Abstract: An information record and playback apparatus has a user information acquisition unit for acquiring user information of the user using the apparatus at present; a record unit for recording the acquired user information and playback stop position information on a record medium in relation to each other; and a playback start control unit for selecting the playback stop position information corresponding to the acquired user information from among the playback stop position information read from the record medium and resuming playing back the record medium based on the selected playback stop position information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of image information reproducing apparatuses are provided for ensuring that an arbitrary one is selected from among the image information reproducing apparatuses as a target for an operation control. A plurality of reproduced images based on image data reproduced from respective image information reproducing apparatuses are displayed simultaneously on a display screen. The operation control is directed only to an image information reproducing apparatus corresponding to a reproduced image arbitrarily selected from these reproduced images.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information units recorded on a recording medium in a hierarchical structure having a plurality of levels. In the hierarchical structure, the information units are divided into a plurality of groups, and the groups are respectively assigned to the levels. The apparatus includes: an input device that receives an input instruction to designate one of the information units; a number determination device that determines the number of the information units included in each group; a level determination device that determines, on the basis of a determination of the number determination device, one of the levels to be searched in order to identify the designated information unit; and a reproduction device that identifies the designated information unit by searching the level determined by the level designation device, and reproduces the identified information unit.

Abstract: A recording and playback machine can record and play back information blocks simultaneously. The machine displays names of information blocks currently recorded and played back when a user makes a stop operation. The user then selects a name of an information block, for which the user wants to stop recording or playing back, from the displayed names. The machine stops the recording or playback operation for the information block selected by the user. The machine can stop only the recording or playing back operation that the user wants to stop during simultaneous recording and playback operations. The machine does not need a complicated operating system for this function.

Abstract: An information record and playback apparatus has a user information acquisition unit for acquiring user information of the user using the apparatus at present; a record unit for recording the acquired user information and playback stop position information on a record medium in relation to each other; and a playback start control unit for selecting the playback stop position information corresponding to the acquired user information from among the playback stop position information read from the record medium and resuming playing back the record medium based on the selected playback stop position information.

Abstract: A title selecting device for an information reproducing apparatus, wherein titles corresponding to at least one image recorded in a disk are displayed, one of the displayed titles is selected, and the image corresponding to the selected title is read from the disk and displayed on a display section. The title selecting device includes read means for reading a typical image corresponding to the selected title when a preview command is entered; and display means for displaying the read typical image superimposed on said title image displayed on the display section. In this configuration, an intended image can be selected easily and surely.