Content storage and delivery systems and associated methods
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a content source configured toreceive a request for content from a first set-top box,transmit the requested content to the first set-top box, wherein the transmission of the requested content is initiated in response to the request received from the first set-top box,receive another request for the requested content from a second set-top box while the requested content is being transmitted to the first set-top box,identify, in response to the another request for the requested content from the second set-top box, a closest shared router in terms of network topology to the first set-top box and the second set-top box,instruct, subsequent to receiving the another request for the requested content and during the transmission of the requested content to the first set-top box, the closest shared router to duplicate a remaining portion of the requested content not yet transmitted to the first set-top box and transmit only the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes simultaneously, the remaining portion of the requested content being transmitted to both the first and second set-top boxes starting at a content boundary in the requested content, andtransmit a second portion of the requested content to the second set-top box via the closest shared router after completing transmission of the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes, the second portion of the requested content corresponding to a portion of the requested content before the content boundary in the requested content that is transmitted to the first set-top box before the another request is received from the second set-top box.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for the storage of content on a network and the delivery of content to subscriber locations. According to one system and method, content is delivered to a set-top box from a content source in the process of transmitting the same content to another set-top box. The content source instructs a shared router to duplicate the content such that the content is transmitted to the requesting set-top boxes substantially simultaneously. According to another system and method, a server and cache provide dynamic caching of content such that requests for content are satisfied from the cache if possible. If the requested content is not found in the cache, the content is requested from alternate source and added to the cache. Weight values associated with the stored files are updated such that the more frequently requested files are maintained in the cache.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
a content source configured to receive a request for content from a first set-top box, transmit the requested content to the first set-top box, wherein the transmission of the requested content is initiated in response to the request received from the first set-top box, receive another request for the requested content from a second set-top box while the requested content is being transmitted to the first set-top box, identify, in response to the another request for the requested content from the second set-top box, a closest shared router in terms of network topology to the first set-top box and the second set-top box, instruct, subsequent to receiving the another request for the requested content and during the transmission of the requested content to the first set-top box, the closest shared router to duplicate a remaining portion of the requested content not yet transmitted to the first set-top box and transmit only the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes simultaneously, the remaining portion of the requested content being transmitted to both the first and second set-top boxes starting at a content boundary in the requested content, and transmit a second portion of the requested content to the second set-top box via the closest shared router after completing transmission of the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes, the second portion of the requested content corresponding to a portion of the requested content before the content boundary in the requested content that is transmitted to the first set-top box before the another request is received from the second set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a content source, a request for content from a first set-top box; transmitting, by the content source, the requested content to the first set-top box, wherein the transmission of the requested content is initiated in response to the request received from the first set-top box; receiving, by the content source, another request for the requested content from a second set-top box while the requested content is being transmitted to the first set-top box; identifying, in response to the another request for the requested content from the second set-top box, a closest shared router in terms of network topology to the first set-top box and the second set-top box; instructing, by the content source subsequent to receiving the another request for the requested content and during the transmission of the requested content to the first set-top box, the closest shared router to duplicate a remaining portion of the requested content not yet transmitted to the first set-top box and transmit only the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes simultaneously, the remaining portion of the requested content being transmitted to both the first and second set-top boxes starting at a content boundary in the requested content; and transmitting, by the content source, a second portion of the requested content to the second set-top box via the closest shared router after completing transmission of the remaining portion of the requested content to both the first and second set-top boxes, the second portion of the requested content corresponding to a portion of the requested content before the content boundary in the requested content that is transmitted to the first set-top box before the another request is received from the second set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification