Video distribution system reducing video data traffic and a method therefor

摘要

In a video distribution apparatus, a memory caches segments of video data into which video data received from a communication network is sectioned on a basis of a predetermined unit and stores video identifying information of the segments of video data. A distribution controller derives, upon receipt of a cache distribution request from the network, video identifying information contained in a cache distribution request. A relay controller obtains segments of video data associated with the video identifying information from the memory to transfer the obtained segments of video data to a requester at a transfer rate defined on the segments of video data in the vicinity of a source of the video data. The video can be distributed at a transfer rate close to a transfer rate defined by a content distribution server while the video traffic can be diminished.

主权项

1. A video distribution apparatus comprising:
a memory caching a segment of video data into which video data received from a communication network is sectioned on a basis of a predetermined unit, and storing at least video identifying information identifying the segment of video data; a distribution controller operative in response to a cache distribution request received from the network for deriving the video identifying information contained in the cache distribution request, and controlling relay distribution on the basis of the obtained video identifying information; and a relay controller receiving the cache distribution request to supply the received cache distribution request to said distribution controller, and obtaining the segment of video data associated with the video identifying information from said memory to transfer the obtained segment of video data to a requester at a transfer rate defined on the segment of video data in a vicinity of a source of the video data, wherein said memory stores reception time and a size of the segment of video data in the vicinity of the source, said distribution controller calculates the transfer rate in the vicinity of the source on the basis of the reception time and the size of the segment of video data associated with the video identifying information, and said relay controller transfers the segment of video data at the transfer rate calculated by said distribution controller.