REUSING DECODED MULTIMEDIA DATA FOR MULTIPLE USERS

摘要

Method and apparatus for distributing media data in a network environment. Encoded data is decoded and the decoded data is stored in a storage that is accessible to multiple users on the network. A storage management unit accepts requests from a media controller coupled to the users and determines whether the requested data is stored in the storage. If the requested data is in the storage, the requested data is directed to the requesting media controller for use. If the requested data is not already in the storage, an event is generated so that the requested data may be generated and stored in the storage.