Decentralized media delivery

Abstract

A decentralized approach to delivering a media file to a requesting subscriber in a network of subscribers comprises the steps of segmenting the media file into a plurality of segments and distributing the segments of the media file among the network of subscribers, and responding to a request from the requesting subscriber by directing to that requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the media file. All of segments are assembled into the media file and displayed or stored by the requesting subscriber.

1 . A method of delivering a media file that is requested by a requesting subscriber of a network of subscribers, comprising the steps of: 
 segmenting the media file into a plurality of segments;    distributing the segments of the media file among the network of subscribers for storage on respective units of the subscribers; and    responding to a request from the requesting subscriber by directing to that requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the media file.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of assembling into the media file all of the segments that are directed to the requesting subscriber.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including the step of storing the assembled media file in a storage device of the requesting subscriber.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of copying the segments of the media file and wherein the distributing step includes distributing the copied segments among the network of subscribers in a manner such that any particular segment of the media file is stored on at least two different subscriber units.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of preventing display of the individual segments of the media file by the subscribers to whom the segments are distributed.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  including the step of allowing display of only the assembled media file by providing authorization to the requesting subscriber.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the distributed segments represent a first media file, the method including the step of distributing among the network of subscribers a plurality of segments of a second media file.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including the steps of: 
 directing the request to a controller; and  
 relaying the request from the controller to the network of subscribers, whereby the controller thereafter instructs the network of subscribers to direct to the requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the media file.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  including the steps of: 
 directing the request to the network of subscribers, whereby in response to the request the network of subscribers directs to the requesting subscriber all of the plurality of segments of the media file.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the distributing step includes tracking the location of the distributed segments in the subscriber network.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the segmenting step includes forming a bundle of several discontinuous portions of the media file.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of encrypting each of the segments of the media file.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein segmenting the media file includes segmenting the file into a plurality of packets that include header information to enable assembly of the packets into the media file and storage of the media file in the unit of the requesting subscriber.  
     
     
         14 . A method of storing a media file, such as a movie, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a network of subscribers;    distributing discrete segments of the movie to storage locations of at least some of the subscribers; and    tracking the storage locations of the segments thereby to enable subsequent collection and assembly of the segments into the media file.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including the step of preventing display of any stored, discrete segment of the movie by the subscribers.  
     
     
         16 . A subscriber network for storing a media file comprising: 
 a number of subscriber units each unit including storage device for storing a segment of the media file;    a plurality of segments of the media file that are adapted for assembly into the media file, the segments being distributed among the subscriber units; and    network means for directing to a requesting one of the subscribers all of the segments of the media file.    
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 16  wherein the media file comprises a movie.  
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17  wherein the segments each comprise several discontinuous portions of the movie.  
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of segments of another media file that are adapted for assembly into the other media file, the plurality of segments of the other media file being distributed among the subscriber units.