Architectural arrangement for a video server

A video-on-demand (VOD) system comprising:

• a plurality of video data storage devices;
• storage device controller means including at least a first storage device controller in communication with said plurality of video data storage devices for controlling transfer of video data relative to at least one of said plurality of video data storage devices;
• a telephony technology network connected to provide video data to a plurality of subscribers;
• and
• a video server including:
• a data converter for converting a current video data stream transmitted via computer technology to another video data stream for transmission via said telephony technology network;
• a multi-port switch including a number of ports, wherein through at least some of said ports information is transferred bi-directionally, said number of ports including a first port, a second port and a third port, with one of said ports of said number of ports connected to receive said current video data stream from said one of said video data storage devices and connected to provide said current video data stream to said data converter;
• controller means connected to receive at least one viewer request signal from a subscriber via said telephony technology network and responsive thereto to generate and provide control signals to said multi-port switch and said data converter for coordinating transfer of video data streams from said video data storage devices to said telephony technology network, said controller means including a first controller connected to said first port of said multi-port switch for controlling said multi-port switch and outputting said current video data stream from said multi-port switch by communication with said storage device controller means through said multi-port switch;
• and
• switch means, different from said multi-port switch, connected to said controller means for receiving signals from said telephony technology network and for regulating transmission of control signals to said controller means including said first controller and each controller of said controller means and in which a second controller of said controller means, when real time requirements increase to require use of said second controller, is connectable to said switch means and to said second port of said multi-port switch for providing control signals to said second port and said second controller being responsive to another viewer request signal to generate and provide control signals to said second port;
• wherein information in addition to said current video data stream is provided through said multi-port switch including control information provided between said first controller and said first storage device controller and in which said control information is communicated bi-directionally between said first port to which said first controller is connected and said third port to which said first storage device controller is connected.