Abstract: Methods and systems for content delivery are described. A content delivery network may include a request server that receives a request for content from a client device. The request server may send the request to each caching device among a plurality of caching devices. Each caching device may receive the service query and assess its current health based on one or more parameters. Each caching device may wait for a duration of time before responding to the request based on the determined current health. The caching device that is first to respond to the request may be the caching device that has the most available resources to provide the requested content to the client device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for content delivery are described. A content delivery network may include a request server that receives a request for content from a client device. The request server may send the request to each caching device among a plurality of caching devices. Each caching device may receive the service query and assess its current health based on one or more parameters. Each caching device may wait for a duration of time before responding to the request based on the determined current health. The caching device that is first to respond to the request may be the caching device that has the most available resources to provide the requested content to the client device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a communication path are disclosed. Information can be received via a first communication session based on a first messaging protocol. The first communication session can be terminated at a virtual machine of a group of virtual machines. A dynamically bound communication path to a resource can be selected based on a dynamically reconfigurable routing table for the group of virtual machines. A second communication session can be initiated, at the virtual machine, via the selected dynamically bound communication path. The information can be transmitted to the resource via the second communication session based on a second messaging protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a communication path are disclosed. Information can be received via a first communication session based on a first messaging protocol. The first communication session can be terminated at a virtual machine of a group of virtual machines. A dynamically bound communication path to a resource can be selected based on a dynamically reconfigurable routing table for the group of virtual machines. A second communication session can be initiated, at the virtual machine, via the selected dynamically bound communication path. The information can be transmitted to the resource via the second communication session based on a second messaging protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a communication path are disclosed. Information can be received via a first communication session based on a first messaging protocol. The first communication session can be terminated at a virtual machine of a group of virtual machines. A dynamically bound communication path to a resource can be selected based on a dynamically reconfigurable routing table for the group of virtual machines. A second communication session can be initiated, at the virtual machine, via the selected dynamically bound communication path. The information can be transmitted to the resource via the second communication session based on a second messaging protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a communication path are disclosed. Information can be received via a first communication session based on a first messaging protocol. The first communication session can be terminated at a virtual machine of a group of virtual machines. A dynamically bound communication path to a resource can be selected based on a dynamically reconfigurable routing table for the group of virtual machines. A second communication session can be initiated, at the virtual machine, via the selected dynamically bound communication path. The information can be transmitted to the resource via the second communication session based on a second messaging protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a communication path are disclosed. Information can be received via a first communication session based on a first messaging protocol. The first communication session can be terminated at a virtual machine of a group of virtual machines. A dynamically bound communication path to a resource can be selected based on a dynamically reconfigurable routing table for the group of virtual machines. A second communication session can be initiated, at the virtual machine, via the selected dynamically bound communication path. The information can be transmitted to the resource via the second communication session based on a second messaging protocol.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing decentralized load sharing, e.g., providing a protocol that can be used to address load balancing without the need of a central proxy device. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention addresses the decentralized load sharing problem, by allowing a group of servers to detect when more than one server attempts to process the same “work request” from a client. To address the potential conflict, each server will implement a back-off strategy for negotiating which server will actually process the work request.

Abstract: A method of securing information. The method comprises: obtaining a path to the information; and performing a security check regarding the path.

Abstract: A software module (SM) is traced from its origin as an abstract design created by a software vendor, through implementation of the abstract design into an executable SM by a software implementer, and up through delivery by the software vendor of the executable SM to a downloading device that will download the executable SM. Prior to downloading, a certification process is used to verify that the executable SM module fulfills the abstract design. Preferably, the certification process also includes an authentication process for authenticating the source of the abstract design.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing decentralized load sharing, e.g., providing a protocol that can be used to address load balancing without the need of a central proxy device. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention addresses the decentralized load sharing problem, by allowing a group of servers to detect when more than one server attempts to process the same “work request” from a client. To address the potential conflict, each server will implement a back-off strategy for negotiating which server will actually process the work request.

Abstract: A personal versatile recorder can be connected to, or integrated in, a cable television set-top terminal. The personal versatile recorder includes a central processing unit and a hard drive for mass data storage. Preferably, the personal versatile recorder has a tuner or tuners for receiving one or more transport streams from the cable system as well as analog or digital audiovisual programming. The data transport stream may encompass internet multimedia web content and associated applications to he utilized by the personal versatile recorder, Under instructions of the viewer or the agent application the central processing unit controls and facilitates various functions such as encoding, transcoding, decoding, caching, storing, playback and retrieval of any type of data or data file on the hard drive including compressed audiovisual programming content, streamed multimedia cached content, picture files, video files, audio files, HTML files, etc. for a variety of applications as described.

Abstract: An exemplary content delivery system for delivering pre-encrypted content to a first subscriber terminal includes an off line encryption system configured to generate the pre-encrypted content using a control word, a caching system configured to store the pre-encrypted content and transmit the pre-encrypted content to the first subscriber terminal, a first conditional access system configured to allow a number of subscriber terminals to decrypt the pre-encrypted content, a second conditional access system configured to allow the first subscriber terminal to decrypt the pre-encrypted content, and a first encryption renewal system associated with the first conditional access system. The first encryption renewal system is configured to authorize the second conditional access system to allow the first subscriber terminal to decrypt the pre-encrypted content.

Abstract: A Download Control Message instructs a set-top terminal in a cable television system to located and immediately begin downloading a code or other data object available over the cable system. The Download Control Message specifies, for example, the size, name, version and location (URL or transport stream and PID) of the object to be acquired by the set-top terminal. The terminal accordingly can begin immediate acquisition of the object. An address or other characteristic associated with the Download Control Message allows the system operator to target the Message to a particular set-top terminal or group of terminals.

Abstract: The structure of the combining/splitting network (10) that forms a node group is analyzed, and that information is then used to craft a set of pilot signals that efficiently and unambiguously determines the client's node group assignment. The present invention can be used in broadband networks, in which clients are organized in groups of nodes, and the grouping cannot be determined a priori. A method (110) for determining a node group to which a client is assigned: uses (111) information included in one or more pilot signals in an MPEG transport stream to determine the node group to which the client is assigned. The method (110) searches (112) for a pilot signal in the MPEG transport stream starting at a predetermined channel location in the MPEG transport stream and moves (113) to a next channel if a pilot signal is not found until a signal is found or all channels have been searched. The method (110) reports (114) an error if no pilot signal is found in any channel.

Abstract: A method of securing information. The method comprises: obtaining a path to the information; and performing a security check regarding the path.