Information processing method and apparatus, automovive information system and method of controlling the same, and storage medium on which an information processing programm is stored

摘要

Disclosed is an information processing apparatus in which a device which processes data can operate at a rate exactly adjusted relative to the rate of a device which supplies data without having to have a common clock signal. A writing unit (302) writes data into a buffer memory (124). When the data has been written into the buffer memory such that the first half storage area of the buffer memory has become filled with the data, a starter (305) makes a reading unit (303) start reading data from the buffer memory. A writing time measuring unit (306) measures the writing time required to write data in the buffer memory starting from the first storage location to the exact middle storage location of the buffer memory. A reading time measuring unit (307) measures the reading time required to read data from the buffer memory starting from the first storage location to the exact middle storage location of the buffer memory. A controller (309) controls the rate at which data is read from the buffer memory on the basis of the relationship between the writing time and the reading time. This technique allows the data to be processed in a highly reliable fashion such that the data processing device (304) operates at the same rate as that of the data supplying device even in the case where the data processing device and the data supplying device are constructed separately from each other. <IMAGE>