Multimedia server system and method for communicating multimedia information
First Claim
1. A server system for communicating multimedia programming to a distantly situated local media control system over a communication channel, the server system comprising:
- a mass storage library for storing a plurality of multimedia programs, the multimedia programs being segmented into source program segments, and each of the source program segments representing a multimedia program portion;
an organizing unit that arranges the source program segments of a selected multimedia program into a custom ordered series of source program segments including non-sequentially ordered source program segments and sequentially ordered source program segments;
a transmission unit that transmits the source program segments of the custom ordered series to the communication channel;
a server controller that communicates with the local media control system and receives a configuration signal from the local media control system over the communication channel, the configuration signal being representative of configuration parameters associated with the local media control system; and
the organizing unit, in response to the configuration signal, organizing the source program segments into the custom ordered series of source program segments in accordance with the configuration parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multimedia server system and a method for communicating multimedia programming to distantly situated media control systems are disclosed. The multimedia server system includes a mass storage library for storing a plurality of multimedia programs. A multimedia program is coded in accordance with a predetermined compression standard and stored in a compressed digital format as sequentially ordered discrete program segments in the mass storage library, with each of program segments being representative of a unique portion of the multimedia program. A video parser organizes the sequentially ordered program segments of a multimedia program into a custom ordered series of program segments preferably including non-sequentially and sequentially ordered program segments in accordance with configuration parameters associated with the configuration and presentation control features of a media control system requesting the multimedia program. Concurrent transmission of a plurality of custom ordered series of program segments to a corresponding plurality of distantly located media control systems is facilitated by an asynchronous transfer mode distribution switch. The custom ordered series of program segments are processed by a local media control system to provide for the sequential presentation of the program segments on a local display and for providing local VCR-type control functions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A server system for communicating multimedia programming to a distantly situated local media control system over a communication channel, the server system comprising:
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a mass storage library for storing a plurality of multimedia programs, the multimedia programs being segmented into source program segments, and each of the source program segments representing a multimedia program portion; an organizing unit that arranges the source program segments of a selected multimedia program into a custom ordered series of source program segments including non-sequentially ordered source program segments and sequentially ordered source program segments; a transmission unit that transmits the source program segments of the custom ordered series to the communication channel; a server controller that communicates with the local media control system and receives a configuration signal from the local media control system over the communication channel, the configuration signal being representative of configuration parameters associated with the local media control system; and the organizing unit, in response to the configuration signal, organizing the source program segments into the custom ordered series of source program segments in accordance with the configuration parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A server system for communicating multimedia programming to a distantly situated local media control system over a communication channel, the server system comprising:
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a mass storage library for storing a plurality of multimedia programs each segmented into source program segments, each of the source program segments including a unique segment address and being representative of a portion of one of the plurality of multimedia programs; an organizing device that arranges the unique segment addresses of source program segments associated with the one of the plurality of multimedia programs to produce a custom ordered series of source program segments; a transmission device that transmits the custom ordered series of source program segments arranged in packets to the communication channel; and wherein the organizing device arranges the unique segment addresses to produce a custom ordered series of source program segments including non-sequentially ordered source program segments. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for communicating a multimedia program from a remote multimedia server to a local media control system, the method comprising:
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organizing sequentially ordered source program segments representative of the multimedia program into a custom ordered series of source program segments, the custom ordered series comprising non-sequentially ordered and sequentially ordered source program segments, and each program segment representing a unique portion of the multimedia program; transmitting the source program segments of the custom ordered series to a communication channel; and wherein the transmitting step includes the further step of transmitting the source program segments of the custom ordered series arranged in packets to the communication channel during transmission windows having a predetermined duration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification