Video server that adapts video signals from memory to a format compatible with a communication system in a video-on-demand network
First Claim
1. Video server for use in a video on demand network wherein video signals are transferred over a communication system (TSY) from said video server to terminals of said communication system, said video server comprising:
- video signal memories (VM);
a server control means (SCM);
a broadband switch (BS) having first ports (VP1/VPY) to which said memories (VM) are coupled;
second ports (CL) coupled to said communication system (TSY) and a third port (CP) to which said server control means (SCM) is coupled, said server control means (SCM) controlling the transfer of said video signals from said memories (VM) and through said switch (BS) and communication system (TSY) to said terminals, wherein said broadband switch (BS) has a set of fourth ports (CP1/CPX) to which a set of system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) is coupled to adapt said video signals to a format which is compatible with said communication system, and wherein said server control means (SCM) performs said transfer of video signals firstly from said video memories (VM) to said system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) through said broadband switch (BS) and then from said adaptor means to said terminals via said communication system (TSY), wherein switch adaptor means (SA1/SAY) are coupled between outputs of said video memories (VM) and corresponding ones of said first ports (VP1/VPY) and are adapted to convert said video signals to a format which is compatible with said broadband switch (BS).
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Accused Products
Abstract
The video server (VS) is used in a video on demand network wherein video signals are transferred over a communication network (TSY) from said video server to terminals thereof. It includes video signal memories (VM), a server control means (SCM), a broadband switch (BS) having first ports (VP1/VPY) to which the memories (VM) are coupled, second ports (CL) coupled to the communication system (TSY) and a third port (CP) to which the server control means (SCM) is coupled. The server control means (SCM) control the transfer of the video signals from the memories (VM) and through the switch (BS) and the communication system (TSY) to the terminals. The broadband switch (BS) has a set of fourth ports (CP1/CPX) to which a set of system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) is coupled to adapt the video signals to a format which is compatible with the communication system. The server control means (SCM) performs the transfer of video signals firstly from the video memories (VM) to the system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) through the switch (BS) and then from the adaptor means to the terminals via the communication system (TSY). The system adaptor means include channel memories and adaptors to perform rate and format adaption of the video signals respectively. The channel memories and the adaptors can be directly and separately coupled to the broadband switch.
41 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Video server for use in a video on demand network wherein video signals are transferred over a communication system (TSY) from said video server to terminals of said communication system, said video server comprising:
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video signal memories (VM); a server control means (SCM); a broadband switch (BS) having first ports (VP1/VPY) to which said memories (VM) are coupled;
second ports (CL) coupled to said communication system (TSY) and a third port (CP) to which said server control means (SCM) is coupled, said server control means (SCM) controlling the transfer of said video signals from said memories (VM) and through said switch (BS) and communication system (TSY) to said terminals, wherein said broadband switch (BS) has a set of fourth ports (CP1/CPX) to which a set of system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) is coupled to adapt said video signals to a format which is compatible with said communication system, and wherein said server control means (SCM) performs said transfer of video signals firstly from said video memories (VM) to said system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) through said broadband switch (BS) and then from said adaptor means to said terminals via said communication system (TSY), wherein switch adaptor means (SA1/SAY) are coupled between outputs of said video memories (VM) and corresponding ones of said first ports (VP1/VPY) and are adapted to convert said video signals to a format which is compatible with said broadband switch (BS). - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Video server for use in a video on demand network wherein video signals are transferred over a communication system (TSY) from said video server to terminals of said communication system, said video server comprising:
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video signal memories (VM); a server control means (SCM); a broadband switch (BS) having first ports (VP1/VPY) to which said memories (VM) are coupled;
second ports (CL) coupled to said communication system (TSY) and a third port (CP) to which said server control means (SCM) is coupled, said server control means (SCM) controlling the transfer of said video signals from said memories (VM) and through said switch (BS) and communication system (TSY) to said terminals, wherein said broadband switch (BS) has a set of fourth ports (CP1/CPX) to which a set of system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) is coupled to adapt said video signals to a format which is compatible with said communication system, and wherein said server control means (SCM) performs said transfer of video signals firstly from said video memories (VM) to said system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAX) through said broadband switch (BS) and then from said adaptor means to said terminals via said communication system (TSY), wherein each of said system adaptor means (SYA1/SYAx) includes a channel memory module (CM1/CMx) able to store said video signals as supplied by said broadband switch (BS) at a first rate and to read these video signal at a second rate, thereby producing video channel signals at its output. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification