Communications architecture and buffer for distributing information services

A store-and-forward architecture for distributing information programs to subscribers, comprising:

• a plurality of information warehouses (IWHs) which archive information programs and dispense segments of information programs in bursts;
• a plurality of central offices (COs) which request and receive said segments of information programs from said IWHs for play-out to subscribers in real-time, wherein each of said COs comprises
• an interface which interfaces said CO to said IWHs;
• busses which are internal communications links within said CO, wherein said busses comprise
• a control bus for transporting control information between elements of said CO and
• a data bus for transporting segments of information programs at high speeds between elements of said CO, wherein said control bus and said CO data bus are decoupled for consistently fast delivery of information program segments between elements of said CO;
• and
• a CO service processor, wherein said CO service processor queries said IWHs for segments of information programs and said corresponding scripts and maps and administers dissemination of scripts, maps, and segments of information programs received from said IWHs to buffers
• and wherein COs further comprises 1 to N buffers, each of said buffers comprising interface means for external access to said buffer, processor means for managing a subscriber's requests for an information program based upon a service presentation script and a program presentation map corresponding to said information program and for managing and administering internal operations of said buffer, buffer storage means for storing segments of said information program, memory storage means for storing said script and map associated with said information program, and bus means connected to said interface means, said processor means, said buffer storage means, and said memory storage means for providing internal transport of data and control signals there between;
• and
• a plurality of customer premises equipments (CPEs) wherein each said CPE is serviced by one of said buffers and is the subscriber's interface for generating requests and control signals for interactive play-out and receiving and processing information programs for the subscriber's use.

An intelligent buffer for receiving segments of an information program and managing subscriber's requests for said information program, comprising:

• interfaces for external access to said buffer;
• processors for processing subscriber requests based upon a service presentation script and a program presentation map corresponding to said information program and for administering the internal operations of said buffer;
• busses for providing internal transport of data and control signals between components of said buffer;
• buffer storage for storing segments of said information program;
• and
• memory storage for storing said script and map.