Methods and apparatus for distributing content
First Claim
1. In a computerized device, a method for providing content from a content host using a content delivery network, the content delivery network having content servers and having a content delivery manager that directs placement of the content among the content servers, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving information from the content host, the presence information indicating the availability of content associated with the content host, the content host different from any of the content servers and different from the content delivery manager of the content delivery network;
receiving a subscription request from a content subscriber; and
transmitting a notification message to the content subscriber, the notification message having the presence information from the content host, indicating availability of content associated with the content host, and having network information indicating the content delivery network having the content received from the content host, the notification message enabling the content subscriber to acquire the content from the content delivery network,wherein the step of receiving a subscription request comprises the step of receiving content subscriber identifier information from the content subscriber and further comprising, in response to receiving content subscriber identification information, the steps of;
receiving an access restriction from the content host, the access restriction indicating a limitation on content access for a content subscriber, wherein the step of receiving an access restriction comprises the step of receiving a hierarchical arrangement of presence information from the content host, the hierarchical arrangement indicating a subscription constraint for the presence information; and
detecting content subscriber access to the presence information based upon a comparison between the content subscriber identifier information and the access restriction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system incorporates notification aspects of a presence system with content distribution capabilities of a content delivery network to both notify subscribers of the presence of content from a host and provide relatively fast and efficient delivery of the content to the user. A content host provides content, such as streaming audio or video media, to a content delivery network. The content host also provides notification of the availability of the content to a central site or presence server. A subscriber to the content host receives, from the presence server, notification as to the availability of content by the content host. The subscriber also receives notification as to the location of the content in the content delivery network. Based upon the notification, the subscriber retrieves the content from the content delivery network.
193 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a computerized device, a method for providing content from a content host using a content delivery network, the content delivery network having content servers and having a content delivery manager that directs placement of the content among the content servers, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving information from the content host, the presence information indicating the availability of content associated with the content host, the content host different from any of the content servers and different from the content delivery manager of the content delivery network; receiving a subscription request from a content subscriber; and transmitting a notification message to the content subscriber, the notification message having the presence information from the content host, indicating availability of content associated with the content host, and having network information indicating the content delivery network having the content received from the content host, the notification message enabling the content subscriber to acquire the content from the content delivery network, wherein the step of receiving a subscription request comprises the step of receiving content subscriber identifier information from the content subscriber and further comprising, in response to receiving content subscriber identification information, the steps of; receiving an access restriction from the content host, the access restriction indicating a limitation on content access for a content subscriber, wherein the step of receiving an access restriction comprises the step of receiving a hierarchical arrangement of presence information from the content host, the hierarchical arrangement indicating a subscription constraint for the presence information; and detecting content subscriber access to the presence information based upon a comparison between the content subscriber identifier information and the access restriction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computerized device comprising:
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at least one communications interface; a controller; and an interconnection mechanism configured to communicate with a content delivery network, the content delivery network having content servers and a content delivery manager wherein the content delivery manager directs placement of content among the content servers, the interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to; receive, through the interface, presence information from the content host, the presence information indicating the availability of content associated with the content host, the content host different from any of the content servers and different from the content delivery manager of the content delivery network; receive, through the interface, a subscription request from a content subscriber; and transmit, through the interface, a notification message to the content subscriber, the notification message having the presence information from the content host, indicating availability of content associated with the content host, and having network information indicating the content delivery network having the content received from the content host, the notification message enabling the content subscriber to acquire the content from the content delivery network, wherein, when receiving a subscription request, the controller is configured to receive, through the interface, content subscriber identifier information from the content subscriber and wherein, in response to receiving content subscriber identification information, the controller is configured to; receive an access restriction from the content host, the access restriction indicating a limitation on content access for a content subscriber, wherein, when receiving an access restriction, the controller is configured to receive a hierarchical arrangement of presence information from the content host, the hierarchical arrangement indicating a subscription constraint for the presence information; and detect content subscriber access to the presence information based upon a comparison between the content subscriber identifier information and the access restriction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a controller in a computerized device having a coupling to at least one communications interface provides a method for performing the operations of:
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receiving presence information from a content host, the presence information indicating the availability of content associated with the content host, the content host different from any content server and different from a content delivery manager of a content delivery network; receiving a subscription request from a content subscriber; and transmitting a notification message to the content subscriber, the notification message having the presence information from the content host, indicating availability of content associated with the content host, and having network information indicating the content delivery network having the content received from the content host, the notification message enabling the content subscriber to acquire the content from the content delivery network, wherein the step of receiving a subscription request comprises the step of receiving content subscriber identifier information from the content subscriber and further comprising, in response to receiving content subscriber identification information, the steps of; receiving an access restriction from the content host, the access restriction indicating a limitation on content access for a content subscriber, wherein the step of receiving an access restriction comprises the step of receiving a hierarchical arrangement of presence information from the content host, the hierarchical arrangement indicating a subscription constraint for the presence information; and detecting content subscriber access to the presence information based upon a comparison between the content subscriber identifier information and the access restriction.
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16. A computerized device comprising:
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at least one communications interface; a controller; and an interconnection mechanism configured to communicate with a content delivery network, the content delivery network having content servers and a content delivery manager wherein the content delivery manager directs placement of content among the content servers, the interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller; and wherein the controller is configured produce a means for providing content from a content host using a content delivery network, such means comprising; means for receiving, through the interface, presence information from the content host, the presence information indicating the availability of content associated with the content host, the content host different from any of the content servers and different from the content delivery manager of the content delivery network; means for receiving, through the interface, a subscription request from a content subscriber; and means for transmitting, through the interface, a notification message to the content subscriber, the notification message having the presence information from the content host, indicating availability of content associated with the content host, and having network information indicating the content delivery network having the content received from the content host, the advertising message enabling the content subscriber to acquire the content from the content delivery network, wherein, when receiving a subscription request, the controller is configured to produce a means for receiving, through the interface, content subscriber identifier information from the content subscriber and wherein, in response to receiving content subscriber identification information, the controller is configured to produce a means for providing content from a content host using a content delivery network, such means comprising; means for receiving an access restriction from the content host, the access restriction indicating a limitation on content access for a content subscriber, wherein, when receiving an access restriction, the controller is configured to produce a means for receiving a hierarchical arrangement of presence information from the content host, the hierarchical arrangement indicating a subscription constraint for the presence information; and means for detecting content subscriber access to the presence information based upon a comparison between the content subscriber identifier information and the access restriction.
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Specification