Optical disc, recording device and reproducing device

A recording method for recording an optical disc comprising an area for storing a data stream containing an encoded video stream and at least one encoded audio stream, and an area for storing management information, said recording method comprising:

• detecting whether a single audio stream comprises at least two of the following,
• (a) dual monaural audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, one of which is to be selectively reproduced,
• (b) stereo audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, which are to be simultaneously reproduced, and
• (c) monaural audio data having data for only one audio channel;
• recording an application flag to the area for storing management information according to the detection result;
• determining a representative audio data when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c);
• and
• recording the representative audio data to said area for storing management information.

A recording apparatus for recording an optical disc comprising an area for storing a data stream containing an encoded video stream and at least one encoded audio stream, and an area for storing management information, said recording apparatus comprising:

• detection means for detecting whether a single audio stream comprises at least two of the following,
• (a) dual monaural audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, one of which is to be selectively reproduced,
• (b) stereo audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, which are to be simultaneously reproduced, and
• (c) monaural audio data having data for only one audio channel;
• recording means for recording an application flag to the area for storing management information according to the detection result;
• means for determining a representative audio data when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c);
• and
• recording means for recording the representative audio data to said area for storing management information.

A playback method for reproducing an optical disc comprising an area for storing a data stream containing an encoded video stream and at least one encoded audio stream, and an area for storing management information, said management information comprising an application flag which indicates whether a single audio stream includes at least two of the following,

• (a) dual monaural audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, one of which is to be selectively reproduced,
• (b) stereo audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, which are to be simultaneously reproduced, and
• (c) monaural audio data having data for only one audio channel;
• and
• said management information further comprising, when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c), representative audio data indicating just one of the at least two audio data (a), (b) and (c), the playback method comprising:
• reading the application flag from the area for storing management information;
• detecting according to the application flag whether the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c);
• and
• reading from the area for storing management information, when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c), the representative audio data indicating just one of the at least two audio data (a), (b) and (c).

A playback apparatus for reproducing an optical disc comprising an area for storing a data stream containing an encoded video stream and at least one encoded audio stream, and an area for storing management information, said management information comprising an application flag which indicates whether a single audio stream includes at least two of the following,

• (a) dual monaural audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, one of which is to be selectively reproduced,
• (b) stereo audio data having first audio channel data and second audio channel data, which are to be simultaneously reproduced, and
• (c) monaural audio data having data for only one audio channel;
• and
• said management information further comprising, when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c), representative audio data indicating just one of the at least two audio data (a), (b) and (c),
• the playback apparatus comprising:
• means for reading the application flag from the area for storing management information;
• means for detecting according to the application flag whether the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c);
• and
• means for reading from the area for storing management information, when the single audio stream contains at least two of said audio data (a), (b) and (c), the representative audio data indicating just one of the at least two audio data (a), (b) and (c).