Recording medium having data structure for managing recording and reproduction of multiple path data recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatus

An apparatus for reproducing video data having multiple reproduction paths from a recording medium, comprising:

• a controller configured to:
• receive a request of a path change from a current path to a request path among the multiple reproduction paths,
• determine an entry point based on an entry point fine table and the entry point coarse table in an entry point map,
• determine whether or not the path change is permitted based on the entry point map, and
• determine a position where the path change is performed based on the entry point map, and to control the path change based on the determination,
• wherein the position is associated with the entry point in the video data, the entry point map maps a presentation time and an address for one or more entry points, and the entry point map includes path information indicating whether or not the path change is permitted and indicating the position where the path change is performed if the path change is permitted.

A method for reproducing video data having multiple reproduction paths from a recording medium, comprising:

• receiving a request of a path change from a current path to a request path among the multiple reproduction paths;
• determining an entry point based on an entry point fine table and the entry point coarse table in an entry point map;
• determining whether or not the path change is permitted based on the entry point map;
• determining a position where the path change is performed based on the entry point map, the position being associated with the entry point in the video data, the entry point map mapping a presentation time and an address for one or more entry points, the entry point map including path information indicating whether or not the path change is permitted and indicating the position where the path change is performed if the path change is permitted;
• and
• controlling the path change based on the determination.