Method and apparatus for transmitting information recorded on information storage means from a central server to subscribers via a high data rate digital telecommunications network

Method of transmitting information from a central server to plural subscriber stations via a high data rate telecommunication network in response to requests from said subscriber stations, said method comprising the steps of:

• recording information at said central server on a plurality of information storage means, each of said information storage means being identified by an address,
• receiving at the central server a signal representing an initiation of a two-way transmission from one of said plural subscriber stations via said telecommunication network,
• receiving at the central server a signal identifying at least one selected one of said information storage means at said central server from said one of said plural subscriber stations via said telecommunication network,
• reading at the central server from memory means of said central server said address identifying each of said at least one information storage means,
• transmitting said address from said central computer means to a controller,
• controlling each at least one selected information storage means drive to retrieve signals from each at least one selected information storage means,
• transmitting said retrieved signals as compressed digital signals to said one of said plural subscriber stations via said telecommunication network.

Method of transmitting information from a central server to subscriber stations via a high data rate telecommunication network in response to requests from said subscriber stations, said method comprising the steps of:

• recording information at said central server on a plurality of information storage means, each of said information storage means being identified by an address,
• initiating a two-way transmission from subscriber computer means of one of said subscriber stations to central computer means of said central server via said telecommunication network,
• outputting on output means of said one of said subscriber stations data related to said information stored at said central server,
• selecting at least one of said information by means of input means of said one of said subscriber stations and transmitting a signal identifying said at least one selected information from said subscriber computer means to said central computer means via said telecommunication network,
• reading at the central server from memory means of said central server said address identifying each of said at least one information storage means storing each of said at least one selected information,
• transmitting said address from said central computer means to a controller,
• controlling at least one selected information storage means drive to retrieve signals from each at least one selected information storage means,
• transmitting said retrieved signals as compressed digital signals to said one of said subscriber stations via said telecommunication network, and
• expanding by expansion means of said one of said subscriber stations, said transmitted digital signals converting said digital signals into analog signals and delivering said analog signals to transducer means of said one of said subscriber stations.

A subscriber station for requesting and receiving information from one of a plurality of information systems via a high data rate telecommunication network for two-way communication between said subscriber station and said plurality of information systems, said subscriber station comprising:

• a communication interface connected to said telecommunication network through which communication with said one of said plurality of information systems may be initiated by said subscriber station,
• computer means connected to said communication interface,
• output means for ouputting from said computer means data related to information available at each of a plurality of said information systems,
• input means for inputting to said computer means requests for transmission of said information,
• expansion means connected to said communication interface for expanding digital signals received from said telecommunication network,
• a digital-to-analog converter connected to said expansion means for converting said digital signals into analog signals, and
• transducer means connected to said digital-to-analog converter for converting said analog signals into humanly perceptible signals.

A central server for storing and transmitting information via a high data rate telecommunication network for two-way communication between said central server and plural subscriber stations in response to requests from said subscriber stations, said central server comprising:

• a central communication interface connected to said telecommunication network,
• a plurality of information storage means,
• a plurality of information storage means drives,
• central memory means for storing data related to said information stored on said information storage means together with corresponding addresses of said information storage means,
• central computer means connected to said telecommunication network by said central communication interface and connected to said memory means,
• a controller connected to said central computer means and connected to said plural information storage means drives, wherein in response to instructions from said central computer means, said controller controls a selected information storage means drive to retrieve digital signals from said selected information storage means, and causes said central communication interface to transmit said retrieved signals as compressed digital signals to at least a selected one of said subscriber stations via said telecommunication network.

Apparatus for transmitting information from a central server to subscriber stations in response to requests from said subscriber stations, said apparatus comprising:

• a high data rate telecommunication network for two-way communication between said central server and said subscriber stations,
• said central server comprising:
• a central communication interface connected to said telecommunication network,
• a plurality of information storage means,
• a plurality of information storage means drives,
• central memory means for storing data related to said information stored on said information storage means together with corresponding addresses of said information storage means,
• central computer means connected to said telecommunication network by said central communication interface and connected to said memory means,
• a controller connected to said central computer means and connected to said plural information storage means drives, wherein in response to instructions from said central computer means, said controller controls a selected information storage means drive to retrieve digital signals from said selected information storage means, and causes said central communication interface to transmit said retrieved signals as compressed digital signals to at least a selected one of said subscriber stations via said telecommunication network;
• each of said subscriber stations comprising:
• a communication interface connected to said telecommunication network through which communication with said central server may be initiated by each of said subscriber stations,
• computer means connected to said communication interface,
• output means for outputting from said computer means data related to said information available at said central server,
• input means for inputting to said computer means requests for transmission of said information,
• expansion means connected to said communication interface for expanding digital signals received from said telecommunication network,
• a digital-to-analog converter connected to said expansion means for converting said digital signals into analog signals, and
• transducer means connected to said digital-to-analog converter for converting said analog signals into humanly perceptible signals.