Methods and apparatus for obtaining content from a content-originating device within a computerized network
First Claim
1. In a computerized device, a method for obtaining content from a content-originating device, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices;
selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations; and
acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path;
wherein the step of selecting the device-path includes the steps of;
forming an ordered list of devices, wherein each device of the ordered list belongs to the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device; and
deriving the device-path based on the formed ordered list of devices.
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Abstract
A technique can be used to obtain content (e.g., a live feed, pre-positioned content, etc.) from a content-originating device (a content source). The technique involves identifying a tree-based location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device. Each location includes a set of devices, and the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices. The technique further involves selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, and acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path. The selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a computerized device, a method for obtaining content from a content-originating device, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices;
selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations; and
acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path;
wherein the step of selecting the device-path includes the steps of;
forming an ordered list of devices, wherein each device of the ordered list belongs to the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device; and
deriving the device-path based on the formed ordered list of devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a computerized device, a method for obtaining content from a content-originating device, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices;
selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations; and
acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path;
wherein the content-originating device is configured to operate as a content server for a first host domain;
wherein a tree data structure, which defines a content distribution layout having an inverted-tree shape, is associated with a second host domain for distribution of content from the second host domain; and
wherein the step of identifying the location-path includes the steps of;
associating the tree data structure, which defines the content distribution layout having the inverted-tree shape, with the first host domain; and
ascertaining the location-path having the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the tree data structure. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In a computerized device, a method for obtaining content from a content-originating device, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices;
selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations; and
acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path;
wherein a location of the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device includes a set of devices that includes the computerized device and a tree former leader device, and wherein the step of identifying the location-path includes the steps of;
sending a location-path request message from the computerized device to the tree former leader device; and
receiving, from the tree former leader device, a reply message which defines the location-path having the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device.
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10. A computerized device for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a network interface; and
a controller coupled to the network interface, the controller being configured to;
(i) identify a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) select a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) acquire the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path through the network interface;
wherein the controller, in order to select device-path, is configured to;
form an ordered list of devices, wherein each device of the ordered list belongs to the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device; and
derive the device-path from the formed ordered list of devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computerized device for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a network interface; and
a controller coupled to the network interface, the controller being configured to;
(i) identify a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) select a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) acquire the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path through the network interface;
wherein the content-originating device is configured to operate as a content server for a first host domain;
wherein a tree data structure, which defines a content distribution layout having an inverted-tree shape, is associated with a second host domain for distribution of content from the second host domain; and
wherein the controller, in order to identify the location-path, is configured to;
associate the tree data structure, which defines the content distribution layout having the inverted-tree shape, with the first host domain; and
ascertain the location-path having the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the tree data structure. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A computerized device for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a network interface; and
a controller coupled to the network interface, the controller being configured to;
(i) identify a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) select a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) acquire the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path through the network interface;
wherein a location of the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device includes a set of devices that includes the computerized device and a tree former leader device, and wherein the controller, in order to identify the location-path, is configured to;
send a location-path request message from the computerized device to the tree former leader device; and
receive, from the tree former leader device, a reply message which defines the location-path having the series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device.
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19. A set of computerized devices for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a first computerized device which is configured as a tree forming leader;
a second computerized device which is coupled to the first computerized device, the second computerized device being configured to;
(i) obtain, from the first computerized device which is configured as a tree forming leader, a communications signal that identifies a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the second computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) select a device-path from the second computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) acquire the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A set of computerized devices for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a first computerized device which is configured as a content fetching leader;
a second computerized device which is coupled to the first computerized device, the second computerized device being configured to;
(i) identify a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the second computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) select a device-path from the second computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) acquire the content from the content-originating device through the first computerized device which is configured as the content fetching leader;
wherein the set of computerized devices reside within a content distribution network;
wherein the second computerized device, when identifying the location-path having the series of locations, is configured to;
read an entry of a table having multiple entries, the multiple entries of the table including (i) domain fields having values that identify content-originating devices, (ii) server fields having sets of values identifying content servers which are configured to serve content for those content-originating devices, and (iii) tree number fields having values which identify inverted tree structures representing location-paths for distributing content from those content-originating devices through locations of the content distribution network, to enable multiple computerized devices to efficiently store common content distribution information, and pick the location-path having the series of locations based on the read entry;
wherein the read entry includes a domain field having a value identifying the content-originating device among other content-originating devices, a server field having a set of values that identifies content servers which are configured to serve content for the content-originating device, and a tree number field having a value which identifies a tree structure representing location-paths for distributing the content from the content-originating device through locations of the content distribution network; and
wherein the selected device-path includes exactly one device from each location along the identified location-path.
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23. A computerized device for obtaining content from a content-originating device, comprising:
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a network interface; and
a controller coupled to the network interface, the controller including;
(i) means for identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices, (ii) means for selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations, and (iii) means for acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path through the network interface;
wherein the network interface is configured to connect the computerized device to operate within a content distribution network;
wherein the means for identifying includes;
means for reading an entry of a table having multiple entries, the multiple entries of the table including (i) domain fields having values that identify content-originating devices, (ii) server fields having sets of values identifying content servers which are configured to serve content for those content-originating devices, and (iii) tree number fields having values which identify inverted tree structures representing location-paths for distributing content from those content-originating devices through locations of the content distribution network, to enable multiple computerized devices to efficiently store common content distribution information, and means for picking the location-path having the series of locations based on the read entry;
wherein the read entry includes a domain field having a value identifying the content-originating device among other content-originating devices, a server field having a set of values that identifies content servers which are configured to serve content for the content-originating device, and a tree number field having a value which identifies a tree structure representing location-paths for distributing the content from the content-originating device through locations of the content distribution network; and
wherein the selected device-path includes exactly one device from each location along the identified location-path.
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24. A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for directing a computerized to obtain content from a content-originating device, such that the instructions, when carried out by the computerized device, cause the computerized device to perform the steps of:
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identifying a location-path having a series of locations which leads from the computerized device to the content-originating device, wherein each location includes a set of devices, and wherein the set of devices of at least one location includes multiple devices;
selecting a device-path from the computerized device to the content-originating device based on the identified location-path, wherein the selected device-path includes at least one device of each location of the series of locations; and
acquiring the content from the content-originating device from at least one of the devices along the selected device-path;
wherein computerized device, when identifying the location path, is configured by the instructions to;
read an entry of a table having multiple entries, the multiple entries of the table including (i) domain fields having values that identify content-originating devices, (ii) server fields having sets of values identifying content servers which are configured to serve content for those content-originating devices, and (iii) tree number fields having values which identify inverted tree structures representing location-paths for distributing content from those content-originating devices through locations of the content distribution network, to enable multiple computerized devices to efficiently store common content distribution information, and pick the location-path having the series of locations based on the read entry;
wherein the read entry includes a domain field having a value identifying the content-originating device among other content-originating devices, a server field having a set of values that identifies content servers which are configured to serve content for the content-originating device, and a tree number field having a value which identifies a tree structure representing location-paths for distributing the content from the content-originating device through locations of the content distribution network; and
wherein the selected device-path includes exactly one device from each location along the identified location-path.
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Specification