Method and apparatus for high bandwidth data transmission in content-based networks
First Claim
1. A method of providing high-speed, non-content data delivery over a cable network using at least existing on-demand network infrastructure, comprising:
- receiving a non-content data structure at a head-end distribution server of said network said data structure being substantially compliant with the Interactive Services Architecture (ISA) specification;
processing data contained within said structure into an MPEG packet stream;
creating a descriptive metadata structure relating to said data, said metadata structure comprising extensible markup language (XML) metadata;
establishing a substantially dedicated session and in-band downstream transmission pathway from said distribution server to a client device of said cable network based on a request received from software operating on said client device; and
transmitting the descriptive structure and packet stream over said dedicated pathway within a multiplexed transport stream and as part of said session.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering data over extant infrastructure within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and the infrastructure comprises that nominally used for on-demand (OD) services such as VOD. The method includes the allocation of dedicated end-to-end network resources via a “session request, as well as data flow control and packet size adaptation, by a data server based on feedback from the requesting/receiving client device (e.g., DSTB) within the network. Mechanisms for retransmission requests for error recovery are also provided.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of providing high-speed, non-content data delivery over a cable network using at least existing on-demand network infrastructure, comprising:
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receiving a non-content data structure at a head-end distribution server of said network said data structure being substantially compliant with the Interactive Services Architecture (ISA) specification;
processing data contained within said structure into an MPEG packet stream;
creating a descriptive metadata structure relating to said data, said metadata structure comprising extensible markup language (XML) metadata;
establishing a substantially dedicated session and in-band downstream transmission pathway from said distribution server to a client device of said cable network based on a request received from software operating on said client device; and
transmitting the descriptive structure and packet stream over said dedicated pathway within a multiplexed transport stream and as part of said session.
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2. A method of delivering data over a cable network, comprising:
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delivering a data structure to a first network entity;
converting data contained within said structure into a packet stream;
creating a descriptive structure to describe said data; and
transmitting the descriptive structure and packet stream over said network via a session established between said first network entity and a second network entity. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. CPE adapted for use in a cable network, said CPE comprising:
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a processor; and
at least one computer program operative to run on said processor and configured to;
initiate a session request upstream to a remote network entity;
receive information from said network to establish said session and a dedicated communication channel; and
receive non-content related data over said channel, said non-content data including associated data formatted according to a server-side object-oriented model comprising a factory object and base class. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of processing data for delivery over a cable network, comprising:
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receiving data files conforming to an interface specification at one or more network servers;
converting raw data stored in one or more of said files into a packet stream;
creating at least one descriptive metadata file to describe at least portions of the raw data;
creating at least one software package that includes the packet stream and the descriptive metadata; and
creating at least one catalog entry to indicate the availability of the data to a client device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of operating CPE used in a cable network, said CPE being configured to initiate a session request upstream to a remote network entity, receive information from said network to establish said session and a dedicated communication channel, and, receive non-content related data over said channel, said method comprising:
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receiving data other than said non-content data, yet relating thereto, from said network;
using said other data to service at least one catalogue function; and
based at least in part on user inputs received by said CPE relating to said catalogue function, selecting said non-content data for download.
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30. A method of providing non-content data over a cable network, comprising:
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receiving a request from a user to download said data;
initiating a session request upstream to a remote network entity;
receiving information from said network to establish said session and a dedicated communication channel;
receiving a first portion of said data over said channel as part of an in-band transport stream;
issuing a request to pause the delivery of said data using a lightweight signaling protocol;
pausing said delivery of data for at least a period of time; and
subsequently receiving a second portion of said data over said channel. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of sending at least one data structure over a cable network using on-demand network infrastructure, comprising:
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receiving a user request to download said data structure, said user request substantially comprising an on-demand session request;
establishing said session and a dedicated communication channel in response to said request;
disposing at least portions of said data structure within MPEG packets;
generating descriptive data indicating the content of said MPEG packets, said descriptive data being used by at least a portion of said on-demand network infrastructure to process said MPEG packets differently than other packets processed by said infrastructure; and
transmitting said MPEG packets and said descriptive data over said channel as part of an in-band transport stream. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of sending at least one data structure over a cable network using on-demand network infrastructure, comprising:
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receiving a user request to download said data structure, said user request substantially comprising an on-demand session request;
establishing said session and a dedicated communication channel in response to said request;
disposing at least portions of said data structure within packets; and
transmitting multiple time-shifted copies of said packets over said channel as part of an in-band transport stream. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A network server adapted for high-speed data download service, comprising:
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a digital processor;
a storage device in data communication with said processor;
a first interface adapted to receive data in a first form from at least one data source;
a computer program running on said processor and adapted to process said data in said first form to create a plurality of data structures of a second form; and
a second interface adapted to transmit said plurality of data structures onto a network for subsequent delivery to a distant entity;
wherein said computer program is further adapted to;
receive a session request from said distant entity; and
in response to said request;
establish a session for said delivery of said data structures;
allocate at least one physical channel to said delivery; and
transmit information to said distant entity regarding at least said physical channel. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification