Method and system for processing multi-media content

Abstract

A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture.

1 . A method for processing multi-media content for a user device independent of the user device location, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a first server, a request for the multi-media content from a first serving node associated with the first server;   advertising, by the first server, the request for the multi-media content;   receiving, by the first server, a message indicating availability of the multi-media content within a second serving node associated with a second server; and   sending, by the first server, a request to the second serving node to transmit the multi-media content to the first serving node for delivery of the multi-media content to the user device,   wherein when the multi-media content is received by the first serving node from the second serving node, the multi-media content is reformatted by the first serving node for display on the user device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first serving node, the multi-media content from the second serving node;   delivering, by the first serving node, the multi-media content to the user device, wherein the user device is registered with the first serving node; and   customizing, by the first serving node, a theme presented on the user device when the reformatted multi-media content is displayed on the user device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when the reception, by the first serving node, of the multi-media content from the second serving node is interrupted, the method further comprises notifying, by the first serving node, the time of the interruption to the first server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first serving node, a message indicating a status of delivery of the reformatted multi-media content to the user device, to the first server.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by the first server, the multi-media content for a period of time when a connection between the first serving node and the second serving node fails to support streaming of the multi-media content to the first serving node, wherein the period of time is based on a rating of the multi-media content, and wherein the rating of the multi-media content is based on a frequency with which the multi-media content is being requested.   
     
     
         6 . A system for processing multi-media content for a user device independent of the user device location, the system comprising:
 a first server associated with a first serving node, wherein the first server is configured to:
 receive a request for the multi-media content from the first serving node; 
 advertise the request for the multi-media content; 
 receive a message indicating availability of the multi-media content within a second serving node associated with a second server; and 
 send a request to the second serving node to transmit the multi-media content to the first serving node for delivery of the multi-media content to the user device, 
   wherein when the multi-media content is received by the first serving node from the second serving node, the multi-media content is reformatted by the first serving node for display on the user device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising the first serving node, wherein the first serving node is configured to:
 receive the multi-media content from the second serving node;   deliver the multi-media content to the user device, wherein the user device is registered with the first serving node; and   customize a theme presented on the user device when the reformatted multi-media content is displayed on the user device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein when the reception, by the first serving node, of the multi-media content from the second serving node is interrupted, the first serving node is further configured to notify the time of the interruption to the first server. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first serving node is further configured to transmit a message, indicating a status of delivery of the reformatted multi-media content to the user device, to the first server. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first server is further configured to store the multi-media content for a period of time when a connection between the first serving node and the second serving node fails to support streaming of the multi-media content to the first serving node, wherein the period of time is based on a rating of the multi-media content, and wherein the rating of the multi-media content is based on a frequency with which the multi-media content is being requested.