Method and apparatus for client-side authentication and stream selection in a content distribution system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing media requests from clients in a content distribution system comprising the steps of:
- preparing media for delivery via said content distribution system and storing delivery information relating to said media comprising at least one of bit rate, bandwidth and media subscription type;
analyzing request information transmitted from a client via a request for media, said request information comprising bandwidth and connection capability of said client; and
determining from said request information and said delivery information and substantially in real-time if said client can receive the requested said media within selected system constraints.
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Abstract
A broadcast system for streaming media is provided. A tiered hierarchy of network components each receive broadcast media streams, store popular content, and serve media to clients. The system allows for real-time client-side authentication, stream selection, and stream access denial using data (e.g., metafile) provided between network components sharing a real-time streaming protocol communication.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for processing media requests from clients in a content distribution system comprising the steps of:
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preparing media for delivery via said content distribution system and storing delivery information relating to said media comprising at least one of bit rate, bandwidth and media subscription type;
analyzing request information transmitted from a client via a request for media, said request information comprising bandwidth and connection capability of said client; and
determining from said request information and said delivery information and substantially in real-time if said client can receive the requested said media within selected system constraints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for processing media requests from clients in a content distribution system comprising the steps of:
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preparing media for delivery via said content distribution system and storing delivery information relating to which clients can access which media;
analyzing request information transmitted from a client via a request for media, said request information comprising client identification; and
determining from said delivery information and said request information and substantially in real-time if said client is authorized to receive the requested media. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for processing media requests from clients in a content distribution system comprising the steps of:
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preparing media for delivery via said content distribution system and storing delivery information relating to subscriptions to different types of said media;
analyzing request information transmitted from a client via a request for media, said request information comprising client identification; and
determining from said delivery information and said request information and substantially in real-time if said client is authorized to receive the requested media. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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13. A content distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of servers from which to obtain streaming media;
an operations center for dynamically determining which of said servers are to serve which of a plurality of media streams and for redirecting clients to other said servers when the corresponding one of said servers does not store a requested media stream; and
a transport module operable to analyze communications between a client and one of said servers, which comprise a request for one of said media streams and a response, substantially in real-time to determine if said client can receive said media stream within selected system constraints.
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Specification