Abstract: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.

Abstract: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.

Abstract: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.

Abstract: Various techniques for providing a video-on-demand (VOD) system based on distributed networks are disclosed. According to one aspect of the VOD system, individual client devices on a network are identified to supply each other with needed sources in pieces to render required services. As a result, the loading pressure on a central server or centralized servers is distributed into the network. A VOD system so contemplated can sustain a substantial growth in its subscribers.

Abstract: Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.

Abstract: Techniques for transporting data in a distributed environment are described. In a media system in which boxes are configured to supply each other needed data, stabilities of data transportation among the boxes are important. According to one aspect of the techniques, when one or more supplying boxes are identified to supply respective data portions to an ordering box, each communication session between the ordering box and one of the supplying boxes is constantly monitored. If the data is not transported correctly, a backup session by a backup box is activated to replace the session in which the data is not transported correctly. Without affecting the number of available boxes that may be designated to supply data to other ordering boxes, in one embodiment, one box is used to backup multiple boxes.

Abstract: Various techniques for providing instantaneous media services are disclosed. Some of the techniques provide an instantaneous media-on-demand system, process and method for the same. Such a system offers a dynamic library with a significant number of titles from which a user may select and offers play back a desired title fairly instantly. To facilitate instant playback, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title.

Abstract: Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.

Abstract: Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.

Abstract: To facilitate instant playback of an ordered title (e.g., a movie), a file pertaining to the title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title. Should one of the boxes fails to deliver the segment according to a certain requirement (e.g., a lower transmission rate), the box gets immediately replaced by a substitute machine that continues to supply the segment from where it was stopped.

Abstract: Various techniques for a library with a significant number of titles are disclosed. A user may select and order a title whenever desired and play back the title fairly instantly. The library is dynamically updated in accordance with a schedule. According to one aspect of the techniques, whenever an ordered title is played back, a beginning portion of the data pertaining to the title is activated to be played back first. The beginning portion of the data is locally cached while the remaining portion of the data is supplied by other designated devices. To facilitate the management of the remaining portion of data for each of the titles in the library, the titles are partitioned into a number of groups or bands. The amount of the remaining portion of the data to be locally cached for each title is determined by a band the title belongs to. Further, as new titles are added in, the titles in each band are updated by retiring relatively unpopular titles to a lower band.

Abstract: Techniques for updating a library with a significant number of titles are disclosed. A library in each of the boxes in service is updated synchronously or asynchronously. Any release to update the library is performed by propagating data chunks by a gossip protocol to all boxes in service. A proper release package is then recovered in each box from the received data chunk to update the library. According to one aspect of the techniques, a small set of seeding boxes is designated to propagate at least some or all of respective received data chunks to a set of the boxes. Each of the set of the boxes is caused to recursively propagate its received data chunks to other boxes chosen to continue spreading, if necessary, some or all of the received data chunks among the boxes till each of the boxes in service has received a designated portion of the data chunks.

Abstract: Techniques of providing media services based on a hybrid architecture are disclosed. The hybrid architecture is provided to take the benefits, features and advantages of both distributed architecture and client-server architecture. According to one aspect of the present invention, data pertaining to a title (e.g., a movie, a game, a data file or a piece of footage) is divided or organized into several segments that are distributed among boxes in service. General orders of titles being offered in a library are fulfilled by a group of selected client devices delivering respective segments to an ordering box. Special orders of certain programs (e.g., a live event or a rare title not included in the library) are fulfilled directly by at least a server. In addition, the server is configured to supply some of the segments to an ordering box or back up any one of the selected boxes designated to supply the needed data to an ordering box.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying a library of many movies and providing interactive mechanisms for users to browse the library, select or order a title are disclosed. In one embodiment, data pertaining to a title is distributed across a network. Whenever a movie is ordered, depending on implementation, either a leading portion of the data locally cached is played back or a time-fill program is activated during which distributed data is fetched as data streams from a set of designated boxes. In addition, movie titles are presented or displayed in movie banners, each resembling at least part or all of a corresponding movie poster distributed and promoted commercially by a studio or production company. Such a movie banner provides an expression with substantially similar style, colors and background such that a coincident impact may be created on audience when the movie banner is seen. Further each of the banners is embedded with a link that leads to a full review of the movie when selected.

Abstract: To facilitate instant playback of an ordered title (e.g., a movie), a file pertaining to the title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title. Should one of the boxes fails to deliver the segment according to a certain requirement (e.g., a lower transmission rate), the box gets immediately replaced by a substitute machine that continues to supply the segment from where it was stopped.

Abstract: Various techniques for providing instantaneous media services are disclosed. Some of the techniques provide an instantaneous media-on-demand system, process and method for the same. Such a system offers a dynamic library with a significant number of titles from which a user may select and offers play back a desired title fairly instantly. To facilitate instant playback, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title.

Abstract: Various techniques for providing a video-on-demand (VOD) system based on distributed networks are disclosed. According to one aspect of the VOD system, individual client devices on a network are identified to supply each other with needed sources in pieces to render required services. As a result, the loading pressure on a central server or centralized servers is distributed into the network. A VOD system so contemplated can sustain a substantial growth in its subscribers.

Abstract: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.

Abstract: There are terminal devices, also referred to as boxes, either newly installed or put back onto a system after a period of time. The system is configured to offer media services. An original library in each of such boxes is updated with the most demanded titles first or the least amount of data possible so that a box may be in condition sooner to not only fulfill orders for the most demanded titles but also provide needed data to other boxes. Depending on implementation, the updating of the original library in a box may be carried out by receiving data chunks by a gossip protocol from other boxes that collectively have the latest titles or receiving proper release packages from a service provider via a broadcasting or multicasting infrastructure.

Abstract: Techniques for transporting data in a distributed environment are disclosed. In a media system in which boxes are configured to supply each other needed data, stabilities of data transportation among the boxes are important. According to one aspect of the techniques, when one or more supplying boxes are identified to supply respective data portions to an ordering box, each communication session between the ordering box and one of the supplying boxes is constantly monitored. If the data is not transported correctly, a backup session by a backup box is activated to replace the session in which the data is not transported correctly. Without affecting the number of available boxes that may be designated to supply data to other ordering boxes, in one embodiment, one box is used to backup multiple boxes.