Patent ID: 7487526
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for object retransmission without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor system, the method comprising: transmitting a plurality of objects from a central site to each of a plurality of receivers in a zone, none of the plurality of receivers in the zone maintaining a continuous network connection to the central site, wherein the plurality of objects comprises a plurality of asset files and a plurality of system support files, the plurality of asset files comprising a plurality of media files and the plurality of system support files comprising an upcoming playlist, and further wherein each of the plurality of receivers contacts the central site at regularly scheduled call back times, the time period between successive call back times being a receiver time window for the respective receiver; receiving a response document at the central site from each of the plurality of receivers in the zone, the response document having been asynchronously transmitted from the respective receiver to the central site, wherein each response document comprises a Missing Asset List and a Delivered File Log, each Missing Asset List comprising one or more asset files included in the upcoming playlist and missing from an inventory of asset files at the respective receiver, and each Delivered File Log comprising one or more of the plurality of objects received by the respective receiver and a received time for each of the one or more received objects, wherein each received time is within the receiver time window for the respective receiver; determining which of the plurality of objects to retransmit to each of the plurality of receivers in the zone based upon the response documents received from the plurality of receivers in the zone, wherein the determining comprises analyzing the Missing Asset List received from each of the plurality of receivers, and compiling a list of all asset files missing from the plurality of receivers in the zone, and wherein the determining further comprises calculating a zone time window, the zone time window being a period of time beginning when a prior zone time window ended and ending when a first receiver in the zone contacts the central site, analyzing the Delivered File Log received from each of the plurality of receivers, compiling a list of all objects received within the zone time window by the plurality of receivers in the zone, comparing the list of all received objects to a list of objects transmitted from the central site to each of the plurality of receivers in the zone within the zone time window, compiling a list of all objects missing from the plurality of receivers in the zone, and comparing the list of all missing objects to the list of all missing asset files to determine which of the missing objects to retransmit to each of the plurality of receivers in the zone; and retransmitting the determined objects to each of the plurality of receivers in the zone.