Method and an apparatus for encoding a bitstream with plural possible searching reproduction paths information

Abstract

A multimedia optical disk comprising at least one information layer to which plural system streams and plural program chain information entries are recorded. The plural system streams are interleaved in group.sub.-- of.sub.-- pictures GOP units data containing at least moving pictures, and reproduction control information containing special reproduction mode information declaring the address of the next data to be reproduced according to the special reproduction mode used. The plural program chain information entries declare the system stream reproduction sequence of a program chain comprising more than one system stream. At least one system stream is shared by plural program chains. The address information of the first reproduction control information and the address information of the last reproduction control information in each system stream are recorded to the program chain information according to the system stream reproduction sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.