Playback techniques for a video-on-demand system using an optical mass storage system

One serious problem for digital video-on-demand system based on high-speed digital networks and video compression is achieving multiple quick access for mass storage. We have already proposed hierarchical storage techniques using magnetic disks and an optical mass storage system (MSS) that has been applied to video-on-demand (VOD) system. In this paper, we propose new playback techniques for the optical MSS. To solve the problems that occur when optical MSS are used in video-on-demand services, we have proposed techniques such as playback linking, visual search and multiple readout in a storage hierarchy with magnetic disks. Another technical problem is how to implement jump functions with multiple access in optical MSS. We propose a multiple magneto-optical (MO) disk drive arrangement and VOD restrictions for executing multiple readout.