Abstract:
A video collection engine interfaces to one or more content providers, such as movie production or rental companies, downloadable audio outlets, software or software update sources, or other providers. The collection engine initiates a content transfer from one or more content providers on a periodic, demand-based or other basis to a local content store. The local content store may be cohosted in a DSLAM, cable headend or other local networking or communications facility and is generated and managed by the collection engine. Subscribers or recipients wishing to view a selected movie or other media product may program a computer, digital video recorder or other viewing or playback device to download the content from the local content store at network edge. Because downloads need not be performed directly from the remote content providers, whose content may require transport over Internet backbone or other links incurring a per-megabyte or other metered cost, video and other consumers may enjoy better efficiency, lower cost and potentially more reliable access to digital content.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    Not applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a platform configured to retrieve, cache and deliver video, software and other media content from a local collection point.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The migration of video and other media content to digital formats has opened up new possibilities for the storage and delivery of movies, songs, software and other entertainment and productivity products. The advent of standard codecs such as Microsoft Windows AVI, Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)-2, MPEG-4, Real Video™ and other standards or formats has permitted the efficient and relatively efficient distribution of that type of content. Distribution of movies, for instance, can now be done in a more compact format such as DVD discs, which permit more inexpensive shipping, storage and display of movies and other content.  
           [0005]    Digitally encoded video combined with broadband access has likewise enabled the direct transmission of commercial movies or other content from a content provider to an end viewer over the Internet. As generally illustrated in FIG. 1, various commercial services allow a viewer to select one or more movies to watch, program the downloading of that content and view the content once received. Such delivery services are not, however, as cost efficient as might be possible.  
           [0006]    For instance, with certain of the services providing access to video content, the transmission of that content (shown as CONTENT 1 . . . CONTENT N) is reinitiated with the receipt of every new request (shown as REQ 1 . . . REQ N) from a consumer to download and view that movie or other product. That transmission may traverse various communications links from the server of the content provider, over a backbone or other comparatively high-speed Internet connection, to a local access point such as a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) or cable head end, and finally to the consumer. In most network arrangements, following this transmission path incurs a per-megabyte cost to traverse the backbone link, a cost that is passed on to the consumer in subscription rates or other fees. Other problems exist.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention overcoming these and other problems in the art relates in one regard to a system and method for demand-based delivery of media content, which in one regard deploy a collection engine between a content provider and end viewers of video or other content. In embodiments, the collection engine may be cohosted in a DSLAM, cable head end, or other local communications facility from which the subscriber receives Internet or other network access. The collection engine may initiate the loading of video, audio, software or other media from remote content providers into an associated local content store, on a predetermined schedule or based on demand or other criteria. Subscribers wishing to view one or more parts of the currently stored video, audio, software or other content may in turn request a download of their selections from that content store to a computer or other viewing or playback device. That download may occur during offpeak or other times. Once downloaded, in embodiments the subscriber may gain authorization to view the content via a key or other authentication mechanism. According to the invention in one regard, because the storage of the digital content has effectively been shifted to a collection point which is local to subscribers, content may be delivered to each individual subscriber for their separate views, without incurring additional per-megabyte or other backbone or other metered network charges. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a video distribution network, according to a conventional embodiment.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture for distribution of media or other content, according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface operable by a subscriber or others, to activate downloading of content, according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of content download processing, according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 illustrates a n architecture for distribution of media or other content, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture in which a system and method for delivery of media content may operate, according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in that figure, a content provider  102  may generate or host content  118  stored in provider storage  104 , which may for instance be or include a database or other storage. Content  118  in embodiments may be or include any one or more of digital video for instance in Windows™ AVI, Real Video, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 or other formats, digital audio for instance in .WAV, MP3 or other formats, digital graphics for instance in .JPG, .BMP or other formats, computer software such as executable program files, patches, updates, transmittable applets such as ones in Java™ or other code, or other data, media or content.  
         [0014]    Content provider  102  may make content  118  accessible via communications network  106 . Communications network  106  may be, include or interface to any one or more of, for instance, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection, an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface), CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) or other wired, wireless or optical connection. In embodiments, communications network  106  may include a comparatively high-capacity backbone link, such as a fiber optic or other link, connecting to content provider  102 , for transmission over which a carrier or other entity impose a per-megabyte or other metered or tariffed cost.  
         [0015]    Content provider  102  may be linked via communications network  106  to a collection engine  110 . Collection engine  110  itself in turn may be generally be connected via a local communications network  126  to a subscriber group  114  (illustrated as subscriber 1, subscriber 2, . . . subscriber n, n arbitrary). In embodiments, the collection engine  110  may be, include or interface to, for example, a DSLAM, a cable modem head end, a telephone central office, a wireless access point such as a cellular base station, or other communications hub or facility. Local communications network  126  may in embodiments correspondingly be, include or interface to, for example, a digital subscriber line, a cable modem connection, a telephone line, an ISDN connection, a GSM or other data-enabled wireless link, or other links or resources. Collection engine  110  may likewise communicate with an associated content storage  112 , which may in embodiments be, include or interface to a database which may be supported by server or other resources, and may in embodiments include redundancy or failover capability, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), for data protection.  
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the invention in one regard, one or more individual subscribers within subscriber group  114  may initiate a request to download and view, execute or activate one or more individual pieces of content  118  to collection engine  110 . For instance, subscribers within subscriber group  114  may select a video, audio, graphical, software or other product for downloading. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in embodiments subscribers within subscriber group  114  may operate a viewing device  122 , such as a computer, a digital video device or other playback or viewing device to select and view the desired content  118 . As also illustrated in that figure, subscribers within subscriber group  114  may in embodiments manipulate a user interface  124 , such as a graphical user interface, a voice command, command line or other user interface to view available content  118  and select desired content, such as digital video movies or other services or products. Viewing device  122  may likewise be or include, for instance, a programmable video recording device, such as hard drive, recordable optical drive or other drive-based machines.  
         [0017]    The content  118  made available to subscribers within subscriber group  114  from the content storage  112  of collection engine  110  may change over time, for instance to refresh a catalogue of videos, music, software or other media or content, for instance on a daily, weekly, monthly or other scheduled or unscheduled basis. For instance, in embodiments the set of content  118  presented to subscribers within subscriber group  114  may be dynamically allocated, depending on the total number of requests for a piece of content made by subscribers, license or other fees applied by content provider  102 , or based on other factors. The content  118  stored in content storage  112  of collection engine  110  may in embodiments reflect all content available from content provider  102 , or subsets or other portions of that or other content.  
         [0018]    When one or more of the subscribers within subscriber group  114  initiates a request to download content  118  to collection engine  110 , the collection engine  110  may, after verifying the availability of that content, query that subscriber or subscribers for a key  116 . The key  116  may be or include a digital certificate, a public key infrastructure (PKI) or other object authenticating subscribers within the subscriber group  114  and their right to access content  118 , for instance via an authentication entity  108  communicating with collection engine  110  via communications network  106 . Authentication entity  108  may decrypt or otherwise process key  116  to authenticate subscribers within subscriber group  114  and their right to access content  118 . If an invalid or expired key  116  is received, authentication entity  108  may reject the request for authentication to collection engine  110 , which in turn may terminate downloading or access activity.  
         [0019]    In embodiments, the validity of a request for download by subscribers within subscriber group  114  may depend or depend in part on the current validity of an account held by individual subscribers, the account being with an operator of collection engine  110 , with content provider  102 , or with other entities. In embodiments subscribers within subscriber group  114  may pay a regular monthly or other subscription or license fee to access content  118 . In other embodiments, subscribers within subscriber group  114  may download or access content  118  on a pay-per-view or pay-per-use or other nonrecurring basis. Other subscription, non-subscription or other access arrangements are possible.  
         [0020]    When the request by one or more subscribers in subscriber group  114  is authenticated, authentication entity  108  may transmit an authorization  120  to collection engine  110 . Collection engine  110  may consequently configure a download or other access of content  118  by the requesting subscriber or subscribers within subscriber group  114 . In embodiments, the download of content  118  may be initiated immediately via local communications network  126 . In other embodiments, collection engine  110  may schedule the content  118  for download at a later or predetermined time, for instance late at night, when the local communications network  126  is comparatively idle, or at other times. In embodiments, the download of content  118  may be performed in batch mode, transferring portions of content  118  at a time, rather than continuously.  
         [0021]    Depending on implementation, once the transfer of content  118  to the viewing device  122  or other playback or viewing device is complete, the requesting subscriber or subscribers within subscriber group  114  may immediately view, listen to, execute or otherwise make use of content  118 , or may likewise use key  116  or another security mechanism to unlock and access content  118  from memory, associated hard drive or other storage. The receiving subscriber or subscribers within subscriber group  114  may, for instance, view a digital video or movie, view graphics, listen to digitally encoded music, install, execute, update or operate software, or use content  118  in other ways. The content  118  may, once delivered and activated, be subject to a timing mechanism to cause the content  118  to expire after a predetermined amount of time or number of uses, or expire based on other conditions. In embodiments, the content  118  may be subject to digital rights management (DRM) or other controls to prevent unauthorized reproduction, use, or other manipulation of content  118 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of content delivery processing, according to an embodiment of the invention. In step  402 , processing begins. In step  404 , a transmission of content  118  from content provider  102  to collection engine  110  for storage in content storage  112  may be generated, for instance on a predetermined schedule, on a demand basis such as reaching a minimum number of subscriber requests for the content, or at other times or under other conditions. In step  406 , a subscriber may generate a request for a download of content  118  via user interface  124  of viewing device  122  or other viewing or playback device.  
         [0023]    In step  408 , the request for a download of content  118  by one or more subscriber within subscriber group  114  may be authenticated or validated against the authentication entity  108 . If the request is authenticated to be valid, processing may proceed to step  410  in which an authorization  120  may be communicated to the collection engine  110 . In step  412 , a download of content  118  from content storage  112  to the viewing device  124  or other viewing or playback device of the requesting subscriber or subscribers within subscriber group  114  may be initiated. In step  414 , content  118  may be stored in local storage associated with the viewing device  124 , such as a hard drive or recordable optical disc, or other storage.  
         [0024]    In step  416 , the content  118  may be viewed, as in the case of digital video, executed, in the case of software content, listened to, in the case of audio content, or otherwise accessed or executed. In step  418 , digital rights management or other copy or other control may be executed on content  118 , for instance to prevent unauthorized copies from being made. In step  420 , a billing record for the download and use of content  118  may be generated, as appropriate. In embodiments, a per-view or per-download charge may appear on a cable television or cable Internet account, or charges or fees may accrue or be presented in other ways. In step  422 , a predetermined, conditioned or other expiration of content  118  or of authorization  120  may occur. This expiration may for instance cause video, audio or other content to expire after a certain period, number of views or listens, or when other conditions are met. In step  424 , processing may end, repeat, return to other processing steps or take other action.  
         [0025]    In step  408 , if the subscriber or other recipient request is not authenticated against authentication entity  108 , processing may proceed to step  424  to likewise end, repeat, return to other processing steps or take other action.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 illustrates an architecture in which an embodiment of the invention may operate, also including a collection engine  110  such as a DSLAM, cable head end, wireless access point or other communications or distribution platform. In the embodiment shown in that figure, the collection engine  110  may interface to and receive content  118  from multiple content providers, illustrated as content provider  102 , content provider  126  and content provider  128 . Although a total of three content providers are illustrated, any number may be accessed. Each of the content providers may have associated with it provider storage, illustrated as provider storage  104 , provider storage  128 , provider storage  132 , but any number of separate or shared storage media or facilities may be incorporated or used.  
         [0027]    In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, subscribers within subscriber group  114  may request content  118  from any one or more of content provider  102 , content provider  126  and content provider  128  or from other sources, for download via collection engine  110 . In embodiments, billing records may be generated by collection  110  to be returned to a given one or more of the content providers, depending on download activity and subscription and pay-per-view or other arrangements. In this embodiment, subscribers in subscriber group  114  may consequently preview, select and download content from a variety of video, audio, software or other sources, from a unified collection in content storage  112  or other media.  
         [0028]    The foregoing description of the invention is illustrative, and modifications in configuration and implementation will occur to persons skilled in the art. For instance, while the invention has generally been described in terms of one or more subscribers viewing video or listening to audio content via a cable modem, DSL or other wired communications link, as noted in embodiments the client or viewing device may communicate with the collection engine  110  via wireless interfaces, such as GSM, 802.11× or other protocols.  
         [0029]    Similarly, while the invention has in embodiments been described as carrying out download authentication via a remote authentication entity  108 , in embodiments the collection engine  110  or other resources in the network may perform an authentication function. Multiple authentication databases may be used. Other hardware, software or other resources described as singular may in embodiments be distributed, and similarly in embodiments resources described as distributed may be combined. Yet further, while the invention has generally been described in terms of one or more subscribers in subscriber group  114  receiving content  118 , in embodiments subscribers in subscriber group  114  may upload content or other data to collection engine or other destinations. The scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the following claims.