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.