Method and apparatus for defining, managing and distributing broadcast names

• US 6,643,707 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Booth, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/503,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/226, 709/238, 709/245, 709/246, 709/203, 709/230, 707/3, 707/10, 707/104, 370/352, 370/390, 370/392, 370/397, 370/409
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The Domain Name System (DNS), which has been used for mapping names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, is adapted to a broadcast environment, such as a broadband cable or satellite television network. A number of master files are stored on a broadcast name server that define zones of domains in a domain name space, which may include a television-related domain, with sub-domains for different service providers (e.g., ABC, HBO), and a cable domain, with sub-domains for applications, administrative functions and operating system-functions, e.g., at a set-top terminal. The television sub-domains may have their own sub-domains. For example, “ABC” may have the sub-domains “NEWS”, “WEATHER”, and “SPORTS.” The master files are used to form broadcast resource records, which include an identifier for broadcast services (e.g., “ABC”) or other data sources, and which are transmitted to end user terminal devices periodically, or in response to a query. The identifier identifies, e.g., an Internet Protocol address, a name, or a virtual channel that are associated with a broadcast or interactive service.

Claims

1. A method for providing a broadcast domain name system, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one master file at a broadcast domain name server to define at least one node within a broadcast domain name space;

wherein the node is provided in an associated zone of, and corresponds to, a domain within the broadcast domain name space;

wherein the domain has an associated domain name;

using the master file to form a broadcast resource record that designates at least one attribute of the node; and

transmitting a message comprising the broadcast resource record from the broadcast domain name server to a resolver to enable a user of the broadcast domain name system to resolve the domain name, said message being carried in a broadcast signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of nodes are provided in the broadcast domain name space; and

only one of the nodes represents a root node of the broadcast domain name space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of nodes are provided in the broadcast domain name space; and

at least one of the nodes represents a boundary between the associated zone and a lower level sub-zone thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the associated zone is a sub-zone of a higher-level zone in the broadcast domain name space.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the message is transmitted from the broadcast domain name server to the resolver on a predetermined schedule without input from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the message is transmitted from the broadcast domain name server to the resolver in response to a query from the resolver, which is responsive to a query from the user.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of:

utilizing at least one of a User Datagram Protocol Internet Protocol (UDP/IP), Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Protocol, and a Digicipher II (DCII) Protocol to transmit the message.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of:

utilizing at least one of a singlecast, multicast, or broadcast addressing scheme to transmit the message.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising the further steps of:

caching the broadcast resource record in the message that is transmitted by the broadcast domain name server in a cache associated with the resolver;

retrieving information from the cached broadcast resource record in response to a query from a user program associated with the user; and

forwarding the retrieved information to the user program to resolve the domain name.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of broadcast domain name servers are provided, each of which provides at least one of primary authoritative data, redundant authoritative data, and cached data for zones within the broadcast domain name space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

at least two of the broadcast domain name servers are arranged in a chained manner.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the node represents a top level domain within the broadcast domain name space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the top level domain comprises at least one of a TV, FM, AM, CABLE, COM, NET, ORG, EDU, GOV, and MIL domain.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of nodes are provided in the broadcast domain name space; and

only one of the nodes is a top node of the associated zone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

at least one broadcast resource record associated with the top node specifies a start of authority for the associated zone.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

at least one broadcast resource record associated with the top node specifies redundant name servers that are authoritative for the associated zone.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the attribute comprises at least one data source identifier that is associated with the node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source comprises at least one service.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one service is broadcast to an end user device that is associated with the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one service is requested by an end user device that is associated with the user via an interactive network.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one service comprises at least one of an audio, video, and data service.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by an address.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the address comprises at least one of an Internet Protocol address and a broadcast Internet Protocol address.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by a source identifier.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by a channel number.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by a virtual channel number.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by at least one of a broadcast directory and a broadcast file system.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by at least one of a text name and a text alias.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by an associated descriptor.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data source is identified by at least one of an associated frequency and a service number.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the message is transmitted from the broadcast domain name server to the resolver across a network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

the network comprises at least one of a broadband communication network, a cable network, a satellite network, a wireless network, an fiber optic network, a digital subscriber loop network, a local area network, a wide area network, and a metropolitan area network.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the broadcast domain name server and the resolver reside on a single device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the message is transmitted from the broadcast domain name server to the resolver using at least one of a data queue, a pipe, a shared memory, a socket, a buffer, and a file.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user resolves the domain name via at least one of a client terminal and a server.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the user resolves the domain name via a name server.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user resolves the domain name via a client terminal that comprises at least one of a subscriber terminal, a set-top box, and a personal computer.

38. A method for providing a broadcast domain name system, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a resolver, a message comprising a broadcast resource record from a broadcast domain name server; and

resolving a domain name of a domain within a broadcast domain name space for a user of the broadcast domain name system in accordance with the received message;

wherein;

the broadcast resource record designates at least one attribute of a node within the broadcast domain-name space, and is formed using a master file at the broadcast domain name server;

the node is provided in an associated zone of, and corresponds to, the domain; and

the message is carried in a broadcast signal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the message is received from the broadcast domain name server at the resolver on a predetermined schedule without input from the user.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the message is received from the broadcast domain name server at the resolver in response to a query from the resolver, which is responsive to a query from the user.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the message is received at the resolver utilizing at least one of a User Datagram Protocol Internet Protocol (UDP/IP), Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Protocol, and a Digicipher II (DCII) Protocol to transmit the message.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the message is received at the resolver utilizing at least one of a singlecast, multicast, or broadcast addressing scheme to transmit the message.

43. The method of claim 38, comprising the further steps of:

caching the broadcast resource record in the message that is received from the broadcast domain name server in a cache associated with the resolver;

retrieving information from the cached broadcast resource record in response to a query from a user program associated with the user; and

forwarding the retrieved information to the user program to resolve the domain name.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the message is received from the broadcast domain name server at the resolver via a network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the network comprises at least one of a broadband communication network, a cable network, a satellite network, a wireless network, an fiber optic network, a digital subscriber loop network, a local area network, a wide area network, and a metropolitan area network.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the broadcast domain name server and the resolver reside on a single device.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

the message is received from the broadcast domain name server at the resolver using at least one of a data queue, a pipe, a shared memory, a socket, a buffer, and a file.

48. An apparatus for providing a broadcast domain name system, comprising:

means for providing at least one master file at a broadcast domain name server to define at least one node within a broadcast domain name space;

wherein the node is provided in an associated zone of, and corresponds to, a domain within the broadcast domain name space;

wherein the domain has an associated domain name;

means for using the master file to form a broadcast resource record that designates at least one attribute of the node; and

means for transmitting a message comprising the broadcast resource record from the broadcast domain name server to a resolver to enable a user of the broadcast domain name system to resolve the domain name, said message being carried in a broadcast signal.

49. An apparatus for providing a broadcast domain name system, comprising:

means for receiving, at a resolver, a message comprising a broadcast resource record from a broadcast domain name server; and

means for resolving a domain name of a domain within a broadcast domain name space for a user of the broadcast domain name system in accordance with the received message;

wherein;

the broadcast resource record designates at least one attribute of a node within the broadcast domain name space, and is formed using a master file at the broadcast domain name server;

the node is provided in an associated zone of, and corresponds to, the domain; and

the message is carried in a broadcast signal.