Content distribution architecture

• US 20040148344A1
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Serenade Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Markovetski, Roman, Yruski, Andrey, Navar, Murgesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1072 Discovery involving ranked list compilation of candidate peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A hierarchical cached media distribution system that employs the Internet. The distribution system assures reliability and quality of service in delivery of timely content. New content is harvested from multiple disparate sources, associated with channels, and encrypted, conditioned, and packaged prior to distribution. A peer-to-peer network scheme is provided where peer groups are associated and maintained for efficient file distribution. Content servers are dynamically prioritized based on availability and cost. A push-based distribution method may be used to exploit cached content stored on peers subject to network address translation (NAT). The distribution system exploits a redundant self repairing packaged file format for media content. Embodiments of the present invention further provide dynamic feedback to content sources.

Claims

1. A method for operating a client to retrieve desired content, said method comprising:

checking availability of said desired content from other clients on a peer-to-peer network;

if said content is available from at least one of said other clients, retrieving said content from at least one of said other clients via said peer-to-peer network; and

if said content is not available from at least one of said other clients, retrieving said content from a content server of said peer-to-peer network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving said content from at least one of said other clients comprises:

retrieving a first portion of said content from a first other client of said peer-to-peer network; and

retrieving a second portion of said content from a second other client of said peer-to-peer network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said content server feeds said content into said peer-to-peer network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a content broker selects said content server based on at least one of cost and availability.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired content comprises a song.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired content comprises a news program.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired content is retrieved as a plurality of packets.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

prior to retrieving said desired content from at least one other client, retrieving a header associated with said plurality of packets from said content server, said header comprising information identifying said packets.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

verifying reception of said plurality of packets; and

if one of said plurality of packets has been corrupted in reception, repeating retrieval of said corrupted packet.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

verifying reception of said plurality of packets; and

if one of said plurality of packets has been corrupted in reception, retrieving an uncorrupted packet from another source and replacing said corrupted source packet with said uncorrupted packet.

11. A method for operating a peer-to-peer network, said method comprising:

sending a list of peers from a content broker to a first peer in a peer-to-peer network; and

employing a push method to send content from said first peer to a second peer belonging to said list of peers.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first peer is accessed by said peer-to-peer network via a network address translation mechanism.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said first peer monitors available downloading bandwidth and initiates transfer of content pursuant to said push method when excess downloading bandwidth is available.

14. A method for operating a content distribution network, said method comprising:

assigning a plurality of clients to a plurality of peer-to-peer networks;

sending each of said plurality of clients list information to identify network peers of said peers, said list information identifying at least one dedicated content server and at least one client peer; and

distributing content via said plurality of peer-to-peer networks.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said list information comprises a plurality of dedicated content servers ranked by priority.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said priority ranking is based on cost.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said priority ranking is based on available bandwidth.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said priority ranking varies over time of day.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein assigning comprises assigning based on content interest profiles of said clients.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said list information identifies a plurality of dedicated content servers selected based on availability of specific content.

21. A method for operating a content distribution network, said method comprising:

assigning a plurality of clients to a plurality of peer-to-peer networks;

sending each of said plurality of clients list information to identify network peers of said clients; and

refreshing said list over time to include only available peers.

22. A method for operating a publisher server to distribute content, said method comprising:

preparing said content for distribution;

transferring said content to a content server; and

transferring information identifying said content to a catalog server; and

wherein clients retrieve said content either directly or indirectly from said content server after retrieving said identifying information from said catalog server.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein preparing said content comprises:

encrypting said content.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein preparing said content comprises:

formatting said content as a file, said file comprising a header and a plurality of packets.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said information identifying said content comprises information identifying a channel to which said content belongs.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said channel comprises an asset.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein said asset is a song.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein said asset is a news program.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

prior to preparing said content, retrieving said content from a content source.