Video server system

摘要

A video server system or media streamer 10 includes at least one control node 18; at least one storage node 16, 17 with mass storage for storing a digital representation of a video presentation; and a plurality of communication nodes 14 switchably coupled under the direction of the control node to the at least one storage node for receiving a video presentation therefrom. Each of the plurality of communication nodes is coupled to an adapter 212 by a communications bus 210, outputting a video presentation as a sequence of data bursts over the communications bus to the adapter, which converts the received sequence of data bursts to a substantially isochronous data stream. Each of the plurality of communication nodes further includes a plurality of output ports, each having an associated data buffer for buffering a portion of a digital representation prior to a transmission of the digital representation. Each of the plurality of communication nodes further includes a scheduler for scheduling, for individual data buffers, a read request to the storage nodes for a next sequential portion of the digital representation for storage within the data buffers. Each read request is scheduled at a predetermined time such that a requested next sequential portion of the digital representation is available prior to a time that the requested next sequential portion is required to be transmitted from the output port that is associated with the data buffer. The at least one storage node further includes a scheduler for scheduling a read request to the mass storage such that a next sequential portion of a digital representation is available for outputting, prior to the at least one storage node receiving a read request from one of the communication nodes. $$