WO2005093749A1

WO2005093749A1 - Information reproduction device, information reproduction method, information reproduction program, and recording medium containing the program

Info

Publication number: WO2005093749A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/005267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenji Ohsawa
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2004-03-26
Filing date: 2005-03-23
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: JP2007226850A

Abstract

It is possible to provide an information reproduction device capable of eliminating a trouble of reproducing the next information by omitting reproduction of the information reproduced once. The DVD reproduction device P for reproducing contents recorded on a DVD medium DK inhibits reproduction of a content already reproduced and includes a CPU (14) as not-reproduced information reproduction means for selecting information not reproduced so as to reproduce the information not reproduced. It is preferable that the DVD reproduction device P further include an operation unit (15) used for selecting to cause the CPU (14) to function as not-reproduced information reproduction means.

Description

Information reproducing apparatus, information reproducing method, information reproducing program, and recording medium storing the same

Technical field

[0001] The present application relates to an information reproducing apparatus, an information reproducing method, an information reproducing program, and an information recording medium for reproducing recorded information. Background art

[0002] Conventionally, a reproducing apparatus for a recording medium such as a DVD (digital versatile disc) has been developed. As an example of such a playback apparatus, as described in Patent Literature 1, when trying to play back a large amount of data recorded on a disc, a menu screen for a user to select a playback order appears. There is a known disk reproducing apparatus that omit this menu screen.

Patent Document 1: JP 2000-156023

[0003] Further, it is known that a recording medium reproducing apparatus does not display a menu screen and performs reproduction as intended by a maker of the recording medium.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, if the reproduction is performed as intended by the creator of the recording medium while reproducing the same information, the same information may be reproduced many times. In some cases, it was unnaturally received by users. In such a case, the user skips the reproduction of unnecessary parts, that is, the information that has been reproduced once, by instructing and operating it, and reproduces the next information!

[0005] Accordingly, the present application provides an information reproducing apparatus and an information reproducing method which eliminate the trouble of reproducing the information that has been reproduced once and reproducing the next information by operating the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program used for reproducing the information and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

Means for solving the problem [0006] In order to solve the above problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium, wherein reproduction of the information that has already been reproduced is prohibited. The information reproducing apparatus further comprises an unreproduced information reproducing means for stopping the reproduction and selecting the unreproduced information.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, an invention according to claim 6 is an information reproducing method for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium, wherein the reproduction of the already reproduced information is prohibited. An information reproduction method comprising: a reproduction prohibition step of stopping the reproduction; and an unreproduced information reproduction step of selecting and reproducing the unreproduced information.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 7 provides a computer included in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium by reproducing the already reproduced information. An information reproduction program for prohibiting the reproduction of information and for functioning as an unreproduced information reproducing means for selecting and reproducing the unreproduced information.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, an invention according to claim 8 is a method for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium by a computer included in an information reproducing apparatus. And an information reproduction program for functioning as an unreproduced information reproducing means for selecting and reproducing the unreproduced information, wherein the information reproducing program is readable by the computer.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a DVD playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 (a) is a diagram showing a data structure of information recorded on a DVD medium to be reproduced by a DVD reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (b) is a diagram showing a specific example of the total number of contents, which are information recorded on the same DVD medium, and reproduction order information indicating the content to be reproduced next to a certain content. FIG. 2 (c) is a diagram showing the order of reproducing the content based on the reproduction order information of the DVD medium of FIG. 2 (b).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a reproducing process in the DVD reproducing device of the embodiment according to the present application. Explanation of reference numerals

10 Spindle motor

11 Pickup

12 Amplifier

13 Decoding unit

14 CPU

15 Operation section

16 Display

17 Π 自 '| β

21 Lead-in area

22 Management information area

23, 24, 25, 26 Information area for each content

231 Link destination information area

232 Content A information area

27 Lead-out area

P DVD playback device

DK DVD media

Bm light beam

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is an embodiment in which a DVD playback device is used as the information playback device of the present application and a DVD medium is used as a recording medium. Further, the DVD medium of the present embodiment records a plurality of image information and audio information (hereinafter, also simply referred to as image information). The embodiment can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present application, which does not limit the present application.

An embodiment according to the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a DVD playback device of the present embodiment. 2 are diagrams showing the configuration of information recorded on the DVD medium of the present embodiment. is there. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a DVD reproducing method according to the present embodiment.

[0016] The configuration of the DVD playback device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the DVD playback device P according to the present embodiment includes a spindle motor 10 on which a DVD medium DK is rotatably fixed, a pickup 11, an amplification unit 12, and a decoding unit 13. , CPU (central

a processing unit (central processing unit) 14, an operation unit 15, a display 16, and a memory 17.

[0018] For example, the CPU 14 functions as the unreproduced information reproducing means of the present application, and the operation unit 15

, Function as the operating means of the present application. Further, for example, the display 16 functions as a notification means of the present application, and the memory 17 functions as storage means of the present application.

In this configuration, the spindle motor 10 rotates the DVD medium DK at a rotation speed indicated by the spindle servo control signal Scs from the CPU 14. The rotation speed of the spindle motor 10 can be changed to at least about 680 to 1400 rpm depending on the position of the pickup 11.

[0020] Then, the pickup 11 irradiates the DVD medium DK with a light beam Bm of a constant intensity for information reproduction in accordance with the pickup control signal Sep from the CPU 14, and based on the reflected light of the light beam Bm from the DVD medium DK. Then, a detection signal Spp corresponding to the information recorded on the DVD medium DK is generated and output to the amplification unit 12.

As a result, the amplification unit 12 amplifies the detection signal Spp at a preset amplification factor.

, And outputs it to the decoding unit 13 as an amplified signal Samp. In addition, the amplification unit 12 includes, among the amplified signal Samp, a signal related to the reproduction order information indicating the order in which the information of the DVD media DK is reproduced.

And outputs a signal relating to necessary information to the CPU 14.

[0022] Then, based on the control signal Sdc from the CPU 14, the decoding unit 13 performs a predetermined decoding process on the amplified signal Samp based on the control signal Sdc from the CPU 14, and is another device as image information Sp. Output to the display device.

[0023] The CPU 14 acquires, from the amplification unit 12, a signal related to reproduction order information indicating the order in which the image information of the DVD media DK is reproduced, of the amplified signal Samp. And CPU14 is D Among the information recorded on the VD media DK, prohibits the reproduction of already reproduced information, selects unreproduced information, and reproduces the selected information.

Specifically, the CPU 14 acquires the memory signal Smm indicating the information of the playback history of the DVD media DK from the memory 17 and determines whether the information is included in the playback history of the DVD media DK to be played next. Determine whether or not. Then, when the information is included in the reproduction history, the CPU 14 prohibits the reproduction of the information. On the other hand, if the information is not included in the reproduction history, the CPU 14 reproduces the information.

When the reproduction of the image information is prohibited, the CPU 14 outputs the control signal Sdc to the decoding unit 13, outputs the image information Sp to the display device without performing the decoding process on the amplified signal Samp. Do not let. At this time, the control signal Sdc is output to the decoding unit 13 so as to reproduce the information selected in accordance with the unreproduced information power reproduction order information (hereinafter, the CPU 14 prohibits the reproduction, The function of selecting and reproducing the information is called the unreproduced information reproduction function.) When reproducing the information, the control signal Sdc is output to the decoding unit 13 and the image information Sp is transmitted to the display device as described above. Output.

After prohibiting the reproduction of already reproduced information, the CPU 14 selects and reproduces unreproduced information according to the priority order set by the operation unit 15 described later.

Note that the CPU 14 causes the memory 17 to store the fact that the reproduced image information Sp of the DVD medium DK has been reproduced as a reproduction history.

The CPU 14 outputs to the spindle motor 10 a spindle servo control signal Scs indicating the number of rotations of the DVD medium DK, which controls the number of rotations of the spindle motor 10. Further, the CPU 14 outputs a pickup control signal Sep to the pickup 11 in order to control the position of the pickup 11, the irradiation amount of the light beam Bm, and the like for the irradiation of the light beam Bm of the pickup 11.

The operation unit 15 is used and operated by a user to execute the operation as the DVD playback device P in each of the above-described components, and the operation unit 15 generates an operation signal Sop corresponding to the operation. And outputs it to the CPU 14. Then, the CPU 14 performs overall control of each of the above-mentioned components constituting the DVD reproducing apparatus P based on the operation signal Sop.

[0030] The operation unit 15 selects whether or not the CPU 14 has the function of making the unreproduced information reproducing function function. Used to Further, the operation unit 15 is used by a user of the DVD playback device P to set a priority order for information.

The display 16 also includes, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an operation state and the like as the DVD player P based on a display signal Sdp output from the CPU 14. In particular, the display 16 displays that the reproduction has been prohibited for the information whose reproduction has been prohibited by the CPU 14.

[0032] The memory 17 stores, when the information of the DVD media DK is reproduced, the fact that the information has been reproduced as a reproduction history, and when the CPU 14 reproduces the information, the reproduction history of the DVD media DK. The CPU transmits a memory signal Smm indicating the above information to the CPU.

Next, a DVD medium DK in which a plurality of pieces of information to be reproduced by the DVD reproducing apparatus P according to the present embodiment are recorded will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2A shows a data structure of information recorded on the DVD medium DK. FIG. 2B shows a specific example of the total number of information contents and the reproduction order information indicating the content to be reproduced next to a certain content, recorded on the DVD media DK. FIG. 2 (c) shows the order in which the contents are reproduced based on the reproduction order information of the DVD media DK in FIG. 2 (b).

[0035] As shown in the upper part of Fig. 2 (a), the data structure of the DVD media DK includes a lead-in area 21, a management information area 22, a content A information area 23, and a content B area for starting to read recorded information. The information area 24, the content C information area 25, the content information blue information area 26, the readout area 27 for finishing reading the recorded information, and power. In the management information area 22, information on the disc name, information on the total number of contents, and other copyright information may be recorded.

[0036] Furthermore, the information areas 23, 24, 25, and 26 of the respective contents take the content A as an example, and as shown in the lower part of FIG. 231 followed by a content A information area 232.

As shown in a specific example in FIG. 2 (b), the management information area 22 of the DVD media DK includes information of “XXX” as a disc name, information of “all 4 contents” as a total number of contents, And information on the priority of each content is recorded. In addition, the link destination of DVD media DK In the information area 231, information on the link destination after the end of the reproduction of each content is recorded. The link destination of the content A is the content C, the link destination of the content C is the content A, and the link destinations of the content B and the content D are not recorded. Of these pieces of information, the total number of contents, the priority of each content, and the link destination after the reproduction of each content is used as the reproduction order information.

[0038] Here, each content will be described. For example, when the DVD media DK is related to a movie, the content A is advertising image information indicating a logo of a movie company, and the content C is The content B and the content D are audio information and image information of a privilege video showing a state at the time of production of the movie and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2 (c), when this DVD media DK is installed in a DVD installation section of a conventional DVD playback device (1), first, content A is played (2). Next, a search is made for the content C, which is the link destination after the playback of the content A is completed (3), and the content C is reproduced (4). Thereafter, the content A, which is the link destination after the end of the reproduction of the content C, is searched (5), and the content A is reproduced (again (2)). Thus, according to the normal reproduction order, the content A is reproduced in duplicate.

On the other hand, in the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment, the same content is reproduced again because the operation described later is performed on the DVD disc DK! There is no need for the user to perform operations to prevent the same content from being reproduced again.

Next, the operation according to the present application executed in the above-described DVD reproducing apparatus P will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of reproducing each content recorded on the DVD medium DK in the DVD reproducing apparatus. This processing is performed when the DVD player DK shown in FIG. 1 is installed with the DVD media DK shown in FIG. 2 and the audio information and the image information recorded on the DVD media DK are played back on the display device. FIG. In the present embodiment, in the processing of step S3 to be described later, the case where the priority of the information of the DVD player DK DVD media DK is set to Content> Content D> Content C> Content A explain First, the CPU 14 recognizes that the DVD medium DK has been set in a predetermined DVD setting section (Step Sl). Then, the CPU 14 allows the user to make a selection by displaying on the display 16 whether or not to select the unreproduced information reproduction function (step S2).

When the user selects the unplayed information reproducing function using the operation unit 15, the CPU 14 recognizes that the unplayed information reproducing function has been selected (step S2; YES). Next, when the user sets the priority of “content B> content D> content C> content A” by using the operation unit 15 !, the CPU 14 recognizes the priority (step S3). . Then, the first content A is selected (step S4). Next, the CPU 14 plays the specified content A (step S5), and adds to the playback history that the content A has been played (step S6). When the reproduction of the content A is completed, the CPU 14 compares the total number of contents with the content recorded in the reproduction history to determine whether or not all the contents have been completed (step S7).

At this time, in the DVD medium DK, since the contents B, C, and D have not ended, the CPU 14 determines that all the contents have not ended (step S7; NO). Next, the CPU 14 determines whether there is the link destination information of the reproduced content A (step S8).

At this time, since the content A has the link destination information (step S8; YES), the CPU 14 determines whether or not the content C as the link destination is included in the reproduction history (step S8). S9).

At this time, since the content C has not been reproduced yet and is not included in the reproduction history, the CPU 14 determines that the linked content C is not included in the reproduction history (step S9; NO). ), The CPU 14 selects the link destination content C (step S10). Next, the CPU 14 performs the above-described steps S5 and S6 on the selected content C, and makes a determination in step S7.

At this time, in the DVD media DK, since the contents B and D have not ended, the CPU 14 determines that all the contents have not ended (step S7; NO). Next, the CPU 14 determines whether or not the link destination information of the reproduced content C exists (step S8).

At this time, since the content C has link destination information (step S8; YES), the CPU 14 Then, it is determined whether or not the content A as the link destination is included in the playback history (step S9).

At this time, since the content A has already been reproduced and is included in the reproduction history, the CPU 14 determines that the linked content A is included in the reproduction history (step S 9; (YES), the CPU 14 prohibits the reproduction of the already reproduced content A, searches the unreproduced contents B and D for a higher priority (step S11), and selects the searched content B. (Step S12). Next, the CPU 14 performs the processing of the above-described steps S5 and S6 on the selected content B, and makes the determination of step S7.

At this time, in the DVD medium DK, since the content D has not ended, the CPU 14 determines that all the contents have not ended (step S7; NO). Next, the CPU 14 determines whether there is the link destination information of the reproduced content B (step S8).

At this time, since there is no link destination information in the content B (step S8; NO), the CPU 14 searches for a high-priority content D in the unplayed content D (step S11). Here, since the unreproduced content is only the content D, the retrieved content D is selected (step S12). Next, the CPU 14 performs the processing of the above-described steps S5 and S6 on the specified content D, and makes the determination of step S7.

At this time, since all the contents A to D have been completed, the CPU 14 determines that all the contents have been completed (step S7; YES), and terminates this operation.

On the other hand, in step S2 described above, if the user does not select the unplayed information playback function using the operation unit 15, the CPU 14 recognizes that the unplayed information playback function is not selected (step S2). ; NO), the respective contents of the DVD media DK are played back in a predetermined order (step S13), and the operation ends.

Next, modifications of the above embodiment will be described below.

[0056] The operation unit 15 may not have a function for the user to select the unreproduced information reproduction function. If the operation unit 15 of the DVD playback device does not have this function, when the DVD media DK is installed in the DVD playback device (Step Sl), the CPU 14 skips the determination of Step S2 and uses the device. To set the priority of the content (step S3), select the first content A (step S4), and perform the same processing thereafter (step S5—step S12) ₀

Further, the operation unit 15 can cancel the selection of the unplayed information reproducing function while the DVD media DK is being played by selecting the unplayed information reproducing function or after playing the same. May be. When the selection of the unplayed information playback function is released, the playback is immediately started in a predetermined order, and may be performed (step S13). After this is completed (step S7; YES), playback starts in a predetermined order! / (Step S13).

Further, the operation unit 15 may not be used to allow the user to set the priority order of the content. In this case, in the operation shown in FIG. 3, the processing in step S3 is omitted. In addition, since the processing in step S3 is omitted, in the processing in step S11, a content having a high priority included in the reproduction order information recorded on the DVD media DK is searched for instead of a content having a high priority.

In the operation shown in FIG. 3, the operation is terminated when the DVD media DK has been reproduced once, but the reproduction of the DVD media DK may be set to be repeated. With this setting, when the DVD media DK has been played once (step S7; YES), the CPU 14 deletes the memory history of the storage unit and makes the determination in step S2, or The processing of S3 and step S4 is performed, and thereafter, the same processing is performed (step S5—step S12). Also, when the DVD media DK is removed from the DVD playback device, the playback history is deleted from the memory 17. Further, the user may be allowed to select a setting to be repeated using the operation unit 15.

When the reproduction of the content A is prohibited by the unreproduced information reproduction function as described above, the CPU 14 notifies the user by displaying on the display 16 that the reproduction of the content A is prohibited. May be performed. Further, in the same case, the CPU 14 may use a speaker device (not shown) as a notification means of the present invention, and perform processing to notify the user that the reproduction of the content A is prohibited by voice! /.

[0061] Further, the user selects information to be reproduced first using the operation unit 15, and the CPU 14 reproduces the information selected by the user first and reproduces other information in accordance with the reproduction order information. You can process it. Further, when the DVD medium is reproduced by using the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment, a menu screen for the user to select information to be reproduced is displayed each time each content is completed (reproduction). In this case, it is possible to prohibit the menu screen from being reproduced again and to sequentially reproduce only the other contents recorded on the DVD media DK.

The above embodiment has been described with reference to the DVD playback device P as an information playback device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a DVD recording / reproducing device capable of recording on DVD media DK is used. Is also good. In addition, personal computers with DVD drives, DVD & HDD (hard

A disc drive) playback device or the like may be used. Also, the DVD medium DK has been described as a recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a CD (compact

It can be used for various recording media including disc) media, MD (mini disc) media, and hard disk media.

The information recorded on the DVD medium DK is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, audio information, image information, destination guidance information used for an automobile, or the like. Therefore, other devices to which information is output from the decoding unit 13 are not limited to the display device described in the above embodiment, and may be a speaker device, an in-vehicle navigation device, or the like according to the output information. May be.

[0065] The data structure of the DVD media DK is not limited to that shown in Fig. 2 (a). For example, the management information area 22 may include information on the link destination of each content. In this case, when the CPU 14 reads the management information from the management information area 22, the playback order of each content recorded on the DVD media DK is determined, and the CPU 14 plays each content according to the order. May be controlled in such a way.

[0066] Regarding the prohibition of reproduction of information by the CPU 14 of the DVD reproducing apparatus P, the mode in which reproduction is prohibited by not decoding the amplified signal Samp relating to the information whose reproduction is prohibited has been described. Is not limited to this operation. For example, the CPU 14 may control the pickup 11 so as not to irradiate the light beam Bm to the data area in which the information for inhibiting the reproduction is recorded, or the detection corresponding to the information for inhibiting the reproduction. Control may be performed so that the signal Spp is not output to the amplification unit 12. Also, CPU 14 In the width section 12, the detection signal Spp corresponding to the information prohibiting reproduction may be controlled so as not to be amplified, or the amplified signal Samp corresponding to the information prohibiting reproduction may be controlled. Control may be performed so as not to output to the decoding unit 13. Further, the CPU 14 may control the decoding unit 13 to perform decoding processing on the amplified signal Samp to generate image information Sp and not output the image information Sp to the display device.

Further, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on an information recording medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or obtained and recorded via a network such as the Internet, and Reading and executing by a microcomputer or the like means that the microcomputer can be operated as the CPU 14 according to each embodiment.

As described above, the DVD playback device P of the present embodiment is a DVD playback device P that plays back a plurality of pieces of information (contents) recorded on the DVD medium DK. It is characterized by comprising a CPU 14 as unplayed information playback means for prohibiting playback and selecting and playing back unplayed information.

[0069] Therefore, the DVD reproducing apparatus P automatically prohibits reproduction of the same information as the already reproduced information and reproduces the unreproduced information, so that the user of the DVD reproducing apparatus P views the same information many times. I can't. This eliminates the need for the user of the conventional DVD reproducing apparatus P to skip the information that is reproduced again at each reproduction and to reproduce the next information, thereby reproducing the information recorded on the DVD media DK. The trouble of the user at the time is reduced.

[0070] Further, the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment is characterized in that the DVD reproducing apparatus P is provided with an operation unit 15 used to select the function of the CPU 14 as unreproduced information reproducing means.

[0071] Therefore, the user can select how to reproduce according to the information recorded on the DVD media DK. For example, in the case of DVD media DK, which records information that would be out of order if content with a strong narrative is omitted, the creator of the DVD media DK does not select unplayed information playback means. It can be played as intended. On the other hand, for DVD media DK on which information that is sufficient to be read and heard once is recorded, by selecting the unplayed information reproducing means, as described above, The information which has not been reproduced can be reproduced by omitting the reproduced information.

In the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment, the DVD medium DK records reproduction order information indicating the order in which each piece of information is reproduced. Further, a memory 17 for storing the fact that the information has been reproduced is stored as a reproduction history, and the CPU 14 as the unreproduced information reproducing means stores, as the reproduction history, that the information to be reproduced next has already been reproduced based on the reproduction order information. If the information has been reproduced, the reproduction of the information is prohibited, and the information selected according to the reproduction order information of the unreproduced information is reproduced.

Thus, while maintaining the reproduction order of the DVD media DK, the same information that is useless for the user is prevented from being reproduced a plurality of times, and these operations are automatically performed. This eliminates the need for the user of the conventional DVD playback device to skip the information to be reproduced again and to reproduce the next information every time the information is reproduced. The user's trouble in reproducing the file is reduced.

Further, in the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment, the operation unit 15 is further used to set the priority of information, and the CPU 14 as unreproduced information reproducing means is configured to reproduce the already reproduced information. After prohibiting the reproduction of information, information that has not been reproduced is selected and reproduced according to the priority order.

[0075] Therefore, the user of the DVD reproducing apparatus P can set the priority of the information that has been reproduced, and the DVD reproducing apparatus P prohibits the reproduction of the already reproduced information. Unreproduced information can be selected and reproduced according to the set priority. Therefore, the DVD playback device P can play back the unplayed information according to the user's preference while preventing the playback of the duplicated information, and is excellent in convenience for the user.

Further, in the DVD reproducing apparatus P of the present embodiment, when the reproduction of information is prohibited by the unreproduced information reproducing function, the display 16 for notifying that the reproduction of information is prohibited is provided. It is characterized by having.

[0077] Therefore, for the information for which the reproduction is prohibited, the fact that the reproduction is prohibited is notified, so that the user can recognize which information is prohibited from being reproduced, and the DVD reproducing apparatus P uses the information. It will be more convenient for the user.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium,

An information reproducing apparatus, comprising: an unreproduced information reproducing unit that prohibits reproduction of the already reproduced information and selects and reproduces the unreproduced information.

2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit used to select to function the unreproduced information reproducing unit.

[3] On the recording medium, reproduction order information indicating an order of reproducing each of the information is recorded,

The information reproducing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores, as a reproduction history, that the reproduced information has been reproduced,

The unreproduced information reproducing means prohibits reproduction of the information to be reproduced next based on the reproduction order information when the fact that the information has already been reproduced is stored as the reproduction history, 3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information selected according to the reproduction order information is reproduced from the unreproduced information.

[4] The operating means is further used to set the priority of the information, and the unreproduced information reproducing means prohibits the reproduction of the already reproduced information, and then performs the reproduction in accordance with the priorities. 4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information for reproduction is selected and reproduced.

[5] When the reproduction of the information is prohibited by the unreproduced information reproducing unit,

5. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that the reproduction of the information is prohibited.

[6] An information reproducing method for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium,

A reproduction prohibition step of prohibiting reproduction of the already reproduced information;

An unplayed information playback step of selecting and playing back the unplayed information;

An information reproducing method, comprising:

[7] A combustor included in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium, An information reproduction program for inhibiting reproduction of the already reproduced information and functioning as unreproduced information reproducing means for selecting and reproducing the unreproduced information.

A computer included in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a recording medium,

An information reproduction program for prohibiting reproduction of the already reproduced information and for functioning as unreproduced information reproduction means for selecting and reproducing the unreproduced information,

An information recording medium recorded so as to be readable by the computer.