System and method for storing and forwarding audio and/or visual information on demand

摘要

A system and method for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand is shown including an encoder for receiving, digitizing, and compressing audio/video signals into a data stream, and a first processing system for further compressing and storing the data stream received from the encoder, and for later transmitting the data stream via a transmitting system to a location remote from the first processing system. The first processing system preferably also includes a microprocessor. The second processing system includes a microprocessor for receiving, processing, and storing the data stream from the remote first processing system, and later transmitting a copy of the data stream, upon receipt of a request for replay of the audio/video signal after retrieving and decompressing the copy of the data stream. Such system and method also includes a decoder for further decompressing and transforming the data stream into an analog signal for transmission to at least one television set for replay.