Peer-to-Peer Video Content Distribution Network Based on Personal Network Storage

• US 20100229222A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Verma, Snigdha, Li, Jun, Ramaswamy, Kumar
• Application Number:
  US12/223,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1076 Resource dissemination mechanisms or network resource keeping policies for optimal resource availability in the overlay network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system of accessing content in a peer-to-peer network are described including receiving by a peer a content list including content availability from a directory service, requesting content from the directory service and downloading the requested content to a first personal network storage area associated with the requesting peer from a second personal network storage area associated with a second peer, wherein the first and second personal network storage areas are hosted by servers with an access network. A method and system for accessing content in a peer-to-peer network are also described including receiving by a directory service peer information and content availability information, posting the peer information and the content availability information, receiving a request for content from a peer and directing a personal network server having a personal network storage areas associated with peers to transfer the content from a personal network storage area associated with a second peer to a personal network storage area associated with the requesting peer.

Claims

1. A method of accessing content in a peer-to-peer network, said method comprising:

receiving, by a peer, a content list including content availability from a directory service;

requesting, by said peer, content from said directory service; and

receiving said requested content at a first personal network storage area associated with said requesting peer from a second personal network storage area associated with a second peer.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing content availability information and peer information to and on said directory service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said content list is accessed via an access protocol, and further wherein said first and second personal network storage areas are hosted by servers within an access network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said content request is accompanied by a license purchase from said directory service and control access credentials provided by said directory service.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second receiving act is invoked remotely by said requesting peer.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second receiving act is via an access protocol.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second receiving act is delayed.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said peer-to-peer network is a wireless network.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising deleting content from said associated personal network storage device by one of said requesting peer and said second peer.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating content from said associated personal network storage device by one of said requesting peer and said second peer.

21. The system according to clam claim 1, wherein said servers are network devices.

11. A system of accessing content in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

means for receiving, by a peer, a content list including content availability from a directory service;

means for requesting, by said peer, content from said directory service; and

means for receiving said requested content to at a first personal network storage area associated with said requesting peer from a second personal network storage area associated with a second peer.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for providing content availability information and peer information to and on said directory service.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said content list is accessed via an access protocol and further wherein said personal network storage areas are hosted by servers within an access network.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said content request is accompanied by a license purchase from said directory service and control access credentials provided by said directory service.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said second receiving act is invoked remotely by said requesting peer.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said second receiving act is via an access protocol.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said second receiving act is delayed.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said peer-to-peer network is a wireless network.

19. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for deleting content from said associated personal network storage device by one of said requesting peer and said second peer.

20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for updating content from said associated personal network storage device by one of said requesting peer and said second peer.

22. A method for accessing content in a peer-to-peer network, said method comprising:

receiving, by a directory service, peer information and content availability information;

posting, by said directory service, said peer information and said content availability information;

receiving, by said directory service, a request for content from a peer; and

directing a personal network server having a personal network storage areas associated with peers to transfer said content from a personal network storage area associated with a second peer to a personal network storage area associated with said requesting peer.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said directory service is hosted by a server within an access network.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein said directory service is hosted by a peer within said peer-to-peer network.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said content request is accompanied by a license purchase from said directory service and control access credentials provided by said directory service.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein said transferring is delayed.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein said peer-to-peer network is a wireless network.

34. The method according to claim 22, further comprising invoking a downloading program on said server hosting said second personal network storage area to automatically transfer said requested content.

28. A system for accessing content in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

means for receiving, by a directory service, peer information and content availability information;

means for posting, by said directory service, said peer information and said content availability information;

means for receiving, by said directory service, a request for content from a peer; and

means for directing a personal network server having a personal network storage areas associated with peers to transfer said content to a personal network storage area associated with said requesting peer from a personal network storage area associated with a second peer.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said directory service is hosted by a server within an access network.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein said directory service is hosted by a peer within said peer-to-peer network.

31. The system according to claim 28, wherein said content request is accompanied by a license purchase from said directory service and control access credentials provided by said directory service.

32. The system according to claim 28, wherein said transferring is delayed.

33. The system according to claim 28, wherein said peer-to-peer network is a wireless network.

35. The system according to claim 28, further comprising means for invoking a downloading program on said server hosting said second personal network storage area to automatically transfer said requested content.