Patent ID: 6181867
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for storing and retrieving a video presentation from a distributed network, comprising the steps of:distributing a plurality of storage and retrieval units capable of communication with a decentralized network, wherein each storable and retrieval unit comprises a collection of video presentations;associating at least one index manager with one or more storage and retrieval units, wherein each index manager communicates with at least one other index manager and each index manager maintains a database of video presentations stored on at least a portion of the storage and retrieval units;formulatingy a request for a video presentation at a multimedia terminal;specifying at least one storage and retrieval unit as a local storage and retrieval unit associated with the multimedia terminal;transmitting the request from the multimedia terminal to a local storage and retrieval unit;searching the local storage and retrieval unit to determine whether any of the request can be satisfied from the collection of video presentations stored by the local storage and retrieval unit;if any of the request can be satisfied, transmitting at least one presentation satisfying the request from a local storage and retrieval unit for delivery to the multimedia terminal;if any of the request is not satisfied, identifying at least one index manager as a primary index manager for a local storage and retrieval unit associated with the multimedia terminal;forwarding all or part of the request to a primary index manager;searching a database on the primary index manager to determine at least one storage location for each video presentation satisfying all or part of the request from among a first set of storage and retrieval units;if any of the forwarded request can be satisfied, transmitting at least one presentation satisfying the request, from at least one of the storage and retrieval units in the first set of storage and retrieval units, for delivery to the multimedia terminal;if any of the request is not satisfied, identifying at least one index manager as a secondary index manager;forwarding all or part of the request to at least one secondary index manager,searching a database on the secondary index manager to determine a storage location for each video presentation satisfying the forwarded request from among a second set of storage and retrieval units; andif any of the forwarded request can be satisfied, transmitting at least one presentation satisfying the request, from at least one storage and retrieval unit in the second set of storage and retrieval units, for delivery to the multimedia terminal.