Abstract: A method of handing off connection requests from a file server to other receivers on a network includes receiving a connection request from a receiver, checking to see if the requested content is currently being provided by the file server to another receiver, and, if so, handing off the request to the another receiver.

Abstract: Streaming media servers are used to provide data streams of streaming media data to network devices across a communications network. In order to allow the servers to scale its processing as the number of data streams increases, these servers use a delay timer determination module for determining when a given CPU is to transfer its streaming media data corresponding to its group of data streams, a CPU wake up module for initiating an acceleration process for each CPU upon receipt of a signal from the delay timer determination module, and a plurality of CPU processing modules for transferring streaming media data corresponding to its group of data streams.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for efficiently managing video programming services by a provider of video on demand services in response to requests from cable television subscribers. The system is controlled by a multimedia application server. Upon receipt of a request, the multimedia application server searches for the most appropriate means of satisfying the request. If the requested program is already being provided, the streaming occurs from the same video server, if capacity is available. If the program already exists in streamable form, it is streamed from that location. If the requested program must be transferred to video server memory, the available space is found to accommodate the transfer or existing programming is swapped out.