Video content transmitting system and method

• US 7,343,618 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shibata, Koichi, Sakamoto, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/764,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,608 Days
• Field of Search: 725 86- 87, 725/90, 725 91- 96, 725/98, 725146-148, 709/220, 709/226
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2396 characterized by admission policies admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for network security using user profiles for access control H04L63/102; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A video content transmitting system is provided in which a video content transmitting server among a plurality of servers is automatically determined as to which server can establish a network bandwidth of each of all routes for video content transmission to a proper address of a video content play terminal by using a network protocol usable by the terminal. Information of a network protocol and a network route bandwidth used between the server and terminal is stored at a protocol information manager and a bandwidth information manager. In response to a video content transmission request from a terminal, bandwidths necessary for the routes to the terminal are established and video contents are transmitted by using the network protocol usable by the terminal.

Claims

1. A video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting system comprising:

means for storing information of a plurality of network protocols capable of video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video content transmitting servers, said means for storing information including a first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of said video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals;

means for selecting a video content transmitting server from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the video content play terminal issuing the request to thereby determine the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting said requested video contents to the video content play terminal requesting said video content transmission; and

means for managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for the video content transmission, said managing means including a second table storing information indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use.

2. A video content transmitting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said network includes at least a first network and a second network, in one transmission mode, the first network is used when a video content transmission request is transmitted to the video content transmitting system from the video content play terminal and the second network is used when the video contents are transmitted from the video content transmitting server to the video content play terminal in response to said video content transmission request; and

said video content transmitting system further comprises;

means for storing an address for identifying the video content play terminal that issued the video content transmission request via the first network and an address for identifying the video content play terminal receiving the video contents via the second network; and

means for determining a video content destination address to which the video contents are transmitted, in accordance with the stored addresses of the video content play terminal on the first and second networks.

3. A video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of a video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting system comprising:

means for storing information of a plurality of network protocols capable of video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video transmitting servers, said means for storing information including a first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals; and

means for selecting video content transmitting servers from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the request issuing terminal;

means for managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for the video content transmission, said managing means including a second table storing information indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use;

bandwidth calculating means for calculating a bandwidth of the network route to be used for transmission of requested video contents; and

transmission processing means for determining the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting the requested video contents to the requested video content play terminal among the plurality of video content transmitting servers, in accordance with the total available bandwidth, the bandwidth now in use in the second table and the calculated bandwidth necessary for video content transmission determined by said bandwidth calculating means.

4. A video content transmitting system according to claim 3, wherein:

the network includes at least a first network and a second network, in one transmission mode, the first network is used when a video content transmission request is transmitted to the video content transmitting system from the video content play terminal and the second network is used when the video contents are transmitted from the video content transmitting server to the video content play terminal in response to said video content transmission request; and

said video content transmitting system further comprises;

means for storing an address for identifying the video content play terminal that issued the video content transmission request via the first network and an address for identifying the video content play terminal receiving the video contents via the second network; and

means for determining a video content destination address to which the video contents are transmitted, in accordance with the stored addresses of the video content play terminal on a first terminal on the first and second networks.

5. A video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of a video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting system comprising:

means for storing information of a plurality of network protocols usable for video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video content transmitting servers, said network protocol information storing means including a first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals;

means for managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for the video content transmission, said managing means including a second table storing information indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use;

bandwidth calculating means for calculating a bandwidth of the network route to be used for transmission of requested video contents; and

transmission processing means for selecting a video content transmitting terminal from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the request issuing terminal to thereby determine the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting the requested video contents to the requested video content play terminal, in accordance with the stored network protocol information and/or in accordance with the total available bandwidth, the bandwidth now in use and the calculated bandwidth necessary for video content transmission.

6. A video content transmitting system according to claim 5, wherein:

the network includes at least a first network and a second network having a transmission bandwidth larger than a transmission bandwidth of the first network, the first network is used when a video content transmission request is transmitted to the video content transmitting system from the video content play terminal and the second network is used when the video contents are transmitted from the video content transmitting server to the video content play terminal in response to the video content transmission request; and

said video content transmitting system further comprises;

means for storing an address for identifying the video content play terminal that issued the video content transmission request via the first network and an address for identifying the video content play terminal receiving the video contents via the second network; and

means for determining a video content destination address to which the video contents are transmitted, in accordance with the stored addresses of the video contents play terminal on the first and second networks.

7. A video content transmitting system according to claim 5, wherein said first table stores a name of each network protocol capable of video content transmission between each terminal and each video content transmitting server.

8. A video content transmitting method for a video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting method comprising the steps of:

preparing a first table for storing information of a plurality of network protocols capable of video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video content transmitting servers, said first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of said video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals;

selecting a video content transmitting server from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the video content play terminal issuing the request to thereby determine the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting said video contents to a relevant video content play terminal requesting video content transmission, in accordance with said network protocol information stored in said first table, said first table storing a name of each network protocol capable of video content transmission between each terminal and each video content transmitting server; and

managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for video content transmission, said managing using information stored in a second table indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use.

9. A video content transmitting method for a video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting method comprising the steps of:

storing information of a plurality of network protocols capable of video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video content transmitting servers in a storage device, said storage device including a first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality of said video content transmitting servers and one of the plurality of video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals;

selecting video content transmitting terminals from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the request issuing terminal;

managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for video content transmission, said managing using information stored in a second table indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use;

calculating a bandwidth of the network route to be used for transmission of requested video contents; and

determining the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting the requested video content play terminal among the plurality of video content transmitting servers, in accordance with the total available bandwidth, the bandwidth now in use in the second table and the calculated bandwidth necessary for video content transmission determined by said bandwidth calculation.

10. A video content transmitting method for a video content transmitting system having a plurality of video content transmitting servers and being capable of transmitting requested video contents in response to a request from any of video content play terminals connected via a network to said plurality of video content transmitting servers, said video content transmitting method comprising the steps of:

preparing a first table for storing information of a plurality of network protocols usable for video content transmission between the plurality of video content play terminals and the plurality of video content transmitting servers, said first table of protocols for facilitating communication for each combination of one of the plurality of video content transmitting server and one of the plurality of video content play terminals,

wherein the first table includes a listing of the plurality of network protocols, the plurality of video content transmitting servers, and the plurality of video content play terminals, and indicates a correlation between each of the plurality of protocols and a corresponding combination of one of the plurality video content play terminals, and

wherein each of the plurality of protocols is specified for a corresponding network route for video content transmission between each of the plurality of video content transmitting servers and each of the plurality of video content play terminals;

managing information of a total available bandwidth of a network route for video content transmission between each video content play terminal and each video content transmitting server, and information of a bandwidth now in use for video content transmission, said managing using information stored in a second table indicative of a correlation between each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use,

wherein the second table includes a listing of each network route, the total available bandwidth, and the bandwidth now in use;

calculating a bandwidth of the network route to be used for transmission of a requested video contents; and

selecting a video content transmitting terminal from the plurality of video content transmitting servers based on a protocol determination of the protocols of the first table in respect of the request issuing terminal to thereby determine the video content transmitting server capable of transmitting the requested video contents to the requested video content play terminal, in accordance with the stored network protocol information and/or in accordance with the total available bandwidth, the bandwidth now in use and the calculated bandwidth necessary for video content transmission, said first table storing a name of each network protocol capable of video content transmission between each terminal and each video content transmitting server.

11. A video content transmitting method according to claim 10, wherein said first table for storing information of a network protocol usable for video content transmission between the video content play terminal and the video content transmitting terminal can select a network protocol in accordance with the request by the video content play terminal and a network infrastructure.