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Abstract

A video library system capable of shortening the worst response time with respect to each video data reading request, without lowering the possible level of multiplexing. The multiplexed video data reading is achieved by distributedly storing video data divided into segments among a plurality of data storage devices, where each segment is capable of being read out in one time-slot; selectively connecting each data storage devices with one of data transfer targets by a plurality of switches provided in correspondence to the data storage devices; generating a plurality of control time-slot sequences formed by periodic time-slots in correspondence to the data storage devices with mutually displaced phases in each period of the control time-slot sequences; and controlling the data storage devices and switches such that, in response to a request for reading video data from a data transfer target, an earliest available idle time-slot is selected from the control time-slot sequences, and the segments of the requested video data are sequentially read out from the data storage devices at time-slots corresponding to the selected earliest idle time-slot in the control time-slot sequences and transmitted to the requesting data transfer target as the data storage devices are sequentially switched to the requesting data transfer target by the switches.

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