Apparatus and method for reproducing multimedia data using the virtual file system

A method of reproducing multimedia data using a virtual file system, the method comprising:

• storing data downloaded from a network in a local storage;
• reading data stored in an information storage medium and the data stored in the local storage;
• and
• creating the virtual file system and reproducing the data stored in the information storage medium in connection with the data stored in the local storage with reference to the virtual file system.

A method of reproducing multimedia data using a virtual file system, the method comprising:

• creating a virtual file system;
• requesting data from the virtual file system using a reproduction unit or an application which reproduces audio-visual data;
• reading data from an information storage medium or downloading data from a server through a network with reference to the virtual file system;
• updating the virtual file system;
• and
• reproducing the data read from the information storage medium in connection with the downloaded data with reference to the updated virtual file system.

A method of reproducing data by creating a virtual file system with directory information using directory information of an information storage medium and directory information of a local storage, comprising:

• reading the directory information recorded on the information storage medium and the directory information recorded in the local storage;
• and
• if files, including first data, exist in the information storage medium or the local storage, creating secondary data in the virtual file system that refers to the existing files as existing in the information storage medium or the local storage, identifying a location of the first data corresponding to the data in the virtual file system with reference to the directory information of the virtual file system, and reading the first data from the information storage medium or the local storage, or
• if files, including third data, with an identical name exist in both of the information storage medium and the local storage, reading the third data from the information storage medium or the local storage according to predetermined conditions, and providing the read third data to an application or a navigation engine, or
• if a file, including fourth data, in the information storage medium is to be combined with a file, including fifth data, in the local storage to create a new file, creating sixth data referring to the fourth data in the information storage medium and the fifth data in the local storage in the virtual file system.

A method of reproducing multimedia data using a virtual file system, the method comprising:

• creating a virtual file system using directory information of an information storage medium and directory information of a local storage;
• requesting data from the virtual file system;
• reading data from the information storage medium or downloading data from a server to the local storage with reference to the virtual file system;
• combining directory information of the downloaded data and directory information of the data stored in the information storage medium;
• and
• reproducing the data read from the information storage medium in connection with the downloaded data with reference to the updated virtual file system.

A reproducing unit of an apparatus, having a local storage, to record/reproduce data read from the local storage and/or a medium inserted therein, the reproducing unit comprising:

• a navigation engine to control the reproduction of a moving picture based on navigation data read from the medium;
• a program engine to execute an application program related to the navigation data and/or the data from the medium to be reproduced and/or to execute the application program to download external data to the local storage;
• and
• a module manager to create a virtual file system using data read from the information storage medium and/or data read from the local storage, and to transmit reproduction control information to the program engine and the navigation engine based on data stored in the virtual file system.

A reproduction method using a virtual file system for use with a recording/reproducing apparatus, having a local storage, into which a medium may be inserted, comprising:

• creating a virtual file system when the information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus;
• requesting data from the virtual file system to allow for an execution of a Java application;
• downloading and storing data from a server to the local storage, upon the execution of the Java application;
• requesting an update of the virtual file system and responsively updating the virtual file system at a predetermined time;
• and
• reading data from the medium or reading the downloaded data with reference to the updated virtual file system and reproducing the read data.