Patent ID: 6381746
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A scaleable video system of a type which includes a video library that stores multiple video programs, and a host computer coupled to said video library which assigns randomly received requests for viewing said video programs to a finite number of video streams; said scaleable video system being comprised of:a separate supervisor processor which is coupled via a host bus to said host computer, and multiple co-processors which are selectable in number and are coupled via a co-processor bus to said supervisor processor; said supervisor processor having a data storage means which stores a respective portion of several of said video streams; each co-processor including a means for selectively reading said stored video stream portions from said data storage means and for sending each read portion to a different set of viewers; and, said single supervisor processor including a control means for dynamically updating the stored portion of each video stream in said data storage means and for servicing requests from said host computer to change the respective viewers of each video stream.