Abstract In a video storage and delivery apparatus and corresponding system, video data items are simultaneously supplied to a plurality of users while guaranteeing the time axis and the picture quality of the video data. The apparatus includes a frame address table which indicates a storage location in the apparatus of each frame of video data to start a special reproduction or a reproduction at a desired frame and a control unit controlling a switch bus connecting a plurality of video storage and delivery apparatuses to a plurality of channels so as to conduct data transfers via the switch bus between the apparatuses and between video reproduction devices of the users. From an optical disk data storage storing video data, a plurality of video data items are read in a timesharing fashion to be temporarily stored in a magnetic disk device or a semiconductor memory, thereby delivering the video data items therefrom to the users.
A data transfer method for use with a data transfer system including a plurality of video storage and delivery apparatuses for accumulating video data therein, a plurality of clients for transmitting and/or receiving video data, a switch for selectively connecting the apparatuses to the clients, and a control unit connected to the apparatuses and the clients, the method comprising the steps of: sending a signal of a request to access the apparatuses from the client to the control unit; sending, by the control unit having received the request signal, a control instruction to the switch; and controlling the switch and thereby connecting a particular one of the apparatuses to the client, wherein the control unit stores a quality of service (OOS) control table indicating relationships of connections between the apparatuses and the clients.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A data transfer method for use with a data transfer system including a plurality of video storage and delivery apparatuses for accumulating video data therein, a plurality of clients for transmitting and/or receiving video data, a switch for selectively connecting the apparatuses to the clients, and a control unit connected to the apparatuses and the clients, the method comprising the steps of: sending a signal of a request to access the apparatuses from the client to the control unit; sending, by the control unit having received the request signal, a control instruction to the switch; and controlling the switch and thereby connecting a particular one of the apparatuses to the client, wherein the control unit stores a quality of service (OOS) control table indicating relationships of connections between the apparatuses and the clients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit references the QOS control table and thereafter indicates the switch to connect the client to the particular apparatus and updates the QOS control table after indicating the connection.