Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing in-band messaging through a video switch or other functional element forming a multiplexed content stream prior to transport processing and/or transmission of the multiplexed content stream via an in-band communications channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming a remote programmable logic device. The apparatus comprises a processing system having a first file to second file conversion program stored therein. The processing system receives the first file from a first communications medium and transmits the converted second file through a second communications medium in a format native to the remote programmable logic device. The method comprises sending a first file to a processing system via a first communications medium, converting the first file to a second file in a format native to the remote programmable logic device, and sending the second file in a format native to the remote programmable logic device to the remote programmable logic device via a second communications medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of utilizing a plurality of independent fiber channel arbitrated loops for moving, replicating and storing video information on storage devices in an interactive video information system. A plurality of servers are each comprised of a plurality of server modules. Each server module comprises a plurality of fiber channel (FC) disk drives coupled by a local port to a first fiber channel arbitrated loop within each server module. The plurality of FC disk drives on each of the plurality of server modules are also coupled to a second FC loop, via a backup port on each FC disk drive. By utilizing two independent FC loops in this configuration, data may be sequentially transmitted from a first server module, across the backup FC loop, to a second server module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of utilizing a plurality of independent fiber channel arbitrated loops for moving, replicating and storing video information on storage devices in an interactive video information system. A plurality of servers are each comprised of a plurality of server modules. Each server module comprises a plurality of fiber channel (FC) disk drives coupled by a local port to a first independent, or “local” fiber channel arbitrated loop, to create a “virtual FC disk drive”, within each server module. The plurality of FC disk drives on each of the plurality of server modules are also coupled to a second or independent, or “backup” FC loop, via a backup port on each FC disk drive. By utilizing two independent FC loops in this configuration, data may be sequentially transmitted from a first server module, across the backup FC loop, to a second server module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming a remote programmable logic device. The apparatus comprises a processing system having a first file to second file conversion program stored therein. The processing system receives the first file from a first communications medium and transmits the converted second file through a second communications medium in a format native to the remote programmable logic device. The method comprises sending a first file to a processing system via a first communications medium, converting the first file to a second file in a format native to the remote programmable logic device, and sending the second file in a format native to the remote programmable logic device to the remote programmable logic device via a second communications medium.