Method and apparatus for transmitting files
AssigneeThe DIRECTV Group, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey L. Sharkey, Kenneth D. Seibert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and an article of manufacture provide the ability to transmit files/web content. Content files are gathered by a web caster application and the files are updated, fragmented, prepared, and scheduled for transmission. The web caster stores the files in an archive of prepared files and adds/updates a queue of files (sorted by date/time) that contain filenames of the files in the archive. A web player reads a file at the head of the queue and obtains the name and location of the archived file. The web player commands a transmission process to retrieve and transmit the appropriate file to a satellite for broadcasting to one or mote clients.
Claims24
A method of delivering web content files comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- maintaining the length of the queue in a length/time feedback file;
- reading the length of the queue from the length/time feedback file;
- updating the archive and queue based on the length of the queue;
- reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename.
A system for delivering web content files comprising:
- a web caster configured to:
- gather a web content file;
- prepare the web content file for transmission;
- store the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintain a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- read the length of the queue from the length/time feedback file;
- and
- update the archive and queue based on the length of the queue,
- a web player configured to:
- read a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmit the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename;
- and
- maintain the length of the queue in the length/time feedback file.
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer hardware device and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer hardware device to perform a method for delivering web content files, the method comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintaining a length of the queue in a length/time feedback file;
- reading the length of the queue from the length/time feedback file;
- updating the archive and queue based on the length of the queue;
- a web player reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename.
A method of delivering web content files comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- renaming and resetting a date/time stamp of the prepared web content file, wherein the maintaining comprises updating the queue with information relating to the renamed and date/time reset prepared web content file,
- reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename.
A method of delivering web content files comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename,
- generating a name for the queue comprising a prefix from a database and a fixed suffix that is uncommon;
- and
- providing said name for the queue to the web caster and a web player that is configured to perform the reading and transmitting steps.
A system for delivering web content files comprising:
- a web caster configured to:
- gather a web content file;
- prepare the web content file for transmission;
- store the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintain a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- a web player configured to:
- read a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmit the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename;
- rename the prepared web content file;
- and
- reset a date/time stamp of the prepared web content file;
- wherein the web caster is configured to maintain by updating the queue with information relating to the renamed and date/time reset prepared web content file.
A system for delivering web content files comprising:
- a web caster configured to:
- gather a web content file;
- prepare the web content file for transmission;
- store the prepared web content file in an archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- maintain a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive;
- a web player configured to:
- read a filename from a file in the queue;
- and
- transmit the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename;
- wherein a name for the queue comprises a prefix from a database and a fixed suffix that is uncommon, and said name for the queue is provided to the web caster and the web player.
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer hardware device and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer hardware device to perform a method for delivering web content files, the method comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- a web player reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename;
- renaming and resetting a date/time stamp of the prepared web content file;
- and
- wherein the maintaining comprises updating the queue with information relating to the renamed and date/time reset prepared web content file.
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer hardware device and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer hardware device to perform a method for delivering web content files, the method comprising:
- gathering a web content file in a web caster;
- preparing the web content file for transmission;
- storing the prepared web content file in an archive;
- maintaining a queue of files, wherein the files in the queue include filenames of the web content files in the archive of web content files ready for transmission to a satellite;
- a web player reading a filename from a file in the queue;
- transmitting the prepared web content file from the archive to the satellite wherein the prepared web content file is identified by the filename;
- generating a name for the queue comprising a prefix from a database and a fixed suffix that is uncommon;
- and
- providing said name for the queue to the web caster and the web player.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.