System and method for distributed storage and presentation of multimedia in a cable network environment
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- (a) splitting a video file into a first piece and a second piece, the video file being a digital representation of a video;
(b) moving the first piece through a cable network to a first building and storing the first piece in the first building on a first storage device, wherein the first storage device is disposed in a first set-top box;
(c) moving the second piece through the cable network to a second building and storing the second piece in the second building on a second storage device, wherein the second storage device is disposed in a second set-top box;
(d) moving the first piece from the first storage device through the cable network and into a third building, and storing the first piece in the third building on a third storage device, wherein the third storage device is disposed in a third set-top box;
(e) moving the second piece from the second storage device through the cable network and into the third building, and storing the second piece in the third building on the third storage device; and
(f) retrieving and displaying the first piece from the third storage device and substantially contiguously retrieving and displaying the second piece from the third storage device such that the video is displayed in the third building as a single unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for distributing multimedia content (such as video, games, music, pictures), where the multimedia content is stored in a plurality of set-top boxes that are connected to a cable network. A controller unit located at a central cable station manages the multimedia content. The multimedia content stored in the set-top boxes is made available to any set-top box on request to the controller in the central cable station. The controller unit also interfaces with a plurality of multimedia owners, many situated on the Internet, to source the multimedia content and to source service properties associated with the multimedia content. The controller unit informs the content owners and appropriate billing systems when a multimedia content has been delivered to a remote set-top box and has been consumed by an end user. The end user accesses the multimedia content through a television, a personal computer, or other multimedia appliance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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(a) splitting a video file into a first piece and a second piece, the video file being a digital representation of a video; (b) moving the first piece through a cable network to a first building and storing the first piece in the first building on a first storage device, wherein the first storage device is disposed in a first set-top box; (c) moving the second piece through the cable network to a second building and storing the second piece in the second building on a second storage device, wherein the second storage device is disposed in a second set-top box; (d) moving the first piece from the first storage device through the cable network and into a third building, and storing the first piece in the third building on a third storage device, wherein the third storage device is disposed in a third set-top box; (e) moving the second piece from the second storage device through the cable network and into the third building, and storing the second piece in the third building on the third storage device; and (f) retrieving and displaying the first piece from the third storage device and substantially contiguously retrieving and displaying the second piece from the third storage device such that the video is displayed in the third building as a single unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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(a) splitting a multimedia file into a first piece and a second piece, the multimedia file being a digital representation of a multimedia content, wherein the multimedia content includes information taken from the group consisting of;
an amount of video, a game, an amount of music, a picture;(b) moving the first piece through a cable television network to a first building and storing the first piece in the first building on a first set-top box; (c) moving the second piece through the cable television network to a second building and storing the second piece in the second building on a second set-top box; (d) selecting a link, wherein the link is indicative of the multimedia content; (e) in response to the selecting of (d) moving the first piece from the first storage device through the cable television network and into a third building, and storing the first piece in the third building on a third set-top box; (f) in response to the selecting of (d) moving the second piece from the second storage device through the cable television network and into the third building, and storing the second piece in the third building on the third set-top box; and (g) retrieving the first and second pieces from the third set-top box and playing back or playing the first and second pieces in the third building as a single amount of multimedia content. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification