Content storage and delivery system and associated method and device

摘要

A system is provided for the storage of content on a network and the delivery of content to subscriber locations. The system includes routers and subscriber set-top boxes in communication with each other and a main content source. Content is delivered over a packet-switching network according to a peer to peer file distribution protocol and is stored in a storage area of the subscriber set-top box, such that each subscriber set-top box is configured to transmit and receive content to and from the main content source and other set-top boxes connected to the network. The set-top boxes may identify a preferred source of content based on various factors, such as geographic distance, Internet Protocol (IP) distance, available bandwidth, integrity of the content, etc. An associated method for accessing content and a set-top box for facilitating the storage and delivery of content are also provided.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a plurality of content sources configured to receive and store content; and a router in communication with a first subset of the plurality of content sources; wherein, in response to a request for content received by the router, the router queries the first subset of the plurality of content sources for the requested content and, when the requested content is not available from the first subset of the plurality of content sources, the router transmits a query to a next available upstream router to query a larger subset of the plurality of content sources serviced by the next available upstream router, wherein the query is forwarded to one or more further next available upstream routers to query one or more further larger subsets of the plurality of content sources serviced by the one or more further next available upstream routers until either a copy of the requested content is determined to be available in one of the plurality of content sources or a main content source is determined to be closer in distance to the router than a further next available upstream router included in the one or more further next available upstream routers.