Content delivery network stream server vignette distribution
First Claim
1. A method for streaming a content object over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN), which distributes a vignette of the content object to the end user system, the method comprising:
- receiving a URL request to stream the content object to the end user system;
assigning the URL request to an edge server within the CDN;
subsequent to receiving the URL request, determining a portion of the content object based, at least in part, on characteristics of the content object, wherein;
the determining the portion of the content object is performed in the application layer,the characteristics of the content object comprises at least one of storage space required, size of the content object or encoding format of the content object,the portion is less than all of the content object, andthe content object comprises the portion and a remainder;
retrieving the portion of the content object from a remote location;
storing the portion of the content object away from the remote location without storing the remainder unless subsequently requested;
accessing the portion by the edge server;
streaming the portion of the content object from the edge server to the end user system; and
delaying a request to retrieve the remainder of the content object for loading on the edge server until after streaming the portion of the content object to the end user system, wherein;
delaying the request to retrieve the remainder of the content object is performed in the application layer; and
the edge server avoids loading the remainder of the content object should streaming the portion to the end user system cease during playback of the portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for delivering content objects over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN) is disclosed. The system and method allow for dynamically storing and distributing a portion of content streams. When a content object is requested by an end user media player, the request is assigned to an edge server within the CDN. Characteristics of the content object are used to determine the portion of the content object where the portion is less than all of the requested content. The portion of content object is then retrieved from the content and is stored within the CDN. The portion of requested content is streamed to the end user media player. Ultimately, the whole content is streamed to the end user media player if the remainder of content is requested by the end user media player.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for streaming a content object over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN), which distributes a vignette of the content object to the end user system, the method comprising:
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receiving a URL request to stream the content object to the end user system; assigning the URL request to an edge server within the CDN; subsequent to receiving the URL request, determining a portion of the content object based, at least in part, on characteristics of the content object, wherein; the determining the portion of the content object is performed in the application layer, the characteristics of the content object comprises at least one of storage space required, size of the content object or encoding format of the content object, the portion is less than all of the content object, and the content object comprises the portion and a remainder; retrieving the portion of the content object from a remote location; storing the portion of the content object away from the remote location without storing the remainder unless subsequently requested; accessing the portion by the edge server; streaming the portion of the content object from the edge server to the end user system; and delaying a request to retrieve the remainder of the content object for loading on the edge server until after streaming the portion of the content object to the end user system, wherein; delaying the request to retrieve the remainder of the content object is performed in the application layer; and the edge server avoids loading the remainder of the content object should streaming the portion to the end user system cease during playback of the portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A content delivery network (CDN) for streaming a content object over the Internet to an end user system, the CDN comprising:
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a content object request function that receives a URL request for streaming the content object to the end user system; an edge server selection function that assigns the URL request to an edge server for streaming content to the end user system; a stream-request function, wherein the stream-request function; subsequent to the content object request function receiving the URL request, determines the portion of the content object based, at least in part, on characteristics of the content object, wherein; the determining the portion of the content object is performed in the application layer, the characteristics of content object comprises at least one of storage space required, size of the content object or encoding format of the content object, the portion is less than all of the content object, and the content object comprises the portion and a remainder; retrieves the portion of the content object from a remote location; stores the portion of the content object away from the remote location without storing the remainder unless requested after the portion of the content object is streamed to the end user system; accesses the portion by the edge server; delays a request to retrieve the remainder of the content object, wherein delay of the request to retrieve the remainder of the content object is performed in the application layer; and upon receiving a second request, retrieves the remainder of the content object from the remote location, wherein the edge server avoids loading the remainder of the content object should streaming the portion to the end user system cease during playback of the portion; and a streaming function that streams the portion of the content object from the edge server to the end user system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for delivering at least a portion of a content object over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN), which distributes the portion of the content object to the end user system, the method comprising:
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receiving a URL request to deliver the content object to the end user system; assigning the URL request to an edge server within the CDN; subsequent to receiving the URL request, determining a portion of the content object based, at least in part, on characteristics of the content object, wherein; the determining the portion of the content object is performed in the application layer, the characteristics of content object comprises at least one of storage space required, size of the content object or encoding format of the content object, the portion is less than all of the content object, and the content object comprises the portion and a remainder; retrieving the portion of the content object from a remote location; storing the portion of the content object away from the remote location without storing the remainder unless subsequently requested after the portion of the content object is streamed to the end user system; accessing the portion by the edge server; delivering the portion of the content object from the edge server to the end user system; and delaying a request to retrieve the remainder of the content object, wherein; delaying the request to retrieve the remainder of the content object is performed in the application layer; and the edge server avoids loading the remainder of the content object should delivery of the portion to the end user system cease during playback of the portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification