Multi-cast digital video data server using synchronization groups

A multi-cast digital video data server system for distributing selected digital video data signals on demand to one or more display systems for viewing by viewers, the system providing to each viewer interactive control over the display of the digital video data signals on a display system, comprising:

• a video library to store the digital video data signals, the digital video data signals being grouped into distinct, individually selectable programs, said programs being divided into multiple frames of data signals, said video library including an addressable mass storage device allowing multiple, concurrent accesses to said programs;
• a digital video data server coupled to said video library to retrieve selected frames of selected ones of said programs;
• a network interface coupled to said digital video data server to accept said selected frames from said digital video data server, replicate said accepted frames a selected number of times, and format each one of said replicated frames into a transmission packet, each said transmission packet being identified for a selected display system;
• a distribution network coupled to said network interface to accept said transmission packets from said network interface and distribute said transmission packets to a selected display system;
• a decoder coupled to said distribution network and an associated display system to extract said replicated frames from said transmission packets, and to present said replicated frames for real-time display on said associated display system;
• and
• a viewer selection device coupled to said digital video data server to interactively communicate viewer requests for digital video data distribution service to said digital video data server.

A system for distributing selected programs to one or more display systems for viewing by viewers, the system having a video library for storing the programs, the programs being distinct, individually selectable programs and divided into multiple frames of data signals, the video library allowing multiple, concurrent accesses to the programs, the system comprising:

• server means coupled to the video library for retrieving selected frames of selected ones of the programs;
• multi-cast means coupled to said server means for accepting said selected frames from said server means, for forming a selected number of replicated frames from said accepted frames, and for formatting each one of said replicated frames into a transmission packet, each said transmission packet being identified for a selected display system;
• and
• distribution network means coupled to said multi-cast means for accepting said transmission packets from said multi-cast means and for distributing said transmission packets to at least one selected display system.

A system for distributing selected digital video data signals on demand to one or more display systems for viewing by viewers, the system providing to each viewer interactive control over the display of the digital video data signals on a display system, comprising:

• storage means for storing the digital video data signals, the digital video data signals being grouped into distinct, individually selectable programs, said programs being divided into multiple frames of data signals, said storage means allowing multiple, concurrent accesses to said programs;
• at least one server means coupled to said storage means for retrieving from said storage means selected frames of selected ones of said programs, said at least one server means including
• instruction processing means for executing instructions;
• main memory means coupled to said instruction processing means for storing said instructions and said selected frames;
• input/output channel means coupled to said storage means for accessing said instructions and said selected frames from said storage means;
• input/output processing means for retrieving said instructions and said selected frames over said input/output channel means from said storage means;
• and
• input/output bus means coupled to said input/output processing means, said instruction processing means, and said main memory means for transferring said instructions and said selected frames from said input/output processing means to said main memory means;
• at least one network interface means connected to said at least one server means for accepting said selected frames from said at least one server means, for forming a selected number of replicated frames from said accepted frames, and for formatting each one of said replicated frames into a transmission packet, each said transmission packet being identified for a selected display system, said network interface means including
• network input/output processing means connected to said input/output bus means, for accepting said selected frames from said input/output bus means;
• multi-cast interface means connected to said network input/output processing means for forming a selected number of replicated frames from said accepted frames received from said network input/output processing means;
• and
• asynchronous transfer mode interface means connected to said multi-cast interface means for formatting said replicated frames into said transmission packets;
• distribution network means coupled to said network interface means for accepting said transmission packets from said network interface means and for distributing said transmission packets to at least one selected display system, said distribution network means including switched integrated-services digital networks having asynchronous transfer mode interfaces;
• decoder means coupled to said distribution network means and to at least one selected display system for extracting said replicated frames from said transmission packets, and for presenting said replicated frames for real-time display on said at least one selected display system;
• and
• viewer selection means coupled to said server means for interactively communicating viewer requests for digital video data distribution service to said server means.

A multi-cast digital video data server system for distributing selected digital video data signals on demand to one or more display systems for viewing by viewers, the system providing to each viewer interactive control over the display of the digital video data signals on a display system, comprising:

• a video library to store the digital video data signals, the digital video data signals being grouped into distinct, individually selectable programs, said programs being divided into multiple frames of data signals, said video library including at least one addressable mass storage device allowing multiple, concurrent accesses to said programs;
• at least one digital video data server connected to said video library to retrieve selected frames of selected ones of said programs, said at least one digital video data server including
• at least one instruction processor to execute instructions;
• a main memory module to store said instructions and said selected frames;
• a storage controller connected to said at least one instruction processor and to said main memory to control access to said main memory module;
• an input/output bus connected to said storage controller;
• a plurality of input/output channels connected to said at least one addressable mass storage device;
• and
• at least one input/output processor connected to said input/output bus and to said plurality of input/output channels to retrieve said instructions and said selected frames from said at least one addressable mass storage device and to transfer said instructions and said selected frames to said main memory module over said input/output bus under the control of said storage controller;
• at least one network interface connected to said digital video data server to accept said selected frames from said digital video data server, form a selected number of replicated frames from said accepted frames, and format each one of said replicated frames into a transmission packet, each said transmission packet being identified for a selected display system, said at least one network interface including
• at least one network input/output processor connected to said input/output bus to accept said selected frames from said input/output bus;
• at least one multi-cast interface connected to said at least one network input/output processor to form a selected number of replicated frames from said accepted frames received from said at least one network input/output processor;
• and
• at least one asynchronous transfer mode interface connected to said at least one multi-cast interface to format said replicated frames into transmission packets;
• a distribution network connected to said at least one network interface to accept said transmission packets from said at least one network interface and distribute said transmission packets to a selected display system, said distribution network including switched integrated-services digital networks having asynchronous transfer mode interfaces;
• a decoder connected to said distribution network and an associated display system to extract said replicated frames from said transmission packets, and to present said replicated frames for real-time display on said associated display system;
• and
• a viewer selection device connected to said digital video data server to interactively communicate viewer requests for digital video data distribution service to said digital video data server.