Apparatus and method for providing multimedia data
US5630104A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 13, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2220/415
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A disk drive stores multimedia data in long spiral data tracks. The tracks on opposite surfaces of the disk spiral in opposite directions, so that a track on one surface can be read as the actuator sweeps in, and a track on the opposite surface can be read as the actuator sweeps out. Because the actuator only follows spiral tracks without performing long seek operations, the actuator motor can be reduced in size and stresses on actuator bearings and other parts are reduced. Additionally, due to reduced disturbances associated with seeks, it is possible to follow tracks more closely and therefore reduce the width of individual tracks. Further cost reductions are accomplished by spinning the disks at a slower speed and reducing the size of the spin motor accordingly. Finally, data density can be increased simply because multimedia data does not require the same low error rate as conventional data. Preferably, a group of disk drives optimized for multimedia data is used to form a video-on-demand system. Compressed, interleaved portions of a video presentation, such as a motion picture, are stored in blocks on the spiral tracks. The drives read the blocks on one spiral track at a time …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.