Patent ID: 6138221
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for scheduling reading data from a storage medium for consumption by users in the form of a plurality of data streams, wherein each of the data streams has an identical maximum consumption rate of data elements per second; said method comprising the steps of:(i) dividing a predetermined period into successive time intervals;(ii) reserving for each data stream a corresponding buffer capable of storing at least a predetermined number of data elements;(iii) arranging the data streams in a plurality of preliminary groups by determining, for each data stream, a value such that the buffer corresponding to the data stream comprises less then a predetermined number data elements and assigning the data stream to a group, andreassigning the data streams to the preliminary groups by successively checking the preliminary groups by,verifying whether the data for all data streams of the groups can be read within a predetermined time interval;if not, repeatedly selecting a data stream of the group and removing the selected data stream from the group until the data for all remaining data streams of the group can be read within the predetermined time interval, and assigning the selected data streams to an earlier group;(iv) reading data for each data stream of a first one of said groups from the storage medium in one sweep and storing the data in the corresponding buffer; andwherein said method repeats steps (iii) and (iv) in succession and for the repetition reassigning the data streams to the groups by in step (iii) assigning at least data streams whose corresponding buffer comprises less then a predetermined number of data elements to the first group.