Abstract: DVD reproducing apparatus which transmits variable-bit rate data on a digital serial bus having a predetermined transmission rate. The apparatus employs a reproducing device to reproduce data from a record medium in accordance with a control signal to produce variable rate data. The control signal is generated on the basis of at least two buffer storage state indicators corresponding to respective data buffers, one of which is incorporated into the reproducing device. The peak data rate of the variable rate data is detected, a rate of transmission of the variable rate data is established in accordance with the detected peak data rate, and the variable rate data is transmitted in accordance with the established transmission rate.

Abstract: In order to play back a plurality of kinds of image data using a single device, a 1394 receiver receives data transmitted via an AV bus according to a format of an IEEE 1394 standard. A separating circuit then determines a format of this data by referring to a prescribed region of a CIP header of this data. When this data is MPEG-PS data, this data is outputted to an MPEG-PS decoder. When this data is MPEG-TS data, this data is outputted to an MPEG-TS decoder. When this data is DVCR SD data, this data is outputted to a DVCR-SD decoder. The MPEG-PS decoder, MPEG-TS decoder and the DVCR-SD decoder then decode the supplied data of respective formats.