Distributed storage on a P2P network architecture

• US 20020162109A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Shteyn, Yevgeniy Eugene
• Application Number:
  US09/844,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1085 involving dynamic management of active down- or uploading connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An electronic content delivery system uses a network of end-user devices around a hub. Each end-user device has storage capability. Content is stored in a distributed fashion on the network of these end-user devices for being made available to individual ones of these devices in a P2P fashion so as to cut download time and reduce transmission errors.

Claims

1. A method of enabling multiple end-users to receive content information, the method comprising:

supplying the content information to a hub; and

using a peer-to-peer network of respective devices residing at respective ones of the end-users and connected to the hub for distributed storage of the content information on the network under control of the hub.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising remotely controlling a specific one of the devices for supplying the stored content information to at least another one of the devices.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising a service for supplying an electronic content guide representing the content information available on the network.

4. The method of claim 1, using a plurality of hubs, each respective one thereof connected to a respective one of a number of peer-to-peer networks.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling the devices.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a UI to the end-users for selecting from the content information.

7. A device for use in a method of enabling multiple end-users to receive content information, wherein:

the method comprises;

supplying of the content information to a hub; and

using a peer-to-peer network of devices residing at the end-users connected to the hub for distributed storage of the content information on the network under control of the hub; and

the device comprises;

a storage for storing at least part of the content information; and

a controller for providing, to a party different from any from the end-users, remote control of the device for supplying the stored content information to the network.

8. A consumer electronics device comprising a storage for storing content information from a network and for supplying the content information to the network, and comprising a control module for remote control of the storing and supplying.