Abstract: A distributed network includes a plurality of hosts and a shared communication channel. Each host has a storage device. Each host may act as a client and a server. A file is divided into a plurality of segments. Each segment is transmitted to the storage devices of several of said hosts and stored in said storage device of said host. Each host is coupled to the shared communication channel. A host acting as a client requests that the hosts act as servers and collectively send all of the segments to the requesting client so that the requesting client can gather the segments together in order for the segments to self-assemble and generate a single copy of the file. At least one host has a global list with entries. Each entry contains all the necessary information about the file.

Abstract: Network systems and processes for delivery of electronic content to recipient processors may be configured to facilitate the delivery of relatively large content items and/or a relatively large number of content items. In one example, a movie rental system and process delivers (downloads) movie files to customers across the Internet. System network architecture includes three or more layers of servers, including a main server supporting an interface for recipient processors to request content items, a plurality of parent servers, and a plurality of edge servers. Edge servers are distributed throughout a region in which the system provides content delivery services to recipient processors. Parent servers, spaced across the service region, support edge servers. A copy of each content item available through the service is distributed from the main server to each parent servers for storage.

Abstract: A video system is comprised of: a) a single supervisor processor, and multiple co-processors which are selectable in number and are coupled via a bus to the single supervisor processor; b) a supervisor memory which is coupled to the supervisor processor and which stores a respective portion of each of several video streams; c) a control program in each co-processor which selectively reads the stored video stream portions from the supervisor memory and sends each video stream portion that is read to a different viewer; and d) a control program for the single supervisor processor, which dynamically updates the stored portion of each video stream in the supervisor memory and which services external requests to change the respective viewers of each video stream. In this video system, the number of co-processors is selectable; the number of video streams which are sent by each co-processor is selectable; and, the number of viewers per stream is selectable.

Abstract: A broadcast and interactive data distribution system that distributes broadcast and interactive data transmitted by way of a geostationary satellite, and optionally by way of a cable system, to personal computers. The system comprises a modular digital data communication cyberstation that is a modular computer and server that is external to the personal computers to which data is to be distributed. The cyberstation receives, optionally stores, and distributes the broadcast and interactive data to the personal computers. The cyberstation has wireless and optional wired interfaces for communicating with the personal computers. An optional cable modem may be used to directly communicate with the cable system. A satellite receiver is employed to communicate with the geostationary satellite, and a low-earth-orbit satellite transceiver is employed to communicate with low-earth-orbit satellites used to support information requests, data billing and status/diagnostic reporting to a service provider.

Abstract: Multiple applications request data from multiple storage units over a computer network. The data is divided into segments and each segment is distributed randomly on one of several storage units, independent of the storage units on which other segments of the media data are stored. Redundancy information corresponding to each segment also is distributed randomly over the storage units. The redundancy information for a segment may be a copy of the segment, such that each segment is stored on at least two storage units. The redundancy information also may be based on two or more segments. This random distribution of segments of data and corresponding redundancy information improves both scalability and reliability. When a storage unit fails, its load is distributed evenly over to remaining storage units and its lost data may be recovered because of the redundancy information.

Abstract: A video box of VOD system, comprising: A first signal processor, receiving an input signal that comprises analog program signals, wherein the first signal processor transfers the analog program signals into digital program signals, and compressing the digital program signals into compressed program signals according to a compressing format, wherein the input signal is transmitted via a cable TV system; A storage device, storing the compressed program signals; A selecting device, which is adapted to provide a selecting signal, whereby selecting a decompressing signal from the compressed program signals in the storage device; and a second signal processor, decompressing the decompressing signal into a broadcasting signal according to a decompressing format, and transmitting the broadcasting signals to a media device, thereby broadcasting the broadcasting signals.

Abstract: To allow a user to maximize use of a video and digital multimedia aggregator, a search suggestion engine and corresponding method may be used to provide suggestions of available content. The search suggestion engine starts by constructing a database of metadata elements or word items. The metadata element database may be constructed by using a crawler that periodically or continually crawls a content metadata database and extracts word items from the content metadata database. The word items are then processed according to a number of factors, including part-of-speech, entries in dictionaries and thesaurus and other factors. The thus-processed word items are indexed, and may be provided with a vector value. A subsequent search request submitted by the user may include search criteria that may be provided vector values. A processor within the search suggestion engine compares the vector values to determine if an indexed word item should be considered for retrieving the indexed word item's associated content.

Abstract: A play to air controller station system in a distributed object television broadcast studio. In one embodiment, a play to air control workstation is used to control a variety of resources in a broadcast studio system interconnected by a communications network. The resources of the broadcast studio system include a transmitter unit, various media source devices such as tape decks and file servers, a network routers unit, and various decoders and encoders. The broadcast studio system is managed as a network distributed object system where an all physical devices are attached to the network either by containing appropriate software within themselves, or by attaching themselves to a computer proxy that is on the network and is able to control their functionality. The control system includes one or more device objects configured to store, route and transmit selected video segments to be aired from the television broadcast studio.

Abstract: A requesting unit receives application information which is transmitted by an information terminal device, and transmits a content ID to an information storing device based on the application information. A converting unit converts the content received by the information storing device into data in a predetermined format and with a predetermined data rate based on a format ID included in the application information which is received by the information storing device, and distributes the data to the information terminal device via a communication unit.

Abstract: A special playback controller receives a special playback request from a user. A data storage unit stores data. In response to the special playback request received by the special playback controller, a data converter converts the data stored in the data storage unit into special playback data according to the type of special playback operation. The special playback data converted by the data converter is transmitted to a decoding terminal via a multiplexer, a transmitter, and a communication line, thereby enabling the decoding terminal to perform the special playback operation.

Abstract: A set top box (STB) includes multiple processors that handle either real time or non-real time functions within the STB. One of the processors may perform substantially all of the real time operations, such as control of a data pipeline to the STB, conditional access, and control of a program guide stored within the DVR. The other processor may control substantially all non-real time functions that are executed within the STB, such as graphics user interface and browser functions. The STB may be embodied as a digital video recorder (DVR). The additional processor(s) provide for increased overall system bandwidth, improved system security and greater system stability for an STB and/or DVR configured with these multiple processors, as compared to a conventional STB having a single micro-controller or processor.

Abstract: The first auxiliary memory 11a stores background image information in the form of digital data, and the second auxiliary memory 11b stores sound information in the form of digital data. When a request is transmitted from the terminal 36 to the information supplying device 28, a background image information of a genre, to which the requested song belongs, is retrieved from the first auxiliary memory 11a, packetized by the video packetizer 5, and outputted to the multiplexer 9. A sound information for the requested song is retrieved from the second auxiliary memory 11b, packetized by the audio packetizer 6, and outputted to the multiplexer 9. The background image information and the sound information are combined into a single packet data train and outputted to the terminal 36.

Abstract: A hardware configuration suited for a digital video and audio signal broadcast system such as a near-video on-demand apparatus (NVOD apparatus) includes a compilation unit, a play-out unit, a transmission unit, and a subscriber unit. The compilation unit stores several weeks to several months worth of the video and audio signals obtained by reproducing, compressing, encoding, and editing the broadcast stock according to a long term broadcast schedule of several weeks to several months. The play-out unit stores the video and audio signals stored in the compilation unit for several days to several weeks according to a broadcast schedule of several days to several weeks, reproduces the video and audio signals which become necessary for the real time broadcast, and adds a time difference to these video and audio signals distributed to a plurality of channels.

Abstract: The program guide data collection and delivery device for collecting and delivering program guide data of a plurality of broadcasting stations respectively broadcasting their own programs collects own-station EPG data from a plurality of program guide data transmitting devices respectively corresponding to each of the broadcasting stations, and delivers all-station EPG data to a plurality of program guide data providing devices. By this configuration, the rate of inter-access among the stations is not made high regardless of a frequent modification of EPG data of the broadcasting stations, and the program guide viewers of one station can be provided with the latest EPG data of other stations without changing the individual system configuration, even when there is an increase in the number of broadcasting stations within the whole system.

Abstract: A data transmission apparatus comprising: data supplying unit for storing a plurality of types of data and simultaneously transmitting the plurality of types of data to a plurality of selected channels respectively; switching unit for outputting the plurality of types of data outputted from the data supplying unit to the selected different channels respectively; data storage unit for storing the data outputted from the selected channels after rearranging the data in a predetermined order; and data outputting unit for simultaneously outputting the data stored in the data storage unit from the plurality of channels after shifting the data by a certain amount.

Abstract: A queuing architecture and method for scheduling disk drive access requests in a video server. The queuing architecture employs at least two access request queues for each disk drive within a disk drive array. The first queue is for disk access requests by steady-state users who are currently viewing a program from the video server. The second queue is for all other types of access requests including disk access requests by users who wish to begin viewing a program, content loading, meta-data syncing and the like. The method maintains time deadlines for steady-state disk access requests and services these requests in order of ascending deadlines. Requests from the second queue are serviced only if it can be guaranteed that all of the steady-state requests in the first queue will meet their time deadlines in the worst case access time for the disk drive. By taking advantage of the variability of disk seek and transfer times, the method improves the effective disk bandwidth of the video server.

Abstract: The rate staggering technique for efficient storage and retrieval of video data is embodied in a data processing system including a disk array based video server, which includes a disk array for storing video data, a processor for processing data, a memory buffer for storing video data and a rate staggering controller. Data is transferred to a network from video server through a network interface and from the network to client stations employing devices having differing resolution capabilities. The processor executes tasks under control of the rate staggering controller. These tasks include a retrieval task which retrieves scalable video from the array of disks, a storage task which stores videos temporarily in the memory buffer, and a transmission task which transmits video to client stations through the network.

Abstract: A system for serving information includes a router; archive storage medium units connected to the router for storing information data; delivere storage medium units connected to the router for partially storing information data from the archive storage medium units; end devices each having an input and a display connected to the router for outputting demand data requesting selected information data; and a controller connected to the router for managing distribution of the information data.

Abstract: In a sound/moving picture reproduction system 1, a main data transferring device 2 includes a sound/moving picture data storing portion storing sound/moving picture data. A plurality of auxiliary data transferring devices 4 are connected in parallel to the main data transferring device 2. The auxiliary data transferring devices 4 are arranged in one or more stages along a data transfer direction defined from the main data transferring device toward a plurality of data reproducing devices 8. Each of the plurality of auxiliary data transferring devices 4 includes a copied data storing portion storing copied data of received sound/moving picture data. The main data transferring device reads sound/moving picture data from the is sound/moving picture data storing portion and transfers the read sound/moving picture data to either one of the plurality of auxiliary data transferring devices.

Abstract: Digital data of a plurality of video/audio softs is stored in a plurality of random-accessible large capacity storage device (9) and a control device (8) designates the reading of the video/audio softs and a vacant channel number to decoder devices of a multi-channel output, so that the designated video/audio softs are intermittently read out by time division from the large capacity storage devices every predetermined blocks by the decoder devices to be temporarily stored and thereafter decoded and outputted from the designated number channels, and thus, any soft can be supplied to the terminal devices at any supply starting time, irrespective of whether the requested softs are the same or different, so long as the number of the output channels of the data processing device is within the permissible range.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which local information may be distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment. The local information contain information that is directed toward the particular users in a local area. The local information may be displayed automatically by cycling global information and local information.