Method and apparatus for concurrent filtering of multiple components of streaming data

Abstract

Content filtering of data containers of multiple content types is performed using multiple filtering modules operating concurrently. An apparatus for content filtering has a set of content-specific filtering modules and a network interface for parsing a received data container into components and directing each component to a respective filtering module. A filtering module edits a component of a specific content type according to respective rules. A multiplexer combines edited components produced by the set of filtering modules to form an edited data container. A root module applies a set of basic rules to a data container and any attachments. In an alternative configuration, the apparatus employs multiple filtering modules each applying rules for all content types. Received data containers are distributed among the filtering modules and an output module arranges edited data containers of a data stream in proper sequential order.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An engine, for editing content of containers, comprising:
 at least one physical processor;   a data-memory device storing an array of encoded rules, each encoded rule specifying a respective content-editing action activated by a respective Boolean expression; and   a plurality of memory devices storing processor-executable instructions organized as:
 a plurality of transcoders, each transcoder applying at least one of said encoded rules to components of said containers; and 
 a plurality of controllers, each controller assigned a respective set of said plurality of transcoders and devised to examine containers formed according to a respective protocol. 
   
     
     
         2 . The engine of  claim 1  wherein said processor-executable instructions further comprise a network interface devised to cause at least one processor of said plurality of processors to:
 receive said containers, each container comprising components encoded in at least two of different forms, said different forms including text, audio signals, still image, animation, and video signals; and 
 direct said each container to a respective controller of said plurality of controllers. 
 
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 2  wherein said processor-executable instructions further comprise a sorting module-coupled to said network interface, causing at least one processor of said plurality of processors to sort containers into container types, each container type corresponding to a protocol according to which a container is formulated. 
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 1  wherein said processor-executable instructions further comprise:
 an operation manager causing at least one processor of said plurality of processors to perform operation, administration, and maintenance functions; and 
 a graphical user interface causing said at least one processor to:
 enter said array of encoded rules and assign to said each controller a respective set of said plurality of transcoders; and 
 store identifiers of transcoders assigned to said each controller in a configuration memory device. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The engine of  claim 1  wherein said processor-executable instructions further comprise a transcoder-load-balancing module coupled to said each controller devised to cause at least one processor of said plurality of processors to equitably assign container editing requests among transcoders assigned to said each controller. 
     
     
         6 . The engine of  claim 1  wherein said each controller and said respective set of said plurality of transcoders are installed on a blade server comprising:
 a multi-core processor having multiple cores, each core exclusively assigned to a transcoder of said respective set of said plurality of transcoders; and 
 a plurality of memory devices. 
 
     
     
         7 . The engine of  claim 6  wherein said blade server further comprise:
 a transcoder-service module coupled to each transcoder of said respective set of said plurality of transcoders causing said multi-core processor to receive new programs from external sources; and 
 a program registry causing said multi-core processor to identify a function of each new program and organize programs according to respective functions. 
 
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 7  wherein said transcoder-service module causes a core of said multi-core processor to:
 receive a specific container and an editing request from a specific controller from said plurality of controllers; 
 select and execute programs relevant to said editing request; and 
 return a result to said specific controller. 
 
     
     
         9 . The engine of  claim 7  wherein said program registry causes a core of said multi-core processor to:
 organize programs according to respective functions; and 
 replace existing programs with respective new programs. 
 
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 7  further comprising a program storage medium comprising:
 resident programs; and 
 dynamically loaded external programs.