PATENT
`Attorney Docket No. 081009-552442
`Filed Via EFS-Web
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`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING MEDIA
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`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001]
`
`The present application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
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`14/819,107, filed August 5, 2015, entitled System and Method for Routing Media, which is a
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`continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/842,478, filed March 15, 2013, (now U.S.
`
`Patent No. 9,135,636, issued September 15, 2015) and entitled System and Method for Routing
`
`Media, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/680,407, filed February
`
`28, 2007, (now U.S. Patent No. 8,554,940, issued October 8, 2013) and entitled System and
`
`Method for Routing Media, which is a divisional of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
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`10/051,406, filed January 18, 2002, (now U.S. Patent No. 7,191,244, issued March 13, 2007) and
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`entitled System and Method for Routing Media, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent
`
`Application Serial No. 09/838,993, filed April 20, 2001, (now U.S. Patent No. 7,054,949, issued
`
`May 30, 2006) and entitled System and Method for Streaming Media, which is a continuation-in(cid:173)
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`part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/766,519, filed January 19, 2001, entitled System
`
`and Method for Streaming Media, the entire contents of which all are incorporated herein by
`
`reference; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/051,406, filed January 18, 2002, takes
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`priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/263,044, filed January 19, 2001, entitled Media
`
`Routing Algorithm, the entire contents of which all are incorporated herein by reference.
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`FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
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`[0002]
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`Not Applicable.
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`COMP ACT DISK APPENDIX
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`[0003]
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`Not Applicable.
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`FIELD OF INVENTION
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`[0004]
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`The present invention is related to the fields of management and
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`administration of media streaming.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`[0005]
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`Real time transport of audio, video, and other data commonly referred to as
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`"media" may be manipulated and rendered using computers and/or digital appliances, such as a
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`54766288.1
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`set top box. A digital appliance is a product that uses computer based technology and/or a
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`telecommunication network or other packet based network to access, retrieve, interact with,
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`report, and/or handle media or other information.
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`[0006]
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`As computers and computer based appliances gain popularity, the demand for
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`digital media streaming services also increases. This occurs, for example, because digital media
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`streaming can be used to create enhanced consumer and business services. For example, a
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`manufacturer of a refrigerator may install a digital appliance that connects the refrigerator's
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`digital appliance to the Internet. A consumer can use the refrigerator's digital appliance to
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`receive digital audio/video explaining how to prepare a favorite recipe.
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`[0007]
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`The digital appliances and other computers can use real time media streaming
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`services to render media while it is streamed from the media's server computer. Real time media
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`streaming often is preferred over pure downloading since media streaming permits a consumer to
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`view video and/or hear audio shortly after it is requested instead of waiting for a delayed
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`download of the complete media and a subsequent playing of the media by the digital appliance.
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`[0008]
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`Real time media streaming is difficult to implement on diverse networks, such
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`as the Internet, corporate private networks, corporate intranets, and other packet based
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`networking solutions. This is because real-time media applications typically are resource
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`intensive and lack sufficient state control models to ensure proper quality of service.
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`[0009]
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`Enhanced media streaming services generally compound the difficulties
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`because multiple digital media streams are transmitted for enhanced services instead of a single
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`digital media stream, such as for non-enhanced services. In the instances of enhanced services,
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`current technologies treat each digital media stream as an individual session with little or no
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`association to the viewer. Moreover, existing digital media streaming devices focus on the
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`technical transmission and delivery of media, and place little control over the viewer
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`management and media content management. Finally, the current streaming video networks lack
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`sufficient notions of network-wide and multi-level resource allocation and control, trouble
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`detection and automatic fail-over transparent to the viewer, and sophisticated anti-spoofing,
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`denial of service prevention, and unauthorized access prevention techniques.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`[0010]
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`Enhanced media streaming services generally compound the difficulties
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`because multiple digital media streams are transmitted for enhanced services instead of a single
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`digital media stream, such as for non-enhanced services. In the instances of enhanced services,
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`current technologies treat each digital media stream as an individual session with little or no
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`association to the viewer. Moreover, existing digital media streaming devices focus on the
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`technical transmission and delivery of media, and place little control over the viewer
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`management and media content management. Finally, the current streaming video networks lack
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`sufficient notions of network-wide and multi-level resource allocation and control, trouble
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`detection and automatic fail-over transparent to the viewer, and sophisticated anti-spoofing,
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`denial of service prevention, and unauthorized access prevention techniques.
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`[0011] In one aspect, a video streaming system has one or more servers, each of the one
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`or more servers including one or more processors and a memory. The one or more servers
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`receive from a client device via a packet-based telecommunication network signaling to have
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`video content streamed to the client device. In response to the received signaling, the one or
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`more servers generate an identifier uniquely associated with the client device and a viewing
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`session for the video content and transmit to the client device, via the packet-based
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`telecommunication network and in one or more files, each of the one or more files being in a
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`format compatible with a media player on the client device, (i) an indication of one or more
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`segments of the video content, (ii) a URL including an identification of one or more resources of
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`a content distribution network available to facilitate streaming of the one or more segments to the
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`client device, (iii) information instructing the client device how to communicate with the one or
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`more resources of the content distribution network to cause the plurality of segments to be
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`streamed to the client device by the content distribution network, (iv) information instructing the
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`client device how to communicate with an advertising server to cause one or more
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`advertisements to be streamed from the advertising server to the client device in sequence with
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`the streaming of the plurality of segments to the client device by the content distribution
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`network, and (v) the identifier.
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`[0012] In another aspect, a method is performed by an apparatus having a processor,
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`memory, and a packet-based network interface. The method comprises receiving from a client
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`device via a packet-based telecommunication network signaling to have video content streamed
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`to the client device. The method further comprises, in response to the received signaling,
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`generating an identifier uniquely associated with the client device and a viewing session for the
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`video content and transmitting to the client device, via the packet-based telecommunication
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`network and in one or more files, each of the one or more files being in a format compatible with
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`a media player on the client device, (i) an indication of one or more segments of the video
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`content, (ii) a URL including an identification of one or more resources of a content distribution
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`network available to facilitate streaming of the one or more segments to the client device, (iii)
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`information instructing the client device how to communicate with the one or more resources of
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`the content distribution network to cause the plurality of segments to be streamed to the client
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`device by the content distribution network, (iv) information instructing the client device how to
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`communicate with an advertising server to cause one or more advertisements to be streamed
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`from the advertising server to the client device in sequence with the streaming of the plurality of
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`segments to the client device by the content distribution network, and (v) the identifier.
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`[0013] In another aspect, a video streaming system comprises one or more servers, each
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`of the one or more servers including one or more processors and a memory. The one or more
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`servers receive signaling from a client device via a packet-based telecommunication network. In
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`response to the received signaling, the one or more servers transmit to the client device, via the
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`packet-based telecommunication network, a file in a format compatible with a media player on
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`the client device, the file including (i) an indication of one or more segments of video content,
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`(ii) one or more URLs identifying one or more resources of a content distribution network
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`available to facilitate streaming of the one or more segments and one or more advertisements to
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`the client device, (iii) information instructing the client device how to communicate with the one
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`or more resources to cause the one or more segments of the video content and the one or more
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`advertisements to be streamed to the client device in a predetermined sequence, and (iv) an
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`identifier uniquely associated with the client device and a viewing session for the video content.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0014]
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`Figure 1 is a block diagram of a streaming system in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0015]
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`Figure 2 is a block diagram of a reservation system in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0016]
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`Figure 3 is a block diagram of a name routing processor in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0017]
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`Figure 4 is a block diagram of a control manager for a name routing processor
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`in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0018]
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`Figure 5 is a block diagram of the name resolution system for a name routing
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`processor system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`[0019]
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`Figure 6 is a block diagram of the routing engine for a name routing processor
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`in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0020]
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`Figure 7 is a block diagram of the switch manager for a name routing
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`processor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0021]
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`Figure 8 is a block diagram of a routing data structure used in a name routing
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`processor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0022]
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`Figure 9 is a block diagram of a stream control table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0023]
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`Figure 10 is a block diagram of a network status table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
`[0024]
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`Figure 11 is a table diagram of treatment table access points in accordance
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`with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0025]
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`Figure 12 is a block diagram of an active reservation table in accordance with
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`an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0026]
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`Figure 13 is a block diagram of a network access table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0027]
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`Figure 14 is a block diagram of a signal mapping table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0028]
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`Figure 15 is a block diagram of a signal access point table in accordance with
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`an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0029]
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`Figure 16 is a block diagram of a stream percent skipped table in accordance
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`with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0030]
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`Figure 17 is a block diagram of a stream rate table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0031]
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`Figure 18 is a block diagram of a treatment table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0032]
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`Figure 19 is a block diagram of a referring host table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0033]
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`Figure 20 is a block diagram of an exception table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0034]
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`Figure 21 is a block diagram of a personal identification number table in
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`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0035]
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`Figure 22 is a block diagram of a content screening table in accordance with
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`an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0036]
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`Figure 23 is a block diagram of a content location table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0037]
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`Figure 24 is a block diagram of a network status table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0038]
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`Figure 25 is a block diagram of a day of year table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0039]
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`Figure 26 is a block diagram of a day of week table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0040]
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`Figure 27 is a block diagram of a time of day table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0041]
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`Figure 28 is a block diagram of a signal route choice table in accordance with
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`an embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0042]
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`Figure 29 is a block diagram of a class of service table in accordance with an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0043] Media streaming, both live and on-demand, also provides an environment for
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`viewers to experience multimedia by establishing a logical, one-to-one connection between the
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`media and the audience (a "session"). Sessions enable a rich media, interactive experience and
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`provide a foundation for a reliable streaming service platform. Media may include audio, video,
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`images, moving text messages such as stock ticker tapes, and other data. Media may include one
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`or more media clips or a part of a media clip. A session may include an internet protocol
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`session, a broadband connection, or other session parameters. For simplicity, "session" may be
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`used in some instances to mean only an internet protocol (IP) session, only a broadband
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`connection, or both, depending on verbiage. In a different embodiment, more than one session
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`can exist to a given audience member simultaneously. However, improved systems and methods
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`are needed for implementing control features, such as real time routing of requests for media
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`service, dynamic matching of content to the viewer, and enforcement of media content owners'
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`rights and distribution criteria.
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`[0044]
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`In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an overall integrated
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`and distributed media routing algorithm (MRA) that correlates the diverse needs of a media
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`content owner and/or an agent ("content owner" or "media owner"), a packet distribution
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`network owner, one or more viewers, and the health of a network traversed in the media delivery
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`process. The MRA enables the content owner to control who views its content and what content
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`is actually streamed for viewing. In another embodiment, the MRA enables a network owner to
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`efficiently control the network and its devices to maximize quality of service while enabling the
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`devices to respond automatically and transparently to viewer problems.
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`[0045]
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`In another embodiment, the present invention enables content owners to create
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`viewing programs that can be targeted at viewers based on the amount of information known
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`about an individual viewer. The content owner may create a program having one or more media
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`items. A viewer may desire to receive one or more of the media identified in the program. The
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`viewing programs and viewer information may be used to dynamically create a presentation
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`tailored for that viewer. For example, the presentation may contain a list of media from the
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`program, possibly with or without one or more other media items, that is to be streamed to the
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`viewer and that is combined to make a single viewing experience. In another example, a movie
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`trailer followed by a full-length movie may combine two different media to make a simple
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`program.
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`[0046]
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`A program, however, can contain media selectors that identify a set of media.
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`A media selector is used in the presentation creation process when the content owner desires to
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`target different media at an audience, based on audience characteristics, and to create different
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`presentations for different groups of audiences. Examples of audience characteristics may
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`include the individual's sex, age, hobbies, historical viewing habits, or other data the viewer
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`would provide.
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`[0047]
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`In another embodiment, systems and methods of the present invention control
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`a state model, such as a basic streaming state model (BSSM), for streaming media through
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`enhanced communications between communication devices coupled over disparate packet
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`networks, such as the Internet, intranets, virtual private networks, cable systems, frame relay
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`networks, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, satellite networks, and/or any
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`combination of interconnected, data communication networks.
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`[0048]
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`The state model data identifies a viewer using a reservation, identifies the
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`switch or switches from which media is streamed, the media that is streamed, the duration the
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`media is streamed, and other state changes in the streaming, such as whether a stream is paused,
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`canceled, forwarded, or reversed. If a presentation is streamed, the state model data identifies
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`the presentation and the media in the presentation. The state model data includes stream state
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`changes, viewing session state changes, device mode changes from a switch or signaling routing
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`processor and error and alarm conditions for any switch, signaling routing processor,
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`management system, service routing processor, or other communication device in the streaming
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`system. A state model is kept for each NRP and each MMS as described more fully below.
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`Multiple levels of the BSSM enable event generation, tracking information, and storing
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`information for transitions within a presentation from its initial generation to its completion or
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`termination.
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`[0049]
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`Figure I depicts an exemplary embodiment of a streaming system of the
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`present invention. The streaming system 102 of Figure I comprises a service processor, a
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`management system, a reservation system, a routing processor, and a media switch, such as an
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`enhanced service routing processor (ESRP) I 04, a real time switch management system
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`(RTSMS) 106, a reservation system 108, a name routing processor (NRP) 110, and a managed
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`media switch (MMS) 112, respectively, each communicating through a packet network 114. A
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`portal 116 may communicate with the reservation system 108 of the RTSMS 106 via the packet
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`network 114, and one or more viewers 118 and 120 may communicate with the NRP 110, the
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`MMS 112, and/or the portal 116 via a packet network 122.
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`[0050]
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`The streaming system 102 has a network owner that controls the streaming
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`system and controls what entities use network operators to perform work on the streaming
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`system. For example, a network provider may build a streaming system and sell streaming
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`services to a publishing customer. The network provider is the network owner. The network
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`owner and the publishing customer sell a product, i.e. media, to customers via a website or a
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`contract with a web portal using the streaming system.
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`[0051]
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`In some instances, the publishing customer also may be the network provider.
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`This may occur, for example, where a corporate enterprise is streaming media to its employees
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`or customers directly. Other examples exist.
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`[0052]
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`Identifying the network owner of the streaming system 102 or another
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`network enables the streaming system to track legal, financial, contractual, and service auditing
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`issues associated with crossing signaling and/or other communications, such as media, from one
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`network to another. For example, a first streaming network and a second streaming network may
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`agree to inter-connect their networks to build a large viewing audience. This may occur, for
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`example, if a media owner desires as many viewers as possible to see its media, and the media
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`owner is less concerned with what network owner the viewer uses to receive the media.
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`[0053]
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`In this example, the first network owner and the second network owner may
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`agree on a revenue sharing, based on what the viewer receives, and the revenue generated from
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`that viewer receiving the media may be split according to the revenue sharing agreement. In this
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`example, the first network owner and the second network owner cannot control each other's
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`service, network distribution rules, and/or other routing or operational processes. Thus, the first
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`network owner and the second network owner are required to agree on the revenue sharing and
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`how their networks will interconnect in order to provide distribution of media and receive
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`revenue based on that distribution.
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`[0054]
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`The streaming system 102 also enables a media owner to identify a program
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`or a portion of a program that is made available for streaming. The program typically identifies
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`the sequencing, whether sequential, parallel, timing, or other, in which media clips are to be
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`streamed, where the media clips are to be placed, and, in some instance, to whom the media clips
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`can be transmitted.
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`[0055]
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`A program may have a list of media, an order, and/or other media rules. The
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`program may also have program creation rules and/or program routing rules. Network
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`distribution rules generated by the owner and/or operator of the streaming system 102 (hereafter,
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`"network owner") or one or more other packet network suppliers also may be associated with the
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`program. The network distribution rules, the media list, the order, and any other special media
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`rules, such as program creation rules and/or program routing rules, govern the transmission of
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`the media for a program.
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`[0056]
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`Program creation rules are defined by a media owner. Program creation rules
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`may identify if a program can be created from one or more other programs and how the one or
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`more other programs may be combined. For example, a program may have program creation
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`rules identifying which individuals are allowed to alter the program rules, listings of
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`identifications of other media owners that have agreed to share media, and other administrative
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`data.
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`[0057]
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`Program routing rules are defined by the media owner. Program routing rules
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`define where and/or how media may be routed. Program routing rules may be superceded by
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`network distribution rules.
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`[0058]
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`Network distribution rules are defined by the network owner and/or one or
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`more other packet network suppliers. Network distribution rules are used to manage capacity,
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`load, bandwidth, switch resources, and/or other events and/or resources, including resources for
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`sessions and connections. For example, a program can be configured to stream ten minutes of a
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`sitcom based media, insert an advertisement, and then return to the sitcom based media. The
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`publisher may define the program rules to transmit greater than 30 frames per second, but the
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`network distribution rules may be restricted to 30 viewing frames per second by the network
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`supplier. The program would not be streamed since it violated the network distribution rules. The
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`network distribution rules may manage and/or identify resources needed to transfer media
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`between the streaming system 102 and one or more other packet networks.
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`[0059]
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`The media list may include one or more different media references identifying
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`one or more media clips and one or more different types of media. For example, the media list
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`may contain media names or other media references. The media list may include references to
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`one or more of recorded media, live media, a media alias, a media selector including an
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`advertising selector, and/or other media.
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`[0060]
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`Recorded media typically directly references a media file name. Live media
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`typically has connection instructions to a live ingress switch. A media alias typically references
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`one or more other media clips. A media selector typically contains rules identifying how to
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`select one or more of several possible media clips. An advertising selector is a type of media
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`selector used to select an advertising media clip.
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`[0061]
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`Each type of media may contain one or more of the above-stated identifiers or
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`other identifiers. Additionally, each media clip may have a title assigned to it by the media
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`owner.
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`[0062]
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`An order is a request by a paying or collecting entity for the network owner to
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`provide some sort of streaming or related service, such as storage. Typically, the order is made
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`by a paying or collecting entity, such as a publisher, another streaming network service provider,
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`a viewer, a private company, an advertising service, or another entity that desires to enter into a
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`contract with the network owner for streaming service or related services, such as real time usage
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`reporting.
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`[0063]
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`An order may be associated between multiple entities. For example, a
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`publisher may be primarily responsible for payment to the network owner for streaming services,
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`but an advertiser has agreed to pay the network owner based upon the number of people viewing
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`their ads. Thus, two paying entities and one collecting entity are associated with the order. In
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`this example, an entity can be both a paying entity and a collecting entity. For example, a
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`publisher can pay for streaming services and also collect a portion of the fee generated by
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`streaming media.
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`[0064]
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`An order can contain several order components, such as service billing rules,
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`storage billing rules, collection rules, viewing rules, settlement rules, and other fiscally important
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`information. This fiscal information allows a network owner to generate an invoice for
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`streaming services rendered. The associated invoiced revenue may be collected based on the
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`fiscal information, and other collection entities, such as publishers and other networks, may be
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`paid based on that fiscal information.
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`[0065]
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`Service billing rules normally are related to making the media available for
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`viewing. Multiple media items can be associated to a single service rule. Service rules allow the
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`publisher to describe to the network owner how the media viewing will be paid. For example,
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`pay-per view media may require the viewer to pay for the service. A fee for service may require
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`the publisher to pay a fee based on the number of data bytes transmitted to all viewers for a
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`defined period of time. An advertising revenue share may require the network owner to collect a
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`percentage of the advertising revenue generated by the program being viewed. Other payment
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`methods and combination of payments may be used.
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`[0066]
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`An order also can contain storage rules for determining where the media or
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`program will be located and the costs associated with the physical storage of the media. Storage
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`rules allow the publisher to target media to MMS locations that they believe will provide the
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`most streaming service. For example, advertising media that is localized to the mid-west of the
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`United States of America could be located on only MMSs within that region. Storage rules can
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`specify a single MMS device, an offline storage location that is not attached to any MMS,
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`multiple MMS devices, all MMS devices, and other networks that can provide the same media, if
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`needed. Storage rules also allow the network owner to bill for the amount of storage a publisher
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`uses on a periodic basis, such as an average daily storage use. A storage order can have multiple
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`media and programs attached to it.
`
`[0067]
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`An order may contain collection rules identifying which entity or entities are
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`collecting a payment for services rendered. For example, a service rule that designates pay-per(cid:173)
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`view might require an immediate credit card payment by the viewer. The collection rule may
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`identify the credit card collection agency, collection account, and other vital settlement data for
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`the processing of the viewer's credit card. In another example, the viewer may select pay-per(cid:173)
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`view and simply be billed the amount on their monthly cable bill. Collection rules also apply to
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`the invoicing of charges to corporate type accounts, such as how soon payment is due after the
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`invoice is printed. Collection rules focus on receiving the payment portion of the transaction.
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`Multiple collection rules may be applied to a single order.
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`[0068]
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`An order may contain viewing rules for the media and/or programs that are
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`attached to it. Viewing rules associated with an order allow the publisher to determine who sees
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`the media or program based on the viewer's account status. For example, a viewing rule for a
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`subscription based service in which a viewer is 90 days or more behind in payments might block
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`the service.
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`[0069]
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`In another example, if a viewer selects a pay-per-view media item that
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`requires a credit card payment, and the credit card collection agency returns a code declaring the
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`card is over its limit, the viewing rule might block the service. Order viewing rules typically are
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`associated to a credit rating or current collection status of an account for the person requesting to
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`view the media or the publisher wishing to make the media available for distribution.
`
`[0070]
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`An order can contain settlement rules for determining how collections are
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`divided and which entities participate in the settlement. For example, a program may be created
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`54766288.1
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`12
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`by a publisher in which advertisers agree to pay the publisher and the network owner for
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`targeting their advertising to a specific set of viewers. The viewer is allowed to view the
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`program free of charge, except the viewer will receive advertisements. The settlement rules
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`would describe the agreed upon advertising rates that will be applied on a per viewer basis, the
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`percentage or fixed fee being supplied to the network owner for each viewer, and other
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`settlement data.
`
`[0071]
`
`There may be a many-to-many relationship between an order and a program.
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`That is, one program or multiple programs may appear in a single service order, and a single
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`program may appear in a one order or multiple orders. For example, in the former instance, an
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`order may associate multiple programs that are the publisher's $4.99 pay-per-view programs for
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`distribution in the United States. Whereas, in the latter instance for example, a single program
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`may be associated with one order for pay-per-view customers and another order for subscribers.
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`[0072]
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`In some embodiments, the program has a program identification. The
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`program identification may be used to track use of the program, such as how many times the
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`media for a program is streamed and the number of users receiving that program. Additionally,
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`the program identification may be used to track other attributes associated with the program,
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`such as viewer attributes associated with the viewer receiving the media, streaming times, other
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`media or programs streamed with a particular program, and/or other tracking purposes.
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`[0073] When a program and its order are complete, it may be published. Publishing
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`is the act of making a program available on the streaming network 102 for distribution to one or
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`more viewers via a switch, such as the MMS 110.
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`[0074]
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`After a program is published, a presentation may be generated based on the
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`program. A presentation results from applying a viewer profile to a program, including the
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`program's order and any other media rules, at the time a reservation is made for the program by
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`the viewer. A viewer profile may be any set of attributes of interest for a viewer and their
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`values. Thus, the presentation typically is customized for an individual viewing session, and the
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`program and the viewe