Information storage medium storing content, content providing method, content reproducing method and apparatus therefor

A content providing method comprising:

• acquiring a plurality of component files forming content;
• acquiring characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• generating a data box in which the plurality of component files are arranged according to the characteristic information;
• generating a meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information;
• and
• generating one container file including the data box and the meta box.

A content reproducing method comprising:

• reading information included in a meta box from one container file recorded on an information storage medium, the container file comprising a data box in which a plurality of component files forming content are arranged according to characteristic information of the plurality of component files and the meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• reading data recorded in the data box by referring to the information included in the meta box;
• and
• reproducing the content by using the information included in the meta box and the data read from the data box.

A content providing apparatus comprising:

• an input unit for acquiring a plurality of component files forming content and characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• a control unit for generating a data box in which the plurality of component files are arranged according to the characteristic information, a meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information, and one container file including the data box and the meta box;
• and
• a storage unit for storing the generated container file.

A content reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a read unit for reading information included in a meta box from one container file recorded on an information storage medium, the container file comprising a data box in which a plurality of component files forming content are arranged according to characteristic information of the plurality of component files and the meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• a reproduction unit for reproducing the content;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the read unit to read data recorded in the data box by referring to the information included in the meta box and controlling the reproduction unit to reproduce the content by using the information included in the meta box and the data read from the data box.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein program instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the content providing method comprising:

• acquiring a plurality of component files forming content;
• acquiring characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• generating a data box in which the plurality of component files are arranged according to the characteristic information;
• generating a meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information;
• and
• generating one container file including the data box and the meta box.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein program instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the content reproducing method comprising:

• reading information included in a meta box from one container file recorded on an information storage medium, the container file comprising a data box in which a plurality of component files forming content are arranged according to characteristic information of the plurality of component files and the meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and the characteristic information of the plurality of component files;
• reading data recorded in the data box by referring to the information included in the meta box;
• and
• reproducing the content by using the information included in the meta box and the data read from the data box.