Importance

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Abstract

A media-on-demand system employs predictive memory caching for a media server and associated data storage device to meet requests from multiple clients for media programs stored on the data storage device. The system allocates a plurality of sections of the server memory buffer to accomodate requests for popular titles. When requests for a title are received from a first grouping of clients, the server scheduler establishes a first streaming data process for the requested media program by reading in the data blocks for the program and retaining the data blocks in memory for use by another group of clients if requested close enough in time to the first grouping such that the first data block of the media program is still retained in memory. Used data blocks are removed if no requests by another group of clients are made within a given time and the memory is full or if the title is of a low priority level. The data blocks for the requested media program are accessed from data storage only once and retained in the server memory buffer until all groups in the time period have been serviced, thereby allowing multiple requests for popular titles during Prime Time to be handled with a minimum of accesses to the data storage device and with a minimum of server hardware requirements and costs.

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First Claim