Method and apparatus for assembling portions of a data file received from multiple devices
US7810647B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/8456
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
To facilitate instant playback of an ordered title (e.g., a movie), a file pertaining to the title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title. Should one of the boxes fails to deliver the segment according to a certain requirement (e.g., a lower transmission rate), the box gets immediately replaced by a substitute machine that continues to supply the segment from where it was stopped.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.