Method and apparatus for serving data

Abstract

VPI/VCI of an ATM cell is translated into an internal ID by distribute VPI/VCI entries into sections in a table according to a portion of each VPI/VCI entry. A section to be searched according to the portion of a VPI/VCI of the received ATM cell is selected; and a search over the selected section is performed to find an entry corresponding to the VPI/VCI of the received ATM cell. An internal ID corresponding to the found entry is outputted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for delivering data comprising the steps of:
 receiving data from a network;   detecting at least first and second preset bit patterns in the received data when the received data is transmitted to a storage device;   adding location information corresponding to locations of said at least first and second preset bit patterns in the data to a list when said at least first and second preset bit patterns are detected;   storing the data in the storage device; and   controlling a delivery of the data from the storage device to the network according to the location information of said at least first and second preset bit pattern in the data in the list.   
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data includes video data compressed according to MPEG standard and the location information represents at least a location of I-picture, and the step of controlling comprises accessing the I-picture of the data stored in the storage device according to the location information. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting at least first and second preset bit patterns includes detecting the second preset bit pattern immediately following the first preset bit pattern. 
     
     
       4. A methof according to  claim 1 , wherein the first preset bit pattern includes group_start_code in MPEG format. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second preset bit pattern includes picture_start_code in MPEG format. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for delivering data comprising:
 receiving means for receiving data from a network;   a pattern detector for detecting at least first and second preset bit patterns in the received data when the data is transmitted from the receiving means to a storage device;   a list for storing location information corresponding to locations of said at least first and second preset bit patterns in the data when said at least first and second preset bit patterns are detected by the pattern detector; and   means for controlling a delivery of the data from the storage device to the network according to the location information in the list.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the data includes video data compressed according to MPEG standard and the location information represents at least a location of I-picture, and the means for controlling controls the storage device so that the I-picture is accessed according to the location information. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the pattern detector is configured to detect the second present bit pattern immediately following the first preset bit pattern. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first preset bit pattern includes group_start_code in MPEG format. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second preset bit pattern includes picture_start_code in MPEG format. 
     
     
       11. An interactive communication system for communicating information between a transmitter device and a plurality of user devices connected to the transmitter device through a public network, said system comprising:
 a storage unit configured to store an MPEG-encoded video stream comprised of successive groups of pictures (GOPs);   a pattern detector configured to detect particular bit patterns in each GOP, said particular bit patterns including a group start pattern identifying the start of a GOP and a picture start pattern identifying the start of a picture in said GOP; and   a generating unit configured to generate an outgoing video bit stream by using the detected particular patterns in each GOP to identify predefined pictures in said stored MPEG-encoded video stream, wherein a predefined picture is located at a predetermined location spaced from said group start pattern in said GOP by a predetermined amount, and wherein the pattern detector reads only the picture start pattern that is spaced from said group start pattern by said predetermined amount to detect said particular bit pattern of said predefined pictures, and reproducing only said identified predefined pictures from said successive GOPs to enable execution at a user device of a fast forward play or fast reverse play operation in response to a user request supplied from said user device.    
     
     
       12. A communication system for distributing a movie program to a plurality of receiver devices through a public network, said system comprising:
 a store for storing a coded video stream comprised of successive groups of pictures (GOPs) representing said movie program;   a pattern detector for detecting particular bit patterns in each GOP, said particular bit patterns including a group start pattern identifying the start of a GOP and a picture start pattern identifying the start of a picture in said GOP; and   a streaming engine for identifying I-pictures in each GOP as a function of the detected particular patterns, wherein an I-picture is located at a predetermined location spaced from said group start pattern in said GOP by a predetermined amount, and wherein the pattern detector reads only the picture start pattern that is spaced from said group start pattern by said predetermined amount to detect said particular bit patterns of said I-picture, and for reproducing said identified I-pictures from said successive GOPs in said stored coded video stream to generate a video stream of only I-pictures to be delivered to said plurality of receiver devices through said public network, said video stream of I-pictures exhibiting a bit rate for transmission to a receiver device so as to enable record/playback functions at said receiver device in response to a user request.    
     
     
       13. An interactive communication method for communicating information between a transmitter device and a plurality of user devices connected to the transmitter device through a public network, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing an MPEG-encoded video stream comprised of successive groups of pictures (GOPs);   detecting particular bit patterns in each GOP, said particular bit patterns including a group start pattern identifying the start of a GOP and a picture start pattern identifying the start of a picture in said GOP;   generating an outgoing video bit stream by using the detected particular patterns in each GOP to identify predefined pictures in said stored MPEG-encoded video stream, wherein a predefined picture is located at a predetermined location spaced from said group start pattern in said GOP by a predetermined amount, and wherein only the picture start pattern that is spaced from said group start pattern by said predetermined amount is read to detect said particular bit pattern of said predefined picture, and reproducing only said identified predefined pictures from said successive GOPs to enable execution at a user device of a fast forward play or fast reverse play operation in response to a user request supplied from said user device.    
     
     
       14. A communication method for distributing a movie program to a plurality of receiver devices through a public network, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing a coded video stream comprised of successive groups of pictures (GOPs) representing said movie program;   detecting particular bit patterns in each GOP, said particular bit patterns including a group start pattern identifying the start of a GOP and a picture start pattern identifying the start of a picture in said GOP, to identify I-pictures in each GOP by detecting said group start pattern and the next-following picture start pattern, wherein an I-picture is located at a predetermined location spaced from said group start pattern in said GOP by a predetermined amount, and wherein only the picture start pattern that is spaced from said group start pattern by said predetermined amount is read to detect said particular bit pattern of said I-picture; and   reproducing the identified I-pictures from said successive GOPs in said stored coded video stream to generate a video stream of only I-pictures to be delivered to said plurality of receiver devices through said public network, said video stream of I-pictures exhibiting a bit rate for transmission to a receiver device so as to enable record/playback functions at said receiver device in response to a user request.