System and method of minimizing network bandwidth retrieved from an external network
AssigneeDISH Technologies L.L.C.
InventorsMark B. Hurst, Loren Larsen, David S. Anderson, Lei Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided of minimizing network bandwidth used from an external network by client peers in a local network. The method can include the operation of organizing a plurality of clients each having media streamlets and a client parent in a structure within the local network. Mapping information propagates through the structure. The mapping information represents local streamlet locations as stored by the plurality of clients. Another operation is retrieving a local streamlet from a client identified in the mapping information as having the local streamlet for the requesting client.
Claims19
An automated process executable by a client device operating as one of a plurality of local clients operating on a local network during streaming of a media stream made up of a series of media segments available from an external server via an external network, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the client device, segment mapping information from an other one of the plurality of clients via the local network, the segment mapping information describing a subset of the series of media segments representing at least a portion of the media stream that was previously requested from the external server via the external network for playback of the media stream by the other client and that is now available to the client device directly from the other client via the local network, wherein the segment mapping information identifies each media segment in the subset that is available directly from the other client via the local network;
- placing a request for a requested media segment from the client device directly to the other client via the local network using the segment mapping information;
- and
- receiving, in response to the request, the requested media segment directly from the other client via the local network to thereby allow the client device to present the requested media segment to a viewer.
A client device configured to operate as one of a plurality of clients in a local area network, the client device comprising a processor, memory and an interface to the local area network, wherein the client device is configured to obtain and playback a media stream made up of a series of media segments that are each made available from an external server via an external network by executing an automated process comprising:
- receiving, by the client device, segment mapping information from an other one of the plurality of clients via the network, the segment mapping information describing a subset of the series of media segments representing at least a portion of the media stream that was previously requested and received from the external server via the external network for playback of the media stream by the other client and that is now available to the client device directly from the other client, wherein the segment mapping information identifies each media segment in the subset that is available directly from the other client via the local area network;
- placing a request for a requested media segment from the client device directly to the other client via the local area network using the segment mapping information;
- and
- receiving, in response to the request, the requested media segment directly from the other client via the local area network to thereby allow the client device to present the requested media segment to a viewer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.