DISTRIBUTED DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20170132308A1
• Filed: 01/23/2017
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Beach, Brian, Platt, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,858,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/219 Managing data history or versioning querying versioned data G06F16/2474; querying temporal data G06F16/2477
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2246 Trees, e.g. B+trees
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/282 Hierarchical databases, e.g. IMS, LDAP data stores or Lotus Notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/82 Solving problems relating to consistency ensuring consistency in mirrored systems G06F11/2064
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• 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 67/1001 : for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 : characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 : comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 : involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 : for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 : Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42607 : for processing the incoming bitstream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 : Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 : Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 : Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 : Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:

accessing, at a server, a central set of hierarchically-arranged data items;

dividing the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets, each of the subsets comprising at least a portion of one or more of the data items;

transmitting individual subsets of the subsets from the server to a client;

receiving, from the client, data indicating an inventory of subsets that have been received by the client;

based on the inventory, identifying one or more of the subsets that should have been received by the client, but have not been received by the client;

transmitting the identified one or more of the subsets from the server to the client.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein first data items in the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items are assigned to a path, the path including one or more directory objects.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause generating updated versions of the subsets on a recurring basis and transmitting the updated versions to the client.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause determining how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based upon a transmission mechanism by which the subsets are to be transmitted to the client.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause dividing the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on identifying data items that are relevant to a specific event or interest group.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause iteratively determining how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on feedback information from a plurality of clients to which the subsets are sent.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

sending the subsets to a plurality of clients, including the client;

determining which subsets to transmit to which of the clients, wherein the clients are configured to generate local sets of hierarchically-arranged data items from the central set based on different combinations of the individual subsets, the local sets constituting only portions of the central set, a first client of the clients storing a first local set of the local sets that comprises a different set of the data items than found in a second local set of the local sets stored by a second client of the clients.

8. A system comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to access, at a server, a central set of hierarchically-arranged data items;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets, each of the subsets comprising at least a portion of one or more of the data items;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to transmit individual subsets of the subsets from the server to a client;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to receive, from the client, data indicating an inventory of subsets that have been received by the client;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to, based on the inventory, identify one or more of the subsets that should have been received by the client, but have not been received by the client;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to transmit the identified one or more of the subsets from the server to the client.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein first data items in the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items are assigned to a path, the path including one or more directory objects.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to generate updated versions of the subsets on a recurring basis and transmitting the updated versions to the client.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to determine how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based upon a transmission mechanism by which the subsets are to be transmitted to the client.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on identifying data items that are relevant to a specific event or interest group.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to iteratively determine how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on feedback information from a plurality of clients to which the subsets are sent.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the subsystem configured to transmit the subsets is configured to send the subsets to a plurality of clients, including the client, the system further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to determining which subsets to transmit to which of the clients, wherein the clients are configured to generate local sets of hierarchically-arranged data items from the central set based on different combinations of the individual subsets, the local sets constituting only portions of the central set, a first client of the clients storing a first local set of the local sets that comprises a different set of the data items than found in a second local set of the local sets stored by a second client of the clients.

15. A method comprising:

accessing, at a server, a central set of hierarchically-arranged data items;

dividing the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets, each of the subsets comprising at least a portion of one or more of the data items;

transmitting individual subsets of the subsets from the server to a client;

receiving, from the client, data indicating an inventory of subsets that have been received by the client;

based on the inventory, identifying one or more of the subsets that should have been received by the client, but have not been received by the client;

transmitting the identified one or more of the subsets from the server to the client.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein first data items in the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items are assigned to a path, the path including one or more directory objects.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating updated versions of the subsets on a recurring basis and transmitting the updated versions to the client.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based upon a transmission mechanism by which the subsets are to be transmitted to the client.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising dividing the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on identifying data items that are relevant to a specific event or interest group.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising iteratively determining how to divide the central set of hierarchically-arranged data items into subsets based on feedback information from a plurality of clients to which the subsets are sent.