DE102015203370B3 - Method to efficiently provide data to a user group - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method to data such. As news, video, audio broadcasts, upgrades of operating systems, computer programs, virus scanners and the like more efficient to provide a user group, users get access to the outside world via user nodes. The user nodes are connected to the outside world so that they can receive other data in addition to the self-requested data. The user nodes have local access to memory. Either in the network or at the user node, a process makes decisions as to whether the user node should store data being transmitted. The user node optionally stores the data. The user node checks for inquiries from its users, whether the data required for this purpose are in the memory (pull). The user node actively offers data (push) in certain situations.

Description

The invention relates to a method for data such. As news, video, audio, updates and / or upgrades of operating systems, computer programs, virus scanners and the like more efficient to provide a user group.

This data is transmitted in a way that makes it available to all user nodes in a coverage area. This is the case with satellite systems, broadcasting systems, but also with certain cable networks. For example, in a satellite system, all transmitted data is potentially available to each user node in a spot beam. Under a user node, in this application, for example, the satellite modem with integrated router, LAN connections and / or WLAN network, as well as locally connected memory is presented. The spotbeam in this case is the supply area. The data itself can be requested specifically by a user (pull), they can be actively distributed from services to users (push) or offered on the basis of user profiles. It is characteristic of the method that each user node checks in all cases whether the transmitted data could be of potential interest for connected users (eg for users in a company or for members of a family and devices in a household). In that case, the data is automatically saved for later potential use. With this approach, the number of "non-linear television" retransmissions in software updates and the like can be more reduced from the number of potential viewers in a spotbeam to one transmission per spotbeam.

Telecommunications operators have introduced the so-called triple play, which offers not only telephony and Internet access but also video streaming / TV. Classic channels publish their programs for direct viewing via various channels. Furthermore, various video providers, such. For example, Maxdome, Netflix, Amazon, access to feature films. The corresponding access is realized through the use of facilities such as Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku or Amazon Fire TV. These methods work well, but place a considerable burden on the transport network (typ. Fiber) and the access networks (typ. XDSL). As a consequence, distributed server content delivery networks have been developed to improve viewers' perceptual quality and network bandwidth utilization. In the case of Internet access via satellite, z. Direct to Home (DTH), the last section in the network (namely the link to the user on Earth made by the satellite) is extremely expensive, but does not form part of the optimization. This link is called Forward Link.

A method according to the preamble of claim 1 is made US 2003/0110503 A1 known.

It is an object of the present invention, the efficiency of data delivery via transmission systems such. B. to improve satellites.

To solve this problem is with the invention according to claim 1, a method to provide data to a circle of users efficiently available, it being proposed in the data at z. As news, video, audio broadcasts, upgrades of operating systems, computer programs, virus scanners and the like.

Preferably, it can be provided according to the invention that the outside world is the Internet and that the connection to the Internet is made via satellites.

In particular, it is expedient if the user node manages the memory and a gateway node informs the user nodes of pending transmissions.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the user node creates a profile for the entirety of the connected users, in particular personal preferences of the human users are estimated, but also hardware lists are created in order to determine the need for software updates and the like.

In addition, it may be advantageous if all records are evaluated and the records with the highest rating are held or stored in memory.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the transmission costs that will be incurred at a later request and the probability of future use are included in the evaluation.

It may also be expedient if user nodes which are connected via local networks (lines, coax, WiMax, WiFi, mobile radio and the like) first check on request of a data record by their users whether the data record is present locally and transmit this data record via the provide local network.

In addition, it may be useful for a group of locally connected nodes to share and manage their memory.

• – Erlangen von Kenntnissen über die Gewohnheiten von Nutzern hinsichtlich des Interesses an und/oder der Nutzung von bestimmten, über Satelliten ausgestrahlten Daten,
• – Erstellen von Gewohnheitsprofilen dieser Nutzer,
• – Übertragen von Daten durch den Sender an mindestens einen Erstnutzer,
• – Ermitteln von Werten der Wahrscheinlichkeit dafür, dass potentielle Zweitnutzer innerhalb des Empfangsbereichs der von dem Sender gesendeten Daten zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt Interesse an diesen Daten haben könnten,
• – Vergleichen der den Zweitnutzern zugeordneten Wahrscheinlichkeitswerten mit einem vorgebbaren Mindestwahrscheinlichkeitswert,
• – Speichern der von dem Sender gesendeten Daten auf Seiten derjenigen Zweitnutzer innerhalb des Empfangsbereichs des Sender, deren jeweilige Wahrscheinlichkeitswerte größer als der Mindestwahrscheinlichkeitswert sind, und
• – Löschen oder Überschreiben der auf diese Weise auf Seiten eines Zweitnutzers gespeicherten Daten, wenn die Daten für eine vorgebbare Zeitspanne nach dem Speichern nicht abgerufen worden sind.

The invention thus provides a method for transmitting data such. Message, video, audio, program update, and / or program upgrade data from a sender to a user, where the data has been requested by one of a plurality of recipient-equipped users from the sender, and potentially at a later time also requested by another user or sent to him without a request, suggested that the following steps include:

• - gaining knowledge of the habits of users with regard to the interest in and / or use of certain data transmitted by satellite,
• - creating habitual profiles of these users,
• Transferring data by the sender to at least one first user,
• Determining values of the likelihood that potential second-users could be interested in this data within the reception range of the data sent by the sender at a later time,
• Comparing the probability values assigned to the second users with a predefinable minimum probability value,
• Storing the data sent by the transmitter on the part of those second users within the reception range of the transmitter whose respective probability values are greater than the minimum likelihood value, and
• - Deleting or overwriting the data stored in this way on the part of a second user, if the data has not been retrieved for a predetermined period of time after saving.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention can be provided that when a second user, on whose side the data has been stored, these data are retrieved after their dispatch, the data from the second user associated with this memory are read.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it can be provided that, if from another secondary user, on whose side the data has not been stored, this data is retrieved, the data from a second user, where they have been stored after the shipment, be transferred to the other second user concerned.

According to the invention so alternatively via z. B. a satellite broadcast and intended for one or more users on Earth data "suspected" on the part of such users, d. H. stored in such users associated memories in which the probability is quite large that these users would request the broadcast data at a later date in turn. A storage on the part of a user thus means a storage of the data in a memory associated with this user. This can be a memory in the receiver of the user concerned or else another local memory which is networked with the receiver of the relevant user. Finally, the memory may also be outside of the user's reach.

So if another second user, on the side of the z. B. satellites broadcast and requested by the first user data has been stored, requests this data after their transfer, the data from the second user associated memory are read. If the transmitted data is requested by a second user at a later time, during which they were not "suspected" during the previous broadcast, then that data would have to be retransmitted by the sender at the request of this second user, which would be fundamentally acceptable. However, it would be better if another secondary user, on whose side the data transmitted by the transmitter and received by the at least one first user were not stored, receives this data after its transmission by another secondary user, after which it has been transmitted to the first user have been stored.

The prior art does not result in a significant reduction of redundant downloads in the same spotbeam of satellites, although in principle it is possible to record programs while they are being transmitted by satellites instead of downloading their content again at a later time. For reasons of convenience, however, this is hardly ever done.

The invention analogously provides the local storage in a satellite spot beam of offered digital content to locally handle later requests made by the user and his IT systems.

According to the invention, it is therefore intended to record digital contents which the user might need at the user location, but without the participation of the user. These digital contents could be distributed via satellite as they should be broadcast according to the program or requested by others. Content may include news, movies, music, software upgrades and the like. Before such content is sent, the operator announces its intention in a particular spotbeam, even if it is a personal requirement of a single user.

A process in the receiver analyzes these announcements and decides to record the digital content. The decision is based on the user's prior preferences for viewing specific content and on previous requests for software updates (operating systems, application programs, virus scanners ...). Through the process, any digital content offered in the Spotbeam is stored in a manner that maximizes the likelihood that it will meet a later requirement. Thus, they replace content that is less likely to be requested further, e.g. Eg old news programs or feature films that have already been viewed. The request may be made by the user himself or by equipment components that may be offline during the time of distribution. The memory used in conjunction with the receiver may be a memory internal or external to the receiver; for example, it could be an assignment on a NAS. The cost of such storage has dropped to a very low level in recent years.

In the event that a transmission is taking place, during which the data is again requested, the receiver will store the stream from that point in time and request retransmission of only the beginning.

According to a further realization, it is provided that receivers that are connected locally via DSL, WiMax or other terrestrial interfaces either check the availability of the desired contents in a neighboring storage via such a link or alternatively even share their storage.

The process that handles the memory at the user site could also be directly controlled by the operator. In this case there is no need to announce any imminent transmissions as this knowledge would be available. Such control could lead to models where customers would be offered a reduced fee if they accepted a rare interruption by advertising that was tailored to user interests and thus very efficient, with the ability to request additional information, negotiate the price, and one direct order.

The invention is of great importance for satellite providing a similar and affordable Internet experience in sparsely populated areas.

Claims (9)

Method for efficiently providing data to a user group, whereby - users gain access to the outside world via user nodes, - user nodes are connected to the outside world in such a way that they can also receive other data in addition to the self-requested data, - user nodes have local access Have memory, - either in the network or at the user node a process makes decisions about whether the user node should store data that is currently being transmitted, - the user node stores the data if necessary, - the user node checks for queries of its users, if the required Data in memory, and - the user node actively offers data in certain situations characterized in that - in the event that the transmission of a record not recorded at a user node is running and that record is requested at the node, however immediately the rest of the record is recorded and so that only the beginning of the record has to be requested again. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the outside world is the Internet and that the connection to the Internet is via satellites. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the user node manages the memory and that a gateway node informs the user nodes of pending transmissions. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user node creates a profile for the entirety of the connected users. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that personal preferences of the human users estimated but also hardware lists are created to determine the need for software updates and the like. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that all records are evaluated and the records are held with the highest rating in memory or stored. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transmission costs incurred in a later request and the likelihood of future use in the assessment. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that user nodes that are connected via local networks, upon request of a record by their users first check whether the record is available locally and make this record over the local network available. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that a group of locally connected nodes share and manage their memories.