Method and apparatus for high bandwidth data transmission in content-based networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing non-content related data over a content distribution network, comprising:
- receiving at an on-demand server, a non-content related data structure;
processing data contained in said data structure to a packet stream;
creating a descriptive metadata structure describing said data;
establishing an on-demand session between said on-demand server and a consumer premises equipment (CPE);
transmitting said descriptive metadata structure and said packet stream to said CPE over said network as a part of said session; and
terminating said session upon completion of said act of transmitting said descriptive metadata and said packet stream to said CPE;
wherein said descriptive metadata structure is not related to content and is further configured to disable a user-performed trick-mode functionality of said transmitted packet stream while still allowing CPE-performed retransmission requests of at least a portion of said transmitted packet stream.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering data over extant infrastructure within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and the infrastructure comprises that nominally used for on-demand (OD) services such as VOD. The method includes the allocation of dedicated end-to-end network resources via a “session request, as well as data flow control and packet size adaptation, by a data server based on feedback from the requesting/receiving client device (e.g., DSTB) within the network. Mechanisms for retransmission requests for error recovery are also provided.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of providing non-content related data over a content distribution network, comprising:
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receiving at an on-demand server, a non-content related data structure; processing data contained in said data structure to a packet stream; creating a descriptive metadata structure describing said data; establishing an on-demand session between said on-demand server and a consumer premises equipment (CPE); transmitting said descriptive metadata structure and said packet stream to said CPE over said network as a part of said session; and terminating said session upon completion of said act of transmitting said descriptive metadata and said packet stream to said CPE; wherein said descriptive metadata structure is not related to content and is further configured to disable a user-performed trick-mode functionality of said transmitted packet stream while still allowing CPE-performed retransmission requests of at least a portion of said transmitted packet stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of providing data over a content distribution network, comprising:
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receiving at an on-demand server, at least one non-content related data structure; processing data contained in said at least one non-content related data structure to a packet stream; providing a descriptive metadata structure describing said data of said at least one data structure; providing a catalog, said catalog comprising a list of at least information contained in said descriptive metadata structure; enabling consumer premises equipment (CPE) to access said catalog and view said at least information contained in said descriptive metadata structure; receiving a selection of said descriptive metadata structure from said CPE; establishing an on-demand session between said on-demand server and said CPE; transmitting said packet stream corresponding to said selected descriptive metadata structure to said CPE via bandwidth associated with said on-demand session; and terminating said on-demand session upon a determination by said CPE of a successfully completed transmission of said packet stream to said CPE; wherein said processing into said packet stream enables said non-content related data to be transmitted over said bandwidth otherwise used only for a transmission of content and content-related data; and wherein said descriptive metadata structure is further configured to disable a user-performed trick-mode functionality of said transmitted packet stream without disabling CPE-performed retransmission requests of at least a portion of said transmitted packet stream. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An on-demand server for providing data over a content distribution network, comprising:
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a first interface configured to receive a non-content related data structure from a data source; a second interface configured to communicate with at least one user device; a microprocessor; and at least one computer program capable of running on said microprocessor which is configured to, when executed; process data contained in said non-content reined data structure into a packet stream; provide a descriptive metadata structure describing said data; enable a user of said user device to select said descriptive metadata structure; establish a session between said on-demand server and said user device for the transmission of said packet stream thereto; upon said selection of said descriptive metadata structure, transmit said packet stream to said user device as a part of said session, said descriptive metadata structure being configured to disable a user-performed trick-mode functionality of said packet stream; and terminate said session upon completion of said transmission of said packet stream to said user device; wherein said process permits said non-content related data to be transmitted over said session, said session otherwise used only for transmitting content and content-related data; and wherein said disablement of said trick-mode functionality does not further disable retransmission requests of at least a portion of said packet stream. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An On-demand server for providing data over a content distribution network, comprising:
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an interface configured to receive a plurality downloadable non-content related data structures; and a microprocessor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one program which is configured to, when executed; process data contained in each of said plurality of downloadable non-content related data structures to respective multiplexed transport streams; provide descriptive metadata structures describing respective ones of said data of each of said plurality of data structures; provide a list of at least information contained in said descriptive metadata structures for viewing by a user; and enable a user to access said list and view said at least information contained in said descriptive metadata structures; wherein said interface is further configured to; receive a selection by said user from said list of an individual one of said descriptive metadata structures; transmit an individual one of said packet streams corresponding to said selected individual one of said descriptive metadata structures to said user via bandwidth associated with an on-demand session established between a user device and said on-demand server; receive retransmission requests indicating an error in transmission from a distant entity; retransmit at least portions of said packet streams to said distant entity; and terminate said on-demand session upon completion of transmission of said packet stream; and wherein said descriptive metadata structures and said process allow for said non-content related data structures to be transmitted to said user device via said bandwidth, said bandwidth otherwise reserved for use of content and content-related data structures; and wherein said descriptive metadata structures are configured to disable a user-performed trick-mode functionality of said packet stream without effecting said retransmission request. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification