Abstract: Replaying a compressed digital video stream in fast-forward and reverse modes at varied playback rates. An index of intercoded frames, those frames not dependant on other frames for generation, is stored. The index includes the size of intercoded frames and their storage location. When a specified playback rate is requested, the intercoded frames are retrieved using the index. The intercoded frames then have one or more intracoded frames, frames that reference other frames for generation, placed between them to generate a frame sequence. The intracoded frames are “blank,” meaning they contain only information from their associated intercoded frame. By inserting “blank” frames specified playback rates and bit rates are generated. The index of intercoded frames may also be accessed to generate playback in reverse mode, which conserves memory resources of associated systems by generating the reverse playback stream in an iterative manner.

Abstract: A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus which divides each of information data pieces into a plurality of cells, further divides each of the cells into a series of a plurality of units, and records the units. The digital data recording/reproducing apparatus has means for recording a required time for reproduction until the head position of a unit is reached, with reference to the head position of an information data cell to which a cell belongs, as a unit start time, in addition to each of the units, and means for recording a cell start time (Ts) equal to a required time for reproduction until the head position of each of the cells is reached, and a required time for reproduction (Ps) of each of the cells in a management data region.