Methods and apparatus for content delivery and replacement in a network
US10863220B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 2019 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/6405
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing an alternate content delivery mechanism available to content-based network users. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and subscribers are able to retrieve requested content from one or more other subscriber's storage medium and without going outside the cable network (or accessing the network core in any significant capacity) using a peer-to-peer (P2P) network protocol. Using this approach, bandwidth consumption is advantageously pushed out to the edge of the network from the core, also obviating content requests outside the network (e.g., to third-party servers on the Internet). Methods of operating the aforementioned P2P network, and various business paradigms relating thereto, are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.