Apparatus and method for digital data continuously input or output

Claim 2

(2) An apparatus for digital data continuously input or output comprising a plurality of input/output devices, which process the digital information and are either of a plurality of memory means for storing, reproducing the digital information capable of random access, a plurality of audio converting means for mutual conversion between the analog audio information and the digital audio information, and a plurality of picture converting means for mutual conversion between the analog picture information and the digital picture information; a plurality of input/output means for inputting, outputting the digital information with respect to each of the input/output devices; a plurality of memory means being connected respectively to the in­put/output means, being composed of a memory means manage­ment area for storing the given attribute, a plurality of block areas having the same storage amount to be used in the information transfer among the input/output means and the bus means; a block management area for storing the respec­tive condition of the block areas; and block management registers for the synchronization of the access to the master control means and the memory means of the in­put/output means; a control input means for inputting the control procedure of controlling the operations of the memory means; a master control means for controlling the memory means and the control input means; a bus means having the memory means, the control input means, and the master control means mutually connected so as to transfer the digital information.

Claim 3

(3) An apparatus for digital data continuously input or output described in accordance with the claim 2, wherein the block area is composed of a plurality of record areas having the same capacity and unused areas.

Claim 4

(4) An apparatus for digital data continuously input or output described in accordance with the claim 2, wherein the memory means is a disk apparatus.

Claim 5

(5) A method for digital data continuously input or output comprising the steps of, in a control input step, having the master control means store the transfer informa­tion onto the block management area of the memory means of the transfer destination and onto the block management area of the memory means of the transmitter in accordance with the transfer operation from the operating means, starting the input/output step for effecting the information input­ting operation by the input/output means of the transmitter destination; in an input/output step for effecting the information inputting operation, starting the information input into the block area of the transmitter from the input/output devices of the transmitter by the input/output means of the transmitter, having the input/output means of the transmitter transmit it into the master control means by the use of the block management register of the transmitter after the completion of the information input of the given capacity, the block management register of the transmitter; in an information transfer step, having the master control means effect the information transfer operation between the block areas into the block area of the transmitter from the block area of the transmitter by way of the bus means, starting an input/output step for effecting the information output into the input/output devices of the transfer desti­nation from the block area of the transfer destination by the input/output means of the transfer destination by the use of the block management register of the transfer desti­nation; in an input/output step for effecting the informa­tion output, starting the information output into the input/output devices of the transfer destination from the block area of the transfer destination by the input/output means of the transfer destination, having the transfer destination input/output means transmit it into the master control means by the use of the block management register of the transfer destination after the completion of the infor­mation output of the given amount; so as to effect the information transfer between two input/output devices.

Claim 6

(6) A method for digital data continuously input or output comprising the steps of, in an control input step, in accordance with the transfer control from the control means, having the master control transmitter decide the capacity and the number of the record area within one block area, and the capacity of the unused area in accordance with the type of the information for effecting inputting, outputting operations, and the transfer speed, store as one portion of the transfer information onto the block management area of the memory means of the transfer destination and the block. management area of the memory means of the transfer destina­tion, start the input/output step for effecting the informa­tion input by the input/output means of the transmitter by the use of the block management register of the transmitter; in an input/output step for effecting the information input, starting the information input with respect to only a plurality of record area portions except for the unused area among the block areas of the transmitter from the in­put/output devices of the transmitter by the input/output means of the transmitter, having the input/output means of the transmitter transmit it into the master control means by the use of the block management register of the transmitter after the completion of the information inputting operation of the given capacity; in an information transfer step, having the master control means perform the information transfer operation between the block areas into the block area of the transfer destination from the block area of the transmitter by way of the bus means, start an input/output step for effecting the information output into the in­put/output devices of the transfer destination from the block area of the transfer destination by the input/output means of the transfer destination by the use of the block management register of the transfer destination; in an input/output step for effecting the information output, starting the information output into the input/output devices of the transfer destination from a plurality of record area portions only except for the unused area among the block areas of the transfer destination by the in­put/output means of the transfer destination, performing the storing, reproducing operations with respect to the contin­ued physical address of the storing means the storage capacity of the block area when the input/output devices of the transfer destination is a storing means for storing the digital information, having transfer destination in­put/output means use the block management register of the transfer destination to transmit it into the master control means after the completion of the information output of the given capacity; so as to effect the information transfer between two input/output devices.

Claim 7

(7) A method for digital data continuously input or output in accordance with the claim 6, comprising the steps of alternately switching a plurality of block areas to use them, and of effecting at the same time by plurality the information inputting operation and outputting operation with respect to a plurality of input/output devices, and the information output, and the inter-block-area information transferring operation between the block areas of a plurali­ty of memory means through the provision of the synchroniza­tion of the transfer start and the transfer completion by the block management register.