Patent ID: 6101547
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A multimedia server for delivering data objects to a plurality of multimedia clients over a real-time network, said multimedia server comprising:a master coordinator accessible through said network, for evaluating admission requests from said multimedia clients;said master coordinator being operative, in response to requests for data objects from requesting multimedia clients that have been granted admission, to create client coordinators corresponding to each of the requesting multimedia clients, said client coordinators for providing session management procedures with the requesting multimedia clients and for requesting data objects; anda storage manager being operative, in response to a request for at least one data object from one of said client coordinators, to open a multimedia session with said requesting multimedia client, said storage manager having an associated data storage unit for storing streaming data representing at least one data object available for delivery, said data storage unit being configured to store data as a hierarchical set of data blocks, said data blocks being of selectable predetermined block size.