Sony Corporation

Takanobu Kondo

Hisao Tanaka

Yasuo Iwasaki

Hiroyuki Miyawaki

This invention relates to data input/output apparatus and the like, which are suitable to be applied to an AV server. As nonlinear accessible storage medium, there is provided with HDD array device (,). When a controller (,) of an AV server (,) receives a command for reproducing data from a minimum of two discontinuous areas in the HDD array device (,) in a first order, the HDD array device (,) then puts the command in an order such that a period of time for access is minimal to reads the data so that the read data are rearranged in the first order to be outputted through decoders (,) to (,). Thereby, the efficiency of data transfer is improved without complications.

Device and method for data output and device and method for data input/output

In transmitting an MPEG transport stream, each audio signal packet is placed after the corresponding video signal packet when audio and video transport streams are multiplexed. If simple switching were made to switch between a plurality of programs to form a multiplexed transport stream of the programs, part of the audio packets that are placed behind would be lost to cause abnormal sound. In the invention, switching between programs is made by providing signal switching means separately for audio transport streams and video transport streams. As a result, when the program to be transmitted is changed from one program to another, the signal switching means can be switched in such a manner that none of the audio signal packets that constitute those programs are lost.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Takanobu Kondo