Large edge node for simultaneous video on demand and live streaming of satellite delivered content

• US 20020131428A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Bank of New York Mellon (Bank of New York Mellon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Bank of New York Mellon (Bank of New York Mellon Corporation)
• Inventors: Bullock, David Lynn, Lausier, Philip C., Kalmbach, Mark Russell, Benden, Christopher, Pecus, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US09/960,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131428A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• 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 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

An edge node that receives both live and not live content from a network operation center (“NOC”) and makes it available to end users via a last mile service provider. The NOC additionally includes storage for received content, a private VLAN, and a public VLAN. The edge node can simultaneously serve live and not live content. By including in the edge node an appropriate number of media servers, a large user population may be served.

Claims

1. An edge node that receives content from a NOC via a satellite link and distributes it to a last mile service provider, the edge node comprising:

one or more media servers with storage devices for storing content, each of which can simultaneously serve both live and non-live content;

a private VLAN, connected to the media servers, that receives content from the satellite link and distributes it to media servers;

a public VLAN, connected to the media servers, that transmits the content from the servers to a last mile service provider;

a VPN connecting the public and private VLANs;

a router connecting the public VLAN and the last mile service provider; and

a load balancer connected to the public VLAN.

2. The edge node of claim 1, wherein the one or more media servers, the public VLAN, the private VLAN, the VPN, the router, and the load balancer are configured as a single equipment rack.

3. The edge node of claim 1, where the VPN allows access to the private VLAN from a remote location.

4. A method for receiving content in an edge node via a satellite link and distributing it to a last mile service provider, comprising:

receiving the content from the satellite link at a private VLAN;

distributing the received content from the private VLAN to a plurality of media servers;

using a load balancer to select one of the media servers; and

transmitting the received content from the selected media server through a public VLAN to a last mile service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising accessing the private VLAN from a remote location using a VPN.