Generating schedules for synchronizing bulk data transfers to end node devices in a multimedia network
First Claim
1. A promotion scheduling process for generating schedules notifying end node devices in advance of data transfer, comprising:
- selecting a set of promotion packages from a database;
generating transmission schedules for end node devices from the selected packages, each transmission schedule customized for an individual end node device, the transmission schedules preparing the end node devices for subsequent data transfers in advance; and
transmitting the customized transmission schedules to the end node devices.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Promotions may be targeted to one or more device groups. A promotion/device group set relation is maintained for each promotion indicating the device groups to which each promotion should be sent. A device group corresponds to a statistically categorized group of end node devices (e.g. set top boxes) based on demographics or viewership history. A device group may be further subcategorized to include one or more transmission groups corresponding to the physical characteristics of the end node devices (e.g. hardware, memory capacity). A promotion server creates a package containing the promotion for each transmission group of the device group. If a package for a particular transmission group is already created and has sufficient available space, the promotion is simply added to the package. Therefore, a package created for a transmission group may hold promotions intended for different device groups even though not all of the promotions are targeted for the same devices. A schedule process then analyzes a set of packages, building a schedule for each end node device, ultimately assigning promotion identification, transmission times, port numbers, and/or multicast IP addresses for specific device groups. Schedule messages are then send out individually to each end node, so that the expected broadcast (multicast) message time, port, and IP address information is known by each device for each of the promotions which are intended for it to receive. The packaged promotions are then sent via bulk data transmission to the end nodes which is initiated by the generation and delivery of transmission requests to bulk data servers on the network.
105 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A promotion scheduling process for generating schedules notifying end node devices in advance of data transfer, comprising:
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selecting a set of promotion packages from a database;
generating transmission schedules for end node devices from the selected packages, each transmission schedule customized for an individual end node device, the transmission schedules preparing the end node devices for subsequent data transfers in advance; and
transmitting the customized transmission schedules to the end node devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30)
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25. A promotion scheduling process for initiating data transmissions, comprising:
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selecting a set of promotion packages from a database, the selected set of promotions whose transmission schedules have been distributed to targeted end node devices;
generating a transmission request for each selected package; and
transmitting the transmission request to a bulk data server, the bulk data server initiating the data transmission of promotions identified in the set of packages.
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29. A promotion scheduling process for initiating data transmissions, comprising:
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selecting a set of promotion packages from a database, the selected set of promotions whose transmission schedules have been distributed to targeted end node devices;
generating a transmission request for each selected package;
determining one or more bulk data servers to process the transmission request initiating the data transmission of promotions identified in the set of packages, each bulk data server serving a subnetwork within a multimedia network; and
transmitting the transmission request to the one or more bulk data servers.
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31. A promotion scheduling system for generating schedules notifying end node devices in advance of data transfer, comprising:
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a promotion manager server;
the promotion manager server selecting a set of promotion packages from a database;
the promotion manager server generating transmission schedules for end node devices from the selected packages, each transmission schedule customized for an individual end node device, the transmission schedules preparing the end node devices for subsequent data transfers in advance; and
the promotion manager server transmitting the customized transmission schedules to the end node devices.
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32. A promotion scheduling system for initiating data transmissions, comprising:
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a promotion manager server;
a bulk data server;
the promotion manager server selecting a set of promotion packages from a database, the selected set of promotions whose transmission schedules have been distributed to targeted end node devices;
the promotion manager server generating a transmission request for each selected package;
the promotion manager server transmitting the transmission request to the bulk data server; and
the bulk data server initiating the data transmission of promotions identified in the set of packages.
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33. A promotion scheduling system for initiating data transmissions, comprising:
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a promotion manager server;
one or more bulk data servers;
the promotion manager server selecting a set of promotion packages from a database, the selected set of promotions whose transmission schedules have been distributed to targeted end node devices;
the promotion manager server generating a transmission request for each selected package;
the promotion manager server determining the one or more bulk data servers to process the transmission request initiating the data transmission of promotions identified in the set of packages, each bulk data server serving a subnetwork within a multimedia network; and
the promotion manager server transmitting the transmission request to the one or more bulk data servers.
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Specification