Communication system with hierarchical server structure
US5898456A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/23106
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication system (KS) with a hierarchical server structure is indicated for a demand service, which makes possible a suitable compliance with requests for services from users (U1 . . . UN). To that end, the communication system (KS), as viewed by the respective user (U1 . . . UN), is divided into a central (I) and a local (II) distance zone. Movies (A1 . . . A10) frequently requested by the users (U1 . . . UN) are stored in local servers (SL1 . . . SLN) and seldom requested movies (B1 . . . B100) are stored in central servers (SM). According to the invention, in case the local server (SL1) is unable to provide a movie (B2) requested by a user (U11 . . . U13), the central server SM or another local server (SL2 . . . SLN) complies with the request through a switched connection between the requesting user (U11 . . . U13) and the central server (SM), or the other local server (SL2 . . . SLN).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.