Distributed and scalable architecture for on demand session and resource manangement

• US 20070083899A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Compton, Walter Michel, Weidong Mao
• Original Assignee: Charles Compton, Walter Michel, Weidong Mao
• Inventors: Mao, Weidong, Michel, Walter, Compton, Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/595,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• 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 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• 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 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• 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 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6433 Digital Storage Media - Command and Control Protocol [DSM-CC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system for on demand session and resource management in an on demand platform for delivery of on demand digital assets is distributed and scalable. A session manager manages on demand sessions. A resource manager manages resources associated with the on demand delivery of a digital asset to an on demand client. The architecture is partitioned into logical components. Each logical component interfaces with at least one other logical component through a defined interface. The session manager is a separate logical component from the resource manager.

Claims

1. A system for on demand session and resource management in an on demand platform for the delivery of on demand digital assets, the system comprising:

a session manager for managing on demand sessions;

a resource manager for managing resources associated with the on demand delivery of a digital asset to an on demand client during an on demand session;

wherein the session manager and the resource manager cooperate to form an architecture partitioned into logical components, each logical component interfacing with at least one other logical component through a defined interface, with the session manager being a separate logical component from the resource manager; and

wherein the session manager and the resource manager cooperate to provide a distributed and scalable system for on demand session and resource management.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes an on demand resource manager for allocating and managing resources from a streaming server associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the on demand resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

an asset propagation manager in communication with the on demand resource manager for managing propagation of the digital asset, the asset propagation manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the on demand resource manager, the asset propagation manager having a defined interface for interfacing with any streaming server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes an encryption resource manager for provisioning and managing resources from an encryption engine associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the encryption resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a conditional access system in communication with an interface of the encryption engine for managing security of the digital asset, the conditional access system being a separate logical component that interfaces with the encryption engine.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes a network resource manager for allocating and managing resources from a transport network associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the network resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes an edge resource manager for allocating and managing resources from edge devices associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the edge resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes a plurality of resource managers for managing different aspects of the architecture, each manager of the plurality being a separate logical component and interfacing with at least one system resource as well as interfacing with the session manager.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein operation of each resource manager is asynchronous with respect operation of the session manager.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the session manager is configured to manage switched broadcast video services.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the session manager is configured to manage video on demand services.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the session manager is configured to manage networked personal video recorder (PVR) services.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the session manager is configured to manage on demand streaming media services.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource manager is shared between different on demand services.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource manager is shared between different devices.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a purchase server in communication with the session manager and in communication with the on demand client.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the purchase server generates a token when an entitlement check performed in response to an on demand session purchase request from the on demand client results in authorization of a service, whereby future purchase requests may be authorized based on the presence of the token at the purchase server.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the purchase server caches a result when an entitlement check performed in response to an on demand session purchase request from the on demand client results in authorization of a service, whereby future purchase requests may be authorized based on the presence of the cached entitlement result at the purchase server.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource manager includes at least one of a streaming server and an edge device at which a digital program is insertable.

20. A system for on demand session and resource management in an on demand platform for the delivery of on demand digital assets, the system comprising:

a session manager for managing on demand sessions;

an on demand resource manager for allocating and managing resources from a streaming server associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the on demand resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager;

an encryption resource manager for provisioning and managing resources from an encryption engine associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the encryption resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager;

a network resource manager for allocating and managing resources from a transport network associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the network resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager;

an edge resource manager for allocating and managing resources from edge devices associated with the on demand delivery of the digital asset, the edge resource manager being a separate logical component that interfaces with the session manager;

wherein the session manager and the resource managers cooperate to form an architecture partitioned into logical components, each logical component interfacing with at least one other logical component through a defined interface, with the session manager being a separate logical component; and

wherein the session manager and the resource managers cooperate to provide a distributed and scalable system for on demand session and resource management.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each resource manager maintains and updates a topology and resources of devices managed thereby.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein each resource manager provides information to the session manager regarding an allocation of resources for the on demand session, and the session manager selects an appropriate combination of resources to enable the on demand session.