| 摘要 |
A system and method of optimising transmission of a program to multiple users over a distribution system, with particular application to video-on-demand for a CATV network (36). The system includes, at a head end of the CATV network (36) a scheduling and routing computer (30) for dividing the video program stored in long term fast storage (16) or short term fast storage (18) into a plurality of program segments, and a subscriber distribution node (24) for transmitting the program segments in a redundant sequence in accordance with a scheduling algorithm. At a receiver (40) of the CATV network (36) there is provided a buffer memory (42) for storing the transmitted video program segments for subsequent playback whereby, in use, the scheduling algorithm can ensure that a user's receiver (40) will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback in real time of the program. Under the control of controller (52) the receiver (40) distinguishes received program segments by a segment identifier so that redundant segments captured in capture memory (46) are then stored in buffer memory (42) from which the segments can be retrieved and decompressed in data decompressor (50) for immediate or subsequent viewing. |
