Method for providing streaming media data in a network-based environment

• US 20010027493A1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Pipe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digital Pipe, Inc.
• Inventors: Wallace, Christopher Ryall
• Application Number:
  US09/728,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method for providing streaming media data over coupled public/private and highly trafficked computer networks is described. By distributing media servers and aggregating media data at strategic locations, a streaming data subscription services are enabled that offer desktop video and other media with a quality of service exceeding what is presently available with provider-user data transfers directly over the public Internet.

Claims

1. A method for delivering data over coupled computer networks, comprising:

providing a subscription media server including a data compression software algorithm, wherein the media server is connected to at least two computer networks and the data compression software algorithm is variable according to a data transfer rate of a network connection;

transferring media data to the media server along a first computer network;

compressing the media data according to a data transfer rate of a connection to a second network, wherein compressing the media data is characterized by preparing the media data to be displayed contemporaneously by a client computer during a transfer of the media data to the client computer;

transferring compressed media data along the second network to a client computer connected to the second network; and

monitoring the media server over the first computer network.

2. A method for delivering data over coupled computer networks, comprising:

distributing at least one subscription media server over a computer network, wherein the data server is connectable to an open, public portion of the network and a private portion of the network;

transferring data along the public portion of the network to the at least one media server;

aggregating data on the at least one data server;

transferring data from the at least one media server to a client computer along the private portion of the network, wherein the transferred data is displayable on the client computer contemporaneous with the transferring along the private portion of the network; and

monitoring the server over the public portion of the network.

3. The method of

claim 2

, further comprising compressing the media data according to a data transfer rate of the private portion of the network.

4. A method for providing delivery of data over coupled computer networks, comprising:

distributing at least one subscription media server over a computer network, wherein the data server is connectable to a private portion of the network and isolated from an open, public portion of the network;

transferring data along the public potion of the network to the at least one media server;

aggregating data on the at least one data server;

transferring data from the at least one media server to a client computer along the private portion of the network;

wherein the transferred data is displayable on the client computer contemporaneous with the transferring along the private portion of the network; and

monitoring the server over the public portion of the network.

5. The method of

claim 4

, further comprising compressing the media data according to a data transfer rate of the private portion of the network.

6. A method for providing streaming media data over a computer network, comprising:

placing media data files on a staging server connected to a private computer network;

associated media data files on the staging server with a permissible client distribution list; and

publishing the media data files to a media server connected to a open, public computer network;

receiving a request for a media data file over the public computer network;

verifying the request according to the distribution list; and

transferring media data from a media server to a verified client computer over the public computer network, wherein the transferred data is displayable on the client computer contemporaneous with the transferring of data along the public computer network.

7. A method for providing streaming media data over a computer network, comprising:

placing media data files on a staging server connected to a first private computer network;

associating the media data files on the staging server with a permissible client distribution list;

publishing the media data files to a media server connected to a open, public computer network;

copying media data files according to the client distribution list to a second server connected to the open, public computer network and a second private computer network;

receiving a request for a media data file over the second private computer network; and

transferring media data from the second server to a client computer over the second private computer network, wherein the transferred data is displayable on the client computer contemporaneous with the transferring of data along the second private computer network.

8. The method of

claim 7

, further comprising receiving third-party channel media data at the second server over the open, public computer network.

9. A method for providing streaming media data over a computer network, comprising:

placing media data files on a staging server connected to a first private computer network;

associating the media data files on the staging server with a permissible client distribution list;

publishing the media data files to a media server connected to a open, public computer network;

copying media data files according to the client distribution list to a second server connected to the open, public computer network and a second private computer network;

copying a portion of the media data files to at least one sub-net server connected to a local portion of the second private computer network;

receiving a request for a media data file over the second private computer network;

determining a sub-net server to respond to the request according to an origin of the request; and

transferring media data from the sub-net server to a client computer along a local sub-net portion of the second private computer network, wherein the transferred data is displayable on the client computer contemporaneous with the transferring of data along the portion of the second private computer network.

10. The method of

claim 9

, further comprising receiving third-party channel media data at the second server over the open, public computer network.