System for information on demand

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for serving information data such as video data to one or more users, comprising: one or more storage medium units for storing data of said information data; one or more end devices for receipt of said information data by the user; managing means for managing distribution of said data to said end device, the managing means being capable of receiving demand data form said user and related to data selected by the user in the end device, and which managing means output distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routs information from the end device; and least one ATM switch for connecting the storage medium unit, the end device and the managing means, and for routing the data from the storage medium unit and the distribution control data from the managing means.

1. A system for serving information data over one or more channels to one or more end user devices, comprising:
 a plurality of storage medium units for storing information data, wherein said plurality of storage medium units include an archive storage medium unit which contains said information data and a plurality of delivery storage medium units that stores said information data from said archive storage medium unit as needed; 
 managing means for managing distribution of the information data to any one of the end user devices, wherein the managing means receives demand data relating to information data selected through at least one respective end user device, and wherein the managing means outputs distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routing information for said at least one end user device; and 
 routing means for connecting the one or more delivery storage medium units to the at least one end user device, and for routing the selected information data from the delivery storage medium units and the distribution control data from the managing means, wherein
 the managing means manages the distribution of the information data from one or more of said delivery storage medium units to an appropriate one or more of the end user device(s) in accordance with a predetermined number representing a number of said one or more end user devices such that the number of delivery storage medium units utilized is increased when the number of end user device(s) exceeds the predetermined number, 
 wherein said information data are divided into a predetermined number of data groups, and the information data are divided into T (T=2,3,4 . . . ) sentences, wherein T depends on the number of channels, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in the storage medium unit in such changed order that Nth (N−1,2,3,4 . . . ) data group of the last sentence of the information data appears after the Nth data group of the first sentence and wherein said routing means deliver a continuous stream of information data to the end device by switching said data groups from the storage medium unit between virtual channels. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said routing means comprises at least one ATM switch. 
     
     
       3. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said information data are video and/or audio data. 
     
     
       4. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said demand data include a public address assigned to the selected information data. 
     
     
       5. An information server system according to  claim 1 , provided with control means for controlling the storage medium unit according to the distribution control data so that the storage medium unit outputs the selected information data including routing information to the routing means. 
     
     
       6. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein the managing means provides program data for the output of visual information through display means and/or audio information through speaker means from the storage medium units on the at least one end user device. 
     
     
       7. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein the managing means provides program data for information retrieval to the at least one end user device. 
     
     
       8. An information server system according to  claim 3 , wherein said information retrieval comprises video on demand. 
     
     
       9. An information server system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one second storage medium unit for storing second information data and connected with the routing means wherein the managing means comprises a table for storing data representing information data allocation to the first and second storage medium units, and wherein the managing means provides distribution control data for the first and second storage medium units based on the demand data from the at least one end user device. 
 
     
     
       10. An information server system according to  claim 3 , wherein said one or more storage medium units comprise:
 memory means for storing video and/or audio data; 
 table means for memorizing data representing a relationship between the routing information and the video and/or audio data stored in the memory means; 
 program memory means for storing program data for controlling the one or more storage medium units; and 
 at least one interface for transmitting the video and/or audio data with the routing information and a control signal in one or more packets to the routing means and for receiving the program data in one or more packets from the routing means. 
 
     
     
       11. An information server system according to  claim 10 , wherein said routing information relates to one or more virtual channels and said interface is an ATM interface. 
     
     
       12. An information server system according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one interface receives control data representing a selected operation mode for the at least one end user device and wherein the controller controls the memory means according to the received control data so that the information data is reproduced from the memory means in the selected operation mode. 
     
     
       13. An information server system according to  claim 12  wherein said operation mode comprises still mode, fast forward mode, reverse mode and/or mosaic mode. 
     
     
       14. An information server system according to  claim 3 , wherein said video and/or audio data is divided in a predetermined number of data groups, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in a sequence different from an original sequence on a recording medium in said one or more storage medium units and wherein said routing means delivers continuous video and/or audio data to the at least one end user device by switching said data groups from said one or more storage medium units to said one or more end user devices. 
     
     
       15. An information server system according to  claim 14 , wherein said recording medium is an agile disk and wherein a first portion of said data group is recorded on every N-ths (N=1,2,3 . . . ) track of the disk, and remaining portions of said data groups are recorded on remaining tracks of the disk. 
     
     
       16. An information server system according to  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of said data groups is reproduced by moving a head in a first direction and the remaining portion of the data groups is reproduced by moving the head in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
       17. An information server system, for serving information data comprising video and/or audio data over one or more channels to one or more end user devices, comprising:
 one or more storage medium units for storing information data selectable by a respective end user device, wherein each storage medium unit includes a controller for controlling a play mode of said information data stored; 
 managing means for managing distribution of the information data to any one of the end user devices, wherein the managing means receives demand data relating to information data selected by the user through a respective end user device, and wherein the managing means outputs distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routing information for said end user device; 
 wherein said controller controls the play mode of a respective storage medium unit in accordance with said distribution control data; 
 routing means for connecting the storage medium unit to the end user device, and for routing the information data from the storage medium unit and the distribution control data from the managing means; and 
 wherein said video and/or audio data are divided into a predetermined number of data groups, and the video and/or audio data are divided into T (T=2,3,4 . . . ) sentences, wherein T depends on the number of channels, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in the storage medium unit in such changed order that Nth (N=1,2,3,4 . . . ) data group of the last sentence of the video data appears after the Nth data group of the first sentence and wherein said routing means deliver a continuous stream of video data to the end device by switching said data groups from the storage medium unit between virtual channels. 
 
     
     
       18. A system for serving information data over one or more channels to one or more end user devices, comprising:
 a plurality of storage medium units for storing information data, wherein said plurality of storage medium units include an archive storage medium unit which contains said information data and a plurality of delivery storage medium units that stores said information data from said archive storage medium unit as needed; 
 managing means for managing distribution of the information data to any one of the end user devices, wherein the managing means receives demand data relating to information data selected through at least one respective end user device, and wherein the managing means outputs distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routing information for said at least one end user device; and 
 routing means for connecting the one or more delivery storage medium units to the at least one end user device, and for routing the selected information data from the delivery storage medium units and the distribution control data from the managing means, 
 wherein said managing means selects a special play mode for supplying an altered sequence of scenes to the at least one end user device by switching channels for supplying the data information to the at least one end user device, 
 wherein said information data are divided into a predetermined number of data groups, and the information data are divided into T (T=2,3,4 . . . ) sentences, wherein T depends on the number of channels, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in the storage medium unit in such changed order that Nth (N=1,2,3,4 . . . ) data group of the last sentence of the information data appears after the Nth data group of the first sentence and wherein said routing means deliver a continuous stream of information data to the end device by switching said data groups from the storage medium unit between virtual channels. 
 
     
     
       19. A system for serving information data over one or more channels to one or more end user devices, comprising:
 a plurality of storage medium units for storing information data, wherein said plurality of storage medium units include an archive storage medium unit which contains said information data and a plurality of delivery storage medium units that stores said information data from said archive storage medium unit as needed; 
 managing means for managing distribution of the information data to any one of the end user devices, wherein the managing means receives demand data relating to information data selected through at least one respective end user device, and wherein the managing means outputs distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routing information for said at least one end user device; and 
 routing means for connecting the one or more delivery storage medium units to the at least one end user device, and for routing the selected information data from the delivery storage medium units and the distribution control data from the managing means, 
 wherein said managing means selects a special play mode for supplying a mosaic of scenes to the at least one end user device by selecting scenes from different channels, 
 wherein said information data are divided into a predetermined number of data groups, and the information data are divided into T (T=2,3,4 . . . ) sentences, wherein T depends on the number of channels, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in the storage medium unit in such changed order that Nth (N=1,2,3,4 . . . ) data group of the last sentence of the information data appears after the Nth data group of the first sentence and wherein said routing means deliver a continuous stream of information data to the end device by switching said data groups from the storage medium unit between virtual channels. 
 
     
     
       20. An information server system according to  claim 1 , further comprising navigation means for providing in a predetermined sequence menus which describe said information data. 
     
     
       21. An information server system according to  claim 20 , wherein said navigation means outputs to a respective end user device a software program for driving said respective end user device to select said menus in accordance with said predetermined sequence. 
     
     
       22. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said distribution control data is in the form of a software program; wherein said managing means downloads said software program to said respective storage medium unit. 
     
     
       23. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more storage medium units includes an archive storage medium unit for archiving a plurality of distribution control data output by said managing means. 
     
     
       24. An information server system according to  claim 23 , wherein said one or more storage medium units include a delivery storage medium unit for storing said information data selected through the respective end user. 
     
     
       25. An information server system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more storage medium units store the information data according to said estimate data. 
     
     
       26. A system for serving information data over one or more channels to one or more end user devices, comprising:
 a plurality of storage medium units for storing information data, wherein said plurality of storage medium units include an archive storage medium unit which contains said information data and a plurality of delivery storage medium units that stores said information data from said archive storage medium unit as needed; 
 managing means for managing distribution of the information data to any one of the end user devices, wherein the managing means receives demand data relating to information data selected through at least one respective end user device, and wherein the managing means outputs distribution control data including channel information of the selected information data and routing information for said at least one end user device; and 
 routing means for connecting the one or more delivery storage medium units to the at least one end user device, and for routing the selected information data from the one or more storage medium units and the distribution control data from the managing means, wherein
 said distribution control data further includes backup control data for assigning one of said one or more delivery storage medium units to supply the selected information data when another of said one or more delivery storage medium units for supplying the selected information data is malfunctioning, 
 wherein said information data are divided into a predetermined number of data groups, and the information data are divided into T (T=2,3,4 . . . ) sentences, wherein T depends on the number of channels, wherein the predetermined number of data groups is recorded in the storage medium unit in such changed order that Nth (N=1,2,3,4, . . . ) data group of the last sentence of the information data appears after the Nth data group of the first sentence and wherein said routing means deliver a continuous stream of information data to the end device by switching said data groups from the storage medium unit between virtual channels. 
 
 
     
     
       27. An information server system according to  claim 26 , wherein said one or more storage medium units store the information data according to said backup control data. 
     
     
       28. An information server system according to  claim 27 , wherein said managing means manages distribution of the information data according to said backup control data. 
     
     
       29. An information data server for supplying informational data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and plural delivery storage medium units storing the information data from the archive unit, the information data server comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive a demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   a management unit configured to output distribution control data including identification information of the respective end user device and routing information identifying one of plural virtual channels from one of the delivery storage medium units to the respective end user device; and   means for copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units;   wherein the management unit selects the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied, and determines the distribution control data in accordance with the number of end user devices requesting the information data so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual channels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of requesting end user devices exceeds a predetermined number, and   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver streaming data of the information data to the respective end user device.   
     
     
       30. The information server of claim 29, further including a communication unit configured to connect the storage medium units and end user devices. 
     
     
       31. The information server of claim 30, wherein said communication unit includes a switch. 
     
     
       32. The information server of claim 31, wherein said switch is an ATM switch. 
     
     
       33. The information server of claim 29, wherein said routing information includes channel identification information. 
     
     
       34. The information server of claim 33, wherein the channel is a virtual channel. 
     
     
       35. A method for supplying information data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and plural delivery storage medium units storing the information data from the archive unit, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   outputting distribution control data including identification information of the respective end user device and routing information identifying one of plural virtual channels from one of the delivery storage medium units to the respective end user device; and   copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units;   wherein the distribution control data is determined, and the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied is selected, in accordance with the number of end user devices requesting the information data so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual charnels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of requesting end user devices exceeds a predetermined number, and   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver streaming data of the information data to the respective end user device.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of connecting the storage medium units and end user devices. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 35, wherein said routing information includes channel identification information. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 36, wherein said channel is a virtual channel. 
     
     
       39. An information data server for supplying information data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and plural delivery storage medium units storing the information data from the archive unit, each storage medium unit having a controller for controlling a play mode of the information data, the information data server comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive a demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   a management unit configured to output routing information representing source information of one of the delivery storage medium units, one of plural virtual channels over which the information data is delivered and destination information of an end user device to which the delivered information data is destined, wherein the controller of said one delivery storage medium unit controls the play mode of information data supplied to said end user device from said one delivery storage medium; and   means for copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units;   wherein the management unit selects the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied, and determines the routing information in accordance with the number of end user devices so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual channels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of end user devices exceeds a predetermined number, and   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver a continuous stream of the information data distributed to the respective end user device.   
     
     
       40. A method for supplying information data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and plural delivery storage medium units storing the information data from the archive unit, each storage medium unit having a controller for controlling a play mode of the information data, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   outputting distribution control data from one of the delivery storage medium units to an end user device, said distribution control data including routing information identifying one of plural virtual channels form the delivery storage medium units to end user devices;   copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units; and   using the controller to control the play mode of information data supplied to said end user device from said one delivery storage medium;   wherein the distribution control data is determined, and the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied is selected, in accordance with the number of end user devices requesting the information data so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual channels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of requesting end user devices exceeds a predetermined number, and   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver a continuous stream of the information data distributed to the respective end user device.   
     
     
       41. A manager system for supplying to one of plural end user devices information data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and at least one delivery storage medium unit storing the information data from the archive unit, the manager system comprising:
 communication means for connecting the storage medium units and end user devices;   receiving means for receiving demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   means for copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units; and   management means for selecting the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied, and for outputting distribution control data from one of the delivery storage medium units to any one of the end user devices, said distribution control data including routing information identifying one of plural virtual channels from the delivery storage medium units to the end user devices, said routing information and the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied being determined in accordance with the number of end user devices requesting the information data so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual channels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of requesting end user devices exceeds a predetermined number;   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver streaming data of the information data to the respective end user and   wherein the management means is operable to select a special play mode for supplying an altered sequence of scenes to any one of the end user devices.   
     
     
       42. A method for supplying to one of plural end user devices information data stored in plural storage medium units of the type having an archive storage medium unit containing the information data and at least one delivery storage medium unit storing the information data from the archive unit, said method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the storage medium units and end user devices;   receiving demand data requesting information data selected by a respective end user device;   copying information data into a selective number of delivery storage medium units; and   selecting the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied, and outputting distribution control data from one of the delivery storage medium units to any one of the end user devices, said distribution control data including routing information identifying one of plural virtual channels from the delivery storage medium units to the end user devices, said routing information and the number of delivery storage medium units to which information data is copied being determined in accordance with the number of end user devices requesting the information data so that the number of delivery storage medium units into which said information data is copied for delivery to the end user devices is increased and the virtual channels used for delivery of said information data to said end user devices are changed when the number of requesting end user devices exceeds a predetermined number;   wherein the information data are divided into a number N of data groups and the N data groups are arranged to deliver streaming data of the information data to the respective end user and   wherein a special play mode is selected for supplying an altered sequence of scenes to any one of the end user devices.