Video server and video-on-demand system capable of effectively transmitting a special video program
First Claim
1. A video server for use in delivering a video program to a subscriber terminal in response to a request sent from the subscriber terminal, said video server comprising:
- video storage means for storing the video program to produce a reproduced video program representative of the video program;
a special video storage for storing a special video program to produce a reproduced special video program representative of the special video program;
switching means for switching the reproduced video program and the reproduced special video program from one to another in response to a connection control signal to send a selected one of the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program to the subscriber terminal;
control means, operable in response to the request, for controlling the video storage means, the special video storage, and the switching means, to produce a selection signal representative of selection of the special program even when the request requires delivery of the video program to the subscriber terminal; and
connection signal supply means for supplying the selection signal as the connection control signal to the switching means to make the special video storage transmit the reproduced special video program to the subscriber terminal,the video server being operable in response to a reproduction control command which is directed to the video storage means and the special video storage,the video server further comprising command judging means for judging the reproduction control command received from the subscriber terminal to be valid when the reproduction control command is directed to the video storage means and to be invalid when it is directed to the special video storage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a video server used for a video-on-demand system, a special video program, such as a commercial video program, is transmitted from a special video storage unit of the video server to each subscriber terminal within a nontransmission time which takes place during a searching time for a video program requested by the subscriber and/or during an execution time of a specific reproduction control command, such as a "FAST-FORWARD" command, a "FAST-REWIND" command. The transmission of the special video program is not stopped even when a reproduction control command is given from the subscriber to the special video storage unit by judging the reproduction control command to be invalid while a reproduction control command related to video programs different from the special video program is executed by judging the commands to be valid.
118 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A video server for use in delivering a video program to a subscriber terminal in response to a request sent from the subscriber terminal, said video server comprising:
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video storage means for storing the video program to produce a reproduced video program representative of the video program; a special video storage for storing a special video program to produce a reproduced special video program representative of the special video program; switching means for switching the reproduced video program and the reproduced special video program from one to another in response to a connection control signal to send a selected one of the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program to the subscriber terminal; control means, operable in response to the request, for controlling the video storage means, the special video storage, and the switching means, to produce a selection signal representative of selection of the special program even when the request requires delivery of the video program to the subscriber terminal; and connection signal supply means for supplying the selection signal as the connection control signal to the switching means to make the special video storage transmit the reproduced special video program to the subscriber terminal, the video server being operable in response to a reproduction control command which is directed to the video storage means and the special video storage, the video server further comprising command judging means for judging the reproduction control command received from the subscriber terminal to be valid when the reproduction control command is directed to the video storage means and to be invalid when it is directed to the special video storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A video server for use in delivering the video programs to a plurality of subscriber terminals in response to a request sent from each of the subscriber terminals, said video server comprising:
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a plurality of video storage units for storing the video programs to produce reproduced video programs representative of the video programs, respectively; a special video storage unit for storing a special video program to produce a reproduced special video program representative of the special video program; switching means for switching the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program from one to another in response to a connection control signal to send a selected one of the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program to each of the subscriber terminals; control means, operable in response to the request, for controlling the video storage means, the special video storage, and the switching means, to produce a selection signal representative of selection of the special program even when the request requires delivery of the video program to each of the subscriber terminals; and connection signal supply means for supplying the selection signal as the connection control signal to the switching means to make the special video storage transmit the reproduced special video program to each of the subscriber terminals that issues the request to the video server; said control means comprising; response time calculating means, responsive to the request, for calculating a response time required to reproduce each of the video programs requested by each of the subscriber terminals; selecting means coupled to said response time calculating means for selecting the special video program whose length in time does not exceed the response time to produce a special video selection signal representative of selection of the special video program; and processing means for processing the special video selection signal to send the connection control signal to the connection signal supply means and to make the switching means transmit the special video program to the subscriber terminal during the response time and to thereafter make the switching means transmit each of the video programs requested by each of the subscriber terminals.
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7. A video server for use in delivering a plurality of video programs to a plurality of subscriber terminals, said video server comprising:
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a plurality of video storage units for storing the video programs to produce reproduced video programs representative of the video programs, respectively; a special video storage unit for storing a special video program to produce a reproduced special video program representative of the special video program; switching means for switching the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program from one to another in response to a connection control signal to send a selected one of the reproduced video programs and the reproduced special video program to each of the subscriber terminals; control means, operable in response to a reproduction control command which is sent from each of the subscriber terminals and which is classified into a first command related to the video programs and a second command related to the special video program, for controlling the video storage units, the special video storage unit, and the switching means, in different manners determined for the first and the second command, respectively; said control means comprising, managing means for managing the video programs and the special video program which are currently sent to the respective subscriber terminals, judging means for judging the reproduction control command to be valid and invalid when the first command and the second command are received, respectively, and instructing means coupled to the managing means and the judging means for instructing the video storage units about execution of the first command when the reproduction control command is judged to be valid and for instructing the special storage unit about nonexecution of the second command when the reproduction control command is judged to be invalid by the judging means.
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Specification