Optimized broadband download for large content
First Claim
1. A method for transferring a file over a network comprising:
- segmenting the particular file into a plurality of file segments, each of which file segments has a predetermined block length;
selecting a plurality of channels over which to transmit the plurality of file segments; and
transmitting the plurality of file segments over the plurality of channels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for rapidly downloading large files over a broadband communications link to a user segments the file into multiple segments and assigns the segments to be transmitted over a plurality of in-band or out-of-band channels. The segments are then carouseled on the assigned channels. Optionally, the segmenting algorithm may optimize the download time based on: file size, unused bandwidth per multiplex, the number of available multiplexes, or channels most viewed during the download period. The optimization program can begin the download process employing all available channels. Subsequently, based on acknowledgements regarding maximum successfully received segments, the optimization program can then reallocate the unsent segments among these channels. When the receiver is tuned to a given channel that has associated with it one or more segments to be downloaded, the receiver starts downloading these segments as a background process, which continues until the download of the entire filed is complete, whether or not the channel is changed by a viewer.
70 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method for transferring a file over a network comprising:
-
segmenting the particular file into a plurality of file segments, each of which file segments has a predetermined block length;
selecting a plurality of channels over which to transmit the plurality of file segments; and
transmitting the plurality of file segments over the plurality of channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for transmitting a file to a user over a broadband communications network including a plurality of channels being transmitted to the user and at least one return channel from the user comprising:
-
segmenting the file into a plurality of N segments;
carouselling the plurality of N segments on a plurality of N channels; and
optimizing the download time based on file size, unused bandwidth per multiplex, and a number of available multiplexes or channels most viewed during a download period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for transferring a file to one or more users over a communications link that includes at least a plurality of channels each of which is embedded in a broadcast channel, comprising:
-
creating a plurality of file segments from the file;
transmitting the plurality of file segments over the plurality of channels independently of each other; and
reconstructing the file from the plurality of file segments received by a receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An apparatus for transferring a file over a network comprising:
-
a processor segmenting the particular file into a plurality of file segments, each of which file segments has a predetermined block length, said processor selecting a plurality of channels over which to transmit the plurality of file segments; and
a transmitter transmitting the plurality of file segments over the plurality of channels. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. An apparatus for transmitting a file to a user over a broadband communications network including a plurality of channels being transmitted to the user and at least one return channel from the user, said apparatus comprising:
-
a processor segmenting the file into a plurality of N segments; and
a transmitter carouselling the plurality of N segments on a plurality of N channels, wherein said processor optimizes a download time based on file size, unused bandwidth per multiplex, and a number of available multiplexes or channels most viewed during a download period. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An apparatus for interacting with a first processor transmitting a file to a user over a broadband communications network including a plurality of channels being transmitted to the user and at least one return channel from the user, said apparatus comprising:
-
a receiver receiving a plurality of file segments on the plurality of channels and constructing the file from the received file segments;
a second processor tracking the received file segments to determine a reception pattern and a channel on which each file segment was received; and
a transmitter coupled to the processor and forwarding the reception pattern to the first processor over the at least one return channel. - View Dependent Claims (32)
-
-
33. A method for interacting with a first processor transmitting a file to a user over a broadband communications network including a plurality of channels being transmitted to the user and at least one return channel from the user, said method comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of file segments on the plurality of channels;
constructing the file from the received file segments;
tracking the received file segments to determine a reception pattern and a channel on which each file segment was received; and
forwarding the reception pattern to the first processor.
-
Specification