Multimedia distribution in a heterogeneous network

• US 8,402,153 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Friedman, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US12/613,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 709/246, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/36 by determining packet size, e.g. maximum transfer unit [MTU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/365 Dynamic adaptation of the packet size
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

The efficiency of real-time distribution of multimedia content over a heterogeneous network is optimized by locally, rather than centrally, adapting the content to conform to the capabilities limitations of the network. Multimedia content travels from a central location along the network backbone. When received by each of a system of dispersed media servers, that media server adapts the content by compensating for any QoS limitations of the downstream network segments. For example, the backbone of the communications network may consist of a satellite uplink. The dispersed media servers receive and replicate the content as required for distribution to unicast segments downstream rather than doing so at the source of the content, and thus multiple streams of identical content need not be carried on the backbone. Each dispersed server is programmed to optimize the transmission to conform to the transmission parameters of each adjacent and downstream segment of the network.

Claims

1. A system for distributing multimedia content, comprising:

a source server comprising a processor and configured to provide a first multicast multimedia stream of the multimedia content;

a plurality of dispersed media servers, each dispersed media server comprising a processor and configured to;

receive first instructions for adapting multimedia streams;

receive the first multicast multimedia stream from the source server;

adapt, based upon the first instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a first unicast multimedia stream conforming to a first quality of service requirement for transmission to a first recipient computer;

transmit the first unicast multimedia stream to the first recipient computer;

adapt, based upon the first instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a second multicast multimedia stream conforming to a second quality of service requirement for transmission to a second recipient computer;

transmit the second multicast multimedia stream to the second recipient computer;

detect a change in the first quality of service requirement for the first recipient computer;

request second instructions for adapting multimedia streams in response to detecting the change in the first quality of service requirement for the first recipient computer;

receive the second instructions; and

adapt, based upon the second instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a second unicast multimedia stream conforming to the changed first quality of service requirement for transmission to the first recipient computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide the first unicast multimedia stream includes compressing the first multimedia stream.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide the first unicast multimedia stream includes translating a protocol of the first multimedia stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first multimedia stream is a video stream.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first recipient computer is at least one of a handheld device, and a communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first recipient computer is at least one of a set-top box, an enhanced television, and an interactive television.

7. The system of claim 1, the plurality of dispersed media servers being further configured to:

detect a change in the second quality of service requirement for the second recipient computer; and

receive second instructions for adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a third multicast multimedia stream conforming to the changed second quality of service requirement for transmission to the second recipient computer.

8. A system for distributing multimedia content from a source server to a plurality of recipient computers, comprising:

a plurality of dispersed media servers, each dispersed media server comprising a processor and configured to;

receive first instructions for adapting multimedia streams;

receive a first multicast multimedia stream from the source server;

determine that a packet size of the first multicast multimedia stream exceeds a maximum transmission unit of a first downstream network segment;

adapt, based upon the first instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a unicast multimedia stream conforming to the maximum transmission unit of the first downstream network segment;

transmit the unicast multimedia stream through the first downstream network segment to a first one of the recipient computers;

adapt, based upon the first instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to provide a second multicast multimedia stream conforming to a second quality of service requirement of a second downstream network segment;

transmit the second multicast multimedia stream through the second downstream network segment to a second one of the recipient computers;

detect a change in the maximum transmission unit for the first downstream network segment;

request second instructions for adapting multimedia streams in response to detecting the change in the maximum transmission unit for the first downstream network segment;

receive the second instructions; and

adapt, based upon the second instructions, the first multicast multimedia stream to maximum transmission unit for the first downstream network segment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide the unicast multimedia stream includes compressing the multimedia stream; and

adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide the unicast multimedia stream is in response to determining that the packet size exceeds the maximum transmission unit.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein adapting the first multicast multimedia stream to provide the unicast multimedia stream includes translating a protocol of the first multimedia stream.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first multimedia stream is a video stream.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first recipient computer is at least one of a handheld device, and a communication device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first recipient computer is at least one of a set-top box, enhanced television, and an interactive television.

14. A system for distributing video content from a source server to a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

a plurality of dispersed media servers, each dispersed media server comprising a processor and configured to;

receive a first multicast video stream including the video content from the source server;

receive first instructions for adapting the first multicast video stream to provide a first unicast video stream conforming to a first quality of service requirement for transmission to a first one of the communication devices;

in response to receiving the first instructions, adapt the video content to provide the first unicast video stream conforming to the first quality of service requirement for transmission to the first communication device;

transmit the first unicast video stream to the first communication device;

receive second instructions for adapting the first multicast video stream to provide a second multicast video stream conforming to a second quality of service requirement for transmission to a second one of the communication devices;

in response to receiving the second instructions, adapt the video content to provide the second multicast video stream conforming to the second quality of service requirement for transmission to the second communication device;

transmit the second multicast video stream to the second communication device;

detect a change in the first quality of service requirement;

request third instructions in response to detecting the change in the first quality of service requirement;

receive the third instructions; and

in response to receiving the third instructions, adapt the first multicast video stream to provide a second unicast video stream conforming to the changed first quality of service requirement for transmission to the first communication device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each dispersed media server is further configured to compress the first unicast video stream to compensate for low bandwidth available for transmission to the first communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein compressing includes reducing the resolution of the video content.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein compressing includes reducing the frame rate of the video content.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein adapting the video content to provide the first unicast video stream includes translating a protocol of the first multicast video stream to a network protocol appropriate from transmission of the first unicast video stream to the first communication device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of dispersed media servers are further configured to:

detect a change in the second quality of service requirement; and

receive fourth instructions for adapting the first multicast video stream to provide a third multicast video stream conforming to the changed second quality of service requirement for transmission to the second communication device.