Multi-source bridge content distribution system and method
First Claim
1. A method of distributing content from a plurality of different content providers to subscriber devices, comprising:
- receiving and storing content files from a plurality of different content providers at a multi-source data center, including storing associated data for each content file, the associated data comprising file content meta-data and content preference settings associated with the content provider of each content file at the multi-source data center;
connecting the multi-source data center to a plurality of multi-source content distribution providers over a multi-source distribution network, each multi-source content distribution provider associated with a selected group of subscriber devices for connection with the subscriber devices over at least one second network;
connecting at least one multi-source content distribution provider to a selected subscriber device in the associated group over the second network;
receiving a request for at least one content file from the subscriber device;
when the request for the content file is received from the subscriber device, comparing the content preference settings of the content provider of the requested content file with the distribution preference settings of the local content distribution provider and comparing the subscriber preference settings of the requesting subscriber device with the content meta-data of the requested file; and
providing the content of at least one requested content file from the multi-source data center to the selected subscriber device through the content distribution provider associated with the subscriber device only if a predetermined match is found between the content preference settings and distribution preference settings, and between the content meta-data and subscriber preference settings.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-source bridge content distribution system links multiple content owners with access network operators or content distribution providers leasing space on access networks so that multi-media content can be provided from multiple content owners to consumers through a multi-source bridge or data center. Content files and associated content owner preference settings are provided from a plurality of content sources or providers to the multi-source data center. Files stored at the data center or locally at an access network are provided to subscribers through the local access network Content files are provided if the content owner preference settings are a sufficient match with service provider access network preference settings set up by the service provider using the access network to provide content to subscribers.
162 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of distributing content from a plurality of different content providers to subscriber devices, comprising:
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receiving and storing content files from a plurality of different content providers at a multi-source data center, including storing associated data for each content file, the associated data comprising file content meta-data and content preference settings associated with the content provider of each content file at the multi-source data center; connecting the multi-source data center to a plurality of multi-source content distribution providers over a multi-source distribution network, each multi-source content distribution provider associated with a selected group of subscriber devices for connection with the subscriber devices over at least one second network; connecting at least one multi-source content distribution provider to a selected subscriber device in the associated group over the second network; receiving a request for at least one content file from the subscriber device; when the request for the content file is received from the subscriber device, comparing the content preference settings of the content provider of the requested content file with the distribution preference settings of the local content distribution provider and comparing the subscriber preference settings of the requesting subscriber device with the content meta-data of the requested file; and providing the content of at least one requested content file from the multi-source data center to the selected subscriber device through the content distribution provider associated with the subscriber device only if a predetermined match is found between the content preference settings and distribution preference settings, and between the content meta-data and subscriber preference settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A multi-source bridge content distribution system, comprising:
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a plurality of multi-source content distribution providers each associated with a different group of subscribers for providing content to subscriber devices, each content distribution provider having a network for distributing content to the subscriber devices of the respective subscriber group, each multi-source content distribution provider having a distribution preference module containing distribution preference settings established by the multi-source content distribution provider; a multi-source data center having a first communication module configured to communicate with a plurality of content providers, a data storage module associated with the first communication module for receiving and storing content files from the content providers, a second communication module configured to provide requested content files to the content distribution providers, and a control module configured to process content files for storage in the data storage module and to operate the communication modules to receive and distribute content files, the control module being configured to associate each content file stored in the data storage module with content preference settings of the content source including file content meta-data; a multi-source network linking the multi-source data center to the multi-source content distribution providers, whereby content from a plurality of different content providers can be provided from the multi-source data center to any subscriber device through the associated multi-source content distribution provider and network; and a preference control module configured to receive subscriber preference settings of a subscriber requesting a content file, and when a content file request is received, to compare the content preference settings of the content source of the requested content file with the distribution preference settings of the local content distribution provider of the requesting subscriber and to compare the subscriber preference settings of the requesting subscriber with the file content meta-data, and to control the second communication module to provide the content of a selected content file from the multi-source data center to a requesting subscriber through the local content distribution provider of the requesting subscriber only if a predetermined match is found between the content preference settings and the distribution preference settings and between the subscriber preference settings and the meta-data of the selected content file. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification