Method and apparatus for real-time parallel delivery of segments of a large payload file
US7076553B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/50
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A scalable content delivery network (SCDN) employs a parallel download mechanism to ensure that a demanded file is present at a station in time for user consumption. This mechanism is used in solving the content caching and storage problem for applications such as video-on-demand, which is commonly perceived as a tough problem in the industry. In the network, files are divided into smaller units called tracks according to the nature of data contained in each of them. Tracks are further divided into smaller equally sized units called block files. This division builds the foundation for parallel download. A sequence server provides a lock-free mechanism for multiple threads or processes to access data atomically. The sequence server allows clients to gain sequential access to data, or to find out whether the sequence has been violated so that they can retry their operation or take corrective action. Advantages of the invention include the ability to handle distribution of large files and process sequencing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.