Abstract:
A system and method for utilizing account tiers in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The client devices are configured to perform content transfers for obtaining desired content items directly over the peer-to-peer network, or from a CDN server device. The client devices generate account-tier selections to choose from among the supported account tiers. A tier manager monitors, updates, and stores the tier selections from the client devices. The tier manager also calculates content prices that vary depending upon the particular selected account tier. The client devices then pay the appropriate designated content prices for accessing and utilizing desired content items.
Abstract:
A personalized entertainment and information platform (Sphere) which provides personalized content delivery across different platforms and modes of delivery. A personal media device (e.g., PC, television, and so forth) interacts with a control server configured for accessing media content and metadata over the Internet. In response to input from the user and the history of user media selection and viewing, a prioritized recommendation list is generated and queued for downloading. The associated content is then downloaded automatically to the personal media device, without the need of user interaction. At this time the user can access the downloaded content immediately without a lengthy delay in waiting for content downloading. It will be appreciated that content such as shows and movies in HD format are of significant size (e.g., up to 50GB) which would require significant download time, and tie up network and system resources.
Abstract:
Based on a user profile, content that is predicted to be desired by the user, including past episodes of a series that may have been missed by the user, is downloaded to the user's home system (12) during periods of low bandwidth usage in the home system (12). A determination is made dynamically as to whether to provide the content from a server or a peer-to-peer network based on network attributes, file size, etc.
Abstract:
A system and method for effectively supporting content distribution in an electronic network includes a content server and a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The content server stores content items received from a content provider. A recommendation engine of the content server creates a global recommendation list to identify an optimal global candidate from among the stored content items for performing an automatic and transparent content download procedure. The recommendation engine creates the global recommendation list by analyzing selectable content-ranking criteria from a plurality of device users of the client devices. The content server then downloads the optimal global candidate from the stored content items to one or more identified target devices during the content download procedure.
Abstract:
Based on a user profile, content that is predicted to be desired by the user, including past episodes of a series that may have been missed by the user, is downloaded to the user's home system (12) during periods of low bandwidth usage in the home system (12). A determination is made dynamically as to whether to provide the content from a server or a peer-to-peer network based on network attributes, file size, etc.
Abstract:
A personalized entertainment and information platform (Sphere) which provides personalized content delivery across different platforms and modes of delivery. A personal media device (e.g., PC, television, and so forth) interacts with a control server configured for accessing media content and metadata over the Internet. In response to input from the user and the history of user media selection and viewing, a prioritized recommendation list is generated and queued for downloading. The associated content is then downloaded automatically to the personal media device, without the need of user interaction. At this time the user can access the downloaded content immediately without a lengthy delay in waiting for content downloading. It will be appreciated that content such as shows and movies in HD format are of significant size (e.g., up to 50GB) which would require significant download time, and tie up network and system resources.
Abstract:
A HTML file defining a GUI (16) is created and GUI elements (32, 34) defined therein for a default screen resolution can be reconfigured as appropriate when the GUI (16) senses a new screen resolution.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network. The method begins by determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client. Next, the throughput available in a peer- to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client is determined. The required throughput is compared to the available throughput. If the available throughput is less than the required throughput, the available throughput is supplemented with additional throughput. The content is then delivered to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network and the additional throughput.