Patent ID: 6895171

Claim:
A recording method comprising: creating a first program chain and a second program chain each containing a plurality of video data cells containing video data; creating a program chain information table that includes a first group of program chain information associated with said first program chain, a second group of program chain information associated with said second program chain, and search pointers corresponding to program chain numbers for searching the corresponding program chains, said first and said second group of program chain information each comprising: (1) first cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain; (2) content information defining contents of said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information comprising: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium, (b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists, (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium, and (d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, if said program chain following said associated program chain exists; and recording the program chain information table in a first portion of a recording medium and recording said video data in a second portion of said recording medium different from said first portion.