Data transfer apparatus and method of the same and data input and output controlling apparatus and method of same

A data transfer/recording method for transferring, in a first mode, first data reproduced from a first storage medium and recording the transferred first data to a second, local storage medium that is capable of non-linear access, and for transferring, in a second mode, second data reproduced from the second storage medium and recording the transferred second data in the first storage medium, said method comprising:

• a first step of temporarily storing, in a temporary storing means, the first data reproduced from the first storage medium during the first mode, and the second data reproduced from the second storage medium during the second mode;
• a second step of monitoring the state of storage of the data stored in the temporary storing means, and determining the amount of data which can be stored in the temporary storing means, in both the first and second modes;
• a third step of controlling the transfer rate of at least one of the first data reproduced from the first storage medium in the first mode, and the second data reproduced from the second storage medium in the second mode, according to the state of storage of the temporary storage means monitored in the monitoring step, on the basis of the amount of data which can be stored as determined in the monitoring step;
• and
• recording the transferred first data to the second storage medium in the first mode, and recording the transferred second data to the first storage medium in the second mode;
• wherein said second storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk that forms part of a device within which said monitoring, controlling and recording are performed, and a portable storage medium that is insertable into and removable from said device.

A data transfer/recording apparatus for transferring, in a first mode, first data reproduced from a first storage medium and recording the transferred data to a second, local storage medium that is capable of non-linear access, and for transferring, in a second mode, second data reproduced from the second storage medium and recording the transferred second data in the first storage medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a buffer for temporarily storing the first data reproduced from the first storage medium during the first mode, and for temporarily storing the second data reproduced from the second storage medium during the second mode;
• a storage state monitor for monitoring the state of storage of the buffer in both said first and second modes, and outputting a storable data signal indicating the amount of data which can be stored in said buffer;
• a transfer rate controller for controlling a transfer rate of the first data reproduced from the first storage medium, and a transfer rate of the second data reproduced from the second storage medium, based on the storable data signal output by the storage state monitor;
• and
• a recording portion for recording the transferred first data to said second, local storage medium in the first mode, and for recording the transferred second data to said first storage medium in the second mode;
• wherein said second storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk that forms a part of said apparatus, and a portable storage medium that is insertable into and removable from said apparatus.

A data transfer/recording method for selectively transferring first data reproduced from a first storage medium and recording the transferred first data to a second, local storage medium that is capable of non-linear access, or second data reproduced from the second storage medium and recording the transferred second data in the first storage medium, said method comprising:

• temporarily storing, in a buffer, the first data reproduced from the first storage medium, or the second data reproduced from the second storage medium;
• monitoring the state of storage of the first or second data stored in the buffer, and determining the amount of data which can be stored in the buffer;
• controlling the transfer rate of the first data reproduced from the first storage medium, or the second data reproduced from the second storage medium, according to the state of storage of the buffer monitored in the monitoring step, on the basis of the amount of data which can be stored as determined in the monitoring step;
• and
• recording the transferred first data to the second storage medium, or the transferred second data to the first storage medium;
• wherein said second storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk that forms part of a device within which said monitoring, controlling and recording are performed, and a portable storage medium that is insertable into and removable from said device.