Abstract

A plurality of movies are distributively stored in digitally encoded form on a mass storage unit such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) disk drive array such that they can be viewed on demand by multiple users. A video server receives movie requests from users, and retrieves and transmits the requested movie data from the RAID array to processors at the respective user locations. The processors decode the retrieved data to produce video picture and audio information and display the corresponding movies on monitors. Temporal instantaneous digital data rate signatures for the movies are computed and stored, and a current composite signature is computed by summing the signatures for all movies currently being shown. When an additional movie is requested, the signature for the additional movie is combined with the current composite signature to produce a new composite signature. If any part of the new composite signature exceeds the maximum data rate capability of the server, the signature for the movie is shifted forward in time by a predetermined increment, and again combined with the current composite signature to produce a recalculated new composite signature. This is repeated as required until a new composite signature is obtained with no part thereof exceeding the maximum data rate capability of the server, and retrieval and showing of the additional movie is initiated at time corresponding to the total time shift.