Abstract: Multiple corruptions and/or erasures in data storage or data communication systems are corrected. An encoder generates M of parity fields from N data channels. Each item of the generated parity fields is the result of simple exclusive-or operations on one item from one or more data fields and possibly one item from one or more of the other parity fields. A decoder can regenerate as many as M missing or corrupted fields of either data or parity using combinations of correct and/or previously corrected items as inputs using M independent parity equations to solve for and correct each missing or corrupted item in turn.

Abstract: Multiple corruptions and/or erasures in data storage or data communication systems are corrected. An encoder generates M of parity fields from N data channels. Each item of the generated parity fields is the result of simple exclusive-or operations on one item from one or more data fields and possibly one item from one or more of the other parity fields. A decoder can regenerate as many as M missing or corrupted fields of either data or parity using combinations of correct and/or previously corrected items as inputs using M independent parity equations to solve for and correct each missing or corrupted item in turn.

Abstract: Described is a method of providing an interactive application over a network. Executable instructions to display foreground content and background content can be transmitted over a network to a client device. The client device can transmit data identifying a positional location of a user-selected element of the foreground content in the foreground display to a server. The server can determine a next state of the interactive application based on the current state of the interactive application and the positional location of the user-selected element. The server can transmit a next set of executable instructions causing the client device to manipulate one or more of the individual elements in the foreground display according to the next state of the interactive application.

Abstract: An enhanced playback method including receiving real time content from source links connected to a sources, simultaneously storing the real time content as stored content using a fault tolerant and load balancing method, aggregating the real time content and stored content from additional content, delivering content real time or stored in response to a user request from a user on a terminal system using a cut-through forwarding method. A content/service handling and delivery system including source input/output (I/O) links, a content handling subsystem, the content handling subsystem connected to the source input links, a service delivery subsystem connected to the content handling subsystem, an input and interaction subsystem connected to the service delivery subsystem and terminal I/O links, the plurality terminal I/O links connected to the service delivery subsystem.

Abstract: A method for processing digital video data intended for normal mode display to obtain corresponding digital video data for trick-mode display includes modifying the normal mode digital video data to achieve a substantially uniform delivery rate to a video client. This results in smoother trick-mode playback. The modified normal mode digital video data is saved as a trick-mode file. When trick-mode playback is requested, a video-server retrieves data from the trick-mode file.

Abstract: A television system allows viewers to access a number of different groups of television content, or “service aggregates.” A portal interface for each group provides a direct means for the viewer to navigate between members of a service aggregate, without necessarily having to accesses a global program guide for the television system. The groups of television content can be formed from various criteria including forming the groups based on business rules.

Abstract: A redundant array includes a plurality of disks, a bus coupling the disks, a receiving device, and a device to reconstruct a block stored in one of the disks. The device reconstructs the block with associated data and parity blocks from other disks. The device transmits the reconstructed block to the receiving device in response to the one of the disks being unavailable or degraded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for flexibly and reliably processing one or more MPEG signals from at least one source. The method provides for synchronizing decoded streams to a reference clock, for playing multiple streams simultaneously or for transitioning between streams in a seamless manner. The output streams can have varying formats and can include both video and audio. The structure and method further provide for the capability of skipping B frames to reach a desired reference frame quickly and to edit the MPEG streams regardless of GOP size.

Abstract: An enhanced playback method including receiving real time content from source links connected to a sources, simultaneously storing the real time content as stored content using a fault tolerant and load balancing method, aggregating the real time content and stored content from additional content, delivering content real time or stored in response to a user request from a user on a terminal system using a cut-through forwarding method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.

Abstract: A method for increasing service bandwidth in a cluster system having at least three nodes is described. The method includes storing data according to a distributed, redundant process, skipping one remote node when redundant data is stored on a reading node, and reading data from the cluster system using a stripe row reading process by applying an XOR operation to the redundant portion stored on the reading node.

Abstract: A process of propagates viewing assets on a system of video storages. The process includes copying a missing portion of a replica of a selected viewing asset onto a target video server. The act of copying is responsive to determining that a priority to propagate the selected asset to the target server is higher than a retention value of a replica of one or more viewing assets stored on the target server.

Abstract: A network transmits viewable data objects to viewer receivers. The network includes a plurality of local servers to store subsets of the viewable data objects, a plurality of links to couple each local server to a set of viewer receivers without coupling the viewer receivers together, and at least, one storage server. Each local server transmits viewable data objects to viewer receivers. The storage server stores the viewable data objects and transmits a subset of the stored data objects to the local servers responsive to different expected demands there present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.