Patent ID: 8351452
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a network node to distribute media across an IP network, the network node having multicast and peer-to-peer ingress interfaces, and unicast and peer-to-peer egress interfaces, the method comprising: at the network node, for each content of a plurality of contents, selecting one of a multicast and peer-to-peer ingress interface and receiving media packets representing the each content at the selected interface; for a given media packet received at the network node, determining whether information conveyed in the given media packet includes a copyright licensing restriction prohibiting a media type carried by the given media packet from being cached at the network node, and caching the given media packet if permitted; at the network node, receiving a request for a given content of the plurality of contents from one or more further network nodes; and at the network node, selecting one of a unicast and peer-to-peer egress interface and forwarding media packets representing the given content to the one or more further network nodes over the selected interface; wherein when forwarding media packets representing the given content, if media packets representing the given content were cached, the cached media packets are transmitted to the one or more further network nodes; and wherein media packets received at an ingress interface that uses a first media distribution mechanism are forwarded over an egress interface that uses the first or a different, second media distribution mechanism.