A data multiplexing apparatus, method, and system, generates scheduled data for instructing the reading and multiplexing of clips, sequentially reads from a storage unit, transport stream packets based on clips corresponding to the scheduled data, and uses a multiplexer to time-divisionally multiplex the transport stream packets read from the storage unit, which correspond to a plurality of channels, without separating them into data for the respective channels. Accordingly, a load on a host PC is reduced, and a system structure can be simplified.

A first frame deadline is calculated and attached to an I/O request for prioritizing and retrieving video data frames from a shared disk cluster. Disk adapters queue video data frame requests according to the deadline incorporated in the frame requests. Data frames are transmitted to a requesting end user utilizing the attached deadline time to schedule the frames according to a time priority. Alternatively, a "slack" time is computed and utilized to determine when the first frame and subsequent frames of the requested video data may be retrieved from disk and present in the video server's memory in order to avoid a visible delay in sending that frame to the end user.

A system (100) has a collection of programs on a central storage device (112). The system (100) supplies a particular program to a plurality of client terminals (104, 106) in a near-video-on-demand fashion using a redundant broadcast schedule. The users of the client terminals have a maximum waiting time until the client terminal can present the start of the program. An individual client terminal (104) may offer a shorter maximum waiting time to its user by prerecording a fraction of the program that is broadcast as part of the broadcast schedule.

The invention is a multiple mode transmission system that interconnects the computer of a user with the Internet. The system has a first link that is a relatively low bandwidth telephone system. The system also has a second link that is a relatively high bandwidth television system. The television link can be either terrestrial or cable. The user would send an information request to the Internet across the telephone system. The actual information would be sent to the user via the television system. Scheduling data that informs the user of the time, channel, and exact location of the information in the television signal is sent to the user across the telephone system. The scheduling data is used by the inventive system to program the TV tuner that is used by the computer to receive the TV signal. The information can be encrypted, and the key would be included with the scheduling data. The channels can be dedicated data channels. A plurality of users would share the television system, and each user is only temporarily assigned a portion of the channel.

A method of automatically delivering media based on audience requests. The method statistically identifies the most requested media content and assembles a play list from individual media segments in a catalog database. Demographic information gathered from the audience requests is used to dynamically insert commercial media segments into the play list. Demographically linked news and weather updates may also digitally recorded and interspersed between requested media segments.