NETWORK-OPTIMIZED CONTENT DELIVERY FOR HIGH DEMAND NON-LIVE CONTENTS

• US 20150350368A1
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Elysia C., Nguyen, Han
• Granted Patent: US 10,506,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/172 Caching, prefetching or hoarding of files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1868 Measures taken after transmission, e.g. acknowledgments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• 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 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium distribute a non-live content stream in a network. An initial meta-file is transmitted in response to a request for the content, which identifies a division of the content stream into blocks, and available sources for delivery of the blocks. The initial meta-file can identify a first multicast and a second multicast server, assigning a first and second portion of the blocks for delivery using the first and second multicast source server, respectively. The first and second portions are transmitted using the first and second multicast source servers, respectively. The first and second portions correspond to distinct non-overlapping portions of the non-live content stream. The initial meta-file can also identify a unicast source server, assigning a third portion of the blocks for delivery using the unicast source server, the third portion being transmitted by the unicast source server.

Claims

1. A method of distributing digital content, the method comprising:

transmitting, from a server, meta information in response to a request for the digital content, the meta information identifying available sources configured to deliver the digital content, the available sources including a first cache server and a second cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a first portion of the digital content from the first cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a second portion of the digital content from the second cache server;

transmitting, using the first cache server, the first portion of the digital content; and

transmitting, using the second cache server, the second portion of the digital content, the first and second portions being distinct portions of the digital content.

2. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the server, first cache server, and second cache server define a unicast delivery system.

3. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the meta information comprises one of identification data, a sequence number, a size, a checksum, and a source address associated with one of the first portion and the second portion.

4. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein one of the first cache server and the second cache server is one of a local cache server and a peer-to-peer server.

5. The method as defined by claim 1, further comprising transmitting updated meta information subsequent to transmitting the meta information, the updated meta information identifying a source server different from the first cache server and the second cache server.

6. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion comprises content that is one of intentionally excluded from the digital content, missing from the digital content, and transmitted in error with the digital content.

7. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the meta information enables a client to select one of the first cache server and the second cache server to transmit one of the first portion and the second portion one of simultaneously and sequentially.

8. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed, cause distribution of digital content by performing operations comprising:

transmitting, from a server, meta information in response to a request for the digital content, the meta information identifying available sources configured to deliver the digital content, the available sources including a first cache server and a second cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a first portion of the digital content from the first cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a second portion of the digital content from the second cache server;

transmitting, using the first cache server, the first portion of the digital content; and

transmitting, using the second cache server, the second portion of the digital content, the first and second portions being distinct portions of the digital content.

9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the server, first cache server, and second cache server define a unicast delivery system.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the meta information comprises one of identification data, a sequence number, a size, a checksum, and a source address associated with one of the first portion and the second portion.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein one of the first cache server and the second cache server is one of a local cache server and a peer-to-peer server.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, further comprising transmitting updated meta information subsequent to transmitting the meta information, the updated meta information identifying a source server different from the first cache server and the second cache server.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion comprises content that is one of intentionally excluded from the digital content, missing from the digital content, and transmitted in error with the digital content.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the meta information enables a client to select one of the first cache server and the second cache server to transmit one of the first portion and the second portion one of simultaneously and sequentially.

15. A system that distributes digital content, the system comprising:

a server, the server transmitting meta information in response to a request for the digital content, the meta information identifying available sources configured to deliver the digital content, the available sources including a first cache server and a second cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a first portion of the digital content from the first cache server, the meta information indicating availability of a second portion of the digital content from the second cache server;

a first cache server, the first cache server transmitting the first portion of the digital content; and

a second cache server, the second cache server transmitting the second portion of the digital content, the first and second portions being distinct portions of the digital content.

16. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the server, first cache server, and second cache server define a unicast delivery system.

17. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein the meta information comprises one of identification data, a sequence number, a size, a checksum, and a source address associated with one of the first portion and the second portion.

18. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein one of the first cache server and the second cache server is one of a local cache server and a peer-to-peer server.

19. The system as defined by claim 15, further comprising transmitting updated meta information subsequent to transmitting the meta information, the updated meta information identifying a source server different from the first cache server and the second cache server.

20. The system as defined by claim 15, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion comprises content that is one of intentionally excluded from the digital content, missing from the digital content, and transmitted in error with the digital content.