Content delivery to physically-proximate devices using a mesh-assisted cache
US10785293B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 11, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W4/70
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plurality of WiFi-enabled devices that are physically proximate to one another form an ad hoc mesh network, which is associated with an overlay network, such as a content delivery network. A typical WiFi device is a WiFi router that comprises addressable data storage, together with control software operative to configure the device seamlessly into the WiFi mesh network formed by the device and one or more physically-proximate devices. The addressable data storage across multiple such devices comprises a distributed or “mesh-assisted” cache that is managed by the overly network. The WiFi mesh network thus provides bandwidth that is leveraged by the overlay network to provide distribution of content, e.g., content that has been off-loaded for delivery (by content providers) to the CDN. Other devices that may be leveraged include set-top boxes and IPTV devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.