US 7,584,285 B2Granted

Centralized selection of peers as media data sources in a dispersed peer network

OwnerMichael D. Hudson, Brian L. Windheim +4inventors

InventorsMichael D. Hudson, Brian L. Windheim, Darren L. Stewart, Sudhir Menon, Mark W. Goschie, Glen Curtis Shipley

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Abstract

A hierarchical content distribution system includes a seeding server, a plurality of geographically distributed content platforms, and a distribution controller, all interconnected by a communications network. The seeding server initially receives content files for distribution to various content platforms that provide for the persistent storage of the content files. Each content platform includes a content file server responsive on-demand to requests for the transfer of content files. The distribution controller autonomously monitors the transfers of content files and selectively issues transfer directives to the content platforms to modify the distribution of content files among the content platforms. The content file servers respond to received transfer directives by issuing requests for the transfer of the directive identified content files, thereby conforming the specific distribution of content files to an optimal distribution pattern as determined by the distribution controller based on usage patterns.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of distributing content segments of content units throughout a content delivery network, including end-user content-storing client peer nodes and end-user content-requesting client peer nodes interconnected by a wide area communications network, comprising:

a) analyzing requests for content to identify a distribution pattern of content demand between the end-user content-storing client peer nodes and end-user content-requesting client peer nodes;
b) determining a redundant distribution of content segments of a content unit among the end-user content-storing client peer nodes corresponding to the distribution pattern of content demand, wherein the redundant distribution is determined subject to the storage and content transfer capabilities of end-user content-storing client peer nodes relative to end-user content-requesting client peer nodes;
c) directing a copying of content between end-user content-storing client peer nodes to establish a predetermined correspondence between the redundant distribution of content and the distribution pattern of content demand;
and
d) enabling, in response to a request for a content unit from a first end-user content-requesting client peer node, transfer of a first content segment of the requested content unit from a first end-user content-storing client peer node and a second content segment of the requested content unit from a second end-user content-storing client peer node.

2 more elements

A method of distributing content segments of content units throughout a content delivery network, including content-storing end-user client peer nodes and content-requesting end-user client peer nodes interconnected by a wide area communications network, comprising:

a) first providing for the storage of content segments by a plurality of content-storing nodes;
b) second providing for the redistribution of content segments, including redundant content copies of segments, among the plurality of content-storing nodes;
c) monitoring the demand for identified content units by end-user content-requesting peer nodes to provide a demand history and the content transfer performance of end-user content-storing peer nodes relative to end-user content-requesting peer nodes to provide a performance history;
d) determining, responsive to the demand history and the performance history, a redistribution pattern for content segments, including redundant copies of segments, within the content delivery network;
e) directing the redistribution of content segments, including redundant copies of segments, between end-user client peer nodes within said network toward conformance with the redistribution pattern;
and
f) wherein, in response to a request for a content unit from a first end-user content-requesting client peer node, a first content segment of the requested content unit is transferred from a first end-user content-storing client peer node and a second content segment of the requested content unit is transferred from a second end-user content-storing client peer node.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/349,622Filed 23 Jan 2003 · continuation
Priority: 26 Apr 2002
Published: US 2003/0204602 A130 Oct 2003
Granted: 1 Sep 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

D01F 6/625
From polyesters: derived from hydroxy-carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones
D01D 5/423
By cutting films into narrow ribbons or filaments or by fibrillation of films or filaments: by fibrillation of films or filaments
H04L 67/06
Protocols: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
H04L 67/10
Protocols: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network