Abstract: A Fiber Channel or other high speed data transmission channel is provided to transfer movie files and other content between shared storage and screen servers to enhance content availability in a digital cinema system. In one embodiment a digital cinema system is provided that includes a first screen server coupled to a first digital projector. Additionally, the digital cinema system includes a memory for storing a digital movie, and a Fiber Channel communication link coupled between the first screen server and the memory. The Fiber Channel communication link is configured to transmit a copy of the digital movie from the memory to the first server for storage therein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and apparatus to insure continuous presentation of digital content to an audience when a locally stored copy of a file containing the digital content suddenly becomes unavailable to a digital projector. In one embodiment of the method, a first computer generates a first command to read a first block of data from a file stored on a first memory device, wherein the first computer system is coupled to a digital projector. The first computer system also generates a second command, which is subsequently transmitted to a storage device external to the computer system. The external storage device includes a hard disk that stores a copy of the file that is stored on the first memory device or vice versa. The external storage device includes a read/write head.