Video collection and distribution system with interested item notification and download on demand
First Claim
1. A video jukebox system, comprising:
- a plurality of computerized file server stations interconnected in a network by first data links, with individual ones of the file server stations also connected to video input apparatus; and
a plurality of client computer stations connected by second data links to individual ones of the file server stations;
wherein each file server station with a video input apparatus accepts video clippings from the video input apparatus, stores the clippings in a database in digital form, and shares the video clippings with other file servers in the network over the first data links, and wherein individual ones of the file servers store details of client interests provided by the clients, notify connected clients of new video clippings available conforming to the stored details of client interests, and downloads the video clippings directly to the client computer stations on demand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video jukebox service has a world-wide array of file servers interconnected by data links and having video input apparatus. Each file server has a plurality of connected clients. Video clippings input at the video input apparatus are shared with the other file servers and stored in a database at each file server. Clients are notified of availability of video clippings, and clippings are downloaded to client stations on demand. In a preferred embodiment, the file server network is a toriodal arrangement, and client communication nodes equal in number to the number of file servers are interconnected in a toroidal fashion as well. Individual client stations are connected to individual ones of the client communication nodes, with the overall network in the form of nested toroids.
362 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A video jukebox system, comprising:
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a plurality of computerized file server stations interconnected in a network by first data links, with individual ones of the file server stations also connected to video input apparatus; and a plurality of client computer stations connected by second data links to individual ones of the file server stations; wherein each file server station with a video input apparatus accepts video clippings from the video input apparatus, stores the clippings in a database in digital form, and shares the video clippings with other file servers in the network over the first data links, and wherein individual ones of the file servers store details of client interests provided by the clients, notify connected clients of new video clippings available conforming to the stored details of client interests, and downloads the video clippings directly to the client computer stations on demand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing video clippings to clients, comprising steps of:
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(a) storing details of client interests in a database available to a plurality of file servers interconnected in a network by first data links; (a) monitoring traditional sources for suitable video clippings matching the details of client interests; (b) providing selected video clippings to individual ones of the plurality of file servers; (c) sharing the video clippings between individual ones of the plurality of file servers by transferring the clippings over the first data links, the clippings being stored in a database at each file server to which they are transferred; (d) notifying clients connected by second data links to individual file servers of available video clippings matching the details of client interests; and (e) downloading selected video clippings to individual connected clients on demand. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification