Method and apparatus for coded multipath networking using path management and protocol translation

A method comprising:

• obtaining, at a first node, a plurality of original packets to be transferred to a second node;
• generating, by the first node, coded packets by linearly combining two or more of the plurality of original packets using network coding;
• determining, by the first node, the second node, or both, a cost associated with transmitting data over each of a plurality of paths;
• transmitting the coded packets from the first node to the second node via one or more first paths of the plurality of paths;
• generating, by the first node, recoded packets by linearly combining two or more of the coded packets;
• distributing, by the first node, the recoded packets among one or more second paths of the plurality of paths based on the cost;
• and
• transmitting, by the first node, the recoded packets to the second node via the one or more second paths.

In a system having one or more first nodes, at least one second node, and a third node, wherein the second node and the third node are capable of establishing a transport session and transmitting encoded data between them via one or more available, different output paths between the second node and the third node, a method comprising:

• transmitting data from the one or more first nodes to the third node via one or more first paths;
• encoding, by the second node, the data if the data is not previously network coded to produce encoded data;
• recoding, by the second node, the data if the data is previously network coded to produce recoded data;
• and
• transmitting, by the second node the encoded data and/or the recoded data via one or more second paths of the output paths from the second node to the third node.

A device for use at a first node for transferring data to a second node, the device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-volatile memory storing computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to execute a process operable to:
• transmit first data units from the first node to the second node over a first path;
• receive information about one or more second paths between the first and second nodes, the received information comprising information on the path availability or path requirements;
• determine a cost associated with the first path and each of the one or more second paths;
• transmit second data units from the first node to the second node over the first path;
• and
• generate network coded data units by:
• coding the second data units if network coding is not used in the first path;
• and
• recoding the second data units if network coding is used in the first path;
• and
• transmit the network coded data units from the first node to the second node via the second paths.