Method and apparatus for instant playback of a movie
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- categorizing, by a computer system, a library of titles into a first band and a second band, wherein first titles of the library of titles placed in the first band have a greater popularity than second titles of the library of titles placed in the second band;
dividing, by the computer system, each title in the library of titles into a header and a sequence of data blocks;
defining, by the computer system, segments from the sequence of data blocks;
distributing, by the computer system, the header of each title of the library of titles into each of a plurality of subscriber units;
distributing, by the computer system, at least one segment of each title of the first titles categorized in the first band to each of the plurality of subscriber units;
distributing, by the computer system, at least one segment of a portion of the second titles categorized in the second band to each subscriber unit in the plurality subscriber units;
determining (1) minimum uploading and downloading speeds in bits per second and (2) a required transmission rate in bits per second of a network associated with each of the plurality of subscriber units;
receiving, by the computer system, from a requesting subscriber unit within the plurality of subscriber units, a request for one title from the library of titles; and
transmitting, by the computer system, an instruction to the plurality of subscriber units to simultaneously transmit segments of the one title to the requesting subscriber unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and systems for classifying and segmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect, each title in a library of titles are divided into a header and a plurality of segments. Furthermore, a library of titles is categorized into a first band and a second band, based on popularity. Titles in the first band are more popular and segments of the titles are distributed to all subscriber units. Titles in the second band are less popular and only a percentage of the segments of titles in the second band are distributed to each subscriber unit. In some embodiments, each subscriber unit has segments of approximately five percent of titles in the second band. The header of each title is distributed to each subscriber unit. When a subscriber unit requests a title, an instruction is made to a set of subscriber units that have segments of the title to distribute the segments to the requesting subscriber unit. Other embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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categorizing, by a computer system, a library of titles into a first band and a second band, wherein first titles of the library of titles placed in the first band have a greater popularity than second titles of the library of titles placed in the second band; dividing, by the computer system, each title in the library of titles into a header and a sequence of data blocks; defining, by the computer system, segments from the sequence of data blocks; distributing, by the computer system, the header of each title of the library of titles into each of a plurality of subscriber units; distributing, by the computer system, at least one segment of each title of the first titles categorized in the first band to each of the plurality of subscriber units; distributing, by the computer system, at least one segment of a portion of the second titles categorized in the second band to each subscriber unit in the plurality subscriber units; determining (1) minimum uploading and downloading speeds in bits per second and (2) a required transmission rate in bits per second of a network associated with each of the plurality of subscriber units; receiving, by the computer system, from a requesting subscriber unit within the plurality of subscriber units, a request for one title from the library of titles; and transmitting, by the computer system, an instruction to the plurality of subscriber units to simultaneously transmit segments of the one title to the requesting subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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one or more processing modules; and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of; categorizing a library of titles into a first band and a second band, wherein first titles of the library of titles placed in the first band have a greater popularity than second titles of the library of titles placed in the second band; dividing each title in the library of titles into a header and a sequence of data blocks; defining segments from the sequence of data blocks; distributing the header of each title of the library of titles into each of a plurality of subscriber units; distributing at least one segment of each title of the first titles categorized in the first band to each of the plurality of subscriber units; distributing one segment of a portion of the second titles categorized in the second band to each of the plurality of subscriber units; determining (1) minimum uploading and downloading speeds in bits per second and (2) a required transmission rate in bits per second of a network associated with each of the plurality of subscriber units; receiving, from a requesting subscriber unit within the plurality of subscriber units, a request for one title from the library of titles; and transmitting an instruction to the plurality of subscriber units to simultaneously transmit segments of the one title to the requesting subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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determining a number of bands for a library of titles; classifying titles in the library of titles into one of the number of bands; determining a number of segments for the titles in each of the number of bands, the number of segments comprising interleaved non-consecutive data blocks from a sequence of data blocks for each title in the library of titles; determining (1) minimum uploading and downloading speeds in bits per second and (2) a required transmission rate in bits per second of a network associated with each of a plurality of subscriber boxes; and determining which subscriber box within the plurality of subscriber boxes to cache no segments of the number of segments or at least one segment of the number of segments for each title in the library of titles in accordance with a scheme. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification