Method of distributed recording whereby the need to transition to a second recording device from a first recording device is broadcast by the first recording device
First Claim
1. A method of recording data within an automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of media storage devices comprising:
- a. receiving a record command to record a stream of data at one of the media storage devices;
b. determining a next available media storage device independent of the record command;
c. recording the stream of data on media within the next available media storage device, thereby forming a recorded stream of data;
d. recording a file table associated with the recorded stream of data within the next available media storage device, wherein the file table includes identifying and pointing information about the recorded stream of data;
e. sending control communications from the next available media storage device to other media storage devices within the automatically configuring storage array; and
f. repeating b-e when the next available media storage device does not have capacity to record remaining portions of the stream of data, until the stream of data is fully recorded.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatically configuring storage array includes a plurality of media storage devices coupled together within a network of devices. Preferably, the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-2000 serial bus network of devices. The media storage devices are utilized to record and retrieve streams of data transmitted within the network of devices. The media storage devices communicate with each other in order to store and retrieve streams of data over multiple media storage devices, if necessary. When a record or playback command is received by any one of the media storage devices, the media storage devices send control communications between themselves to ensure that the stream of data is recorded or transmitted, as appropriate. Control of the record or transmit operation is also transferred between the media storage devices in order to utilize the full capacity of the available media storage devices. Preferably, streams of data are recorded utilizing redundancy techniques. An internal file system is included within each media storage device. A file table associated with each recorded stream of data is stored within the internal file system of each media storage device to facilitate search and retrieval of the recorded streams of data throughout the media storage devices. Preferably, the media storage devices accept control instructions directly from devices within the network. Alternatively, a control device is utilized to provide a control interface between the media storage devices and the other devices within the network.
18 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of recording data within an automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of media storage devices comprising:
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a. receiving a record command to record a stream of data at one of the media storage devices;
b. determining a next available media storage device independent of the record command;
c. recording the stream of data on media within the next available media storage device, thereby forming a recorded stream of data;
d. recording a file table associated with the recorded stream of data within the next available media storage device, wherein the file table includes identifying and pointing information about the recorded stream of data;
e. sending control communications from the next available media storage device to other media storage devices within the automatically configuring storage array; and
f. repeating b-e when the next available media storage device does not have capacity to record remaining portions of the stream of data, until the stream of data is fully recorded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A method of recording data within an automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of media storage devices comprising:
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a. receiving a record command to record a stream of data at one of the media storage devices;
b. determining a next available media storage device independent of the record command;
c. recording the stream of data on media within the next available media storage device, thereby forming a recorded stream of data;
d. recording a file table associated with the recorded stream of data within the next available media storage device, wherein the file table is stored on and maintained by the next available media storage device and includes identifying and pointing information about the recorded stream of data;
e. sending control communications from the next available media storage device to other media storage devices within the automatically configuring storage array; and
f. repeating b-e when the next available media storage device does not have capacity to record remaining portions of the stream of data, until the stream of data is fully recorded, wherein each media storage device that stores a portion of the recorded stream of data includes the file table associated with the portion of the recorded stream of data stored on that media storage device.
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- 22. An automatically configuring storage array within a network of devices including data source devices and data reception devices, the automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of distributed intelligent media storage devices having ability to automatically configure themselves and record a received stream of data over multiple media storage devices, thereby forming a recorded stream of data, wherein each media storage device that stores a portion of the recorded stream of data includes a file table associated with the portion of the recorded stream of data for identifying and pointing to portions of the recorded stream of data stored on different media storage devices.
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28. An automatically configuring storage array within a network of devices including data source devices and data reception devices, the automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of distributed intelligent media storage devices having ability to automatically configure themselves and record a received stream of data over multiple media storage devices, thereby forming a recorded stream of data, and to automatically retrieve and playback the recorded stream of data, wherein each media storage device that stores a portion of the recorded stream of data includes a file table associated with the portion of the recorded stream of data for identifying and pointing to portions of the recorded stream of data stored on different media storage devices.
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34. A method of recording data within an automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of media storage devices comprising:
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a. receiving a record command to record a stream of data at one of the media storage devices;
b. determining a next available media storage device independent of the record command by sending a broadcast message to the plurality of media storage devices requesting response from each media storage device that has available storage capacity and selecting the next available media storage device from those media storage devices that respond to the broadcast message;
c. recording the stream of data on media within the next available media storage device, thereby forming a recorded stream of data;
d. recording a file table associated with the recorded stream of data within the next available media storage device, wherein the file table includes identifying and pointing information about the recorded stream of data;
e. sending control communications from the next available media storage device to other media storage devices within the automatically configuring storage array; and
f. repeating b-e when the next available media storage device does not have capacity to record remaining portions of the stream of data, until the stream of data is fully recorded.
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37. A network of devices comprising:
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a. a source device for providing a stream of data; and
b. an automatically configuring storage array coupled to the source device, the automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of distributed intelligent media storage devices having ability to automatically configure themselves and record the received stream of data over multiple media storage devices, thereby forming a recorded stream of data, wherein each media storage device that stores a portion of the recorded stream of data includes a file table associated with the portion of the recorded stream of data for identifying and pointing to portions of the recorded stream of data stored on different media storage devices.
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- 43. A distributed file table representing storage locations corresponding to a recorded stream of data, the distributed file table including one or more file tables, wherein each file table is associated with a portion of the recorded stream of data stored on one of a plurality of distributed intelligent media storage devices within a network of devices and includes identifying information about the portion of the recorded stream of data on the media storage device and pointing information about other portions of the recorded stream of data on different media storage devices, further wherein each file table is maintained by and recorded onto the media storage device on which the associated portion of the recorded stream of data is recorded.
Specification