Direct copying between disk blocks in memory onto a network as sequential access files

A computer network for restoring data, comprising:

• an electronic memory;
• means to connect a network input for communicating with the memory;
• means to connect a network output for communicating with the memory;
• sequential retrieval means to provide a signal for retrieving information from a sequential access storage system onto the network input;
• sequential input means to copy information of sequential formatted information blocks from the network input reformatted into multiple disk formatted information blocks, for each sequential formatted information block, in a buffer in the memory;
• disk output means to copy data directly from such disk formatted blocks in the same buffer onto the network output as disk formatted information blocks;
• and
• disk storing means to signal a random access storage system to store disk formatted information blocks from the network output.

A computer network for playing a multimedia data stream, comprising:

• a memory;
• means to connect a network input for communicating with the memory;
• means to connect a network output for communicating with the memory;
• disk retrieval means to provide a signal for retrieving information from files of a random access storage system onto the network input;
• disk input means to copy data of blocks of disk formatted information from the network input into disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory;
• stream output means to copy data directly from such disk formatted information blocks in the same buffer onto the network output reformatted as a multimedia data stream played in real time;
• and
• stream playing means to signal a destination of the multimedia data stream to synchronize receiving the stream from the network output.

A computer network for recording a multimedia data stream, comprising:

• a memory;
• means to connect a network input for communicating with the memory;
• means to connect a network output for communicating with the memory;
• stream recording means to provide a signal to initiate receiving information from a source of a multimedia data stream onto the network input;
• stream input means to copy data of the multimedia data stream from the network input reformatted into a multitude of disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory;
• disk output means to copy data of the blocks of disk formatted information from the same buffer onto the network output in disk formatted information blocks;
• and
• disk storing means to signal a random access storage system to store information from the network output.

A multimedia data server, comprising:

• a memory;
• means to connect a first communications network for communicating with the memory;
• means to connect a second communications network for communication with the memory;
• data transfer means to copy multimedia data between disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory and data in a different format on the first network, including:
• means for creating a list of address-size pairs in the memory describing a process for moving portions of data between the disk formatted blocks in the buffer and the first network;
• and means for executing movement of the data between the disk formatted blocks in the buffer and the first network, according to the list of address-size pairs;
• disk transfer means to copy data in the blocks of disk formatted information between the second network and the disk formatted information blocks in the same buffer;
• and
• disk control means to signal a random access storage system to move information between the second network and the random access storage system.

Apparatus for programming a multimedia network for archiving data, comprising:

• apparatus to provide disk retrieval means to provide a signal for retrieving information from files of a random access storage system onto a network input;
• apparatus to provide disk input means to copy data of disk formatted information blocks from the network input into disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory;
• apparatus to provide sequential output means to copy data from such disk formatted information blocks in the same buffer onto the network output in sequential formatted information blocks;
• and
• apparatus to provide sequential storing means to signal a sequential access storage system to store information from the network output.

Apparatus for programming a multimedia network for restoring data, comprising:

• apparatus to provide sequential retrieval means to provide a signal for retrieving information from a sequential access storage system onto a network input;
• apparatus to provide sequential input means to copy information of sequential formatted information blocks from the network input into multiple disk formatted information blocks, for each sequential formatted information block, in a buffer in the memory;
• apparatus to provide disk output means to copy data directly from such disk formatted blocks in the same buffer onto the network output as disk formatted information blocks;
• and
• apparatus to provide disk storing means to signal a random access storage system to store information from the network output.

Apparatus for programming a computer network for playing a multimedia data stream, comprising:

• apparatus to provide disk retrieval means to provide a signal for retrieving information from files of a random access storage system onto a network input;
• apparatus to provide disk input means to copy data of blocks of disk formatted information from the network input into disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory;
• apparatus to provide stream output means to copy data directly from such disk formatted information blocks in the same buffer onto the network output reformatted as a multimedia data stream played in real time;
• and
• apparatus to provide stream playing means to signal a destination of the multimedia data stream to synchronize receiving the stream from the network output.

Apparatus for programming a computer network for recording a multimedia data stream, comprising:

• apparatus to provide stream recording means to provide a signal to initiate receiving information from a source of a multimedia data stream onto a network input;
• apparatus to provide stream input means to copy data of the multimedia data stream from the network input reformatted into a multitude of disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory;
• apparatus to provide disk output means to copy data of the blocks of disk formatted information from the same buffer onto the network output in disk formatted information blocks;
• and
• apparatus to provide disk storing means to signal a random access storage system to store information from the network output.

Apparatus for programming a multimedia data server, comprising:

• apparatus to provide data transfer means to copy multimedia data between disk formatted information blocks in a buffer in the memory and data in a different format on a first network, including:
• means for creating a list of address-size pairs in the memory describing a process for moving portions of data between the disk formatted blocks in the buffer and the network;
• and means for executing movement of the data between the disk formatted blocks in the buffer and the first network, according to the list of address-size pairs;
• apparatus to provide disk transfer means to copy data in the blocks of disk formatted information between the second network and the disk formatted information blocks in the same buffer;
• and
• apparatus to provide disk control means to signal a random access storage system to move information between the second network and the random access storage system.