WO2013046204A1

WO2013046204A1 - Methods and systems of controlling access to distributed content

Info

Publication number: WO2013046204A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/050385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomer EISNER
Original assignee: Gilat Satcom Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-09-26
Filing date: 2012-09-23
Publication date: 2013-04-04

Abstract

A geographically distributed media content storage and access system for managing the distribution of a plurality of media content elements to a plurality of client terminals. The system comprises a plurality of geographically distributed edge servers, each connected to a storage unit configured for locally storing a copy of a distributed database with a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of media content elements and an authorization server which receives a request for streaming any of the plurality of media content elements to a client terminal in a relative proximity to a first of the geographically distributed server. The authorization server forwards a decryption key to the first geographically distributed server which decodes accordingly a respective of the plurality of encoded copies and streams the decoded version thereof to the client terminal.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF CONTROLLING ACCESS TO DISTRIBUTED

CONTENT

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/538,989 filed on September 26, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/556,901 filed on November 8, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to broadcasting and content delivery and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and system of controlling access to distributed content.

During the last years, video services delivered over the Internet to televisions and other connected devices, such as over-the-top content (OTT), Internet TV, and TV over Broadband, have become a substantial force in the broadcasting and content delivery industry. OTT media servers which support standalone set-top boxes such as Apple TV, Roku Media Player, Boxee set top box (STB) experienced the strongest sequential growth, nearly doubling quarter-over-quarter as providers, such as Netflix™ and Hulu™ are launching more streaming services. The service provider may be aware of the contents of the IP packets, but is not responsible for, nor able to control, the viewing abilities, copyrights, or other redistribution of the content. This is in contrast to delivery through purchase or rental of video or audio content (over IP) from the Internet provider, such as Comcast video on demand (over IP) or AT&T U- Verse video service.

In today's market, an OTT media server is located in a certain location, while traffic which is transmitted therefrom to client terminals over a chain of proxy servers. In this model, each client terminal requires a wide Internet bandwidth connection, for example, a connection of 1 Megabits per second (mbps) or more. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided

Optionally, the request is transmitted over a satellite connection and the decoded version being streamed over a non satellite connection.

More optionally, the non satellite connection is selected from a group consisting of a wireless local area connection (WLAN), a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a fibre data connection, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) connection and a long term evolution (LTE) connection.

Optionally, the system further comprises an origin server which generates an update to the distributed database and forwards the update to the plurality of geographically distributed servers.

More optionally, the origin server forwards the update via a multicasting transmission to each of a plurality of groups of the plurality of geographically distributed servers, each the group is found in a different satellite coverage area.

Optionally, the system further comprises an over the top (OTT) main server which manages at least one electronic program guide (EPG) describing the plurality of media content elements and accessible to the plurality of client terminal via the plurality of geographically distributed edge servers. According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided

a method of providing access to a media content element. The method comprises locally storing a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of encoded media content elements in each of a plurality of local storage units of a plurality of geographically distributed servers, receiving a request for streaming any of the plurality of media content elements to a client terminal in a relative proximity to a first of the geographically distributed server, providing a decryption key to the first geographically distributed server to allow the decoding of a respective of the plurality of encoded copies accordingly, and instructing the first geographically distributed server to stream a decoded version of the respective encoded copy to the client terminal.

Optionally, the locally storing comprises multicasting at least some of the plurality of encoded copies to a group of the geographically distributed servers.

Optionally, the first geographically distributed server streams the decoded version over a non satellite connection which is selected from a group consisting of a wireless local area connection (WLAN), a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a fibre data connection, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) connection, and a long term evolution (LTE) connection.

Optionally, the request is received over a satellite communication.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of the invention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or system of the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof using an operating system. For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according to embodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according to exemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein are performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processor includes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or a non-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removable media, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a network connection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input device such as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a geographically distributed media content storage and access system for managing distribution of a plurality of media content elements to client terminals, according to some embodiments of present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of international communication wherein an origin server located in North America distributes content to edge servers in South

America, Europe and Africa, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart depicting operations performed on an exemplary media content element, according to some embodiments of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of streaming requested media content with relatively low satellite communication consumption, according to some embodiments of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are provided systems and methods for streaming media content elements, such as movies, TV content, and/or music to client terminals, for example connected TVs, via edge servers so as to reduce the satellite communication bandwidth consumption. An exemplary system includes a plurality of geographically distributed edge servers, each connected to a storage unit configured for locally storing a copy of a distributed database with a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of media content elements. The system further includes an authorization server which receives a request for streaming any of the media content elements to a client terminal in a relative proximity to one of the geographically distributed servers. The request is optionally sent using satellite communication. The authorization server forwards a decryption key to the proximate geographically distributed server which decodes accordingly a respective encoded copy of the requested media content element and streams the decoded version thereof to the client terminal. The streaming is performed via a non satellite communication, for example via wireless local area networks, for instance as described below. As the streaming of the media content is performed via non satellite communication, the distribution cost thereof to client terminals is reduced.

Optionally, the system further includes one or more origin servers which manage the distribution of the media content elements to the geographically distributed servers, for example via satellite communication. Optionally, geographically distributed servers which are located in an area which receive a common satellite transmission receive the media content elements and/or updates thereto via a common multicast.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing access to a media content element. First, a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of encoded media content elements are locally stored in each of a plurality of local storage units of a plurality of geographically distributed servers. Then a request for streaming any of the plurality of media content elements is received. A decryption key is generated and forwarded to the geographically distributed server which is proximate to the requesting client terminal to allow the decoding of a respective of encoded copy of the requested media content element accordingly. The decoded content is then streamed by the geographically distributed server to the client terminal.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a geographically distributed media content storage and access system 100 for managing distribution of a plurality of media content elements to client terminals 103 with relatively low bandwidth consumption of satellite communication, according to some embodiments of present invention.

The geographically distributed system 100 includes a plurality of local servers, referred to herein as edge servers, which are located in different geographical sites. The edge servers 102 are optionally distributed so as to stream requested media content via last mile connections, such as local area network (LAN) connections to members of groups of client terminals 103, each in another geographic area, upon request.

The client terminal 103 may be a connected television (TV), a Game Console, a laptop, a desktop, a standalone set-top box, a tablet, a Smartphone and the like. For example, each edge server 102 is set to provide media content to a group of client terminals 103 which are connected to a common LAN, namely located in coverage area of the LAN. The last mile connection may be a wireless LAN (WLAN) connection, for example based on 802.11 standard(s), which are incorporated herein by reference, a WiMAX™ connection, an LTE connection, and/or the like. It may be a Fibre connection, a frame relay connection, and/or a digital subscriber line.

Each edge server 103 is connected to a local site storage unit which locally store a copy of a distributed database having a plurality of encoded copies of media content elements 101, such as video files, for example movies, TV content, games, streamed advertisements, and/or the like, audio files, for example music files and/or the like. The edge server 102 further comprises a request management module (not shown) which redirects, for example forwards requests and receive decryption keys, for instance digital rights management (DRM) files, for example as described below. The edge server 102 further comprises a presentation module that presents a user interface to the users of client terminals which are presented thereto. The user interface is indicative of the available media content elements 101 and optionally allows the user to make a selection.

The system 100 further includes an origin server 105 which distributes a copy of a database having encoded copies of the media content elements 101, and/or updates to the databases, among the plurality of edge servers 102. Encoded copies of the media content elements 101 are optionally uploaded to the origin server 105 from content servers of right holders and/or locally encoded from unencoded copies of the media content elements 101. In any case, a respective decryption key is uploaded to an authorization server 106, for example as described below. The respective decryption key is optionally a DRM file.

The origin server 105 optionally distributes a database of the encoded copies of the media content elements and optionally updates thereto to the edge servers via a satellite communication, for example periodically, upon request, and/or according to an operator request. For example, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of international communication wherein an origin server located North America distributes content to edge servers in South America, Europe and Africa, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Optionally, different groups of edge servers 102 are distributed with different databases. Optionally, the database of media content elements 101 or an update thereto is multicasted to groups of edge servers 102 according to their geographical location and satellite transmission coverage areas. In such a manner, bandwidth consumption required for distributing the media content elements 101 is reduced. For example, FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart depicting operations performed on an exemplary media content element. As shown in FIG. 3, the media content element are multicasted once to a plurality of edge server which stream the exemplary media content element a plurality of times, for example to different client terminals over last mile connections.

Optionally, the origin server 105, monitors satellite communication traffic patterns and/or cost to determine time frame(s) for transferring the media content elements and/or updates to different groups. In such embodiments, the media content elements 101, which are usually copyrighted, are encoded to avoid unauthorized distribution thereof. In such embodiments, the edge servers 102 optionally do not store any decryption keys to increase the protection from unauthorized access or distribution of the media content.

As further described below, the encoded copies of the media content elements 101 are decoded streamed to the client terminals 103 by and from the edge servers 102 and not from the origin server 105. In such a manner, the distribution of the encoded copies of the media content elements 101 to edge servers 102 actually reduces the consumption of satellite communication needed to provide media content from the origin server 105 to the client terminals 103. The client terminals 103 are streamed, for example as described below, via last mile connections, so that each media content element is streamed only once.

As outlined above, the system 100 further the authorization server 106, also referred to as a right management server. The authorization server 106 receives and authorizes requests for streaming media content elements. The requests are optionally received from client terminals 103 at the edge servers 102 and forwarded to the authorization server 106 via a satellite connection. Such a request may be implemented as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and therefore has a minimal size, for example few kilobits or kilobytes.

The authorization server 106 authorizes the requests, for example according to information from respective subscriber records and/or a connection to billing server(s) (not shown). The authorization server 106 generates decryption keys and forwards them to the edge servers 102 which decode the respective encoded copies of the requested media content element accordingly and stream them to the requesting client terminals 103.

For example, reference is now also made to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart 200 of a method of streaming requested media content with relatively low satellite communication consumption, according to some embodiments of the present invention. First, as shown at 201, the client terminal 103 generates a request for a certain media content element. The request is optionally generated based on a user selection, for example based on a graphical user interface (GUI) which is presented thereto, for instance in a webpage or by a widget. Optionally, a content management system (CMS), such as an OTT main server 110, which is connected to the edge servers via internet 111 manages a website, webpage, and/or any other digital content providing medium, to allow users of the client terminals 103 to receive information about which media content elements 101 are available thereto. Optionally, the OTT main server 110 receives a catalogue of the media content elements, which are stored in the origin server(s) 105, and updates an electronic program guide(s) (EPG(s)) which are made available to the client terminals 103 accordingly.

As shown at 202, the request is forwarded to a proximate edge server 103, for example via a last mile connection. The request may be only few kilobytes in size and includes a client terminal identifier, a user identifier, a requested content, a payment approval and/or a payment receipt and/or reference. The proximate edge server 103, as shown at 203, forwards the request, via a satellite connection, to the authorization server 106 that authorizes the request. For brevity, in the figures, solid lines are indicative of last mile communication and dashed lines are indicative of satellite communication. The authorization may be performed in various methods, for example as known in the art. Now, if an authorization is acquired, a decryption key is generated, as shown at 204.

A response to the request, with the decryption key, is sent to the proximate edge server 102. As shown at 205, the proximate edge server uses the decryption key to decode the encoded copy of the requested media content element and, as shown at 206, to stream it to the requesting client terminal via a last mile connection. As shown at 207, the client terminal 103 presents the streamed content on a connected display.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application many relevant systems and methods will be developed and the scope of the term a computing unit, a network, a last mile, and a last mile connection is intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

As used herein the term "about" refers to ± 10 %.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "having" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to". This term encompasses the terms "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of".

The phrase "consisting essentially of" means that the composition or method may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method. As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". Any particular embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of "optional" features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges between" a first indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A geographically distributed media content storage and access system for managing the distribution of a plurality of media content elements to a plurality of client terminals, comprising:

a plurality of geographically distributed edge servers, each connected to a storage unit configured for locally storing a copy of a distributed database with a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of media content elements; and an authorization server which receives a request for streaming any of said plurality of media content elements to a client terminal in a relative proximity to a first of said geographically distributed server;

wherein said authorization server forwards a decryption key to said first geographically distributed server which decodes accordingly a respective of said plurality of encoded copies and streams the decoded version thereof to said client terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said request is transmitted over a satellite connection and said decoded version being streamed over a non satellite connection.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said non satellite connection is selected from a group consisting of a wireless local area connection (WLAN), a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a fibre data connection, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) connection and a long term evolution (LTE) connection.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an origin server which generates an update to said distributed database and forwards said update to said plurality of geographically distributed servers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said origin server forwards said update via a multicasting transmission to each of a plurality of groups of said plurality of geographically distributed servers, each said group is found in a different satellite coverage area.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an over the top (OTT) main server which manages at least one electronic program guide (EPG) describing said plurality of media content elements and accessible to said plurality of client terminal via said plurality of geographically distributed edge servers.

7. A method of providing access to a media content element, comprising:

locally storing a plurality of encoded copies of a plurality of encoded media content elements in each of a plurality of local storage units of a plurality of geographically distributed servers;

receiving a request for streaming any of said plurality of media content elements to a client terminal in a relative proximity to a first of said geographically distributed server;

providing a decryption key to said first geographically distributed server to allow the decoding of a respective of said plurality of encoded copies accordingly; and instructing said first geographically distributed server to stream a decoded version of said respective encoded copy to said client terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said locally storing comprises multicasting at least some of said plurality of encoded copies to a group of said geographically distributed servers.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first geographically distributed server streams said decoded version over a non satellite connection which is selected from a group consisting of a wireless local area connection (WLAN), a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a fibre data connection, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) connection, and a long term evolution (LTE) connection.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said request is received over a satellite communication.