Apparatus and method for reproducing information recorded on information storage medium including improved reproduction halt and restart capabilities, and recorded program media for controlling the same

Abstract

When halting reproduction of an optical disc, the work memory stores identification information of the optical disc and halt position information thereof, and a contents data memory section stores information of reproduction contents. When resuming reproduction, a disc ID recognition section recognizes the identification information of the optical disc, and reads out the halt position information from the work memory, and reproduction operation is carried out from a halt position with the use of the reproduction content stored in the contents data memory section. During this, an initial process of the disc recording/reproducing section is carried out. Thereafter, reproduction from the optical disc starts uninterruptedly. This allows next reproduction of the information storage medium to start from the halt position at which the reproduction is halted. This also shortens latency time from a reproduction start instruction to actual start of the reproduction, when resuming the reproduction of the information storage medium.