Patent ID: 6011759
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A system for supplying information to a terminal device comprising:playback means for mounting a record medium and reading information recorded on the record medium to output a first information;storage means for storing information regarding a beginning portion of the information recorded on the record medium, a length of the beginning portion being equal to or longer than a length corresponding to a first preparation time which is defined as a time from a playback request input to completion of readout preparation of said playback means, said storage means being capable of beginning to output a second information corresponding to the stored information with a second preparation time shorter than the first preparation time;monitoring means for monitoring status of said playback means and outputting a signal indicating the status;switching means for selectively outputting one of the second information from said storage means and the first information from said playback means;buffer means for temporarily holding and outputting information from said switching means; andcontrol means for performing a control operation wherein the second information is first output from said storage means through said switching means in response to the playback request input from the terminal device, and subsequently the first information is output from said playback means through said switching means in response to the signal from said monitoring means so that said buffer means outputs continuous information which includes the second information and the first information following the second information to the terminal device.