System and method for directly accessing long-term memory devices

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An apparatus that retrieves data from a plurality of long-term memory devices and delivers the data to a packet network over a plurality of channels, wherein each of the channels has a specific bandwidth requirement. The apparatus, comprises a storage device adaptor which is connected to the long-term storage devices (such as disk systems, CD ROM, etc.). The adaptor reads data responsive to, a selected channel from a storage device to a location in a buffer memory. A network, interface reads data from the location in the buffer memory formats the data, and, sends the data to the packet network. A controller selects the channel in such a way, that all channels receive their required …