# US 2014/0157337 A1 · Multi-Stage Batching of Content Distribution in a Media Distribution System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157337 A1 - Document ID: US20140157337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/689,889 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Vijay Gopalakrishnan; Chamil Jayasundara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157337A1 ## CPC - H04L 67/568: Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04N 21/2225: Local VOD servers - H04N 21/262: Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists {(scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62)} - H04N 21/6405: Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)} - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method includes receiving, at a first level distribution node of a plurality of first level distribution nodes of a hierarchical media distribution system (HMDS), a request for a content item (associated with segments corresponding to a time order) from a first endpoint device. The method includes, in response to receiving the request, sending, from the first level distribution node, a first data stream corresponding to a first segment of the content item to the first endpoint device and sending first information (indicating the request and a first end time of the first data stream) to a second level distribution node of a plurality of second level distribution nodes of the HMDS. The method includes receiving, from the second level distribution node, a second data stream corresponding to a second segment before the first end time has been reached and sending the second data stream to the first endpoint device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, at a particular first level distribution node of a plurality of first level distribution nodes of a hierarchical media distribution system, a request for a content item from a first endpoint device of a plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the content item is associated with segments corresponding to a particular time order; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the particular first level distribution node, a first data stream corresponding to a first segment of the content item to the first endpoint device; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the first level distribution node, first information to a particular second level distribution node of a plurality of second level distribution nodes of the hierarchical media distribution system, wherein the first information indicates the request for the content item and a first end time corresponding to the first data stream; receiving, from the particular second level distribution node, a second data stream corresponding to a second segment of the content item before the first end time of the first data stream has been reached; and sending the second data stream to the first endpoint device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment is stored at the particular first level distribution node before the request is received. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein, before the request is received, the first segment is received at the particular first level distribution node from the second level distribution node via a multicast transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the content item is presented at the first endpoint device after receipt of at least a portion of the first segment from the particular first level distribution node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment corresponds to a first time period according to the particular time order and the second segment corresponds to a second time period in the particular time order, the second time period beginning immediately after the first time period ends. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the first information, the particular second level distribution node sends second information to a particular third level distribution node of the hierarchical media distribution system, wherein the particular third level distribution node is a parent node of the particular second level distribution node, wherein the second information indicates the request for the content item and a second end time of the second data stream, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, at the particular first level distribution node, a third data stream corresponding to a third segment of the content item before the second end time of the second data stream has been reached; and sending the third data stream to the first endpoint device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein, before the particular second level distribution node sends the second information, the particular second level distribution node determines whether the third segment is stored in a memory of the particular second level distribution node, and wherein the particular second level distribution node does not receive the third data stream from the particular third level distribution node when the third segment is stored in the memory of the particular second level distribution node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the third data stream is received via a multicast transmission, wherein the multicast transmission is also received by one or more other first level distribution nodes that are served by one or more of the plurality of second level distribution nodes, the one or more of the plurality of second level distribution nodes served by the particular third level distribution node, and wherein the particular third level distribution node received information indicating a particular request for the content item within particular timeframe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second data stream is received via a multicast transmission, wherein the multicast transmission is also received by one or more other first level distribution nodes that are served by the particular second level distribution node and that received a particular request for the content item within a particular timeframe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second data stream is received via a unicast transmission when no other first level distribution node served by the second level distribution node receives another request for the content item within a particular timeframe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of each of the segments corresponding to the particular time order for the content item is determined based on a water-filling algorithm, wherein the water-filling algorithm is performed based on adjusting a maximum size of one of the segments, where each of the segments are equal in size. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of each of the segments corresponding to the particular time order for the content item are determined based on a water-filling algorithm, wherein the water-filling algorithm accounts for expected viewer session length for the content item. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second segment is stored in a memory of the particular first level distribution node before sending the first information, wherein the particular first level node does not receive the second data stream from the particular second level distribution node when the second segment is stored in the memory. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising sending an alternate second stream to the first endpoint device when the second segment is stored in the memory, wherein the alternate second stream corresponds to the second segment stored in the memory. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second segment is stored at a cache of the first level distribution node after receipt from the particular second level distribution node and before the second data stream is sent to the first endpoint device. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a processor; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: receiving, at a particular first level distribution node of a plurality of first level distribution nodes of a hierarchical media distribution system, a request for a content item from a first endpoint device of a plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the content item is associated with segments corresponding to a particular time order; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the particular first level distribution node, a first data stream corresponding to a first segment of the content item to the first endpoint device; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the first level distribution node, first information to a particular second level distribution node of a plurality of second level distribution nodes of the hierarchical media distribution system, wherein the first information indicates the request for the content item and a first end time corresponding to the first data stream; receiving, from the particular second level distribution node, a second data stream corresponding to a second segment of the content item before the first end time of the first data stream has been reached; and sending the second data stream to the first endpoint device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first endpoint device is a first customer premises equipment device, the customer premises equipment including a residential gateway device or a media device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first level distribution node includes at least one digital subscriber line access multiplexer and wherein the second level distribution node includes at least one server of a central office, at least one server of a video hub office, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the hierarchical media distribution system includes an internet protocol television network. ### Claim 20 A computer-readable storage device including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: receiving, at a particular first level distribution node of a plurality of first level distribution nodes of a hierarchical media distribution system, a request for a content item from a first endpoint device of a plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the content item is associated with segments corresponding to a particular time order; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the particular first level distribution node, a first data stream corresponding to a first segment of the content item to the first endpoint device; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the first level distribution node, first information to a particular second level distribution node of a plurality of second level distribution nodes of the hierarchical media distribution system, wherein the first information indicates the request for the content item and a first end time corresponding to the first data stream; receiving, from the particular second level distribution node, a second data stream corresponding to a second segment of the content item before the first end time of the first data stream has been reached; and sending the second data stream to the first endpoint device.