Unisys Corporation

Robert Louis Jacobs

Stephen Ralph Bates

Craig William Sorensen

Kent M Campbell

John Waldimars Ulis

Thomas Charles Harsch

James R McBreen

Michael J Rieschl

Laura M Nissen

James Douglas Sweeney

Mary Elizabeth Deyo

Richard Lee Gregersen

Robert B Jacobs

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In a video-on-demand system, memory-based video streams are seamlessly replaced with disc-based video streams. This is achieved by first switching each memory-based video stream to a mixed video stream; and later, switching each mixed video stream to a disc-based video stream.

Method of reducing disc workload in a video-on-demand system by seamlessly replacing memory-based video streams with disc-based video streams, and visa-versa

In a video-on-demand system, disc-based video streams are seamlessly replaced with memory-based video streams. This is achieved by first switching each disc-based video stream to a mixed video stream; and later, switching each mixed video stream to a memory-based video stream.

Method of seamlessly replacing disc-based video streams with memory-based video streams in a video-on-demand system

A control program for a co-processor in a video-on-demand system directs the co-processor to perform the steps of: a) obtain a transmission control list, from an external source, which identifies a group of several video data packets and a respective subgroup of internet protocol headers for each video data packet in the group; b) partition into pieces, each video data packet and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers as identified by the transmission control list; and, c) send the partitioned pieces, along with an additional header for each piece, to an output port during a series of spaced apart time intervals.

Control program, for a co-processor in a video-on-demand system, which uses transmission control lists to send video data packets with respective subgroups of internet protocol headers

A control program for a supervisor processor in a video-on-demand system directs the supervisor processor to perform the steps of: a) transfer a group of video data packets, from an externally stored complete video into a memory for the supervisor processor; b) build in the supervisor processor's memory, a respective subgroup of internet protocol headers for each video data packet in the group; and c) construct, in the memory of a co-processor, a transmission control list which indicates how each video data packet in the group, and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers, can be accessed from the supervisor processor's memory by the co-processor.

Control program, for a supervisor processor in a video-on-demand system, which builds subgroups of internet protocol headers and transmission control lists

A video-on-demand system is comprised of a supervisor processor and a co-processor which are intercoupled via a bus. The supervisor processor has a supervisor memory and the co-processor has a co-processor memory. A supervisor control program is in the supervisor memory, which includes&#x2014;a) a means for transferring a group of video data packets from an externally stored complete video into the supervisor memory, b) a means for building in the supervisor memory, a respective subgroup of internet protocol headers for each video data packet in the group, and c) a means for constructing in the co-processor memory, a transmission control list which indicates how each video data packet in the group and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers can be accessed from the supervisor memory. A co-processor control program is in the co-processor memory, which includes&#x2014;a) a means for partitioning into pieces, each video data packet and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers as identified by the transmission control list, and b) a means for sending each piece, with an additional header, to an output port during spaced apart time slots.

Video-on-demand system which builds transmission control lists and uses such lists to send video data packets with respective subgroups of internet protocol headers

A method of and apparatus for efficiently managing video programming services by a provider of video on demand services in response to requests from cable television subscribers. The system is controlled by a multimedia application server. Upon receipt of a request, the multimedia application server searches for the most appropriate means of satisfying the request. If the requested program is already being provided, the streaming occurs from the same video server, if capacity is available. If the program already exists in streamable form, it is streamed from that location. If the requested program must be transferred to video server memory, the available space is found to accommodate the transfer or existing programming is swapped out.

Video-on demand video server disk/memory streaming selection methodology

Video data is moved thru a video-on-demand system by the following steps: a) segregating, from an operating system program, a hidden section of a random-access semiconductor memory which cannot be paged by the operating system program; b) writing video data into the hidden section of the memory at addresses which are selected by a video server application program; c) sending, from the video server application program to a network interface circuit, messages which identify the selected addresses; and d) issuing read commands, from the network interface circuit with the selected addresses as identified in the messages, which read the video data directly from the hidden section of the memory into the network interface circuit for transmission to a network.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Robert Louis Jacobs