Methods and apparatus for transmitting media programs
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting a plurality of media programs in a network, comprising the steps of:
- determining a first audience size of a first media program and a second audience size of a second media program;
comparing said first audience size with said second audience size to determine a relative value;
assigning a first distribution resource to said first media program and a second distribution resource to said second media program in response to said relative value, whereby assignment of distribution resources is made based on relative audience size;
applying one of a plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource;
wherein said first media program and said second media program each have at least one recipient and said determining step further comprises the steps of;
receiving a media program request from each said recipient,determining said first audience size based upon a number of requests received for said first media program, anddetermining said second audience size based upon a number of requests received for said second media program, the second media program distinct from the first media program, andwherein said first distribution resource is a high distribution volume channel and said second distribution resource is a low distribution volume channel such that said relative value indicates a distribution requirement and said assigning step further comprises assigning said high distribution volume channel to the media program having the greater distribution requirement;
wherein applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource comprises;
applying to the media program assigned to the high distribution volume channel and having a larger audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, a negative acknowledgement based correction mode when the high distribution volume channel comprises a broadband channel; and
applying, to the media program assigned to the low distribution volume channel and having a smaller audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, an acknowledgement based correction mode when the low distribution volume channel comprises a unicast channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system transmits a plurality of media programs in a network. In one embodiment of the invention, a media program distribution system determines a first resource attribute of a first media program and a second resource attribute of a second media program. The distribution system compares the first resource attribute with the second resource attribute to determine a relative value. In turn, the media server assigns a first distribution resource to the first media program and a second distribution resource to the second media program in response to the relative value and applies one of a plurality of transmission modes to each media program in response to the resource attribute and distribution resource type. Examples of distribution resources include unicast, multicast and broadcast channels. Examples of transmission modes include various protocols such as error checking protocols and encoding mechanisms such as codecs.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting a plurality of media programs in a network, comprising the steps of:
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determining a first audience size of a first media program and a second audience size of a second media program; comparing said first audience size with said second audience size to determine a relative value; assigning a first distribution resource to said first media program and a second distribution resource to said second media program in response to said relative value, whereby assignment of distribution resources is made based on relative audience size; applying one of a plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource; wherein said first media program and said second media program each have at least one recipient and said determining step further comprises the steps of; receiving a media program request from each said recipient, determining said first audience size based upon a number of requests received for said first media program, and determining said second audience size based upon a number of requests received for said second media program, the second media program distinct from the first media program, and wherein said first distribution resource is a high distribution volume channel and said second distribution resource is a low distribution volume channel such that said relative value indicates a distribution requirement and said assigning step further comprises assigning said high distribution volume channel to the media program having the greater distribution requirement; wherein applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource comprises; applying to the media program assigned to the high distribution volume channel and having a larger audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, a negative acknowledgement based correction mode when the high distribution volume channel comprises a broadband channel; and applying, to the media program assigned to the low distribution volume channel and having a smaller audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, an acknowledgement based correction mode when the low distribution volume channel comprises a unicast channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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10. A media program distribution system, for transmitting a plurality of media programs in a network, comprising:
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a media server for transmitting one of said media programs; a controller coupled to the media server; wherein the controller is configured to determine a first audience size of a first media program and a second audience size of a second media program; the controller is configured to compare said first audience size with said second audience size to determine a relative value; the media server is configured to assign a first distribution resource to said first media program and a second distribution resource to said second media program in response to said relative value, whereby assignment of distribution resources is made based on relative audience size; the media server is configured to apply one of a plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and distribution resource type; wherein said first media program and said second media program each have at least one recipient and wherein, in order to perform said determining, said controller is configured to; receive a media program request from each said recipient, determine said first audience size based upon a number of requests received for said first media program, and determine said second audience size based upon a number of requests received for said second media program, the second media program distinct from the first media program; and wherein said first distribution resource is a high distribution volume channel and said second distribution resource is a low distribution volume channel such that said relative value indicates a distribution requirement and, in order to perform said assigning, the media server is configured to assign said high distribution volume channel to the media program having the greater distribution requirement; wherein when applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and distribution resource type the media server is configured to; apply to the media program assigned to the high distribution volume channel and having a larger audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, a negative acknowledgement based correction mode when the high distribution volume channel comprises a broadband channel; and apply, to the media program assigned to the low distribution volume channel and having a smaller audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, an acknowledgement based correction mode when the low distribution volume channel comprises a unicast channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25)
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19. A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for transmitting a plurality of media programs, such that the instructions, when carried out by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:
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determining a first audience size of a first media program and a second audience size of a second media program; comparing said first audience size with said second audience size to determine a relative value; assigning a first distribution resource to said first media program and a second distribution resource to said second media program in response to said relative value, whereby assignment of distribution resources is made based on relative audience size; applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the resource attribute and distribution resource type; wherein said first media program and said second media program each have at least one recipient and said determining step further comprises the steps of; receiving a media program request from each said recipient, determining said first audience size based upon a number of requests received for said first media program, and determining said second audience size based upon a number of requests received for said second media program, the second media program distinct from the first media program; and wherein said first distribution resource is a high distribution volume channel and said second distribution resource is a low distribution volume channel such that said relative value indicates a distribution requirement and said assigning step further comprises assigning said high distribution volume channel to the media program having the greater distribution requirement; wherein applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource comprises; applying to the media program assigned to the high distribution volume channel and having a larger audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, a negative acknowledgement based correction mode when the high distribution volume channel comprises a broadband channel; and applying, to the media program assigned to the low distribution volume channel and having a smaller audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, an acknowledgement based correction mode when the low distribution volume channel comprises a unicast channel.
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20. A system having diverse distribution resources and a plurality of transmission modes to transmit a plurality of media programs in a network, comprising:
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means for comparing said first audience size with said second audience size to determine a relative value; means for assigning a first distribution resource to said first media program and a second distribution resource to said second media program in response to said relative value, whereby assignment of distribution resources is made based on relative audience size; means for applying one of the plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the resource attribute and distribution resource type; wherein said first media program and said second media program each have at least one recipient and further comprising; means for receiving a media program request from each said recipient, means for determining said first audience size based upon a number of requests received for said first media program, and means for determining said second audience size based upon a number of requests received for said second media program, the second media program distinct from the first media program; and wherein said first distribution resource is a high distribution volume channel and said second distribution resource is a low distribution volume channel such that said relative value indicates a distribution requirement and said means for assigning further comprises means for assigning said high distribution volume channel to the media program having the greater distribution requirement; wherein means for applying one of a plurality of transmission modes to each said media program in response to the audience size and assigned distribution resource comprises; means for applying to the media program assigned to the high distribution volume channel and having a larger audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, a negative acknowledgement based correction mode when the high distribution volume channel comprises a broadband channel; and means for applying, to the media program assigned to the low distribution volume channel and having a smaller audience size of one of the first audience size and the second audience size, an acknowledgement based correction mode when the low distribution volume channel comprises a unicast channel.
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Specification