Peer to peer video on demand system selectively using client and server to forward the requested video program to another client
First Claim
1. A method used in a peer to peer video-on-demand system for providing video programs among a video program providing apparatus and a plurality of clients which are connected through a peer to peer network, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) in response to a request for a video program from a first client among said plurality of clients, transmitting the requested video program to said first client on a first channel;
(b) in response to a request for the same video program from a second client among said plurality of clients, allocating a second channel for transmitting video program;
(c) notifying said first client which receives the same video program on said first channel prior to said second client, to forward said video program to said second client on said second channel from the beginning of said video program which has been received from the video program providing apparatus and stored by said first client;
(d) controlling said second client to receive and store the said video program transmitted from the video program providing apparatus on said first channel in synchronization with said first client;
(e) in response to a notification that the video program received from said first client by said second client reaches a starting point of the program which was received from the video program providing apparatus and stored by said second client, merging said second channel into said first channel, and notifying said first client to stop forwarding said video program to said second client.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Video On Demand system providing video programs between a program provider and a plurality of clients coupled over a peer to peer network. Transmitting a requested video program from a first client on a first channel. Allocating a second channel for transmitting the video program requested by a second client. The first client forwarding the video program to the second client on the second channel from the beginning of the video program received and stored. Controlling the second client to receive and store the video program sent on the first channel in synchronization with the first client. Merging the second channel into the first channel in response to notification that the program received from the first client by the second client reaches a starting point of the program received and stored by the second client. Notifying the first client to stop sending the video program to the second client.
207 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method used in a peer to peer video-on-demand system for providing video programs among a video program providing apparatus and a plurality of clients which are connected through a peer to peer network, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) in response to a request for a video program from a first client among said plurality of clients, transmitting the requested video program to said first client on a first channel; (b) in response to a request for the same video program from a second client among said plurality of clients, allocating a second channel for transmitting video program; (c) notifying said first client which receives the same video program on said first channel prior to said second client, to forward said video program to said second client on said second channel from the beginning of said video program which has been received from the video program providing apparatus and stored by said first client; (d) controlling said second client to receive and store the said video program transmitted from the video program providing apparatus on said first channel in synchronization with said first client; (e) in response to a notification that the video program received from said first client by said second client reaches a starting point of the program which was received from the video program providing apparatus and stored by said second client, merging said second channel into said first channel, and notifying said first client to stop forwarding said video program to said second client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification