Metadata enabled push-pull model for efficient low-latency video-content distribution over a network

• US 7,359,955 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Espial Incorporated (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kasenna, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Menon, Satish N., Singal, Sanjay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US10/090,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/226, 709/234, 709/231, 709246-247, 709204-207, 710/52, 725 86-100
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23116 involving data replication, e.g. over plural servers synchronization of replicated data G06F11/1658; error detection or correction by means of data replication G06F11/2053; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/10; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/27; replication or mirroring of data in data networks H04L67/1095
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 : for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 : Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/845 : Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 : Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Method, system, computer program and computer program product for a metadata enabled push-pull model and method for efficient low-latency video-content distribution over a network. Metadata is used as a vehicle and mechanism to enable intelligent decisions to be made on content distribution system operation. Metadata is data that contains information about the actual content, and in some cases, the metadata may also contain portions of the content or a low-resolution preview of the content. Aspects of the invention are directed toward the distribution of metadata throughout the network in a way that facilitates efficient system operation as well as optionally but advantageously providing set of services such as tracking, reporting, personalization, and the like.

Claims

1. A metadata enabled edge server for distributing a content object to a user over a network communication link in response to a user request, said metadata enabled edge server comprising:

a server computer having a processor and memory coupled to said processor for executing computer program instructions, and at least one input/output port for receiving and sending communications from external entities;

a local storage device coupled to said server and locally storing metadata describing content objects accessible to said server including at least one location from where a particular one of said content object is stored and may be directed to said user; and

a local controller for distributing said content object to said user using said metadata and maintaining isochronous delivery of portions of said content over said network.

2. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said controller includes a request response and playback procedure executing as software on said metadata enabled edge server.

3. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said network comprises the Internet.

4. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said network communication link comprises a packet switched communication link not in itself having means for maintaining isochronous delivery of a content item separated into a plurality of packets for communication from said server to said requesting user.

5. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said content items are internally accessible to said server computer.

6. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said content items are externally accessible to said server computer.

7. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said metadata database stores data selected from the set of content physical properties, content storage locations, content usage terms, content usage rights, content playback duration, content prefix cache status, content network routing cost information, and combinations thereof.

8. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein metadata also includes a prefix portion of the content or a low-resolution preview of the content.

9. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a request response and playback procedure.

10. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said storage stores at least one content item that is intended to be rendered for presentation at a predetermined time rate.

11. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said at least one content item comprises a video content item having image element frames and audio elements that is intended to be rendered for presentation on a playback device at said predetermined time rate so as to provide substantially the same visual and audio rendering to a viewer a when generated.

12. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 11, wherein the amount of data comprising said video content item is greater than the amount of data that is communicated in a packet over a packet switched Internet network.

13. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein the amount of data comprising said video content item is an amount of video content that when rendered in real-time at an intended playback rate would exceed a fraction of time of broadcast quality video.

14. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said video content item comprises substantially a fill-length feature film in a video format.

15. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said network communication link comprises Internet infrastructure.

16. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said network communication link comprises Internet infrastructure and Internet communication protocol.

17. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said metadata is used to enables intelligent decisions to be made on system operation and content routing.

18. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said metadata contains information about the actual content including its physical properties, possible locations of the content represented by the metadata, its usage terms.

19. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said metadata includes a globally unique identifier describing the content object and at least one location at which said content object may be found.

20. A metadata enabled edge server as in claim 1, wherein said content object comprises a video content object having an amount of data requiring a plurality of packets for communication over a packet switched network, and said controller providing isochronous delivery from said identified content location to a playback device of said requesting user.

21. A system for distributing a content object to a user over a network communication link in response to a user request, said system comprising:

an origin server;

a plurality of edge servers each coupleable to said origin server over a communications network;

each said edge server being a metadata enabled edge server including;

a server computer having a processor and memory coupled to said processor for executing computer program instructions, and at least one input/output port for receiving and sending communications from external entities;

a local storage device coupled to said server and locally storing metadata describing content objects accessible to said server including at least one location from where a particular one of said content object is stored and may be directed to said user; and

a local controller for distributing said content object to said user using said metadata and maintaining isochronous delivery of portions of said content over said network.