Patent ID: 6496856
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
A video storage and retrieval system, comprising:a plurality of multimedia terminals coupled to a communication network and adapted to request, receive and display video presentations; a plurality of storage and retrieval units, including a plurality of local storage and retrieval units in communication with the multimedia terminals and with a plurality of extended storage and retrieval units, wherein each storage and retrieval unit includes a collection of stored video presentations; a plurality of index managers in communication with the local storage and retrieval units, wherein each index manager is adapted to receive and process video presentation requests from a portion of the local storage and retrieval units, and wherein each index manager communicates with at least one other index manager and each index manager includes a database of video presentations stored on at least a portion of the local and extended storage and retrieval units; a data sequencing interface adapted to direct the transmission of a requested video presentation from a storage and retrieval unit identified by an index manager over a preferred communication route to at least one of a designated multimedia terminal and a local storage and retrieval unit associated with the designated multimedia terminal; and wherein a multimedia terminal sends a request to a designated local storage and retrieval unit, and the designated local storage and retrieval unit contacts at least one index manager to perform at least one of logging the request, identifying at least one storage and retrieval unit that contains a requested video presentation, and logging transmission of a video presentation, and wherein the data sequencing interface determines the preferred communication route and schedules for downloading the requested video presentation to provide fast and efficient service to a user without overloading shared components of the system.