Data server, control server and gateway architecture system and method for broadcasting digital video on demand

• US 5,508,732 A
• Filed: 03/22/1993
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, James M., Withers, Robert W., Chadwick, Henry D., Moore, Frank R., Schaszberger, Mark L., Putterman, Marc A., Powers, John T. Jr., Bottomley, John F., Williams, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/034,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/12, 348/13, 348/714, 348/715, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A data processing system is described for providing digital video information on subscriber demand, for very large video data files. The system enables rapid response to the requests by network subscribers, independent of the number of video files offered for selection. The data processing system is coupled through a data switch to a subscriber communications network.

Claims

1. In a data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, the system including a gateway coupled to the network, a control server coupled to the gateway and a data server coupled to the control server and to the data switch, a method for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising the steps of:

receiving a subscriber demand in the gateway from the network, and forwarding a subscriber ID and a video ID for the digital video data to the control server;

determining that no subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID, which is accepting new subscribers;

creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue;

sending said new port ID and said subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber;

sending said video ID and said new port ID to said data server after said new queue timer times out;

accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of said video data into an A-buffer and a second page of said video data into a B-buffer and storing a next video storage accessing address;

selectively coupling an output for said A-buffer and said B-buffer (A-B buffers) to said new port using said new port ID;

outputting said video data from said A-buffer to said new port to send said video data as a data stream to said data switch;

outputting said video data from said B-buffer to said new port when said A-buffer is empty and reloading said A-buffer by accessing a next page of video data from said video storage using said next video storage accessing address;

continuing said outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said data switch until an end of said video data is determined;

sending a termination message to said data switch to disconnect said new port from said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said demand in said gateway, further comprises the steps of:

responding with a first response to said subscriber using a voice response unit;

receiving said subscriber ID and video ID from said subscriber;

validating said subscriber ID;

accessing a gateway video catalog using said video ID, to obtain voice response data describing said video data;

responding with a second response to said subscriber using said voice response unit.

3. A data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising:

a gateway coupled to the network, for receiving a demand from a subscriber, for said digital video data;

a control server coupled to said gateway, for receiving subscriber ID and video ID from said gateway and determining that no subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID, which is accepting new subscribers;

said control server creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

said control server assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue;

said control server sending said new port ID and said subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber;

a data server coupled to said control server and to the data switch, for receiving said video ID and said new port ID after said new queue timer times out;

said data server accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer and storing a next video storage accessing address;

said data server selectively coupling said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said new port using said new port ID and outputting said video data from said A-buffer to said new port to send said video data as a data stream to said data switch;

said data server outputting said B-buffer to said new port when said A-buffer is empty and reloading said A-buffer by accessing a next page of video data from said video storage using said next video storage accessing address;

said data server continuing said outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said data switch until an end of said video data is determined;

said data server sending a termination message to said data switch to disconnect said new port from said subscriber.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said gateway, further comprises:

a voice response unit for responding with a first response to the subscriber;

said gateway receiving said subscriber ID and said video ID from the subscriber and validating said subscriber ID;

said gateway accessing a gateway video catalog using said video ID, to obtain voice response data describing said digital video data and responding a second response to the subscriber with said voice response data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said data server further comprises:

a video data selector coupled to a plurality of video data files in said video storage unit, for receiving said video ID and in response thereto, selecting one of said plurality of video data files for coupling to said A-B buffers;

a multiplexer coupled to a plurality of said ports, for receiving said port ID and in response thereto, selecting one of said plurality of ports for coupling to said A-B buffers;

whereby a selected one of said plurality of video data files can be output to selected any one of said plurality of ports.

6. In a data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, the system including a gateway coupled to the network, a control server coupled to the gateway and a data server coupled to the control server and to the data switch, a method for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising the steps of:

receiving a demand in the gateway from a subscriber, including a subscriber ID and a video ID for said digital video data;

sending said subscriber ID and video ID to the control server;

determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID having been previously assigned to a port having a port ID and determining whether said queue is accepting new subscribers;

assigning said subscriber ID to said subscriber queue and sending a video confirmation, said port ID and a start time to said gateway;

sending said port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said port to the subscriber;

continuing to receive additional subscriber demands until a queue timer in said control server times out;

sending said video ID and port ID to said data server after said queue timer times out;

accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer and storing a next video storage accessing address;

said data server selectively coupling said A-buffer and said B-buffer (A-B buffers) to said port using said port ID;

outputting said video data from said A-buffer to said port to send said video data as a data stream to said data switch;

outputting said video data from said B-buffer to said port when said A-buffer is empty and relocating said A-buffer by accessing a next page of video data from said video storage using said next video storage accessing address;

continuing said outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer as a data stream to said data switch until an end of said video data is detected;

sending a termination message from said data server through said control server and through said gateway to said data switch to release connections between said port and subscribers in said network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of receiving said demand in said gateway, further comprises the steps of:

responding to a first response with a voice response unit;

receiving said subscriber ID and video ID from the subscriber;

validating said subscriber ID;

accessing a gateway video catalog using said video ID, to obtain voice response data describing said digital video data;

responding to a second response with said voice response unit using said voice response data.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID, further comprises the steps of:

determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID;

creating a new subscriber queue in control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue and sending video confirmation, said new port ID and new start time to said voice response unit in said gateway;

sending said new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber.

9. In a data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, the system including a gateway coupled to the network, a control server coupled to the gateway and a data server coupled to the control server and to the data switch, a method for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising the steps of:

receiving a demand in the gateway from a subscriber, including a subscriber ID and a video ID for said digital video data;

sending said subscriber ID and video ID to the control server;

determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID having been previously assigned to a port having a port ID and determining whether said queue is accepting new subscribers;

determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID;

creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a The method of claim 6, wherein said step of determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID, further comprises the steps of;

determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID;

creating a new subscriber queue in control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue and sending video confirmation, said new port ID and new start time to said voice response unit in said gateway;

sending said new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber. In a data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, the system including a gateway coupled to the network, a control server coupled to the gateway and a data server coupled to the control server and to the data switch, a method for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising the steps of;

receiving a demand in the gateway from a subscriber, including a subscriber ID and a video ID for said digital video data;

sending said subscriber ID and video ID to the control server;

determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID having been previously assigned to a port having a port ID and determining whether said queue is accepting new subscribers;

determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID;

creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue and sending a video confirmation, said port ID and a start time to said gateway;

sending said new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said port to the subscriber.

10. The method of claim 9, which further comprises the steps of:

continuing to receive additional subscriber demands until said new queue timer in said control server times out;

sending said video ID and new port ID to said data server after said new queue timer times out;

accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer and storing a next video storage accessing address;

said data server selectively coupling an output for said A-buffer and said B-buffer (A-B buffers) to said port using said port ID;

outputting said A-buffer to said new port to send said video data as a data stream to said data switch;

outputting said B-buffer to said port when said A-buffer is empty and reloading said A-buffer by accessing a next page of video data from said video storage using said next video storage accessing address;

continuing said outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer as a data stream to said data switch until and end of said video data is detected;

sending a termination message from said data server through said control server and through said gateway to said data switch to release connections between said new port and subscribers in said network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of receiving said demand in said gateway, further comprises the steps of:

responding to a first response with a voice response unit;

receiving said subscriber ID and vide ID from the subscriber;

validating said subscriber ID;

accessing a gateway video catalog using said video ID, to obtain voice response data describing said digital video data;

responding to a second response with said voice response unit using said voice response data.

12. A data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising:

a gateway coupled to the network, for receiving a demand from a subscriber, including a subscriber ID and a video ID for said digital video data;

a control server coupled to said gateway, for receiving subscriber ID and video ID from said gateway and determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID is having been previously assigned to a port having a port ID and determining whether said queue is accepting new subscribers;

said control server determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID and creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

said control server assigning said subscriber ID to said new subscriber queue and sending video confirmation, said new port ID and new start time to said gateway;

said control server sending said new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber.

13. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

a data server coupled to said control server and to the data switch, for receiving said video ID and new port ID after said new queue timer times out;

said data server accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer and storing a next video storage accessing address;

said data server selectively coupling said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said new port using said new port ID and outputting said video data from said A-buffer to said new port to send said video data as a data stream to said data switch;

said data server outputting said video data from said B-buffer to said new port when said A-buffer is empty and reloading said A-buffer by accessing a next page of video data from said video storage using said next video storage accessing address;

said data server continuing said outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer as a data stream to said data switch until an end of said video data is detected;

said data server sending a termination message through said control server and through said gateway to said data switch to release connections between said new port and subscribers in said network.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said gateway, further comprises:

a voice response unit for responding with a first response to the subscriber;

said gateway receiving said subscriber ID and video ID from the subscriber and validating said subscriber ID;

said gateway accessing a gateway video catalog using said video ID, to obtain voice response data describing said digital video data and responding a second response to the subscriber with said voice response data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said data server further comprises:

a video data selector coupled to a plurality of video data files in said video storage unit, for receiving said video ID and in response thereto, selecting one of said plurality of video data files for coupling to said A-buffer and said B-buffer (A-B buffers);

a multiplexer coupled to a plurality of said ports, for receiving said port ID and in response thereto, selecting one of said plurality of ports for coupling to said A-B buffers;

whereby a selected one of said plurality of video data files can be output to a selected one of said plurality of ports.

16. In a data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, the system including a gateway coupled to the network, a control server coupled to the gateway and a data server coupled to the control server and to the data switch, a method for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising the steps of:

receiving a demand in the gateway from a subscriber for said digital video data;

sending a subscriber ID and video ID to the control server;

determining that a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID and that said control server is accepting new subscribers;

assigning said subscriber ID to said subscriber queue and sending a port ID to said gateway;

sending said port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect the identified port to the subscriber;

accessing a video storage in said data server using said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer;

said data server connecting said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said port using said port ID;

outputting said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said data switch;

sending a termination message from said data server to said data switch to release connections between said port and subscribers in said network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID, further comprises the steps of:

determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID;

creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

assigning said subscriber ID to new subscriber queue;

sending new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber;

18. A data processing system coupled to a subscriber communications network through a data switch, for providing digital video data on subscriber demand, comprising:

a gateway coupled to the network, for receiving a request from a subscriber, for said digital video data;

a control server coupled to said gateway, for receiving a subscriber ID and video ID from said gateway and determining if a subscriber queue exists in said control server corresponding to said video ID and is accepting new subscribers;

said control server determining if a port is available if no subscriber queue exists for said video ID and creating a new subscriber queue in said control server if a new port having a new port ID is available, starting a new queue timer for adding subscribers to said new subscriber queue and scheduling said video ID for said new port ID at a new start time;

said control server assigning said subscriber ID to a new subscriber queue;

said control server sending said new port ID and subscriber ID to the data switch to connect said new port to the subscriber.

19. The system of claim 18, which further comprises:

a data server coupled to said control server and to the data switch, for receiving said video ID and new port ID after said new queue timer times out;

said data server accessing a video storage in said data server with said video ID and loading a first page of video data into an A-buffer and second page of video data into a B-buffer;

said data server connecting said A-buffer and said B-buffer to said new port using said new port ID;

said data server outputting of said video data from said A-buffer and said B-buffer serially to said data switch;

said data server sending a termination message to said data switch to release connections between said new port and subscribers in said network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said data server further comprises:

a video data selector coupled to a plurality of video data files in said video storage unit, for receiving said video ID and in response thereto, selecting one of said plurality of video data files for coupling to said A-buffer and said B-buffer;

a multiplexer coupled to a plurality of said ports, for receiving said port ID and selecting one of said plurality of ports for coupling to said A-buffer and said B-buffer;

whereby any one of said plurality of said selected video data files can be output to any one of said plurality of ports.