Method, server, client and system for recording and playing replay program

The invention relates to a method, server, client and system for recording and playing a replay program of stream media. The playing method comprises the following steps of acquiring a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) of an index file of the replay program by the client; acquiring the index file of the replay program from the server according to the URI of the index file; parsing the index file and acquiring the URI of each corresponding sub file of the replay program from the index file; and according to the URI of each sub file, sequentially downloading, decoding and playing each sub file from the server. A traditional RTSP (real time streaming protocol) user of the IPTV (internet protocol television) and an HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Protocol) user of the internet can share one record file, a replay function is realized, the storage resource consumption of a streaming media server is reduced, the performance of the server is promoted, and for an operator, the HTTP user of the internet can be supported if the server is only configured with a standard HTTP server without customization, so that the cost is saved.