Decentralized media delivery network
OwnerWilliam Hayhurstinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A decentralized approach to delivering a media file to a requesting subscriber in a network of subscribers comprises the steps of segmenting the media file into a plurality of segments and distributing the segments of the media file among the network of subscribers, and responding to a request from the requesting subscriber by directing to that requesting subscriber al of the plurality of segments of the media file. All of the segments are assembled into the media file and displayed or stored by the requesting subscriber.
Claims13
A subscriber network for delivering a displayable, sequential media file that has a complete duration and that is requested by a requesting subscriber of a network of subscribers, comprising:
- a library storing the sequential media file as a plurality of segments, each segment having a duration less than the complete duration and comprising a discrete sequence of the sequential media file such that the assembly of all of the plurality of segments in sequential order is required for displaying the sequential media file;
- a distribution network connecting the library and the network of subscribers for distributing the plurality of segments of the media file among the network of subscribers for storage on respective units of the subscribers;
- and
- a server in communication with the network of subscribers and having a controller for responding to a request from a requesting subscriber by directing to that requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the sequential media file;
- and
- a requesting subscriber unit configured for sequentially assembling into the complete duration of the sequential media file all of the segments that are directed to the requesting subscriber and wherein the segments of the sequential media file are encrypted in a manner that prevents display of the complete duration of the sequential media file until all of the segments are sequentially assembled into the sequential media file.
A method of delivering a displayable, sequential media file that has a complete duration and that is requested by a requesting subscriber of a network of subscribers, comprising the steps of:
- segmenting the complete media file into a plurality of segments, each segment having a duration less than the complete duration and comprising a discrete sequence of the media file such that the assembly of all of the plurality of segments in sequential order is required for displaying the complete media file;
- encrypting the segments in a manner that prevents display of the complete duration of the sequential media file until all of the segments are sequentially assembled into the sequential media file;
- distributing the segments of the media file among the network of subscribers for storage on respective units of the subscribers;
- and
- responding to a request from the requesting subscriber by directing to that requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the media file;
- and sequentially assembling into the complete media file all of the segments that are directed to the requesting subscriber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.