The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2010
David Biderman, San Jose, CA (US);
William May, Jr., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Alan Tseng, Baltimore, MD (US);
Roger Pantos, Cupertino, CA (US);
James David Batson, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
David Biderman, San Jose, CA (US);
William May, Jr., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Alan Tseng, Baltimore, MD (US);
Roger Pantos, Cupertino, CA (US);
James David Batson, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses provide real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes providing multiple redundant locations that provide media content to client devices using alternative streams. To implement failover protection, a first server device or first content distribution service creates a stream, or multiple alternate bandwidth streams and generates playlist file(s). A second server device or second content distribution service creates a parallel stream, or set of streams. A client attempts to download the playlist file(s) from a first uniform resource locator (URL) using a first stream associated with the first server device or the first content distribution service. If a client is unable to download the playlist file(s) from the first URL, the client attempts to switch to an alternate stream associated with another URL.