SCALABLE NETWORKED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDINGS VIA SHARD-BASED ARCHITECTURE

• US 20140214906A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MobiTV Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barnes, Fritz, Karlsson, Kent, Long, Ren
• Granted Patent: US 9,229,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/812
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/412 Distributed storage methods, i.e. the system may autonomously determine for a storage device that provides enough storage capacity for recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the storage of digital media recordings. According to various embodiments, a system may include a plurality of shards. Each shard may include a storage system operable to store a plurality of digital media recordings. Each shard may also include one or more recording writers. Each recording server may be operable to store digital media recordings stored in the storage system. According to various embodiments, the system may also include a recording manager. The recording manager may be operable to select one of the plurality of shards for storing a designated digital media recording. The recording manager may also be operable to transmit an instruction to the selected shard to store the designated digital media recording.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of shards, each shard comprising;

a storage system operable to store a plurality of digital media recordings, and

one or more recording writers, each recording server being operable to store digital media recordings stored in the storage system; and

a recording manager operable to;

select one of the plurality of shards for storing a designated digital media recording, and

transmit an instruction to the selected shard to store the designated digital media recording.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein each shard further comprises:

one or more recording servers, each recording server being operable to retrieve digital media recordings stored in the storage system.

3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein each recording server is operable to transmit a retrieved digital media recording to a client machine upon request.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the recording manager is further operable to:

determine designated metadata for the designated digital media recording, the designated metadata identifying digital media content corresponding with the digital media recording.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the designated metadata further comprises account identification information identifying a content management account associated with the digital media recording.

6. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the recording manager is further operable to:

maintain a metadata directory that includes metadata information associated with the plurality of digital media recordings, the metadata information including the designated metadata.

7. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the designated metadata comprises storage location identification information that identifies the selected shard and a location within the selected shard at which the designated digital media recording is stored.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein each or selected ones of the plurality of digital media recordings correspond to live broadcasts of digital media content.

9. The system recited in claim 1, the system further comprising:

a cache system comprising a storage device, the cache system operable to store selected ones of the plurality of digital media recordings for transmission to client machines.

10. A method comprising:

selecting, via a processor, one of a plurality of shards for storing a designated digital media recording, each shard comprising;

a storage system operable to store a plurality of digital media recordings, and

one or more recording writers, each recording server being operable to store digital media recordings stored in the storage system; and

transmit an instruction to the selected shard to store the designated digital media recording.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein each shard further comprises one or more recording servers, each recording server being operable to retrieve digital media recordings stored in the storage system.

12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein each recording server is further operable to transmit a retrieved digital media recording to a client machine upon request.

13. The method recited in claim 10, the method further comprising:

determining designated metadata for the designated digital media recording, the designated metadata identifying digital media content corresponding with the digital media recording.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the designated metadata comprises account identification information identifying a content management account associated with the digital media recording.

15. The method recited in claim 13, the method further comprising:

maintaining a metadata directory that includes metadata information associated with the plurality of digital media recordings, the metadata information including the designated metadata.

16. The method recited in claim 10, wherein each or selected ones of the plurality of digital media recordings correspond to live broadcasts of digital media content.

17. One or more computer readable media having instructions stored thereon for performing a method, the method comprising:

selecting, via a processor, one of a plurality of shards for storing a designated digital media recording, each shard comprising;

a storage system operable to store a plurality of digital media recordings, and

one or more recording writers, each recording server being operable to store digital media recordings stored in the storage system; and

transmit an instruction to the selected shard to store the designated digital media recording.

18. The one or more computer readable media recited in claim 17, wherein each shard further comprises one or more recording servers, each recording server being operable to retrieve digital media recordings stored in the storage system.

19. The one or more computer readable media recited in claim 17, the method further comprising:

determining designated metadata for the designated digital media recording, the designated metadata identifying digital media content corresponding with the digital media recording.

20. The one or more computer readable media recited in claim 19, wherein the designated metadata comprises account identification information identifying a content management account associated with the digital media recording.