A video server and system employing the same

摘要

The invention provides for a video-on-demand (VOD) system including a plurality of video storage devices; an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) telephony technology network (T2) connected to provide video data to a plurality of subscribers and a unique video server (V1) coordinating the conversion and transfer of video data from computer technology devices to the ATM telephony technology network (T2). The video server (V1) includes a data converter (M3) for converting a first video data stream transmitted via computer technology fibre channel links (F6) to a second video data stream for transmission via said ATM telephony technology network (T2), a multi-port switch (M2) connected to receive said first video data stream from one of a plurality of video data storage devices, such as disk array or tape storage devices, and connected to provide said first video data stream to said data converter (M3) and a controller (M1) connected to receive a viewer request signal from a subscriber via said telephony technology network (T2) and responsive thereto to generate and provide control signals to said multi-port switch (M2) and said data converter (M3) for coordinating the transfer of video data streams from said video data storage devices to said telephony technology network (T2). $$