Using NAS appliance to build a non-conventional distributed video server
First Claim
1. A method for communicating content to a plurality of clients, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing multiple network attached storage (NAS) servers;
(b) storing content files on each NAS server for access by one or more clients;
(c) receiving a request for a content file from a client via a communication link;
(d) selecting one of the NAS servers that stores the requested content file;
(e) establishing a data stream between that client and the selected NAS server; and
(f) providing the requested content file from the selected NAS to the requesting client via the data stream, independent of other NAS servers.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video server for communicating content to a plurality of clients, including one or more network attached storage (NAS) servers, each NAS server storing content files for access by one or more clients; a switch for connecting the clients to the NAS servers in response to control signals, via a communication link; and a management control station connected to the clients and the NAS servers via the switch, wherein the management control station receives a request for a content file from a client, and selectively establishes a data stream between that client and an NAS server which stores the requested content file, such that the NAS server provides the content file to the client via the data stream, independent of other NAS servers.
110 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for communicating content to a plurality of clients, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing multiple network attached storage (NAS) servers;
(b) storing content files on each NAS server for access by one or more clients;
(c) receiving a request for a content file from a client via a communication link;
(d) selecting one of the NAS servers that stores the requested content file;
(e) establishing a data stream between that client and the selected NAS server; and
(f) providing the requested content file from the selected NAS to the requesting client via the data stream, independent of other NAS servers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A video server for communicating content to a plurality of clients, comprising:
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one or more network attached storage (NAS) servers, each NAS server storing content files for access by one or more clients; and
a management controller connected to the clients and the NAS servers via a communication link, wherein the management controller receives a request for a content file from a client, and selectively establishes a data stream between that client and a selected NAS server which stores the requested content file, such that the selected NAS server provides the content file to the client via the data stream, independent of other NAS servers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A management controller for a video server for communicating content from multiple NAS servers storing content files to a plurality of clients, comprising:
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a client interface module which receives requests from clients via a communication link;
an NAS monitor module which monitors operation of each NAS server, and receives a request for a content file from a client via the client interface, such that the NAS monitor module selectively establishes a data stream between that client and a selected NAS server which stores the requested content file, such that the selected NAS server provides the content file to the client via the data stream, independent of other NAS servers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification