Method and apparatus for retrieving metadata for managing video data

A method of providing information for managing reproduction of video data, comprising:

• providing management information for associating metadata with the video data, wherein the management information includes a metadata indicator for indicating whether the metadata exists in a stream including at least a portion of the management information, the metadata being additional information describing the video data,
• wherein the metadata corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined formats,
• wherein the metadata indicator indicates that the metadata associated with the video data exists in the stream when the metadata indicator has a first metadata indicator value,
• wherein the metadata indicator indicates that the metadata associated with the video data does not exist in the stream when the metadata indicator has a second metadata indicator value, and
• wherein the metadata indicator is a flag.

An apparatus for providing information for managing reproduction of video data, comprising:

• a controller configured to,
• provide management information for associating metadata with the video data, wherein the management information includes a metadata indicator for indicating whether the metadata exists in a stream including at least a portion of the management information, the metadata being additional information describing the video data,
• wherein the metadata corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined formats,
• wherein the metadata indicator indicates that the metadata associated with the video data exists in the stream when the metadata indicator has a first metadata indicator value,
• wherein the metadata indicator indicates that the metadata associated with the video data does not exist in the stream when the metadata indicator has a second metadata indicator value, and
• wherein the metadata indicator is a flag.