Storage and distribution of segmented media data

• US 20040010613A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Wai-tian, Wee, Susie J., Apostolopoulos, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A method and system thereof for distributing media data are described. A media segment, selected from a plurality of media segments stored on another node, is received. The media segment includes a portion of an item of media content. The item of media content is segmented according to segmentation characteristics. The media segment is stored in lieu of storing the item of media content in its entirety. The media segment can be forwarded to other nodes.

Claims

1. A method for distributing media data, said method comprising:

receiving at a first node a first media segment selected from a plurality of media segments stored on a second node, said first media segment comprising a portion of an item of media content, said item of media content segmented according to segmentation characteristics; and

storing said first media segment in lieu of storing said item of media content in its entirety, wherein said first media segment can be forwarded to a third node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said segmentation characteristics comprise data characteristics of said item of media content, storage characteristics of said first node, and a predicted frequency of use of each portion of said item of media content.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forwarding said first media segment to said third node in response to a request for said first media segment.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said forwarding of said first media segment begins before said receiving of said first media segment at said first node is complete.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing selected other media segments.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

collecting information pertaining to use of said first media segment and said other media segments by other nodes.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing said information to a centralized node adapted to use said information to identify media segments to be stored by said first node.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting a second media segment from another node.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said second media segment comprises another portion of said item of media content.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said second media segment comprises a portion of a second item of content.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said requesting of said second media segment occurs such that said second media segment is available for forwarding when forwarding of said first media segment is completed.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said item of media content corresponds to a real-time event and wherein said first media segment is received in real time.

13. A system for distribution of media data, said system comprising:

a controller element;

a storage element coupled to said controller element and adapted to receive and store a first media segment selected from a plurality of media segments stored on a first device, said first media segment comprising a portion of an item of media content wherein said first media segment is stored by said storage element in lieu of storing said item of media content in its entirety, said item of media content segmented according to segmentation characteristics; and

a sending element coupled to said controller element and adapted to forward said first media segment to a second device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said segmentation characteristics comprise data characteristics of said item of media content, storage characteristics of said storage element, and a predicted frequency of use of each portion of said item of media content.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said sending element is adapted to stream said first media segment to said second device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first media segment is streamed to said second device before said first media segment is completely received by said storage element.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said storage element is adapted to store selected other media segments.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

an information register coupled to said controller element and adapted to receive information pertaining to use of said first media segment and said other media segments by other devices.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said information is used to identify media segments to be stored in said storage element.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein said controller element is adapted to request a second media segment from another device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said second media segment comprises another portion of said item of media content.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said second media segment comprises a portion of a second item of media content.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein a request for said second media segment occurs such that said second media segment is available for forwarding when forwarding of said first media segment is completed.

24. The system of claim 13 wherein said item of media content corresponds to a real-time event and wherein said first media segment is received in real time.

25. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method of distributing media data comprising:

receiving a first media segment selected from a plurality of media segments stored on a remote device, said first media segment comprising a portion of an item of media content, said item of media content segmented according to segmentation characteristics; and

storing said first media segment in a storage element in lieu of storing said item of media content in its entirety, wherein said first media segment can be sent to another device.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said segmentation characteristics comprise data characteristics of said item of media content, storage characteristics of said storage element, and a predicted frequency of use of each portion of said item of media content.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

sending said first media segment to another device in response to a request for said first media segment.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 27 wherein said sending of said first media segment starts before said receiving of said first media segment from said remote device is completed.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

storing selected other media segments.

30. The computer-usable medium of claim 29 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

compiling information regarding use of said first media segment and said other media segments by other devices.

31. The computer-usable medium of claim 30 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

sending said information to a centralized device that uses said information to identify media segments to be stored in said storage element.

32. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

receiving a second media segment from another device.

33. The computer-usable medium of claim 32 wherein said second media segment comprises another portion of said item of media content.

34. The computer-usable medium of claim 32 wherein said second media segment comprises a portion of a second item of media content.

35. The computer-usable medium of claim 32 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a computer system to perform said method comprising:

requesting said second media segment in time for said second media segment to be available for sending when sending of said first media segment is completed.

36. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said item of media content corresponds to a real-time event and wherein said first media segment is received in real time.