Method of data management for efficiently storing and retrieving data to respond to user access requests

• US 7,882,260 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Lerman, Jesse S., Goode, Christopher W. B., Taylor, Clement G., Chin, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US11/168,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,045 Days
• Field of Search: 709/236, 709/223, 709/224, 709/203, 725/56, 725/60, 725/61
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1662 the resynchronized component or unit being a persistent storage device re-synchronization of failed mirror storage G06F11/2082; rebuild or reconstruction of parity RAID storage G06F11/1008
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1727 Details of free space management performed by the file system saving storage space on storage systems G06F3/0608; management of blocks in storage devices G06F3/064
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1012 Load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0649 Lifecycle management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5016 the resource being the memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• 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 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23116 involving data replication, e.g. over plural servers synchronization of replicated data G06F11/1658; error detection or correction by means of data replication G06F11/2053; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/10; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/27; replication or mirroring of data in data networks H04L67/1095
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/438 : Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method of data management for efficiently storing and retrieving data in response to user access requests. The method includes receiving a request from at least one client for a title not resident in a storage server, where the title includes a play track having a plurality of chapters. The retrieval from a secondary storage device of play track portions proximate chapter delineation points is initiated, and bandwidth capacity and quality-of-service (QoS) parameters associated with the secondary storage device is determined. In the case of a client request to begin presentation of the title at one of the chapters, streaming of retrieved portions of the play track chapter to the client is initiated, masking latency associated with the secondary storage device is provided, and retrieval of at least unretrieved portions of the play track chapter and subsequent play track portions from the secondary storage device is initiated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

for a first publication of a product of a plurality of products, storing in a storage device promotional information associated with the product;

storing in the storage device elements of the plurality of products determined to be accessed more frequently based on user access patterns; and

deleting a portion of a play track of one of the plurality of products from the storage device determined to be accessed less frequently based on the user access patterns, wherein the deleted portion is determined as not being bookmarked or proximate to entry points of the play track.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises a movie, a package of movies or a subscription.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first publication comprises a communication to one or more application servers that the product is available for presentation to users, elements of the product being configured for presentation to the users via user interfaces.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements of the plurality of products include one or more of a play track, a fast play track, a fast reverse track, navigation related assets and promotional videos.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is associated with at least one title comprising a viewable entity having an associated respective group of assets including one or more of a play track, a preview track, a fast forward track, a fast rewind track and a still image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for the first publication of the product, storing in the storage device meta data associated with the product, wherein the meta data comprises one or more of product description, product rights, a product price, product discount rules, still images, moving images, preview tracks, HTML links, title descriptions, MPAA ratings, and product information configured for interactive presentation within a client.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the storage device at least a portion of at least one trick play track associated with said product.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

iteratively determining a remaining capacity of the storage device; and

adapting product information stored on the storage device in response to the frequency of product viewing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is the end of the play track.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements of the plurality of products are leader tracks of a movie.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the promotional information of the product and the elements of the plurality of products from a secondary storage device to a server for storing in the storage device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a controller configured to;

for a first publication of a product of a plurality of products, store in the storage device promotional information associated with the product;

store in the storage device elements of the plurality of products determined to be accessed more frequently based on user access patterns; and

delete a portion of a play track of one of the plurality of products from the storage device determined to be accessed less frequently based on the user access patterns, wherein the deleted portion is determined as not being bookmarked or proximate to entry points of the play track.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the product comprises a movie, a package of movies or a subscription.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first publication comprises a communication to one or more application servers that the product is available for presentation to users, elements of the product being configured for presentation to the users via user interfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elements of the plurality of products include one or more of a play track, a fast play track, a fast reverse track, navigation related assets and promotional videos.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the product is associated with at least one title comprising a viewable entity having an associated respective group of assets including one or more of a play track, a preview track, a fast forward track, a fast rewind track and a still image.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

for the first publication of the product, store in the storage device meta data associated with the product, wherein the meta data comprises one or more of product description, product rights, a product price, product discount rules, still images, moving images, preview tracks, HTML links, title descriptions, MPAA ratings, and product information configured for interactive presentation within a client.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

store in the storage device at least a portion of at least one trick play track associated with said product.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

iteratively determine a remaining capacity of the storage device; and

adapt product information stored on the storage device in response to the frequency of product viewing.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the portion is the end of the play track.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elements of the plurality of products are leader tracks of a movie.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a secondary storage device, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve the promotional information of the product and the elements of the plurality of products from the secondary storage device.