Networked content storage
First Claim
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1. In video-on-demand environment, a system for providing networked storage for content, the system comprising:
- a networked content storage system comprising;
a plurality of intermediate storage devices, each of the plurality of intermediate storage devices comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of video files; and
a centralized storage facility comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of video files; and
a networked personal video recorder in communication with a subscriber connectivity device, the networked personal video recorder being configured to receive a request for a video file from the subscriber connectivity device and to determine whether the requested video file is stored on a storage device local to the networked personal video recorder;
wherein, if the networked personal video recorder determines that the requested video file is not stored on the storage device local to the networked personal video recorder;
the networked personal video recorder requests the requested video file from the networked content storage system;
the networked content storage system determines a location of the requested video file within the networked content storage system; and
the networked content storage system provides the requested video file to the networked personal video recorder.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide networked storage of content, which can be used to allow the enhanced provision of real-time and/or on-demand content (such as video content, audio content, etc.) to a subscriber. Merely by way of example, in an aspect of some embodiments, a hierarchical storage structure may be used to cache content for provision to a plurality of subscribers. This can be used to balance competing concerns of efficiently using network and/or storage resources and providing expedient responses to subscribers'"'"' requests for content.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In video-on-demand environment, a system for providing networked storage for content, the system comprising:
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a networked content storage system comprising;
a plurality of intermediate storage devices, each of the plurality of intermediate storage devices comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of video files; and
a centralized storage facility comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of video files; and
a networked personal video recorder in communication with a subscriber connectivity device, the networked personal video recorder being configured to receive a request for a video file from the subscriber connectivity device and to determine whether the requested video file is stored on a storage device local to the networked personal video recorder;
wherein, if the networked personal video recorder determines that the requested video file is not stored on the storage device local to the networked personal video recorder;
the networked personal video recorder requests the requested video file from the networked content storage system;
the networked content storage system determines a location of the requested video file within the networked content storage system; and
the networked content storage system provides the requested video file to the networked personal video recorder.
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2. A system for providing networked storage of on-demand content, the system comprising:
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a networked content distribution device in communication with a subscriber connectivity device, the networked content distribution device being configured to provide, at the request of a subscriber, a requested set of content to the subscriber, the networked content distribution device having associated therewith a first storage device comprising a first computer readable storage medium on which a first plurality of sets of content are stored; and
a networked content storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices configured to store content for access by the networked content distribution device, the plurality of storage devices comprising;
a second storage device comprising a second computer readable storage medium on which a second plurality of sets of content are stored; and
a centralized storage facility comprising a third computer readable storage medium on which a third plurality of sets of content are stored;
wherein the networked content distribution device is further configured to determine whether first plurality of sets of content comprises the requested set of content, such that if the first plurality of sets of content comprises the requested set of content, the networked content distribution device obtains the requested set of content from the first storage device, and if the first plurality of sets of content does not comprise the requested set of content, the networked content distribution device is configured to request the requested set of content from the networked content storage system, the networked content storage system being configured to, upon a request from the networked content distribution device, determine a location of the requested set of content and provide the requested set of content to the networked content distribution device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a networked content storage system, a method of providing content to a subscriber, the method comprising:
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receiving at a networked content distribution device a request from a subscriber connectivity device for a requested set of content, the networked content distribution device having associated therewith a first storage device comprising a first computer readable storage medium on which a first plurality of sets of content are stored;
determining whether the first plurality of sets of content comprise the requested set of content;
if the first plurality of sets of content do not comprise the requested set of content, the networked content distribution device requesting the requested set of content from a networked content storage system, the networked content storage system comprising a second storage device comprising a second computer readable storage medium on which a second plurality of sets of content are stored and a centralized storage facility comprising a third computer readable storage medium on which a third plurality of sets of content are stored;
based on the request from the networked content distribution device, determining a location of the requested set of content within the networked content storage system;
system providing the requested set of content to the networked content distribution device; and
the networked content distribution device providing the requested set of content to the subscriber connectivity device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification