Patent ID: 7333721

Claim:
A data output method for exclusively writing on a recording medium a data stream to be inputted and reading said data stream recorded on said recording medium to send said data stream to an external device, said data stream containing video-audio information compressed at a variable bit rate, said data output method comprising steps of: holding said inputted data stream in a first buffer; writing on said recording medium said data stream held in said first buffer by means of a writing means; holding in a second buffer said data stream to be outputted to said external device; reading onto said second buffer said data stream held on said recording medium by means of a reading means; predicting duration to consume said data stream held on said second buffer on the basis of duration required for presentation of the video-audio information contained in said data stream held on said second buffer by means of a predicting means; and controlling said writing means and said reading means by a control means, said control means giving a permit said reading means to read said data stream from said recording medium onto the second buffer if the predicted duration is less than a threshold value.