Content distribution architecture
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving specified content in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
- checking the availability of specified content from content sources including other clients and content servers in the peer-to-peer network, wherein the availability of the specified content is identified in a list including names, the list provided to clients in the peer-to-peer network, and wherein the list including names is periodically updated to reflect a current availability of content from the content sources; and
retrieving the specified content in parallel from a combination of clients, servers, or clients and servers, wherein the specified content is retrieved from;
one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is available from one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network as identified by the list including names,one or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is not identified on the list including names, andone or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by the other clients in the peer-to-peer network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hierarchical cached media distribution system that employs the Internet. The distribution system assures reliability and quality of service in delivery of timely content. New content is harvested from multiple disparate sources, associated with channels, and encrypted, conditioned, and packaged prior to distribution. A peer-to-peer network scheme is provided where peer groups are associated and maintained for efficient file distribution. Content servers are dynamically prioritized based on availability and cost. A push-based distribution method may be used to exploit cached content stored on peers subject to network address translation (NAT). The distribution system exploits a redundant self repairing packaged file format for media content. Embodiments of the present invention further provide dynamic feedback to content sources.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving specified content in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
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checking the availability of specified content from content sources including other clients and content servers in the peer-to-peer network, wherein the availability of the specified content is identified in a list including names, the list provided to clients in the peer-to-peer network, and wherein the list including names is periodically updated to reflect a current availability of content from the content sources; and retrieving the specified content in parallel from a combination of clients, servers, or clients and servers, wherein the specified content is retrieved from; one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is available from one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network as identified by the list including names, one or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is not identified on the list including names, and one or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by the other clients in the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for content distribution in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
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identifying content sources including a plurality of clients in a peer-to-peer network and a dedicated content server; identifying content available at each of the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network; and sending each of the plurality of clients information to identify the dedicated content server and content available at client peers, wherein the information is periodically updated to reflect a current availability of content from client peers, whereby specified content is retrieved by a requesting client in parallel from a combination of client peers, the dedicated content server, or client peers and the dedicated content server, the specified content being retrieved from; one or more of the plurality of clients when the specified content is available from the one or more of the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network as identified by the information concerning available content, the dedicated content server when the specified content is not identified by the information concerning available content, and the dedicated content server when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for peer-to-peer distribution of content, the system comprising:
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a content server configured to store content for distribution in a peer-to-peer network; an authentication server configured to authenticate the presence of individual clients requesting the content in the peer-to-peer network; a content broker configured to distribute and update information about the presence of authenticated individual clients in the peer-to-peer network, the content broker further configured to distribute and update information about the availability of content at content sources including the content server and authenticated individual clients in the peer-to-peer network, wherein specified content is retrievable in parallel from a combination of authenticated individual clients, the content server, or authenticated individual clients and the content server, the specified content being retrieved from; one or more of the authenticated individual clients when the specified content is available from the one or more of the authenticated individual clients as identified by the information concerning the availability of content, the content server when the specified content is not identified by the information concerning the availability of content, and the content server when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by authenticated individual clients in the peer-to-peer network; and a license server configured to license content for download by an authenticated individual client from another authenticated client in the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for retrieving specified content in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
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checking the availability of specified content from content sources including other clients and content servers in the peer-to-peer network, wherein the availability of the specified content is identified in a list including names, the list provided to clients in the peer-to-peer network, and wherein the list including names is periodically updated to reflect a current availability of content from the content sources; and retrieving the specified content in parallel from a combination of other clients, content servers, or other clients and content servers, wherein the specified content is retrieved from; one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is available from one or more of the other clients in the peer-to-peer network as identified by the list including names, one or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when the specified content is not identified on the list including names, and one or more of the content servers in the peer-to-peer network when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by the other clients in the peer-to-peer network.
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23. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for content distribution in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
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identifying content sources including a plurality of clients in a peer-to-peer network and a dedicated content server; identifying in a list including names content available at each of the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network; and sending each of the plurality of clients information to identify the dedicated content server and content available at client peers, wherein the information is periodically updated to reflect a current availability of content from client peers, whereby specified content is retrieved by a requesting client in parallel from a combination of client peers, the dedicated content server, or client peers and the dedicated content server, the specified content being retrieved from; one or more of the plurality of clients when the specified content is available from the one or more of the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network as identified by the information concerning available content, the dedicated content server when the specified content is not identified by the information concerning available content, and the dedicated content server when a guaranteed delivery time of the specified content is not satisfied by the plurality of clients in the peer-to-peer network.
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Specification