Multicasting method and apparatus
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
- forwarding a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device, wherein said forwarding of said real-time media stream from said intermediate server to said user device is via unicast, multicast, or any combination of the aforementioned;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scalable architecture is disclosed for delivery of real-time information over a communications network. Embedded into the architecture is a control mechanism that provides for the management and administration of users who are to receive the real-time information. In the preferred embodiment, the information being delivered is high-quality audio. However, it could also be video, graphics, text or any other type of information that can be transmitted over a digital network. Preferably, there are multiple channels of information available simultaneously to be delivered to users, each channel consisting of an independent stream of information. A user chooses to tune in or tune out a particular channel, but does not choose the time at which the channel distributes its information. Advantageously, interactive (two-way) information can be incorporated into the system, multiple streams of information can be integrated for delivery to a user, and certain portions of the information being delivered can be tailored to the individual user.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device, wherein said forwarding of said real-time media stream from said intermediate server to said user device is via unicast, multicast, or any combination of the aforementioned;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding copies of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward each of multiple user devices;
detecting a termination of said forwarding to at least one of said user devices;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said at least one user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
encoding a media source feed into a real time media stream;
transmitting said real-time media stream toward said intermediate server;
forwarding said real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding more than one real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device, which user device then combines the more than one stream into a single stream;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes.
-
-
30. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
selecting an intermediate server from multiple intermediate servers;
forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from said intermediate server toward a user device;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device;
adjusting said forwarding based on;
a type of said user device, an ability of said user device to receive and playback said real-time media stream, an ability of said intermediate server to forward said real-time media stream, a prevailing load of said intermediate server, performance characteristics of the communications network, or any combination of the aforementioned;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes.
-
-
34. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes, wherein said commercial purposes include assessing copyright royalties.
-
-
35. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device, wherein a user of said user device must register prior to the forwarding of said real-time media stream toward said user device;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes.
-
-
36. A method for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said method comprising:
-
forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
after said termination determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device, wherein said determining further comprises identifying said user device and identifying the composition of said real-time media stream; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. A system for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, said system comprising:
-
a user device coupled to a network;
an intermediate server coupled to said network, said intermediate server comprising instructions for forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream toward said user device;
at least one other server coupled to said intermediate server, wherein said at least one other server includes instructions for;
detecting a termination of said forwarding;
determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A computer program product for metering real-time streaming media for commercial purposes, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage and a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising:
-
instructions for forwarding at least one copy of a real-time media stream from an intermediate server toward a user device;
instructions for detecting a termination of said forwarding;
instructions for determining an extent of said real-time media stream forwarded toward said user device after said termination; and
instructions for logging said extent for commercial purposes. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
-
Specification