Video and multimedia distribution system

• US 20080027992A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 2, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: V.V.S. Virtual Video Systems (Canada) Inc.
• Inventors: Castravelli, Claudio, Vadavia, Rajesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Digital media content-on-demand hosting/delivery system for using an n-tier, multi dimension dynamic data technology to distribute digital content and manage information and comprising separate delivery and end-user systems with separate but compatible software, the hosting/delivery system being sub-divided into distributed hosting clusters serving small groups of users, ensuring local balance and overcoming diversity of connection/streaming speeds of end users.

Claims

1. A digital content distribution system comprising (a) a central content warehouse for storing digital content, (b) a distributed architecture of decentralized content hosting and delivery clusters and content uses in each cluster coupled to said central content warehouse and able to receive digital content therefrom, (c) each cluster incorporates a user information and tracking system serving all the users associated with the cluster for generating user information and tracking data, (d) said user information and tracking system being coupled to said central content warehouse, and able to provide said user information and tracking data, and (e) the distributed content host and users of each cluster having complementary software for usage information delivery and content delivery

2. The distribution system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the decentralized content hosting and delivery clusters includes a distribution content warehouse coupled to said central content warehouse, one or more client servers coupled to said distribution warehouse and able to receive digital content therefrom, and a set top box coupled to said client server and able to receive digital content therefrom, wherein the set top box is operative to play said digital content for a user.

3. The distribution system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the user information and tracking system includes user data gathered from said set top box and stored in a user data base coupled to said information and tracking system, wherein said user data is provided to said information and tracking system by said user database.

4. The distribution system in accordance with claim 1 further including an encoding system, wherein said encoding system converts digital content from a first format into a second format suitable for use by said complementary software in each cluster.

5. The distribution system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising load balancing receiver in each cluster.

6. The distribution system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said central content host is connected to multiple clusters and configured to route usage information and content among clusters.

7. A method of digital content distribution comprising the steps of

(a) providing a central content warehouse with digital content;

(b) providing digital content to one of a distributed architecture of decentralized content hosting and delivery clusters and content uses in each cluster coupled to said central content warehouse

(c) generating user information and tracking data from each cluster using a user information and tracking system serving all the users associated with the cluster,

(d) providing said user information and tracking system to said central content warehouse, and

(e) providing each of the distributed content host and users of each cluster with complementary software for usage information delivery and content delivery

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the step of providing digital content includes providing digital content to a distribution content warehouse coupled to said central content warehouse, providing digital content by said distribution warehouse to one or more client servers, and providing digital content via said client servers to a set top box.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of gathering user information and tracking includes the steps of gathering user data from said set top box, storing said user data in a user data base, providing said user data via said user database to said information and tracking system.

10. The method in accordance with claim 7 further including the steps of converting digital content in a first format into a second format suitable for use by said complementary software in each cluster.

11. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of load balancing in each cluster.

12. The method in accordance with claim 7 further including the steps of routing usage information and content among clusters.