Communications Architecture and Buffer for Distributing Information Services

摘要

A store-and-forward architecture which stores and distributes information programs to subscribers includes: information warehouses which archive information programs and dispense information programs in segments to central offices in bursts; central offices which manage subscriber's requests for service and buffer segments of information programs for delivery to subscribers in real-time under the subscriber's interactive control; and customer premises equipment. The central offices employ CO buffers, and each CO buffer includes: processors, for administering internal buffer operations and processing subscribers requests based upon the service presentation script and a program presentation map; interfaces for providing external access; busses for internal transport; buffer storage for storing segments of information programs; and memory storage for storing the script and map.