Efficient method for rule-based distribution and management of content in a distributed hierarchy of storage devices

• US 6,772,209 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dettori, Paolo, Seidman, David I., Chernock, Richard S., Schaffa, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Halim, Sahera
• Application Number:
  US09/544,625
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/226, 709/223, 709/245, 709/246, 709/214, 709/204, 709/205, 709/213, 711/114
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

For a network with a distributed hierarchical broadcast architecture, a method for efficiently and reliably distributing data content and remotely managing the storage of content. Both the distribution and the storage management methods are rule-based, utilizing network resources in an efficient manner. Simple and reliable mechanisms are provided for ensuring both data integrity and control over storage utilization. At each stage throughout the network hierarchy, content is distributed to nodes in the subsequent stage based on rules. The rules may be modified at each stage. Only one device in the hierarchy is required to maintain detailed information of the storage characteristics of storage devices and content therein in stages which are subsequent to it in the network. The recipient device owner specifies a set of preferences which may be used for local filtering, or which the owning (or other) entity may use to select data which targets the client'"'"'s interests. The downloaded data may be presented to the client in the form of an interactive application, video, audio, still image, or other format.

Claims

1. A method for the reliable distribution of content, from a source node to storage at a recipient node in a distributed storage network comprising a plurality of nodes comprising the source node, at least one recipient node, and a plurality of intermediate nodes disposed between said source node and said recipient node, said method comprising the steps of:

said source node generating control information regarding said content, said control information comprising access information;

said source node assembling at least one packet comprising said content and said control information and addressing information only for a first proximate node, which first proximate node is an intermediate node that is proximate to said source node and is a node other than the recipient node;

said source node transmitting the at least one packet to the first proximate node; and

said first proximate node directing the at least one packet to the recipient node via at least one additional intermediate nodes,

wherein each intermediate node stores device characteristics about each node to which it is proximate and wherein said directing is based on said stored device characteristics and said control information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said access information specifies which of said plurality of nodes can modify said content and further comprising at least one of the first proximate node and the at least one additional intermediate node modifying said content.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said access information specifies which of said plurality of nodes can modify said addressing information and further comprising at least one of the first proximate node and the at least one additional intermediate node modifying said addressing information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said access information specifies which of said plurality of nodes can modify said access information and further comprising at least one of the first proximate node and the at least one additional intermediate node modifying said access information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said control information additionally comprises disposition information.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said access information specifies which of said plurality of nodes can modify said disposition information and further comprising at least one of the first proximate node and the at least one additional intermediate node modifying said disposition information.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said disposition information specifies local addressing information for the storage of said content at said recipient node.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said disposition information specifies display information for said content at said recipient node.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said disposition information specifies the schedule for handling said content at said recipient node.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein said disposition information comprises pre-emption information regarding the storage and display of said content in relation to other content at said recipient node.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising said source node negotiating with at least one of said plurality of nodes to obtain storage for said content.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said negotiating is performed by an application at said source node.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said negotiating is performed for said source node by an application running on one of said plurality of nodes.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said negotiating comprises locating storage space and obtaining access to said storage space.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of nodes maintains storage information including storage expiration time of content stored therein and further comprising locating storage space using said storage information.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said locating comprises contacting a plurality of nodes and wherein at least one application running on the each of the plurality of nodes determines if said storage is available.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said negotiating is performed by at least one application on at least one of said plurality of nodes.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said access information specifies user access at said recipient node to said content.

19. A distributed system for management, distribution, and storage of content comprising:

a source node which initiates sending of content for storage;

a plurality of end nodes each having a plurality of storage locations;

a plurality of intermediate nodes disposed between said source node and said end nodes, each intermediate node storing device characteristics about every node proximate to the intermediate node;

at least one owning node having control of at least one of the plurality of storage locations at one of the plurality of end nodes, said owning node comprising one of an end node and an intermediate node; and

wherein said at least one source node is adapted for generating control information regarding said content and for distributing packets comprising said control information and said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information for at least one intermediate node.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said intermediate nodes are adapted to route said content toward at least one of said plurality of end nodes by changing the addressing information of said content based on said stored device characteristics.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said intermediate nodes are adapted to utilize said control information for routing said content toward at least one of said plurality of end nodes.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said intermediate nodes are adapted to modify said control information.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said intermediate nodes are adapted to modify said content.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said source node is adapted to negotiate with said at least one owning node for access to at least one of said plurality of storage locations.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one intermediate node other than the owning node is adapted to negotiate with said at least one owning node for said source node to obtain access to at least one of said plurality of storage locations.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein said plurality of intermediate nodes comprise a plurality of proximate nodes each located proximate to an end node and being adapted to communicate with said at least one owning node and to manage storage at said end node.

27. A distributed storage management system for the reliable distribution and storage of content according to storage management information comprising:

a plurality of end nodes each having a plurality of storage locations for storing said content;

at least one owning node having control of at least one of the plurality of storage locations at one of the plurality of end nodes;

at least one source node for distributing said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information and wherein said at least one source node is additionally adapted for generating control information regarding said content; and

a plurality of intermediate nodes located between said source and said end nodes, each of said intermediate nodes having local memory for storing a portion of said management information and being adapted to modify at least one of said control and said addressing information based on said portion of management information to effect routing of said content for storage,

wherein said at least one source node is adapted for distributing packets comprising said control information and said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information for at least one intermediate node.

28. A method for the reliable distribution of content, from a source node to storage at a recipient node in a network comprising a plurality of nodes comprising the source node, at least one recipient node, and a plurality of intermediate nodes disposed between said source node and said recipient node, wherein each of said plurality of nodes stores a portion of distributed storage management information, said method comprising the steps of:

said source node generating control information regarding said content, said control information comprising access information;

said source node assembling at least one packet comprising said content and said control information and addressing information only for a first proximate node, which first proximate node is an intermediate node that is proximate to said source node and is a node other than the recipient node;

said source node transmitting the at least one packet to the first proximate node;

said first proximate node directing the at least one packet to the recipient node via at least one intermediate node; and

said at least one intermediate node modifying at least one of said addressing information and said control information based on said portion of said distributed storage management information.