Information storage system with increased reliability for continuous operation, and a recording control method

An information storage system for continuous recording comprising:

• a plurality of storage devices, each of which includes both a temporary storage area and an ordinary recording area;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said storage devices and configured to record information on said storage devices,
• said controller configured to perform first write operations on a first part of said information to a temporary area of a first storage device of said storage devices,
• said controller configured to perform second write operations of a second part of said information to a temporary area of a second storage device of said storage devices, including, during said first write operations, placing said second storage device in a state where it is ready to record information,
• said controller further configured to cease said first writing operations upon commencing said second write operations,
• said controller further configured to place said first storage device in a stopped state after commencing said second write operations, said stopped state,
• whereby said information is continuously recorded to said temporary storage areas.

An audio-visual information storage system comprising:

• a plurality of storage devices;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said storage devices,
• said controller configured to receive audio-visual information containing audio content, visual content, or audio-visual content to be stored in said storage devices,
• said controller configured to perform first write operations of said audio-visual information to a first of said storage devices,
• said controller configured to perform second write operations of said audio-visual information to a second of said storage devices, including, during said first write operations, placing said second storage device in a state ready to record said audio-visual information,
• said controller configured to place said first storage device in a stopped state subsequent to commencement of said second write operations,
• said controller configured to read out audio-visual information contained in one of said storage devices during said first or second writing operations, including placing said one of said storage devices in a state so that said audio-visual information can be read therefrom,
• said storage devices further including a third storage device that is separate from said plurality of storage devices, said controller further configured to write said audio-visual information to said third storage device, said audio-visual information being said information to be recorded or information copied from said storage devices.