US 6,188,428 B1 · Transcoding video file server and methods for its use

Abstract

The technical field of the invention generally concerns systems for interactive access to stored video data. In particular, a video file server 20 includes both a random access data storage subsystem 78 and a archive data storage subsystem 82 for storing compressed video data. In response to commands from subscriber system 66, the video file server 20 transmits compressed video data to the subscriber systems 66 over lines 64A-64H, or receives compressed video data therefrom. Commands from the subscriber systems 66 may cause the video file server 20 to store compressed video data received from the subscriber systems 66 in the random access data storage subsystem 78 and/or archive data storage subsystem 82. Compression-decompression cards 42 included in the video file server 20 provide an authoring capability for storing compressed video and/or audio data in the random access data storage subsystem 78 and/or archive data storage subsystem 82, and for converting from one data compression standard to another.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A video file server for storing video data and transmitting compressed video data to a plurality of subscriber systems, said video file server comprising:

a main unit controller for controlling transmission of compressed video data to subscriber systems;
a random access data storage subsystem for storing compressed video data and from which such data is randomly retrievable;
a plurality of communication subsystems, for transmitting compressed video data to the subscriber systems;
and
compressed video data format conversion subsystem for receiving compressed video data from said random access data storage subsystem that is compressed in accordance with a first compression standard, for converting the received compressed video data from the first compression standard to a second compression standard that differs from the first compression standard, and for transmitting such converted compressed video data compressed in accordance with the second compression standard to at least one of said communication subsystems.

2 more elements

A method for storing compressed video data and for transmitting compressed video data to a plurality of subscriber systems, the method comprising the steps of:

storing compressed video data in a random access data storage subsystem from which such data is randomly retrievable, the compressed video data being compressed in accordance with a first compression standard;
retrieving compressed video data from the random access data storage subsystem;
supplying the retrieved compressed video data to a compressed video data format conversion subsystem;
within the compressed video data format conversion subsystem converting the received compressed video data from the first compression standard to a second compression standard that differs from the first compression standard;
transmitting such converted compressed video data from the compressed video data format conversion subsystem to a communication subsystem;
and
transmitting the converted compressed video data from the communication subsystem to a subscriber system.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transcoding video file server and methods for its use

Life of this patent

Transcoding video file server and methods for its use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36