recording method which records a data structure with high expandability of functions on an information recording medium; (8) an information recording apparatus which records a data structure with high expandability of functions on an information recording medium; (9) an information playback method which plays back information from an information recording medium on which a data structure with high expandability of functions on an information recording medium is recorded; and (10) an information playback apparatus which plays back information from an information recording medium on which a data structure with high expandability of functions on an information recording medium is recorded. An information recording medium according to the present invention comprises a first area which records common information which can be commonly played back by a plurality of types of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors and complies with common standards, a second area which records specific information which can be played back by only an information playback apparatus of a specific type provided by a specific manufacturer or distributor, and a third area which records link information indicating a link between the common information and specific information. An information recording method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: recording common information which can be commonly played back by a plurality of types of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors and complies with common standards; recording specific information which can be played back by only an information playback apparatus of a specific type provided by a specific manufacturer or distributor; and recording link information indicating a link between the common information and specific information. An information recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises recording means for recording common information which can be commonly played back by a plurality of types of information playback apparatuses provided by different manufacturers or distributors and complies with common standards, recording specific information which can be played back by only an information playback apparatus of a specific type provided by a specific manufacturer or distributor, and recording link information indicating a link between the common information and specific information. An information playback method according to the present invention comprises the step of: comparing ID information stored in an information playback apparatus side of a specific type provided by a specific manufacturer or distributor, and ID information played back from an information recording medium, and playing back specific information, which is recorded on the information recording medium and can be played back by only the information playback apparatus of the specific type, on the condition that the two pieces of ID information match each other. An information playback apparatus according to the present invention comprises ID information storage means for storing ID information, and playback means for comparing the ID information stored in the storage means and ID information played back from an information recording medium, and playing back specific information, which is recorded on the information recording medium and can be played back by only an information playback apparatus of a specific type, on the condition that the two pieces of ID information match each other. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. FIGS. 1A to 1F are schematic views showing the data structure on an information recording medium capable of recording/playback; FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the directory structure of data files stored in a data area; FIGS. 3A to 3J are schematic views showing the data structure in an AV file recorded on the information recording medium; FIG. 4 is a view showing the recording locations of video objects along the sequence on the information recording medium; FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the data structure in an allocation map table; FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the data structure in PGC control information; FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a playback example of video information using a PGC; FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the data structure in VTSI; FIGS. 9A to 9F are views for explaining the VOB sequence order according to VOBI; FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing the arrangement of an information recording/playback apparatus; FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the arrangement (physical system) of the information recording/playback apparatus; FIG. 12 is a view showing common information, specific information, and link information recorded on the information recording medium, and the relationship between the common information and specific information; FIGS. 13A to 13C are views showing the contents of one link information; FIGS. 14A to 14C are views showing the contents that pertain to drive manufacturer ID information; FIG. 15 is a view for explaining link pattern A; FIG. 16 is a view for explaining link patterns B and C; FIG. 17 is a view for explaining link pattern D; FIGS. 18A and 18B are views for explaining category IDs in company A; FIGS. 19A to 19C are views showing the internal data structure of edit control information; FIGS. 20A to 20F are views showing the link and time relationships between management/control information complying with standards and link information; FIGS. 21A to 21D are explanatory views of a method of setting a designated location in "common information complying with standards" corresponding to each link information; FIGS. 22A to 22C are explanatory views of the allocation of link information; FIG. 23 is a view for explaining the recording location (part 1) of specific information; FIG. 24 is a view for explaining the recording location (part 2) of specific information; FIG. 25 is a view for explaining the recording location (part 3) of specific information; FIGS. 26A and 26B are flow charts each showing the processing sequence for playing back and each displaying using link information by an information recording/playback apparatus available from company A; FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence for simultaneously recording common information, link information, and specific information by the information recording/playback apparatus; FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence for appending link information and specific information to common information already recorded on the information recording medium; FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence executed when common information already recorded on the information recording medium undergoes an edit process; FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing the processes for recording common information, link information, and specific information on the information recording medium; FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing the processes for playing back information from the information recording medium on which common information, link information, and specific information have been recorded; FIG. 32 is a view showing the correspondence between the data structure built on the information recording medium, and the data shown in FIGS. 1A to 1F; FIG. 33 is a view showing data contained in an RTR Video Manager (RTR VMG); FIG. 34 is a view showing data contained in a Manufacturer's Information Table (MNFIT); and FIG. 35 is a view showing the data structure of Manufacturer's Information #1 (MNFI#1). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. [1] Outline of Data Structure on Information Storage Medium The recording information contents (data structure) of information recorded on an information storage medium (Optical Disc or DVD_RTR disc 1001) that can record and play back video information and music information shown in FIG. 1A will be explained below. The data structure of information recorded on the information storage medium (optical disc 1001) is roughly divided, in the order from inner side 1006 in FIG. 1B, into: lead-in area 1002 having an embossed data zone whose light reflection surface has an embossed pattern, a mirror zone whose surface is flat (mirror surface), and a rewritable data zone capable of information rewriting; volume & file manager information 1003 that records information which is recorded on a rewritable data zone which can be recorded/rewritten by the user, and pertains to the entire file or volume of audio & video data; data area 1004 made up of a rewritable data zone that can be recorded/rewritten by the user; and lead-out area 1005 made up of a rewritable data zone capable of information rewriting. The embossed data zone of lead-in area 1002 records in advance: information such as the disc type indicating a DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, or the like, disc size, recording density, physical sector numbers indicating the recording start/end positions, and the like, which pertain to the entire information storage medium; information such as the recording power and width, erase power, playback power, and linear velocity upon recording and erasure, which pertain to the recording/playback/erasure characteristics; and information such as the manufacturing number and the like, which pertain to the manufacture of each information storage medium. The rewritable data zone of each of lead-in and lead-out areas 1002 and 1005 has a unique disk name recording field for each information recording medium, a test recording field (for confirming recording/erasure conditions), and a management information recording field that pertains to a defective field in data area 1004, and an information recording/playback apparatus can record information on these fields. Data area 1004 sandwiched between lead-in and lead-out areas 1002 and 1005 can record both computer data and audio & video data, as shown in FIG. 1C. The recording order, each recording information size, and the like of computer data and audio & video data can be arbitrarily determined. Locations where the computer data are recorded will be referred to as computer data areas 1008 and 1010, and a location where the audio & video data are recorded will be referred to as audio & video data area 1009 hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1D, the data structure of information recorded in audio & video data area 1009 contains: anchor pointer for control information 1015: information indicating the start location (start address) where control information 1011 is recorded in audio & video data area 1009; control information 1011: control information (corresponding to RTR.IFO shown in FIG. 2) required upon executing respective processes, i.e., video recording (audio recording), playback, editing, and search; video objects 1012: video recording information of video data contents; picture objects 1013: still picture information such as still pictures, slide pictures, and the like; audio objects 1014: audio recording information of audio data contents; thumbnail objects 1016: information such as thumbnails used upon searching for a location the user wants to watch or upon editing; and so on. Video objects 1012, picture objects 1013, audio objects 1014, and thumbnail objects 1016 shown in FIG. 1D mean groups of information classified in units of contents (data contents). Hence, all pieces of video information recorded on audio & video data area 1009 are contained in video objects 1012, all pieces of still picture information are contained in picture objects 1013, all pieces of audio information are contained in audio objects 1014, and all pieces of thumbnail information used in video information management and search are contained in thumbnail objects 1016. VOB (video object) 1403 shown in FIG. 3D (to be described later) indicates a cluster of information recorded in AV file (i.e., audio & video file) 1401, and has a definition different from that of video objects 1012 shown in FIG. 1D. Note that similar terms often have quite different meanings. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1E, the contents of control information 1011 include: AV data control information 1101: management information which manages the data structure in video object 1012 or manages information that pertains to the recording locations on optical disc 1001 as an information storage medium; playback control information 1021: control information required upon playback; recording control information 1022: control information required upon recording (video/audio recording); edit control information 1023: control information required upon editing; thumbnail control information 1024: management information that pertains to thumbnails (thumbnail object) used to search for a location the user wants to watch in video data or to edit; and the like. Note that Control information 1101 and playback control information 1021 shown in FIG. 1E correspond to RTR.IFO shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1F, the data structure in AV data control information 1101 shown in FIG. 1E is comprised of: allocation map table 1105: information which pertains to address setups along the actual layout, identification of recorded/unrecorded areas, and the like on the information storage medium (optical disc 1001); video title set information 1106: time information (corresponding to RTR_VMGI in FIG. 8) which indicates the overall information contents in AV file 1401 shown in FIG. 3A, and includes link information among VOBs, grouping information of a plurality of VOBs for management and search, a time map table, and the like; video object information 1107: information (corresponding to M_AVFIT/S_AVFIT in FIG. 8) which indicates information pertaining to each VOB in AV file 1401, and pertains to attribute (characteristic) information in units of VOBUs, and each VOBU contained in the VOB; PGC control information 1103: information that pertains to a video information playback program (sequence); and cell playback information 1108: information that pertains to the data structure of a basic video information unit upon playback. The aforementioned contents are a brief explanation of the data structure shown in FIGS. 1A to 1F. Some additional explanations of each information will be given below. Volume & file manager information 1003 records: information that pertains to the entire volume; the number of files of contained PC data, and the number of files associated with AV data; information associated with recording layer information and the like. Especially, as the recording layer information, information 1003 records: the number of layers that form a disc (e.g., a single RAM/ROM two-layered disc has two layers, a single ROM two-layered disc also has two layers, and n single-sided discs are counted as n layers); a logical sector number range table (capacity in units of layers) assigned in units of layers; the characteristics (e.g., a DVD-RAM disc, a RAM section of a RAM/ROM two-layered disc, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, and the like) in units of layers; an assigned logical sector number range table (including rewritable area capacity information of each area) in units of zones on a RAM area of each layer; and unique ID information of each layer (e.g., to find out a disc exchange event in a multi-disc pack). With this information, continuous logical sector numbers can be set even for a multi-disc pack or RAM/ROM two-layered disc to handle such discs or disc as a single, large volume space. Playback control information 1021 records: information that pertains to a playback sequence which combines PGCs; information (a sequence for continuously playing back all recorded cells) indicating a pseudo recording location considering the information storage medium as a single tape like a VTR or DVC in relation to the above information; information that pertains to simultaneous playback on a plurality of screens having different kinds of video information; search information: information which records cell IDS corresponding to search categories, and a table of start times in a given cell, and allows the user to select and directly access the video information of interest; and the like. Recording control information 1022 records: program reservation recording information and the like. Furthermore, edit control information 1023 records: special edit information in units of PGCs (corresponding time setup information and special edit contents are described as EDL information); and file conversion information (which converts a specific field in an AV file into a file such as an AVI file that can undergo special editing on a PC, and designates the storage location of the converted file). Thumbnail control information 1024 describes: management information that pertains to thumbnail objects 1016 (designation information of the recording location of each thumbnail picture in audio & video data area 1009 and a VOB or cell associated with each thumbnail picture, location information in a VOB or cell associated with each thumbnail picture, and the like (the VOB and cell will be explained in detail later upon explaining the contents of FIGS. 3A to 3J)). The directory structure of data files in the data area will be described below. All pieces of information are recorded in units of files in data area 1004 in FIG. 1B, and the relationship among data files is managed by the directory structure shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of subdirectories 1451 are contained within root directory 1450 to allow easy classification in units of recorded file contents. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, data files that pertain to computer data recorded on computer data areas 1008 and 1010 shown in FIG. 1C are recorded under subdirectory 1457 for computer data storage, and audio & video data recorded on audio & video data area 1009 are recorded under rewritable video title set RW_VTS 1452. On the other hand, upon copying video information recorded on a DVD Video disc or (DVD Audio disc) to the disc shown in FIG. 1A, data are copied under video title set VIDEO_TS 1455, and audio title set AUDIO_TS 1456. Control information 1011 in FIG. 1D is recorded as a single file for recording/playback video management data. In the embodiment in FIG. 2, that information has file name RW_VIDEO_CONTROL.IFO (or real time recording information; abbreviated as RTR.IFO). Furthermore, identical information is also recorded as backup information with file name RW_VIDEO_CONTROL.BUP. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, all of video objects (RTR_MOV.VRO) 1012, picture objects (RTR_STO.VRO) 1013, audio objects (RTR_STA.VRO) 1014, and thumbnail objects 1016 are recorded as single AV file 1401 (the file name in the embodiment in FIG. 2 is RW_OBJECT.OB). Rewritable additional information 1454 (not shown in FIGS. 1A to 1F) that can be used upon recording/playing back video information can be simultaneously recorded. That information is recorded as a single file, which has file name RW_ADD.DAT in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3A to 3J show an example of the data structure in an AF file. As shown in FIG. 3B, entire AV file 1401 forms single VTS (video title set) (or RTR movie object RTR_MOV.VRO) 1402. VTS 1402 contains a group of a plurality of VOBs (video objects) 1403, 1404, and 1405, which are separated into a plurality of part_of_titles (or a plurality of chapters) 1407 and 1408 in accordance with the contents of audio & video data and the order of information recorded in AV file 1401. VOBs 1403, 1404, and 1405 in FIG. 3D are defined as sets of audio & video data recorded in AV file 1401, and have definition contents different from video objects 1012 shown in FIG. 1D that primarily serve the purposes of classification items of video information/still picture information/audio information/thumbnail information and the like. Hence, VOBs 1403, 1404, and 1405 in FIG. 3D record not only information classified into video objects 1012, but also information classified into picture objects 1013, audio objects 1014, and thumbnail objects 1016. Associated VOBs are grouped into a plurality of PTTs (part_of_titles or chapters) 1407 and 1408 based on information contents recorded in VOBs 1403, 1404, and 1405. That is, PTTs 1407 and 1408 are formed as sets of one or a plurality of VOBs. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, PTT 1408 is formed by two VOBs, i.e., VOBs 1404 and 1405, and PTT 1407 is formed by one VOB 1403 alone. Minimum basic units of video information are called VOBUs (video object units) 1411 to 1414, and data in VOBs 1403 to 1405 are formed as sets of VOBUs 1411 to 1414, as shown in FIG. 3E. MPEG1 or MPEG2 is prevalently used as the video information compression technique in VOBs 1403 to 1405. MPEG segments video information into groups called GOPs in 0.5-sec increments, and compresses video information in units of GOPs. Video information compression units of VOBUs 1411 to 1414 are formed to have nearly the same size as that of GOP in synchronism with GOP. Furthermore, VOBUs 1411 to 1414 are recorded while being segmented into sectors 1431 to 1437 in units of 2,048 bytes. Sectors 1431 to 1437 record raw video information, sub-picture information, audio information, and dummy information in units of packs in the form of pack structures, i.e., V_PCKs (video packs) 1421, 1425, 1426, and 1427, SP_PCK (sub-picture pack) 1422, A_PCK (audio pack) 1423, and DM_PCK (dummy pack) 1424. Each dummy pack size is 2,048 bytes. However, since each pack has a 14-byte pack header at the start of it, the information size recorded in each pack is 2,034 bytes. Note that DM_PCK (dummy pack) 1424 is inserted for the purposes of: addition of information to be additionally recorded after video recording (for example, memo information indicating that after-recording information is inserted into an audio pack and replaced by a dummy pack is inserted in sub-picture information (a sub-picture pack) and is replaced by a dummy pack). The recording area of a DVD-RAM (DVD_RTR) disc as an example of the information storage medium (optical disc 1001) shown in FIG. 1A is segmented into a plurality of sectors. 2,048-byte data can be recorded per sector. In this DVD-RAM disc, recording/playback is done in units of sectors (2,048 bytes). Hence, when a DVD-RAM disc is used as the information storage medium (optical disc 1001), the respective packs are recorded in units of sectors 1431 to 1437, as shown in FIG. 3F. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3D, VTS (video title set or RTR_MOV.VRO) 1402 is formed by a sequence of all VOBs 1403 to 1405 in AV file 1401. By contrast, a playback sequence described in playback control information (pack control information) 1021 can designate an arbitrary range in an arbitrary VOB, and can play it back in an arbitrary playback order. Basic video information units upon playback are called cells 1441, 1442, and 1443. Each of cells 1441, 1442, and 1443 can designate an arbitrary range in an arbitrary VOB, but cannot make designation across a plurality of VOBs (one cell cannot set a range by linking a plurality of VOBs). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3G, cell 1441 designates one VOBU 1412 in VOB 1403, cell 1442 designates whole VOB 1404, and cell 1443 designates the range of only a specific pack (V_PCK 1427) in VOBU 1414. Information indicating a video information playback sequence is set by PGC (program chain) 1446, and is described by designating a single cell or by link information of a plurality of cells. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3H, PGC (program chain) 1446 forms a playback program as a link of cells 1441, 1442, and 1443 (the relationship between the cell and PGC will be described in detail later). VOBU 1403 in FIG. 3D can contain not only video information but also audio information. In this case, VOBU 1411 that forms VOB 1403 contains V_PCK 1421 and SP_PCK 1422 that construct a video part, and A_PCK 1423 and DM_PCK (for after recording) 1424 that construct an audio part. The video part is formed by a sequence header and GOP header composed of some contents on the start side of V_PCK, MPEG I-picture composed of the contents of a V_PCK group, a sequence end code composed of some contents on the end side of V_PCK, and sub-picture unit SPU composed of the contents of SP_PCK. The audio part contains audio data to be played back in synchronism with still picture playback using I-picture of the video part, and is comprised of one or more audio frames. The contents of allocation map table 105 in FIG. 1F will be described below with reference to FIG. 4. As described above, the recording area of the DVD-RAM disc is segmented into a plurality of sectors, and logical sector numbers (LSNs) are continuously assigned in ascending order from the inner side. A case will be examined below wherein video information is recorded in data area 1004 of the information storage medium (optical disc 1001) in the following sequence. 1. An area for recording AV file 1401 is assured in a continuous area (a<g) from logical sector numbers (LSN) a+1 to g in data area 1004 on the information storage medium (optical disc 1001). 2. Data of VOB#1 1461 is recorded in a continuous area (b<c) from logical sector numbers (LSN) b+1 to c in the area for recording AV file 1401. 3. Data of VOB#2 1462 is recorded in a continuous area (d<e) from logical sector numbers (LSN) d+1 to e in the area for recording AV file 1401. As a result of the above processes in 1. to 3., three unrecorded areas "from a+1 to b", "from c+1 to d", and "from e+1 to g" in logical sector numbers (LSN) remain in AV file 1401. When video information of VOB#3 with a large data size is recorded in these unrecorded areas, the following processes are required. 4. Data of VOB#3 is segmented into a plurality of data in correspondence with the unrecorded area sizes in the area for recording AV file 1401. 5. First segmented data 1463 of VOB#3 is recorded in a continuous area (a<b) from logical sector numbers (LSN) a+1 to b. 6. Next segmented data 1464 of VOB#3 is recorded in a continuous area (c<d) from logical sector numbers (LSN) c+1 to d. 7. Last segmented data 1465 of VOB#3 is recorded in a continuous area (f<g) from logical sector numbers (LSN) f+1 to g. As a result, unrecorded area 1460 "from e+1 to f" in logical sector numbers (LSN) remains in AV file 1401. FIG. 4 shows the distribution of physical recorded positions of VOBs in AV file 1401 as a result of the above processes in 1. to 7. AS can be seen from the above description, when data in AV file 1401 is partially erased or when new data is additionally recorded in an unrecorded area in AV file 1401, single VOB data must be segmented and recorded at a plurality of locations like data 1463, 1464, and 1465 of VOB#3. Allocation map table 1105 shown in FIG. 1F shows information indicating the distribution of physical positions of identical data distributed and recorded in AV file 1401 in units of VOBs. FIG. 5 shows the information contents of allocation map table 1105 taking the data allocation shown in FIG. 4 as an example. Allocation map table 1105 is comprised of distribution information 1621 of positions of unrecorded areas, and a plurality of pieces of distribution information 1622, 1623, and 1624 of positions of recorded data in units of VOBs. A cluster of data units having continuous logical sector numbers in each VOB will be defined as an "extent". In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, data of VOB#3 are recorded as three extents. In the above example, since an area from logical sector numbers a+1 to b has continuous logical sector numbers, this area forms "extent#.gamma. 1473". That is, the recording positions of the data of VOB#3 are distributed to three locations, i.e., extent#.gamma. 1473, extent#.delta. 1474, and extent#.epsilon. 1475. The position distribution information that pertains to unrecorded areas or each VOB in allocation map table 1105 shown in FIG. 5 records the number 1601, 1602, 1603, or 1604 of extents at its first position. After that, first address 1606, 1607, 1608, 1609, 1610, or 1611 and size 1614, 1615, 1616, 1617, 1618, or 1619 of each extent are recorded. The first address is expressed by a "differential number" (or relative sector number) from the first logical sector number of AV file 1401. When each first address is expressed by a differential number, if the entire contents of AF file 1401 are transplanted to another information recording medium, information in allocation map table 1105 need not be changed, thus improving file portability. In FIG. 5, the extent size is expressed by the number of sectors. The extent size may be expressed by the last address of each extent in place of the number of sectors in FIG. 5. In the DVD-RAM disc (DVD_RTR disc) format, information indicating a physical address on the information storage medium (optical disc 1001) is called a physical sector number (PSN), the entire address used by the file system is called a logical sector number (LSN), and an address defined on the file system in data area 1004 in FIG. 1A is called a logical block number (LBN), thus distinguishing PSN, LSN, and LBN from each other. However, if this convention is always observed, the description becomes complicated. For this reason, FIG. 5 uses an expression based on logical sector numbers (LSN) for the sake of easy understanding. The contents of playback control information 1021 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7B. PGC (program chain) control information 1103 in playback control information 1021 has the data structure shown in FIG. 6, and the playback order is determined by PGC and cells. PGC is a unit that designates the playback order of cells and executes a given playback sequence. On the other hand, each cell indicates a playback period that designates playback data in each VOB by the start and end addresses, as shown in FIGS. 3D to 3F. PGC control information 1103 is composed of PGC information management information 1052, one or more search pointers 1053 and 1054 of PGC information, and a plurality of pieces of PGC Information 1055, 1056, and 1057. PGC information management information 1052 contains information (number of PGC information) indicating the number of PGCs. Each of search pointers 1053 and 1054 of PGC Information points to the first position of each PGC information, and allows an easy search. Each PGC information 1055, 1056, or 1057 consists of PGC general information 1061, one or more pieces of program information (PGI#m), one or more cell IDs (or CI_SRP#m), and one or more pieces of cell information (CI#m). PGC general information (PGC_GI) 1061 contains information (number of cell playback information) indicating the playback time of PGC and the number of cells. Or PGC_GI 1061 may contain information indicating the number of programs (PGs) and the number of search pointers (CI_SRP) of cell information. As shown in FIG. 7A, playback data are designated as a playback period in units of cells from cell-A to cell-F, and PGC information is defined in each PGC. 1. PGC#1 exemplifies a case wherein it is composed of cells that designate a continuous playback period, and its playback order is cell-A.fwdarw.cell-B.fwdarw.cell-C. 2. PGC#2 exemplifies a case wherein it is composed of cells that designate an intermittent playback period, and its playback order is cell-D.fwdarw.cell-E.fwdarw.cell-F. 3. PGC#3 exemplifies a case wherein playback can be done intermittently irrespective of the direction of playback or repetitive playback, and its playback order is cell-E.fwdarw.cell-A.fwdarw.cell-D.fwdarw.cell-B.fwdarw.cell-E. Control information (RTR.IFO) 1011 shown in FIG. 1D or 2 contains navigation data RTR_VMG (real time recording video manager) corresponding to control information 1101 and control information 1021, as shown in FIG. 1E. This RTR_VMG contains video title set information VTSI (or information RTR_VMGI of RTR_VMG) 1106, as shown in FIG. 1F. This information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 contains information used upon playing back a sequence of VOBs 1403, 1404, 1405, . . . , shown in FIG. 3D. The data structure and contents of RTR_VMG in FIG. 1E (or RTR.IFO in FIG. 2) will be explained below with reference to FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, navigation data RTR_VMG (control information RTR.IFO) is comprised of RTR video manager information (RTR_VMGI), a movie AV file information table (M_AVFIT), a still picture AV file information table (S_AVFIT), original PGC information (ORG_PGCI), a user-defined PGC information table (UD_PGCIT), a text data manager (TXTDT_MG), and a table (MNFIT) of information that pertains to the manufacturer. RTR_VMGI contained in this RTR_VMG corresponds to video title set (VTS) information 1106 shown in FIG. 1F. This information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 contains VTS general information 1751, VOB sequence information 1752, PTT information 1753, and VTS time map table 1754, as shown in FIG. 8. Put otherwise, this information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 contains a play list search pointer table (PL_SRPT) corresponding to VOB sequence information 1752, and a video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT) corresponding to VTS general information 1751. Table PL_SRPT contains information 1756 indicating the number of VOBs in VTS (or the number of play list search pointers and the end address of PL_SRPT), information 1757 indicating the ID of the first VOB in a VOB sequence (or first play list search pointer PL_SRP#1), information 1758 indicating the ID of the second VOB in the VOB sequence (or second play list search pointer PL_SRP#2), and the like. Each play list search pointer (PL_SRP) contains information (PL_TY) indicating the type of a play list, PGC number information (PGCN) corresponding to this play list, information (PL_CREATE_TM) indicating the date of creation of this play list, information (PRM_TXTI) of primary text associated with this play list, number information (IT_TXTI_SRPN) of a search pointer of item text used in this play list, and thumbnail pointer information (THM_PTRI) indicating a thumbnail picture corresponding to the recording contents of this play list. The table (PL_SRPT) that contains these pieces of information 1756, 1757, 1758, . . . corresponds to VOB sequence information 1752 contained in VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106. The contents of VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106 can be summarized as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the data structure in video title set information (or RTR_VMGI) 1106 records: video title set general information 1751 . . . . This information pertains to general contents of a video title set (or RTR data in AV file 1401 in FIG. 2); video object sequence information 1752 . . . . In the data structure shown in FIGS. 3A to 3J, serial numbers are set for all VOBs in video title set 1402 (=AV file 1401). This information describes serial number information of VOBs according to this sequence; part_of_titles information 1753 . . . . Object data recorded in AV file 1401 are grouped in units of associated data for the purpose of each data management and search, and video title names are set in units of groups. The group (part_of_title) is formed of a set of VOBs. This information describes VOB information contained in each part_of_title; and video title set time map table 1754 . . . . This information pertains to VOBU position information at specific time intervals according to the video object sequence in relation to VOBs which are classified into video objects 1012 and audio objects 1014 in video title set 1402. The detailed data structure in video object sequence information 1752 is shown on the right side in FIG. 8. That is, the total number 1756 of VOBs (or PL_SRPTI) contained in the video title set is recorded at the first position. After that, VOB_IDs (or PL_SRP#1, PL_SRP#2, . . . , PL_SRP#n) 1757, 1758, . . . corresponding to serial numbers are recorded in the sequence (video object sequence) order. The sequence indicated by video object sequence information 1752 can be arbitrarily set by the user or information recording/playback apparatus side in, e.g., "the recording order to AV file 1401 (ascending order of recording time)", "the recording allocation order on the information storage medium (optical disc) shown in FIG. 4", "the VOB size order", and the like. By sequentially determining the order of all VOBs in VTS (video title set) 1402, a user interface similar to a VTR that records video data on a single table can be provided. For example, the following processes can be done using video object sequence information 1752: to search for a scene the user wants to watch by fast-forwarding (FF) or rewinding (FR) a tape; to confirm the entire recording contents by fast-forwarding (FF) the tape; and to search for an unnecessary recorded scene by fast-forwarding (FF) or rewinding (FR) the tape, and to overwrite new video information on that scene. The information contents of video object sequence information 1752 shown on the right side in FIG. 8 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9F. A case will be examined first wherein VOB#1 to VOB#3 are recorded to have the allocation order on the information storage medium (optical disc) shown in FIG. 4, and this recording is done in the order of 1. to 7. described in "description of allocation map table contents". FIG. 9C shows the sequence order which is set for these data in "the recording order to AV file 1401 (ascending order of recording time)". Compared to FIG. 4, the allocation order from extent#.alpha. 1471 to extent#.zeta. 1470 has changed. "First VOB_ID 1757 in the video object sequence" shown in FIG. 8 designates "VOB#1 1461" in FIG. 9C, and "second VOB_ID 1758 in the video object sequence" designates "VOB#2 1462" in FIG. 9C. FIG. 9F shows another embodiment designated by video object sequence information 1752. VOB#A 1771 and VOB#B 1772 belong to (are classified to) video objects (movie VOB information M_VOBI#) 1012, VOB#C 1773, VOB#F 1776, and VOB#G 1777 to audio objects 1014, and VOB#D 1774 and VOB#E 1775 to picture objects (still picture VOB group information S_VOGI#) 1013. In this way, the sequence order can be designated independently of the VOB types. In FIG. 9F, VOBs (VOB#H 1778 and VOB#I 1779) that belong to thumbnail objects 1016 are set at the end of the sequence. FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement in the RTR video recorder. In this specification, reference numerals are indicated within blocks to save space. The apparatus main body of the video recorder shown in FIG. 10 is roughly comprised of disc changer (disc drive unit) 1500 for rotating one to be used of one or a plurality of information storage media (optical discs) 1001, and executing recording and playback of video information with respect to optical disc 1001, encoder unit 1550 that constructs the video recording side, decoder unit 1560 that constructs the playback side, and system controller (MPU) 1530 which incorporates a ROM and RAM (semiconductor memory), and controls the operations of the apparatus main body. Encoder unit 1550 comprises ADC (analog-to-digital converter) 1552, video encoder (V encoder) 1553, audio encoder (A encoder 1554), sub-picture encoder (SP encoder) 1555, formatter 1556, and buffer memory 1557. ADC 1552 receives an external analog video signal+external analog audio signal from AV input 1542, or analog TV signal+analog audio signal from TV tuner 1544. This ADC 1552 converts the input analog video signal into digital data at, e.g., a sampling frequency=13.5 MHz and the number of quantization bits=8. (More specifically, luminance component Y, color difference component Cr (or Y-R), and color difference component Cb (or Y-B) are respectively quantized by 8 bits.) Likewise, ADC 1552 converts the input analog audio signal into digital data at, e.g., a sampling frequency=48 kHz and the number of quantization bits=16. When an analog video signal and digital audio signal are input to ADC 1552, the digital audio signal passes through ADC 1552. (A process for reducing jitter superposed on a digital signal, a process for changing the sampling rate and the number of quantization bits, or the like without changing the contents of a digital audio signal may be done.) When a digital video signal and digital audio signal are input to ADC 1552, these signals pass through ADC 1552 (for these digital signals, a jitter reduction process, sampling rate change process, or the like that do not change their contents may be done). When still picture information sensed by digital camera 1543 is input in addition to the input video signals, it is directly input to V encoder 1553 without the intervention of ADC 1552. A digital video signal component output from ADC 1552 is sent to formatter 1556 via video encoder (V encoder) 1553. A digital audio signal component output from ADC 1552 is sent to formatter 1556 via audio encoder (A encoder) 1554. Or a still picture signal directly input to V encoder 1553 is sent from V encoder 1553 to formatter 1556. V encoder 1553 has a function of converting the input digital video signal into a digital signal compressed at variable bit rate on the basis of the MPEG2 or MPEG1 specifications. In digital camera 1543, still picture information is recorded in the bitmap or JPEG format. By contrast, in the present invention, a still picture is recorded on optical disc 1001 in the I-picture format of MPEG2. For this purpose, in the present invention, V encoder 1553 has format conversion functions of "bitmap.fwdarw.MPEG2", "JPEG.fwdarw.MPEG2", and the like. A encoder 1554 has a function of converting the input digital audio signal into a digital signal (or linear PCM digital signal) compressed at fixed bit rate on the basis of the MPEG or AC-3 specifications. When a digital video signal (for example, a signal from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal of a sub-picture signal) is input from AV input 1542, or when a DVD video signal with such data structure is broadcasted and is received by TV tuner 1544, the sub-picture signal component (sub-picture pack) in the video signal is input to sub-picture encoder (SP encoder) 1555. Sub-picture data input to SP encoder 1555 is arranged into a predetermined signal format, and is then sent to formatter 1556. Formatter 1556 executes predetermined signal processing of the input video signal, audio signal, sub-picture signal, and the like using buffer memory 1557 as a work area, and outputs recording data that matches a predetermined format (file structure) to data processor 1536. In case of digital broadcast, a video signal is transmitted in the TS (transport stream) format of MPEG2. In general, when a video signal is recorded on information storage medium (optical disc) 1001 in the MPEG2 format, the PS (program stream) format is used. Hence, upon receiving digital broadcast, the received signal is directly sent from TV tuner 1544 to formatter 1556, which executes "TS.fwdarw.PS conversion". Standard encode process contents for creating the recording data will be briefly explained below. More specifically, when encoder unit 1550 shown in FIG. 10 starts an encode process, parameters required for encoding video (main picture) data and audio data are set. Main picture data is pre-encoded using the set parameters, and optimal code amount distribution for the selected average transfer rate (recording rate) is calculated. Then, the main picture data is encoded based on the code amount distribution obtained by pre-encoding. At this time, audio data is encoded simultaneously. As a result of pre-encoding, if it is determined that the data compression amount is insufficient (a desired video program cannot fall within information storage medium (optical disc) 1001 to be used), and pre-encoding can be re-done (if the source to be recorded is a source that can be repetitively played back such as a video tape, video disc, or the like), main picture data is partially re-encoded, and the previously pre-encoded main picture data portion is replaced by the re-encoded main picture data portion. With a series of processes described above, the main picture and audio data are encoded, and the average bit rate value required for recording can be greatly reduced. Likewise, parameters required for encoding sub-picture data are set, and encoded sub-picture data is generated. The encoded main picture, audio, and sub-picture data are combined, and are converted into the data structure of desired video objects. More specifically, a cell as a minimum unit of main picture data (video data) is set, the configuration of cells that form a program chain, attributes of the main picture, sub-picture, and audio data, and the like are set (some of such attribute data use information obtained upon encoding the respective data), and management information that contains various kinds of information which pertain to cells is recorded in the management information recording area (control information 1011 in FIG. 1D or RTR.IFO in FIG. 2). The encoded main picture, audio, and sub-picture data are segmented into packs each having a predetermined size (2,048 bytes). Dummy packs that can be used in, e.g., after recording, are inserted into these packs as needed. Note that time stamps such as PTS (presentation time stamp), DTS (decode time stamp), and the like are described in packs other than dummy packs, as needed. As for PTS of sub-picture data, a time arbitrarily delayed from PTS of main picture data or audio data in the identical playback time band can be described. Data cells are arranged in units of VOBUs to allow playback in the time code order of data, thus forming a VOB consisting of a plurality of cells. Upon digitally copying video information from the digital output of the RTR video recorder shown in FIG. 10, since the contents of the cells, program chains, management tables, time stamps, and the like are determined in advance, they need not be created again. The arrangement for reading/writing (recording and/or playing back) information from/to optical disc 1001 comprises disc drive unit (disc changer) 1500, information recording/reproducing unit 101, memory 1534, data processor 1536, and system time counter (or system time clock; STC) 1538. Memory 1534 is used to buffer a given amount of data to be written on optical disc 1001 (data output from encoder unit 1550) via information recording/reproducing unit 101, and to buffer a given amount of data played back from optical disc 1001 (data input to decoder unit 1560) via information recording/reproducing unit 101. For example, when memory 1534 comprises a 4-Mbyte semiconductor memory (DRAM), it can buffer recording or playback data for approximately 8 seconds at an average recording rate of 4 Mbps. When memory 1534 comprises a 16-Mbyte EEPROM (flash memory), it can buffer recording or playback data for approximately 30 seconds at an average recording rate of 4 Mbps. Furthermore, when memory 1534 comprises a 100-Mbyte, very small HDD (hard disc drive), it can buffer recording or playback data for 3 minutes or more at an average recording rate of 4 Mbps. Also, memory 1534 can also be used to temporarily store recording information when optical disc 1001 is used up during video recording, until optical disc 1001 is exchanged by a new disc. When information recording/reproducing unit 101 uses a high-speed recording/reproducing unit having a speed equal to or higher than double speeds, memory 1534 can also be used to store readout data exceeding a normal amount read out from the drive per unit time. When memory 1534 buffers readout data upon playback, even when an optical head (not shown) has caused read errors due to vibration shock or the like, playback data buffered by memory 1534 can be used instead, thus preventing a playback image from being discontinued. If an external card slot (not shown in FIG. 10) is provided to the RTR video recorder, the EEPROM can be offered as an option IC card. On the other hand, if an external drive slot or SCSI interface is provided to the RTR video recorder, the HDD can be offered as an option extension drive. When a personal computer is used as a DVD video recorder by software, the free area of a hard disc drive or main memory of the personal computer itself can be used as memory 1534 shown in FIG. 10. Under the control of system controller (MPU) [incorporating the ROM and RAM] 1530, data processor 1536 shown in FIG. 10 performs: supply of a video information signal to be recorded from encoder unit 1550 to information recording/reproducing unit 101; transfer of a video information signal played back by information recording/reproducing unit 101 to another unit; rewrite of management information (control information 1011) recorded on information storage medium (optical disc) 1001; partial deletion of video information and management information (control information 1011 or RTR.IFO or RTR_VMG) as data recorded on information storage medium (optical disc) 1001; and the like. System controller 1530 includes an MPU (or CPU), a ROM as an IC memory written with control programs and the like, and a RAM as an IC memory that provides a work area required for executing programs. Of the execution results of system controller 1530, the contents the user of the RTR video recorder should know are displayed on display/input panel 1548 of the RTR video recorder. Note that the control timings of disc changer 1500, information recording/reproducing unit 101, data processor 1536, and encoder unit 1550 and/or decoder unit 1560 by system controller (MPU) 1530 can be determined based on time data supplied from STC 1538 (video recording/playback are normally executed in synchronism with time clocks from STC 1538, but other processes may be executed at timings independently of STC 1538). Decoder unit 1560 comprises separator 1562 for separating the respective packs from video information with the pack structure recorded on optical disc 1001, memory 1563 used upon executing pack separation and other signal processes, video decoder (V decoder) 1564 for decoding main picture data (the contents of video packs) separated by separator 1562, sub-picture decoder (SP decoder) 1565 for decoding sub-picture data (the contents of sub-picture packs) separated by separator 1562, audio decoder (A decoder) 1568 for decoding audio data (the contents of audio packs) separated by separator 1562, video processor 1566 for appropriately mixing sub-picture data from SP decoder 1565 with video data output from v decoder 1564, i.e., superposing sub-picture data such as menus, highlight buttons, superimposed dialogs, and the like on main picture data, and outputting them, video digital-to-analog converter (VDAC) 1567 for converting the digital video output from video processor 1565 into an analog video signal, and audio digital-to-analog converter (ADAC) 1569 for converting the digital audio output from A decoder 1568 into an analog audio signal. The analog video signal (analog video information signal) output from VDAC 1567, and the analog audio signal output from ADAC 1569 are supplied to an external component (not shown; a multi-channel stereo system having two to six channels+monitor TV or projector) via AV output 1546. OSD (On Screen Display) data output from system controller (MPU) 1530 is input to separator 1562 in decoder unit 1560, and is then input to video processor 1566 via V decoder 1564 (not decoded). The OSD data is superimposed on main picture data, and they are supplied to an external monitor TV connected to AV output 1546. Thus, a warning message is displayed together with main picture data. The internal structure of information recording/reproducing unit (physical system block) 101 will be explained below with reference to FIG. 11. <A> Functions of Information Recording/Reproducing Unit <A-1> Basic Function of Information Recording/Reproducing Unit The information recording/reproducing unit executes: a process for recording new information or rewriting information (including erasure of information) using a focused beam spot on a predetermined position on information recording medium (optical disc 1001) 201; and a process for reproducing (playing back) already recorded information using a focused beam spot from a predetermined position on information recording medium (optical disc 1001) 201. <A-2> Basic Function Implementation Means of Information Recording/Reproducing Unit As means for implementing the aforementioned basic functions, the information recording/reproducing unit executes: a process for tracing (tracking) a focused beam spot along a track (not shown) on information recording medium 201; a process for switching information recording/reproducing/erasing modes by changing the limit amount of a focused beam spot with which information recording medium 201 is irradiated; and a process for converting externally input recording signal d into an optimal signal to attain high-density recording at the low error rate. <B> Mechanical Structure and Operations of Detection Section <B-1> Basic Structure of Optical Head 202 and Signal Detection Circuit <B-1-1> Signal Detection by Optical Head 202 Optical head 202 is basically constructed by a semiconductor laser element serving as a light source, photodetector, and objective lens (none of them are shown). A laser beam emitted by the semiconductor laser element is focused on information recording medium (optical disc) 201 by the objective lens. The laser beam reflected by a light reflecting film or light reflective recording film of information recording medium (optical disc) 201 is photoelectrically converted by the photodetector. A detection current obtained by the photodetector is current-voltage-converted into a detection signal by amplifier 213. This detection signal is processed by focus/track error detection circuit 217 or binarization circuit 212. In general, the photodetector is divided into a plurality of photodetection areas, and individually detects changes in amount of light on the respective photodetection areas. These detection signals undergo arithmetic operations of sums and differences in focus/track error detection circuit 217 to detect focus and track errors. A change in amount of light reflected by the light reflecting film or light reflective recording film of information recording medium (optical disc) 201 is detected to reproduce a signal on information recording medium 201. <B-1-2> Focus Error Detection Method As a method of optically detecting the focus error amount, one of the following methods is often used: Astigmatism method: An optical element (not shown) for producing astigmatism is placed in a detection circuit for detecting a laser beam reflected by the light reflecting film or light reflective recording film of information recording medium (optical disc) 201, and a change in shape of the laser beam with which the photodetector is irradiated is detected. A photodetection region is diagonally divided into four areas. Focus/track error detection circuit 217 calculates the difference between diagonal sums of detection signals obtained from the respective detection areas, thus obtaining a focus error detection signal. Knife edge method: A knife edge for asymmetrically intercepting some beam components of a laser beam reflected by information recording medium 201 is placed. A photodetection region is divided into two areas, and the difference between detection signals obtained from these detection areas is calculated to obtain a focus error detection signal. <B-1-3> Track Error Detection Method Information recording medium (optical disc) 201 has a spiral or concentric track, on which information is recorded. Information is reproduced or recorded/erased by tracing a focused beam spot along the track. In order to stably trace the focused beam spot along the track, a relative positional displacement between the track and focused beam spot must be detected. As the track error detection method, the following methods or the like are normally used: DPD (Differential Phase Detection) method: A change in intensity distribution of a laser beam reflected by the light reflecting film or light reflective recording film of information recording medium (optical disc) 201 on the photodetector is detected. A photodetection region is diagonally divided into four areas. Focus/track error detection circuit 217 calculates the difference between diagonal sums of detection signals obtained from the respective detection areas, thus obtaining a track error detection signal. Push-Pull method: A change in intensity distribution of a laser beam reflected by information recording medium (optical disc) 201 on the photodetector is detected. A photodetection region is divided into two areas, and the difference between detection signals obtained from these detection areas is calculated to obtain a track error detection signal. Twin-Spot Method: A diffraction element or the like is inserted in a light transmission system between the semiconductor laser element and information recording medium 201 to wavefront-split light into a plurality of light components, and changes in amount of reflected light of .+-.1st-order diffracted light components with which information recording medium 201 is irradiated are detected. Photodetection areas for respectively detecting the amount of reflected light of +1st-order diffracted light and that of -1st-order diffracted light are placed independently of the photodetection region for detecting a reproducing signal, and the difference between detection signals from these areas is calculated to obtain a track error signal. <B-1-4> Objective Lens Actuator Structure The objective lens (not shown) for focusing a laser beam emitted by the semiconductor laser element on information recording medium 201 is movable in two axial directions in accordance with an output current from objective lens actuator drive circuit 218. The objective lens moves in: a direction perpendicular to information recording medium 201 to correct focus errors; and the radial direction of information recording medium 201 to correct track errors. As prevalent objective lens actuator structures, the following schemes are used: Shaft slide scheme: A blade integrally formed on the objective lens moves along a central shaft. Upon moving the blade along the central shaft, focus errors are corrected; upon rotating the blade about the central shaft, track errors are corrected. 4-wire scheme: A blade integrally formed on the objective lens is coupled to a stationary system via four wires, and moves in two axial directions using elastic deformations of wires. In either method, permanent magnets and coils are used, and the blade moves by supplying a current to the coil coupled to the blade. <B-2> Rotation Control System of Information Recording Medium 201 Information recording medium (optical disc) 201 is mounted on turntable 221 that rotates by the driving force of spindle motor 204. The rotational speed of information recording medium 201 is detected based on a reproduced signal obtained from information recording medium 201. More specifically, the detection signal (analog signal) output from amplifier 213 is converted into a digital signal by binarization circuit 212, and PLL circuit 211 generates a constant period signal (reference clock signal) based on that digital signal. Information recording medium rotational speed detection circuit 214 detects the rotational speed of information recording medium 201 using this clock signal, and outputs the detected speed. A correspondence table that stores the information recording medium rotational speeds in correspondence with radial positions where information is reproduced or recorded/erased on information recording medium 201 is recorded in advance in semiconductor memory 219. Upon determining the reproducing or recording/erasing position, controller 220 sets a target rotational speed of information recording medium 201 by looking up information in semiconductor memory 219, and informs spindle motor drive circuit 215 of that value. Spindle motor drive circuit 215 detects the difference between this target rotational speed and the output signal (current rotational speed) of information recording medium rotational speed detection circuit 214, and supplies a drive current corresponding to this detection result to spindle motor 204 to control its rotational speed to be constant. The output signal from information recording medium rotational speed detection circuit 214 is a pulse signal having frequency corresponding to the rotational speed of information recording medium 201, and spindle motor drive circuit 215 controls both the frequency and pulse phase of this signal. <B-3> Optical Head Moving Mechanism Optical head moving mechanism (feed motor) 203 for moving optical head 202 in the radial direction of information recording medium 201 is provided. As a guide mechanism for moving optical head 202, a rod-like guide shaft is often used. Optical head 202 moves using friction produced between this guide shaft and a bushing attached to a portion of optical head 202. Also, a method using a bearing that reduces the frictional force using rotation may be used. In the driving force transmission method for moving optical head 202, a rotation motor (not shown) with a pinion (rotation gear) is inserted in a stationary system, and a rack as a linear gear that meshes with the pinion is placed on the side surfaces of optical head 202, thereby converting rotation of the rotation motor into rectilinear motion of optical head 202. As another driving force transmission method, a linear motor scheme which inserts a permanent magnet in the stationary system, and rectilinearly moves optical head 202 by supplying a current to a coil set on optical head 202 may be used. In either of the rotation or rectilinear motor scheme, basically, a current is supplied to the feed motor to generate a driving force for moving optical head 202. This driving current is supplied from feed motor drive circuit 216. <C> Functions of Control Circuits <C-1> Focused Beam Spot Trace Control In order to correct focus or track errors, a circuit for supplying the driving current to an objective lens actuator (not shown) in optical head 202 in accordance with the output signal (detection signal) from focus/track error detection circuit 217 is objective lens actuator drive circuit 218. Circuit 218 includes a phase compensation circuit for improving characteristics in correspondence with the frequency characteristics of the objective lens actuator so as to attain high-speed response of objective lens movement up to a higher frequency region. Objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 executes in accordance with a command from controller 220: an ON/OFF process of focus/track error correction (focus/track loop); a process for moving the objective lens in the direction (focus detection) perpendicular to information recording medium 201 at low speed (executed when focus/track loop=OFF); and a process of moving a focused beam spot to a neighboring track position by slightly moving it in the radial direction (a direction across the track) of information recording medium 201 using kick pulses. <C-2> Laser Light Amount Control <C-2-1> Switch Process between Reproduction and Recording/Erasure Reproduction and recording/erasure are switched by changing the amount of light of a focused beam spot with which information recording medium 201 is irradiated. The following relation generally holds for an information recording medium using the phase change scheme: [light amount upon recording]>[light amount upon erasing]>[light amount upon reproducing] and, the following relation generally holds for an information recording medium using a magneto-optical scheme: [light amount upon recording].apprxeq.[light amount upon erasing]>[light amount upon reproducing] In case of the magneto-optical scheme, recording and erasure processes are controlled by changing the polarity of an external magnetic field (not shown) applied to information recording medium 201 upon recording/erasing. Upon reproducing information, information recording medium 201 is continuously irradiated with light of a given amount. When new information is recorded, light pulses of a given amount are intermittently superposed on the light upon reproducing. When the semiconductor laser element emits light pulses in a large amount, light reflective recording film of information recording medium 201 locally changes optically or in shape, thus forming a recording mark. When information is overwritten on a region where information has already been recorded, the semiconductor laser element emits light pulses. When already recorded information is erased, the information recording medium is continuously irradiated with light in a given amount larger than that upon reproducing. Upon continuously erasing information, the amount of light to be irradiated is reset to that upon recording at specific periods, e.g., in units of sectors, so as to intermittently reproduce information parallel to the erasure process. That is, the erasure process is done by intermittently reproducing the track number and address of a track to be erased, and confirming if an error occurs in the erased track. <C-2-2> Laser Emission Control Optical head 202 incorporates a photodetector (not shown) for detecting the amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element. Semiconductor laser drive circuit 205 detects any difference between the output (the detection signal of the amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element) from that photodetector and an emission reference signal supplied from recording/reproducing/erasing control waveform generation circuit 206, and feeds back a driving current to the semiconductor laser on the basis of the difference. <D> Operations Pertaining to Control System for Mechanism <D-1> Start-up Control When information recording medium (optical disc) 201 is set on turntable 221 and start-up control is started, processes are done according to the following procedure. (1) Controller 220 informs spindle motor drive circuit 215 of a target rotational speed, and spindle motor drive circuit 215 supplies a driving current to spindle motor 204, thus initiating rotation of spindle motor 204. (2) At the same time, controller 220 issues a command (execution command) to feed motor drive circuit 216, which supplies a driving current to optical head drive mechanism (feed motor) 203 to move optical head 202 to the innermost peripheral position of information recording medium 201. It is confirmed if optical head 202 has reached an inner peripheral position beyond a region of information recording medium 201 where information has been recorded. (3) When spindle motor 204 has reached the target rotational speed, that status (status report) is sent to controller 220. (4) Semiconductor laser drive circuit 205 supplies a current to the semiconductor laser element in optical head 202 in correspondence with a reproducing light amount signal sent from controller 220 to recording/reproducing/erasing control waveform generation circuit 206, thus starting laser emission. *The optimal amount of light upon reproducing varies depending on the type of information recording medium (optical disc) 201. Upon starting up, the lowest amount of light is set. (5) Objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 controls to retract the objective lens (not shown) in optical head 202 to a position farthest from information recording medium 201 and to make the objective lens slowly approach information recording medium 201 in accordance with a command from controller 220. (6) At the same time, focus/track error detection circuit 217 monitors the focus error amount, and sends status to controller 220 when the objective lens has reached the vicinity of an in-focus position. (7) Upon receiving the status, controller 220 sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn on the focus loop. (8) Controller 220 sends a command to feed motor drive circuit 216 while the focus loop is kept ON, thus slowly moving optical head 202 toward the outer periphery of information recording medium 201. (9) At the same time, controller 220 monitors a reproduced signal from optical head 202. When optical head 202 has reached the recording region on information recording medium 201, controller 220 stops movement of optical head 202, and sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn on the track loop. (10) An "optimal amount of light upon reproducing" and "optimal amount of light upon recording/erasing" recorded on the inner peripheral portion of information recording medium (optical disc) 201 are reproduced, and that information is recorded on semiconductor memory 219 via controller 220. (11) Furthermore, controller 220 sends a signal corresponding to the "optimal amount of light upon reproducing" to recording/reproducing/erasing control waveform generation circuit 206, thus re-setting the amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element upon reproducing. (12) The amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element upon recording/erasing is set in correspondence with the "optimal amount of light upon recording/erasing" recorded on information recording medium 201. <D-2> Access Control <D-2-1> Reproduce Information at Access Destination on Information Recording Medium 201 Information that pertains to recording locations and contents of information on information recording medium 201 varies depending on the type of information recording medium 201, and is normally recorded in a directory management region: a group of such information is recorded on the inner or outer peripheral region of information recording medium 201; a navigation pack: the navigation pack is contained in a VOBS (Video Object Set) complying with the data structure of a PS (Program Stream) of MPEG2, and records information that pertains to the recording location of next video data; or the like in information recording medium 201. When specific information is to be reproduced or recorded/erased, information in the aforementioned region is reproduced, and an access destination is determined based on the information obtained therefrom. <D-2-2> Coarse Access Control Controller 220 calculates the radial position of the access destination to obtain the distance between the calculated position and the current position of optical head 202. Speed curve information that allows optical head 202 to reach the target position in the shortest period of time with respect to the required moving distance is recorded in advance in semiconductor memory 219. Controller 220 reads out that information, and controls movement of optical head 202 by the following method according to the speed curve. Controller 220 sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn off the track loop, and controls feed motor drive circuit 216 to start movement of optical head 202. When the focused beam spot crosses a track on information recording medium 201, focus/track error detection circuit 217 generates a track error detection signal. Using this track error detection signal, the speed of the focused beam spot relative to information recording medium 201 can be detected. Feed motor drive circuit 216 calculates the difference between the relative speed of the focused beam spot obtained from focus/track error detection circuit 217, and the target speed information obtained as needed from controller 202, and feeds back the result to the driving current to be supplied to optical head drive mechanism (feed motor) 203, thus moving optical head 202. As described in "<B-3> Optical Head Moving Mechanism", friction always acts between the guide shaft and bushing or bearing. When optical head 202 is moving at high speed, dynamic friction acts. However, at the beginning of movement and immediately before stop of movement, static friction acts since the moving speed of optical head 202 is low. At this time, since the relative frictional force increases (especially immediately before stop of movement), the gain of current to be supplied to optical head drive mechanism (feed motor) 203 is increased in accordance with a command from controller 220. <D-2-3> Fine Access Control When optical head 202 has reached the target position, controller 220 sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn on the track loop. The focused beam spot is tracing along the track on information recording medium 201 to reproduce the address or track number of that portion. The current focused beam spot position is detected from the reproduced address or track number. Controller 220 calculates the number of error tracks from the target position to be reached, and informs objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 of the number of tracks required for moving the focused beam spot. When objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 generates a pair of kick pulses, the objective lens slightly moves in the radial direction of information recording medium 201, thus moving the focused beam spot to a neighboring track position. Objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 temporarily turns off the track loop, generates kick pulses corresponding in number to information from controller 220, and then turns on the track loop again. Upon completion of fine access, controller 220 reproduces information (address or track number) at the position where the focused beam spot is tracing, and confirms that the beam spot is accessing a target track. <D-3> Continuous Recording/Reproducing/Erasing Control The track error detection signal output from focus/track error detection circuit 217 is input to feed motor drive circuit 216. In the aforementioned "start-up control" and "access control", controller 220 controls feed motor drive circuit 216 not to use the track error detection signal. After it is confirmed by access that the focused beam spot has reached a target track, some track error detection signals are supplied as driving current to optical head moving mechanism (feed motor) 203 via motor drive circuit 216 in response to a command from controller 220. This control continues during the period in which the reproducing or recording/erasing process continues. The central position of information recording medium 201 is slightly decentered from that of turntable 221. When some track error detection signals are supplied as the driving current, entire optical head 202 moves finely in correspondence with decentering. When the reproducing or recording/erasing process continues for a long period of time, the focused beam spot position gradually moves toward the inner or outer periphery. When some track error detection signals are supplied as the driving current to optical head moving mechanism (feed motor) 203, optical head 202 gradually moves toward the inner or outer periphery in correspondence with the driving current. In this manner, the load on track error correction of the objective lens actuator is reduced, and the track loop can be rendered stable. <D-4> End Control When the operation is to end upon completion of a series of processes, the processes proceed in accordance with the following procedure. (1) Controller 220 sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn off the track loop. (2) Controller 220 sends a command to objective lens actuator drive circuit 218 to turn off the focus loop. (3) Controller 220 sends a command to recording/reproducing/erasing control waveform generation circuit 206 to stop emission of the semiconductor laser element. (4) Controller 220 informs spindle motor drive circuit 215 of zero reference rotational speed. <E> Flow of Recording Signal/Reproduced Signal to Information Recording Medium <E-1> Signal Format Recorded on Information Recording Medium 201 As shown in FIG. 11, the information recording/reproducing unit (physical system block) performs "appending of an error correction function" and "signal conversion of recording information (modulation/demodulation of a signal)" for a signal recorded on information recording medium 201 to meet requirements: to allow correction of recording information errors resulting from defects on information recording medium 201; to simplify a reproducing processing circuit to set DC components of a reproduced signal at zero; and to record information on information recording medium 201 at highest possible density. <E-2> Flow of Signal Upon Recording <E-2-1> ECC (Error Correction Code) Appending Process Information to be recorded on information recording medium 201 is input to data I/O interface 222 as recording signal d in the form of a raw signal. This recording signal d is recorded on semiconductor memory 219 and, after that, ECC encoding circuit 208 executes an ECC appending process as follows. An embodiment of a method of appending an ECC using a product code will be explained below. Recording signal d is arranged in rows in units of 172 bytes in semiconductor memory 219, and 192 rows form one ECC block. For a raw signal (recording signal d) in one ECC block formed by "row: 172.times.column: 192 bytes", 10-byte inner code PI is calculated for each 172-byte row, and is additionally recorded in semiconductor memory 219. Furthermore, 16-byte outer code PO is calculated for each 1-byte column, and is additionally recorded in semiconductor memory 219. As an embodiment of recording such codes on information recording medium 201, a total of 2,366 bytes, i.e., 12 rows containing inner codes PI+1 line for outer codes PO: (2,366=(12+1).times.(172+10)) are recorded in one sector as one unit. Upon completion of appending inner and outer codes PI and PO, ECC encoding circuit 208 reads signals in units of 2,366 bytes corresponding to one sector from semiconductor memory 219, and transfers them to modulation circuit 207. <E-2-2> Signal Modulation In order to make the DC component (DSV: Digital Sum Value) of a reproduced signal approach zero, and to record information on information recording medium 201 at high density, modulation circuit 207 executes signal modulation as conversion of the signal format. Modulation circuit 207 and demodulation circuit 210 include a conversion table that indicates the relationship between an original signal and modulated signal. Modulation circuit 207 segments a signal transferred from ECC encoding circuit 208 in units of a plurality of bits in accordance with a given modulation scheme, and converts segmented signals into other signals (codes) while looking up the conversion table. For example, when 8/16 modulation (RLL(2,10) code) is used as the modulation scheme, there are two different conversion tables, which are switched as needed to make the DC component (DSV: Digital Sum Value) after modulation approach zero. <E-2-3> Recording Waveform Generation When a recording mark is recorded on information recording medium (optical disc) 201, the recording scheme normally used includes two different schemes: mark length recording: "1" is located at the leading and trailing end positions of a recording mark; and mark position recording: the central position of a recording mark matches the "1" position. Upon executing mark length recording, a long recording mark need be formed. In this case, when light with an amount required for recording is kept irradiated for a predetermined period of time, a "raindrop"-like recording mark, only a trailing end portion of which has a larger width, forms due to the heat accumulation effect of the light reflective recording film of information recording medium 201. In order to remove such shortcoming, when a long recording mark is formed, a plurality of divided recording pulses are used or the recording waveform is changed stepwise. Recording/reproducing/erasing control waveform generation circuit 206 generates the aforementioned recording waveform in correspondence with a recording signal sent from modulation circuit 207, and sends it to semiconductor laser drive circuit 205. <E-3> Flow of Signal Upon Reproducing <E-3-1> Binarization & PLL Circuits As described in "<B-1-1> Signal Detection by Optical Head 202", a signal on information recording medium 201 is reproduced by detecting a change in amount of light reflected by the light reflecting film or light reflective recording film of information recording medium (optical disc) 201. A signal obtained by amplifier 213 has an analog waveform. Binarization circuit 212 converts that signal into a binary digital signal consisting of "1"s and "0"s using a comparator. PLL circuit 211 extracts a reference signal upon reproducing information from the reproduced signal obtained by binarization circuit 212. PLL circuit 211 incorporates a variable frequency oscillator. The frequencies and phases of a pulse signal (reference clock) output from that oscillator and the signal output from binarization circuit 212 are compared, and the comparison result is fed back to the oscillator output. <E-3-2> Demodulation of Signal Demodulation circuit 210 includes a conversion table that indicates the relationship between the modulated signal and demodulated signal. A signal is restored to an original signal by looking up the conversion table in response to the reference clock obtained by PLL circuit 211. The restored (demodulated) signal is recorded on semiconductor memory 219. <E-3-3> Error Correction Process Error correction circuit 209 detects error positions from the signal saved on semiconductor memory 219 using inner and outer codes PI and PO, and sets pointer flags of the error positions. After that, signals at error positions are corrected as needed in correspondence with the error pointer flags while reading out signals from semiconductor memory 219, and are transferred to data I/O interface 222 after inner and outer codes PI and PO are removed. A signal sent from ECC encoding circuit 208 is output as reproduced signal c from data I/O interface 222. <<1>> Expansion Information Use Method for Common Information Complying with Standards FIG. 12 shows the basic concept of the present invention. For example, information recorded on an information recording medium (optical disc 1001) according to the standards set in a public place like DVD-Video is called common information 2001 complying with standards. Common information 2001 complying with standards is separated into object information or contents information 2012 which indicates information of contents themselves of information such as video information, still picture information, audio information, and the like, and management/control information 2011 for managing/controlling that information. These two pieces of information comply with the standards, and can be played back and edited by any drivers (information recording/playback apparatuses) irrespective of their manufacturers. When an original function beyond those specified by the standards is provided by only a driver (information recording/reproducing apparatus) of a specific manufacturer, and information that pertains to the original function is recorded on the information recording medium (optical disc 1001), such information can be recorded on a recording region of specific information 2002 which can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Specific information 2002 which can be used by only a specific manufacturer is recorded on that region on the information recording medium (optical disc 1001), which is different from that of common information 2001 complying with standards. Information that pertains to contents themselves of information such as video information, still picture information, audio information, or the like of the information that can be played back by only the driver (information recording/playback apparatus) of the specific manufacturer is defined by specific object information (specific contents information) 2008 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Information required for managing and controlling this specific object information (specific contents information) 2008 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer is defined by management/control information 2006 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Even the driver (information recording/playback apparatus) of the specific manufacturer having the original function basically operates according to function rules specified by the standards. Hence, the driver (information recording/playback apparatus) basically executes operations and processes using common information 2001 complying with standards, and executes special processes by reading out specific information 2002 which can be used by only a specific manufacturer in only a portion that requires a specific function. That is, a location or timing requiring specific information 2002 which can be used by only a specific manufacturer is set in association with the contents of common information 2001 complying with standards. Information that indicates association of specific information 2002 which can be used by only a specific manufacturer with common information 2001 complying with standards is defined as "link information 2003". The basic concept and objectives of the present invention are summarized as follows. A plurality of pieces of link information uniquely created by recorders (information recording/playback apparatuses) of a plurality of companies can be parallelly stored and used. The need for ID assignment is obviated in a specific organization in association with manufacturer ID information that sets link information. As a result, no application for seeking permission/authorization of the specific organization is required, and a new manufacturer can freely enter the market. After video information is edited by a recorder (information recording/playback apparatus) of another company, the influence of edited video information on link information can be detected by a recorder (information recording/playback apparatus) of the self company. FIGS. 13A to 13C show information contents recorded in one link information. The features of the information contents are summarized below. (1) One link information can simultaneously indicate a plurality of link sources/link destinations: When an identical original function (a function that can be implemented by only a driver of a specific manufacturer) is to be designated at a plurality of locations in management/control information 2005 complying with standards, such parallel links set at a plurality of locations can reduce the number of pieces of link information required. When a plurality of original functions (functions that can be implemented by only a driver of a specific manufacturer) are to be designated at a single location in management/control information 2005 complying with standards, such parallel links set at a plurality of locations can reduce the number of pieces of link information required. (2) A method of allowing parallel storage and use of a plurality of pieces of link information uniquely created by recorders of a plurality of companies: In the structure of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of link information can parallelly correspond to a single VOB or cell. Each link information records "last recorded/modified time (date) information 2061 of corresponding link information". Also, each link information records "drive manufacturer group ID information (ID of a group formed by a plurality of manufacturers) 2034 of a drive manufacturer group that can use specific information in association with the corresponding link information" or "drive manufacturer ID information (drive manufacturer name or the like) 2035 of a drive manufacturer that can use specific information in association with the corresponding link information", and the manufacturer name that can use the corresponding link information can be detected from this information. (3) A method of obviating the need for manufacturer ID assignment in the specific organization: An example will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13C. Manufacturer group ID information 2034, drive manufacturer ID information 2035, and model information 2073 (e.g., the oldest model that can use specific information) indicating models which can use specific information are recorded as text information. Furthermore, in order to cope with identical manufacturer names (related companies and the like), the link information further contains "additional information 2037 that pertains to this link information that a drive manufacturer can set", and confusion can be avoided by setting, e.g., a password. As a text information recording method, "ID information 2033 of a character code for drive manufacturer use" (e.g., JIS code ID or the like) is set in the link information. FIGS. 14A to 14C summary other embodiments which pertain to a method of setting "drive manufacturer ID information" according to the present invention. FIG. 12 shows common information, specific information, and link information recorded on the information recording medium, and schematically shows links between common information 2001 and specific information 2002. An example of a method of linking common information 2001 and specific information 2002 will be explained in detail below. Information that pertains to a link pattern with respect to each specific information 2002 is recorded in the column of "information 2041 that pertains to the link pattern of specific information associated with this link information" in link information 2003, as shown in FIG. 13A. In the embodiment of the present invention, there are four different link patterns as follows. (1) Link Pattern A: Call Process from External Program/Specific Information Side This pattern uses the processing method shown in FIG. 15. That is, object information 2007 complying with standards in common information 2001 complying with standards is directly used from management/control information 2006 side that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Since each object information is managed by video object information 1077 side, information 2006 calls video object information 1107 in practice. As another method, a method of calling cell playback information 1108 as a display unit or PGC control information 1103 that indicates continuous playback programs is available. Examples of the method of using this pattern are as follows. Management information 2006 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer systematically manages video information, still picture information, and audio information in all of a plurality of information recording media (optical discs 1001) or a whole information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers like a multi-disc pack or multi-layered disc, so as to systematically manage PGC control information 1103, cell playback information 1108, and video object information 1107 (information of each recording layer) which are managed in units of layers. Program recording reservation information is provided to management/control information 2006 side that can be used by only a specific manufacturer, and information obtained by video recording using that reservation information is recorded as common information 2001 complying with standards (recorded video information is recorded as video object 1012, and management information that pertains to the video information is recorded in management/control information 2005 complying with standards). Query information (tree structure information with a large number of layers, keyword query information, and the like) for video information or a huge number of pieces of still picture information recorded is provided to management/control information 2006 side that can be used by only a specific manufacturer, and required video information or still picture information recorded in video objects 1012 or picture objects 1013 is retrieved by search and displayed. Management/control information 2006 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer shown in FIG. 15 has information contents for implementing functions associated with basic functions, which are specified by the standards associated with common information 2001. However, the present invention is limited to such specific contents, and management/control information 2006 may be used as an external component for specific external application program 2110. For example, information of picture objects 1013 or video objects 1012 may be pasted in a portion of a document created on document creation software, or may be similarly pasted in presentation software. Furthermore, an application program having a function of extracting some data in video information in video objects 1012, automatically converting the extracted data into CG (computer graphics) data using, e.g., an edge extraction technique, and animating that CG data as the user wants using, e.g., a morphing technique can be created using the technique of the present invention. (2) Link Pattern B: Partial Exchange Process This pattern uses the processing method shown in FIG. 16. That is, information obtained by appending information, which has information contents similar to, e.g., VOB 1403 and cell 1443 and correspond to an original function, to object information 2007 complying with standards with the structure shown in FIGS. 3A to 3J is recorded in "expanded video object information 2115" and "expanded cell playback information 2114". By selecting link information 2003 later, VOB 1403 and cell 1443 are replaced by the alternative (exchange) information in specific information 2002 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer upon playing back and displaying information. Examples of applications using this processing method are as follows. Recording Format Conversion of Object Information In the DVD Video specifications, the recording format of video information is limited to "MPEG1" or "MPEG2". For example, when information recorded in the DV (digital video) format is recorded with the data structure shown in FIGS. 3A to 3J, video information converted into the MPEG2 format is recorded (this information is recorded in video objects 1012 shown in FIG. 16), and original video information in the DV format is also recorded as another file in computer data area 1008 shown in FIG. 1C. This information serves as specific object information (specific contents information) 2008 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer shown in FIG. 16. Furthermore, management/control information which pertains to this video information in the DV format is recorded as another file in computer data area 1008, and is used as management/control information 2006 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Upon playback, an information playback apparatus of a general manufacturer plays back video information recorded in the MPEG2 format in video objects 1012 shown in FIG. 16. By contrast, an information playback apparatus of a specific manufacturer can play back original video information in the DV format, which is recorded in specific object information (specific contents information) 2008 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. In general, since video information in the DV format has higher image quality than MPEG2 information, a technique unique to the specific manufacturer can be provided. The same applies not only to video information but also to still picture information. That is, picture objects 1013 shown in FIG. 16 are recorded in the "MPEG2 I-picture format". Still picture information in the bitmap or JPEG format captured by a digital camera is recorded in picture objects 1013 shown in FIG. 16 after format conversion. At the same time, an original picture in the JPEG format is recorded in specific object information (specific contents information) 2008 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. The information playback apparatus of the specific manufacturer can play back the original picture in the JPEG format with higher resolution (higher image quality) using link information 2003. Variable Speed Playback Cell playback information 1108 shown in FIG. 16 records information for normal playback speed alone. For example, upon making FF (fast playback) or FR (fast rewind) at double or quadruple speed, frame-decimated playback must be designated. Information indicating a playback procedure corresponding to FF or FR is recorded in advance in cell playback information 2114, and only an information playback apparatus of a specific manufacturer can achieve FF or FR playback using link information 2003. After-recording Insertion Process When audio information is overwritten by after recording while playing back video information already recorded in video objects 1012 shown in FIG. 16, only the audio information to be additionally recorded is recorded in audio objects 1014 in common information 2001 complying with standards. After that, as information that replaces the corresponding information in cell playback information 1108 used for playing back the video information already recorded in video objects 1012, information indicating the mechanism for simultaneously playing back the video information in video objects 1012 and after-recorded information in audio objects 1014 is created, and is recorded in expanded cell playback information 2114 in specific information 2002 that can be used by only a specific manufacturer. Only an information playback apparatus manufactured by the specific manufacturer can simultaneously play back and output the aforementioned video information and after-recorded audio information using expanded cell playback information 2114. Video Information Display After Special Edit Common information 2001 complying with standards does not contain any special edit information for video information. For example, when the user wants to execute "fade-in" and "chromakey" special edit processes for VOB 1404 in FIG. 3D, management/control information is created by appending "fade-in" and "chromakey" special edit process information contents to management/control information corresponding to VOB 1404 in FIG. 3D contained in video object information 1107 in FIG. 16, and is recorded in expanded video object information 2115. An information playback apparatus manufactured by the specific manufacturer reads the corresponding information recorded in expanded video object information 2115, and displays and outputs video information which has undergone the special edit processes. Note that the special edit information is described in the EDL format in expanded video object information 2115. (3) Link Pattern C: Specific Information Insertion Process This pattern uses the processing method shown in FIG. 16. For example, assume that an information playback apparatus manufactured by a general manufacturer plays back in the order of cell 1441.fwdarw.cell 1442.fwdarw.cell 1443, as shown in FIG. 3G. By contrast, a specific manufacturer records cell* in expanded cell playback information 2114 shown in FIG. 16, and designates its insertion location to be "immediately after cell 1442" in link information 2003. An information playback apparatus manufactured by the specific manufacturer can play back PGC 1446 shown in FIG. 3H in the order of "cell 1441.fwdarw.cell 1442.fwdarw.cell*.fwdarw.cell 1443" using link information 2003. As |