System for supplying streams of data to multiple users by distributing a data stream to multiple processors and enabling each user to manipulate supplied data stream
First Claim
1. Apparatus for supplying, in response to user commands, independent streams of output data to a plurality of users, comprising:
- a parallel processing computer containing a plurality of processors each connected to an information storage device;
an input/output circuit, connected to each of said processors, for distributing an input data stream amongst the processors such that each of the information storage devices stores a portion of the input data stream;
interface means, connected between said parallel processing computer and said users, for interpreting said user commands and causing said parallel processing computer to access, from each of said information storage devices, stored input data in accordance with the user commands; and
enabling each individual user to manipulate the stream of data supplied to that individual usersaid input/output circuit supplies each of said users with said accessed data as a stream of output data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple user data storage, retrieval and distribution system containing a parallel processing computer system that forms a digital information server. The server contains a plurality of parallel processors each connected to a information storage device. The user data is stored in a distributed manner amongst the information storage devices. The distribution system dynamically allocates the users to the system based upon the user'"'"'s requested operating mode. As such, during successive user service periods, all the users are supplied their requested data. The system also provides error detection and correction for the data requested by the users. Furthermore, additional data can be added to the information storage devices during each service period and select information storage devices can be recalibrated without affecting system operation. Even though the system allocates users dynamically such that the data is retrieved from the information storage devices in an arbitrary order, the system contains an output timing sequencer that generates output data in a predefined order no matter the order in which the data is retrieved from the information storage devices. The disclosed apparatus and method find applicability in video servers, medical imaging, special effects and animation and location based entertainment systems among other applications.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for supplying, in response to user commands, independent streams of output data to a plurality of users, comprising:
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a parallel processing computer containing a plurality of processors each connected to an information storage device; an input/output circuit, connected to each of said processors, for distributing an input data stream amongst the processors such that each of the information storage devices stores a portion of the input data stream; interface means, connected between said parallel processing computer and said users, for interpreting said user commands and causing said parallel processing computer to access, from each of said information storage devices, stored input data in accordance with the user commands; and
enabling each individual user to manipulate the stream of data supplied to that individual usersaid input/output circuit supplies each of said users with said accessed data as a stream of output data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for reordering data segments in a continuous stream of data segments, said apparatus comprising:
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a register array for storing each of said data segments and a data segment identifying value for each of the data segments such that each data segment can be addressed by said segment identifying value; a counter, connected to said register array, for incrementally counting such that each count of said counter corresponds to one segment identifying value in a series of segment identifying values; means, connected to said register array and said counter, for retrieving a data segment corresponding to said segment identifying value generated by the counter; and means for repeating said retrieval of said data segments for each count of said counter such that an order of said data segments is consistent with an order in which the counter produces segment identifying values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification