Dynamic bandwidth allocation

• US 8,533,289 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Raciborski, Nathan F., Gordon, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENRY, MARIEGEORGES A
• Application Number:
  US13/494,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 705/402
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs

Abstract

According to the invention, a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content objects from a content provider to a recipient is disclosed. The CDN includes a dynamic pricing engine and a second web location. The dynamic pricing engine is coupled to a first web location. The first web location, which is associated with a content provider, allows the recipient to order a content object. The delivery quote is solicited by the first web location for delivering a content object one or more times. The second web location delivers the content object to a recipient system of the recipient. The second web location is associated with the dynamic pricing engine. The dynamic pricing engine automatically produces the delivery quote, which is affected by at least one of the content object or a web location of the recipient system.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of a particular content object with a content distribution network (CDN), wherein the particular content object is provided by a content provider, the method comprising:

receiving a streaming request from the content provider, the streaming request for electronically streaming the particular content object over at least one network, wherein the streaming request includes information characterizing delivery of the particular content object;

analyzing the streaming request according to a financial cost model for each CDN of a plurality of CDNs, wherein the financial cost model is affected by a predicted quality of service of the CDN and a loading of the CDN;

automatically determining, in real time, a financial delivery quote for each CDN of the plurality of CDNs, based on the financial cost model, for electronically streaming the particular content object one or more times over the at least one network according to the streaming request, wherein the financial delivery quote is affected by the particular content object;

automatically selecting, in real time, a CDN of the plurality of CDNs based on the financial delivery quotes;

causing the selected CDN to stream at least a portion of the particular content object, wherein at least one delivery analyzer computer performs at least one of the analyzing or automatically determining steps;

subsequently selecting a second CDN of the plurality of CDNs; and

causing the second CDN to stream at least a second portion of the particular content object, wherein;

the subsequently selecting occurs after the automatically selecting, and

the subsequently selecting is based on the financial delivery quotes.

2. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 1, wherein the streaming request further includes a location parameter indicative of a location associated with an intended receiver.

3. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 2, wherein the financial cost model is further affected by the location associated with the intended receiver.

4. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 2, wherein the location comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

5. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 1, wherein the financial cost model is further affected by a bitrate for providing the particular content object.

6. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 1, wherein the financial cost model is further affected by a time of day for providing the particular content object.

7. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 1, wherein the selection of the CDN further depends on an estimated quality of service to be provided by the CDN.

8. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with the CDN as recited in claim 1, wherein the financial cost model is further affected by a latency for providing the particular content object.

9. A method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of a particular content object with a distribution network, wherein the particular content object is provided by a content provider, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the particular content object from an intended receiver at a content originator;

sending a streaming request to the distribution network, the streaming request for electronically streaming the particular content object over the distribution network, wherein the streaming request includes information characterizing streaming of the particular content object;

analyzing the streaming request to determine a result;

automatically determining, in real time, a financial delivery quote for streaming the particular content object one or more times according to the streaming request, wherein the financial delivery quote is affected by the particular content object;

selecting a delivery option from a plurality of delivery options based on the result;

causing the distribution network to stream at least a portion of the particular content object to the intended receiver in accordance with the selected delivery option, wherein at least one delivery analyzer computer performs at least one of the analyzing or automatically determining steps;

subsequently selecting a second delivery option of the plurality of delivery options;

and causing the distribution network to stream at least a portion of the particular content object in accordance with the second delivery option, wherein;

the subsequently selecting the second delivery option occurs after the selecting the delivery option, and

the subsequently selecting the second delivery option is based on the financial delivery quote.

10. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with a distribution network as recited in claim 9, wherein causing the distribution network to stream the particular content object to the intended receiver in accordance with the selected delivery option comprises:

determining a URI that allows the intended receiver to request the particular content object from the distribution network; and

sending the URI to the intended receiver in response to the request.

11. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with a distribution network as recited in claim 9, wherein the selecting step is affected by an IP address of the intended receiver of the particular content object.

12. The method for dynamically coordinating electronic streaming of the particular content object with a distribution network as recited in claim 9, wherein the selecting step is autonomously performed by the distribution network without consulting the content provider after the sending the delivery request.

13. A distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from a content provider to a recipient computer, the distribution network comprising:

a dynamic pricing engine that is coupled to a first web location, wherein;

the first web location allows the recipient computer to order a particular content object to be streamed via the distribution network,

the first web location is associated with the content provider, and

a financial delivery quote is solicited by the first web location for streaming at least part of the particular content object one or more times via the distribution network; and

a second web location, selected from a plurality of web locations, that electronically streams at least a portion of the particular content object to the recipient computer, wherein;

the second web location and the plurality of web locations are is associated with the dynamic pricing engine,

the dynamic pricing engine automatically produces the financial delivery quote,

the second web location is selected based on the financial delivery quote, and

the financial delivery quote is based on an anticipated quality of service and the particular content object.

14. The distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from the content provider to the recipient computer as recited in claim 13, wherein:

the dynamic pricing engine automatically produces a first financial delivery quote for electronic streaming of the particular content object to a first recipient system,

the dynamic pricing engine automatically produces a second financial delivery quote for electronic streaming of the particular content object to a second recipient system,

the first financial delivery quote is different from the second financial delivery quote, and

the first financial delivery quote is valid for a same time period as the second financial delivery quote.

15. The distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from the content provider to the recipient computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the dynamic pricing engine considers a location associated with an intended receiver.

16. The distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from the content provider to the recipient computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the dynamic pricing engine considers a bitrate for streaming the at least part of the particular content object.

17. The distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from the content provider to the recipient computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the dynamic pricing engine considers a latency for streaming the at least part of the particular content object.

18. The distribution network for electronically streaming content objects from the content provider to the recipient computer as recited in claim 13, further comprising a distribution clearinghouse coupled to a plurality of distribution networks, wherein the second web location is associated with one of the plurality of distribution networks.