Content distribution

• US 20090259710A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Porio, Jyrki Tauno Johannes, Karonen, Olli Johannes, Lahtinen, Pekka Ilmari
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A method and apparatus is configured to generate a first message including a portion of a media stream or a portion of a data file. The method and apparatus also generates a second message including the first message, for sending to one or more addressees. The second message also includes information identifying one or more additional entities other than the one or more addressees from which one or more portions of the media stream or the data file can be obtained.

Claims

1. Apparatus, which is configured to:

generate a first message including a portion of a media stream or a portion of a data file; and

generate a second message comprising the first message and for sending to one or more addressees, said second message further comprising information identifying one or more additional entities other than said one or more addressees from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second message is generated on the basis of information received from a managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second message is generated on the basis of information received from a node which is one of:

an addressee, an additional entity or a node in communication with at least one addressee or additional entity in a peer-to-peer network.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, which is further configured to thereafter:

generate a third message for sending to one or more addressees, said third message including a further portion of said media stream or said data file; and

generate a fourth message comprising said third message and for sending to said one or more second entities, said fourth message further including information identifying one or more additional entities other than said one or more addressees from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, and which is generated on the basis of updated information received from said managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

5. Apparatus, which is configured to:

participate in a first distribution of a media stream or data file;

store information on entities involved in a second distribution of a media stream or data file; and

generate one or more messages inviting said entities to participate in said first distribution of a media stream or data file.

13. A computer program product comprising program code means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to perform a method according to claim 5.

6. Apparatus, which is configured to:

receive a portion of a media stream or data file together with first information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file;

forward said portion of a media stream or data file to another entity together with second information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file, wherein said second information includes said first information and the address of said apparatus.

7. A method comprising:

generating at a first entity of a network a first message for sending to one or more second entities of a network, wherein said first message includes a portion of a media stream or a data file;

and generating at said first entity a second message for sending to said one or more second entities, said second message including information identifying one or more third entities other than said first entity and said one or more second entities and from which one or more other portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising generating said second message on the basis of information received from a managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or data file.

9. A method according to claim 7, comprising generating said second message on the basis of information received from a node which is one of:

an addressee, an additional entity or a node in communication with at least one addressee or additional entity in a peer-to-peer network.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising thereafter:

generating a third message for sending to one or more second entities of said network, said third message including a further portion of said media stream or said data file; and

generating a fourth message for sending to said one or more second entities, said fourth message including information identifying one or more third entities other than said first entity and said one or more second entities and from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, and which is generated on the basis of updated information received from said managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

17. A method according to claim 9, wherein said further portion of said media stream or said data file was received in reply to a request from the second entity to the first entity for a portion of said media stream or said data file.

11. A method for use at a network entity participating in a first distribution of a media stream or data file;

the method comprising;

storing information on entities involved in a second distribution of a media stream or data file; and

generating one or more messages inviting said entities to participate in said first distribution of a media stream or data file.

12. A method comprising:

receiving at a first entity a portion of a media stream or data file together with first information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file;

forwarding said portion of a media stream or data file to another entity together with second information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file, wherein said second information includes said first information and the address of said first entity.

14. Apparatus, which is configured to:

generate at a second entity a message requesting a portion of a media stream or a data file for sending to a third entity of the network identified in information received from a first entity from which the second entity has received a further portion of said media stream or data file.

15. Apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said further portion of said media stream was received in reply to a request from the second entity to the first entity for a portion of said media stream or data file.

21. A computer program product comprising program code means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to perform a method according to claim 14.

16. A method comprising:

generating at a second entity a message requesting a portion of a media stream for sending to a third entity of the network identified in information received from a first entity from which the second entity has received a further portion of said media stream or data file.

18. A computer program product comprising program code means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to perform a method according to claim 16.

19. Apparatus, which is configured to:

generate at a managing entity of a network a message for sending to an originator entity of a media stream or a data file, said message including information identifying one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

20. A method comprising:

generating at a managing entity of a network a message for sending to an originator entity of a media stream or a data file, said message including information identifying one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.