Encoding/recording device that suspends encoding for video data and sampling for an audio signal in response to a recording pause instruction so as to allow data recorded before and after recording pause to be continuously reproduced

Abstract

An encoding/recording device encodes a video signal according to MPEG, encodes an audio signal with a predetermined method, and multiplexes the encoded video signal and the audio signal to produce a system stream. The encoding/recording device then records the system stream onto a recording medium. On receiving a pause instruction, the encoding/recording device suspends reception of the audio signal and the video signal in synchronization with a timing with which the video signal is received, and thereafter suspends encoding, multiplexing, and recording for the audio signal and the video signal with predetermined timings. On receiving a pause release instruction, the encoding/recording device resumes reception of the audio signal and the video signal in synchronization with a timing with which the video signal is received, and thereafter resumes the encoding, the multiplexing, and the recording with predetermined timings. When suspending the encoding for the video signal, the encoding/recording device keeps information showing how an amount of video data accumulated in a buffer in a virtual decoder changes, and uses the kept information when resuming the encoding.