Buffering apparatus and buffering method using ring buffer

A read unit in a buffering apparatus writes data in a memory apparatus used as a ring buffer. A determination unit determines whether data is consecutively written in the memory apparatus. When it in determined that data in consecutively written, the determination unit, in response to a request for transfer of data from a central processing unit, directs the read unit to read ahead data that follows the data requested to be transferred. In response to a request to read ahead, the read unit reads ahead the data from a recording medium and writes the data thus read ahead in the memory apparatus. In response to the instruction to read ahead, the read unit reads ahead a predetermined amount of data that follows the data requested to be transferred.