DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMAGE REPRODUCTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a reproduced image, even when rewinding a recording tape medium on which an image stream such as an MPEG stream is recorded. SOLUTION: An I-picture extracting section 106 sequentially extracts data of an I picture by each prescribed number from an MPEG stream STM reproduced by a tape drive 104. Then the I-picture data sequentially extracted are stored to a prescribed address of a ring buffer 107 in cross-reference with a recording tape position. A count CN outputted from a counter 105 of the tape drive 104 is. e.g. employed for the tape position information. When rewinding the magnetic tape, the I-picture data in cross-reference with the tape position are sequentially read from the buffer 107 and fed to a MPEG decoder 109. Thus, the reproduced image corresponding to the tape position can be obtained, even in the rewinding state.