METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
First Claim
1. A method of providing image content to a set top box user, the method comprising:
- receiving content selection information from a customer via an IP based communications link, said content selection information indicating selected content; and
notifying the customer of the availability of said selected content to a set top box corresponding to said customer which can be used to output the selected content to a display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer'"'"'s premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of providing image content to a set top box user, the method comprising:
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receiving content selection information from a customer via an IP based communications link, said content selection information indicating selected content; and notifying the customer of the availability of said selected content to a set top box corresponding to said customer which can be used to output the selected content to a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A content distribution system, comprising:
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a plurality of regional content servers, at least some of said regional content servers including long term and short term content stores; a multi-region content server, coupled to said regional content servers, the multi-region content server including a data base including more content titles than individual ones of said regional content servers; and a content distribution control apparatus for controlling distribution of content to one or more of said regional content servers in response to a request for content which is not available from one of the regional content servers used to service a user initiating said request. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A content distribution method, comprising:
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storing content on a plurality of regional content servers, at least some of said regional content servers including long term and short term content stores; storing content on a multi-region content server, coupled to said regional content servers, the multi-region content server including a data base including more content titles than individual ones of said regional content servers; and controlling distribution of content to one or more of said regional content servers in response to a request for content which is not available from one of the regional content servers used to service a user initiating said request. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification