Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for propagating data from a transaction processing facility (TPF) based computer to a relational database associated with a server computer and providing the propagated data to a variety of clients are presented. A TPF based computer includes TPF data, which is propagated to the server computer. The server computer is coupled to the TPF based computer. The server computer receives the propagated TPF data and generates a structured query language (SQL) statement reflecting the received TPF data. The relational database associated with the server computer is updated by using the generated SQL statement. The propagated data may be provided to a variety of clients.

Abstract: A digital-media server platform is disclosed that comprises a hybrid architecture. In a preferred embodiment, the hybrid architecture comprises a dedicated hardware-optimized streaming device that delivers streaming content to a client on a network under control of a general-purpose computer. The architecture also includes an abstraction layer used to interface the general-purpose computer with the streaming device, and several dedicated data buses that connect the general-purpose computer to the streaming device hardware.

Abstract: A digital media delivery engine adapted to store content in a media buffer dynamically generates wire data packets for transmission over a network. The digital media delivery engine eliminates the redundant copying of data and the shared I/O bus, bottlenecks typically found in a general-purpose PC. The digital media delivery engine is adapted to generate and deliver UDP/IP packets without requiring storage of an entire UDP datagram payload in a buffer while the UDP checksum is calculated. The checksum is dynamically calculated while IP packets that encapsulate payload data are generated and transmitted. After the payload of an entire UDP datagram has been encapsulated, the UDP checksum and other portions of the UDP header are then encapsulated in an IP packet and transmitted over the network.

Abstract: A hardware engine that streams media asset data from a media buffer to a network under instructions provided by a host PC is disclosed. The PC preferably stores control blocks that provide packet header formatting instructions in a media buffer along with the media asset data to be streamed. In a preferred embodiment, the hardware engine comprises programmable logic devices so that the engine can be upgraded. The present invention further comprises methods for designing the hardware engine, methods for upgrading the hardware engine, and methods for streaming digital media asset data.