Efficiently Delivering Time-Shifted Media Content via Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
First Claim
1. A method for delivering both live and time-shifted content using the same resource identifier to avoid re-transporting the time-shifted content across a content distribution network (CDN), the method comprising:
- storing content in a temporary memory location in a CDN server during a live viewing period, the temporary memory location being associated with a first resource identifier;
forwarding the content from the temporary memory location to a first device in response to a first content request received from the first device during the live viewing period, the first content request specifying the first resource identifier;
transferring the content from the temporary memory location to a permanent memory location of the CDN server after expiration of the live viewing period, the permanent memory location being associated with a second resource identifier; and
forwarding the content from the permanent memory location to a second device in response to a second content request received after expiration of the live viewing period, the second content request specifying the first resource identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example embodiments herein provide for efficient distribution of content in a content distribution network (CDN) by a CDN server. The content is efficiently distributed by associating live content and time-shifted content with a common resource identifier, which may (in some instances) avoid re-transporting content across the network. To facilitate this, an entry point CDN server is configured to map the common resource identifier to a permanent storage location (that is itself associated with a different resource identifier) after expiration of the live viewing period.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for delivering both live and time-shifted content using the same resource identifier to avoid re-transporting the time-shifted content across a content distribution network (CDN), the method comprising:
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storing content in a temporary memory location in a CDN server during a live viewing period, the temporary memory location being associated with a first resource identifier; forwarding the content from the temporary memory location to a first device in response to a first content request received from the first device during the live viewing period, the first content request specifying the first resource identifier; transferring the content from the temporary memory location to a permanent memory location of the CDN server after expiration of the live viewing period, the permanent memory location being associated with a second resource identifier; and forwarding the content from the permanent memory location to a second device in response to a second content request received after expiration of the live viewing period, the second content request specifying the first resource identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable code stored thereon that, when executed, delivers both live and time-shifted content using a common resource identifier to avoid re-transporting the time-shifted content across a Content Distributed Network (CDN), the computer executable code including instructions for:
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storing content in a temporary memory location of a CDN server during a live viewing period, the temporary memory location being associated with a first resource identifier; forwarding the content from the temporary memory location to a first device in response to a first content request received from the first device during the live viewing period, the first content request specifying the first resource identifier; transferring the content from the temporary memory location to a permanent memory location of the CDN server after expiration of the live viewing period, the permanent memory location being associated with a second resource identifier; and forwarding the content from the permanent memory location to a second device in response to a second content request received after expiration of the live viewing period, the second content request specifying the first resource identifier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A content distribution network (CDN) server for delivering both live and time-shifted content using a common resource identifier to avoid re-transporting the time-shifted content across a CDN, the CDN server comprising:
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a temporary memory location for storing the content during a live viewing period, the temporary memory location being associated with a first resource identifier; a permanent memory location for storing the content after expiration of the live viewing period, the permanent memory location being associated with a second resource identifier; and a control module configured to; receive a content request from a device after expiration of the live viewing period, the content request specifying the first resource identifier; and pursuant to receiving the content request, forward the content from the permanent memory location to the device, thereby providing a time-shifted version of the content to a requesting user associated with the device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A content distribution network (CDN) for delivering both live and time-shifted content using the same resource identifier to avoid re-transporting the time-shifted content across the CDN, the CDN comprising:
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an entry point CDN server comprising a temporary storage location for storing content during a live viewing period and a permanent storage location for storing the content after expiration of the live viewing period, wherein the temporary storage location is associated with a first resource identifier and the permanent storage location is associated with a second resource identifier that is different than the first resource identifier; a remote CDN server comprising a first memory location, the remote CDN server configured to; receive a first resource request from a first user during a live viewing period, the first resource request specifying the first resource identifier; forward the first resource request to the entry point CDN server; receive content from the entry point CDN server in response to forwarding the first resource request; store the content in a first memory location and associate the first memory location with the first resource identifier; forward the content stored in the first memory location to the first user during the live viewing period, thereby providing a live version of the content to the first user; receive a second resource request from a second user after expiration of the live viewing period, the second resource request specifying the first resource identifier; and forward the content stored in the first memory location to the second user, thereby providing a time-shifted version of the content to the second user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification