Method and an apparatus for reproducing bitstream having non-sequential system clock data seamlessly therebetween

An optical disk for use with a data stream reproduction apparatus, the data stream reproduction apparatus is for reproducing data streams, including a plurality of data units, after storing the data streams in a buffer, the data units being respectively associated with first time codes for indicating transfer timings at which the respective data units are input to the buffer, at least one data unit being associated with a second time code for indicating a presentation timing at which the at least one data unit is reproduced,

• the apparatus including:
• a decoder, which includes the buffer, for storing the data streams input thereto and then decoding the stored data streams with reference to a reference clock, so as to reproduce the stored data streams based on the second time code in such a manner that the at least one data unit with the second time code is reproduced at the presentation timing;
• a data stream supplying means for supplying the data streams to the buffer with reference to the reference clock so as to input the data units at the transfer timings based on the first time codes, respectively, and
• a controller for supplying the reference clock to the decoder and the data stream supplying means,
• wherein the controller comprises:
• a system lock generator for generating a first clock and a second clock different from the first clock;
• and
• a system clock selector for selectively outputting the first and second clocks in such a manner that, during a first period, one of the first and second clocks is supplied as the reference clock both to the data stream supplying means and the decoder and, during a second period, one of the first and second clocks is supplied to the data stream supplying means while the other of the first and second clocks is supplied to the decoder;
• the optical disk comprising:
• a data region for storing the data streams including first and second data streams;
• and
• a management information region for storing connection information which is utilized during data stream reproduction and indicates that the first data stream is followed by the second data stream, wherein
• the connection information includes system clock selection information for use during data stream reproduction so that the first data stream is supplied to the buffer and then decoded with reference to one of the first and second clocks while the second data stream is supplied to the buffer and then decoded with reference to the other of the first and second clocks.

A data stream reproduction method for reproducing data streams, including a plurality of data units, after storing the data streams in a buffer, the data units being respectively associated with first time codes for indicating transfer timings at which the respective data units are input to the buffer, at least one data unit being associated with a second time code for indicating a presentation timing at which the at least one data unit is reproduced, the method comprising:

• storing the data streams in a decoder, which includes the buffer, and then decoding the stored data streams with reference to a reference clock, so as to reproduce the stored data streams based on the second time code in such a manner that the at least one data unit with the second time code is reproduced at the presentation timing;
• supplying the data streams to the buffer via a data stream supplying means with reference to the reference clock so as to input the data units at the transfer timings based on the first time codes, respectively, and
• supplying the reference clock to the decoder and the data stream supplying means,
• wherein supplying the reference clock includes:
• generating a first clock and a second clock different from the first clock;
• and
• selectively outputting the first and second clocks in such a manner that, during a first period, one of the first and second clocks is supplied as the reference clock both to the data stream supplying means and the decoder and, during a second period, one of the first and second clocks is supplied to the data stream supplying means while the other of the first and second clocks is supplied to the decoder.