Centralized selection of peers as media data sources in a dispersed peer network

• US 8,935,315 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hudson, Michael D., Windheim, Brian L., Stewart, Darin, Menon, Sudhir, Goschie, Mark W., Shipley, Glen Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US11/982,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,631 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231, 709/232, 709/238, 370/260, 707/7, 707/26
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/423 by fibrillation of films or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/625 derived from hydroxy-carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1076 Resource dissemination mechanisms or network resource keeping policies for optimal resource availability in the overlay network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A hierarchical content distribution system includes a seeding server, a plurality of geographically distributed content platforms, and a distribution controller, all interconnected by a communications network. The seeding server initially receives content files for distribution to various content platforms that provide for the persistent storage of the content files. Each content platform includes a content file server responsive on-demand to requests for the transfer of content files. The distribution controller autonomously monitors the transfers of content files and selectively issues transfer directives to the content platforms to modify the distribution of content files among the content platforms. The content file servers respond to received transfer directives by issuing requests for the transfer of the directive identified content files, thereby conforming the specific distribution of content files to an optimal distribution pattern as determined by the distribution controller based on usage patterns.

Claims

1. A content distribution system supporting the hierarchical storage and distribution of streaming media content, said content distribution system comprising:

a) a location database storing location identifiers for named content segments, said location database being generated and maintained by a mediation server wherein defined series of named content segments represent respective streaming media content files and wherein the location identifiers identify remote peer computers with persistent storage locations of respective ones of stored named content segments, said location identifiers comprising data for remote retrieval of the named content segments from the remote peer computers, the named content segments being redundantly stored among the remote peer computers; and

b) a control server, coupled to said location database and a communications network, said control server determining a distribution plan for said named content segments within a distributed storage network, wherein said distributed storage network includes a seeding server and a plurality of network computers interconnected by said communications network, wherein said seeding server and said network computers include segment caches for persisting pluralities of named content segments, and wherein named content segments are progressively transferred between said segment caches through said communications network in accordance with said distribution plan, said control server recording to said location database location identifiers for named content segments as transferred, said distribution plan maximizing the availability of the stored named content segments that are redundantly stored among the remote peer computers.

2. The content distribution system of claim 1 wherein the transfers of the named content segments between said segment caches are directed autonomously.

3. The content distribution system of claim 2 wherein said control server is responsive to cache management requests from respective network computers to provide respective control files selectively identifying sets of named content segments for transfer to said respective network computers in accordance with said distribution plan, said control files including sets of location identifiers corresponding to sets of named content segments, and wherein said respective network computers autonomously transfer named content segments to respectively associated segment caches.

4. The content distribution system of claim 3 wherein said control server, responsive to a content request received through said communications network for a predetermined streaming media content file, provides a manifest listing a predetermined series of named content segments corresponding to said predetermined streaming media content file, said manifest further listing location identifiers for said predetermined series, said series of named content segments being transferred from said segment caches corresponding to said listing of location identifiers through said communications network.

5. The content distribution system of claim 4 wherein said content request is received from a predetermined network computer and wherein said manifest is returned to said predetermined network computer.