Patent ID: 7376061

Claim:
A reproducing apparatus which reproduces data from a recording medium having a first area where audio data encoded by a predetermined encoding system is recorded and a second recording area where recording data is recorded, the apparatus comprising: reading means for reading data recorded on the recording medium; decoding means for decoding audio data encoded by the predetermined encoding system; storage means for storing an encoding format of the audio data recorded on the first recording area and a data format of the data recorded on the second recording area, with the encoding format and the data format being linked to each other, and with the data recorded on the second area being allowed to be reproduced with respect to the encoding format when the audio data recorded on the first recording area is reproduced; and control means for reading the encoding format of the audio data only when the audio data read from the recording medium is read from the first recording area, with the data recorded on the second area being allowed to be reproduced during reproducing of the audio data, and reading and reproducing, from the second area, the data linked to the audio data read from the first area if the audio data is audio data for which the data recorded on the second recording area is allowed to be reproduced during reproducing of the audio data.