US 7,924,456 B1Granted

Data distribution and buffering

AssigneeBroadbus Technologies, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Kahn, Matthew G. Sargeant, Francis J. Stifter, Jr.

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Abstract

An on-demand server system herein includes a memory controller that coordinates access to one or more flash-based memory devices. The flash devices store large amounts of video content that can be selectively viewed on-demand by each of multiple destinations over a respective network. In addition to having access to an array of flash memory devices, the memory controller has access to a corresponding read buffer and write buffer. Use of the read buffer and the write buffer enable the memory controller to switch between transferring data stored in the write buffer to the array of memory devices and transferring the data in the array of memory devices to the read buffer. The write buffer stores on-demand video content that can be selected for viewing by different users. The read buffer stores segments of the on-demand video content currently streamed to the users.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving a first request for a particular portion of a content stream;
in response to receiving the first request, initiating an access of a block of data from an array of memory devices, the block of data including the particular portion of the content stream as well as corresponding contiguous portions of the content stream, wherein initiating the access of the block of data from the array of memory devices includes retrieving more data from the array of memory devices than as specified by the first request;
storing at least a portion of the accessed block of data in a read buffer for on-demand streaming to a respective destination, wherein storing at least a portion of the block of data includes storing more data retrieved from the array of memory devices in the read buffer than as specified by the first request;
initiating transmission of the particular portion of the content stream to the respective destination;
receiving a second request for a different portion of the content stream;
and
initiating transmission of the different portion of content from the read buffer, the different portion of the content stream included in the portion of the data block stored in the read buffer.

4 more elements

A computer system that supports selection and paste operations, the computer system comprising:

a processor;
a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor;
and
an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer system to execute the application and perform operations of:
receiving a first request for a particular portion of a content stream;
in response to receiving the first request, initiating an access of a block of data from an array of memory devices, the block of data including the particular portion of the content stream as well as corresponding contiguous portions of the content stream, wherein initiating the access of the block of data from the array of memory devices includes retrieving more data from the array of memory devices than as specified by the first request;
storing at least a portion of the accessed block of data in a read buffer for on-demand streaming to a respective destination, wherein storing at least a portion of the block of data includes storing more data retrieved from the array of memory devices in the read buffer than as specified by the first request;
initiating transmission of the particular portion of the content stream to the respective destination;
receiving a second request for a different portion of the content stream;
and
initiating transmission of the different portion of content from the read buffer, the different portion of the content stream included in the portion of the data block stored in the read buffer.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.