Datacasting system with intermittent listener capability
AssigneeRoundbox, Inc.
InventorsPeter Andrew Mataga, Igor Slepchin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A server-client system or architecture that allows datacast applications to reliably transport data objects from a network server over a unidirectional packet network (“datacast network”) to one or more clients, each of which may be listening to the packet stream at different times. The invention allows the clients to listen intermittently to the datacast, yet still receive all of the data objects published by the server in a timely manner, and in a way that is more optimal in terms of client resource use. This ensures that listening clients can receive a complete set of the data objects broadcast while being able to conserve client processing and power resources by not requiring continuous listening by the client to the datacast.
Claims31
A method of transporting a set of data objects over a network for reception by a receiver, comprising:
- obtaining the set of data objects at a server;
- separating each data object into one or more data packets;
- providing the one or more data packets for each object to a transmitter;
- providing receiver control data to the transmitter, the receiver control data including a value for a listener interval that represents a maximum period over which the receiver may be powered down or off;
- operating the transmitter to cause transmission of the receiver control data over the network for reception by the receiver;
- and
- operating the transmitter to cause transmission of the data packets over the network for reception by the receiver, wherein the transmitter is operated such that if the receiver is powered down or off for a time period less than the listener interval, then the receiver is able to receive the one or more data packets for each data object.
A method of operating a client device to receive a set of data objects transmitted to the device over a network, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of data packets;
- assembling the plurality of data packets into one or more data objects;
- and
- receiving control data, the control data including a value for a listener interval that represents a maximum period over which a client receiver may be powered down or off.
A datacast system for transporting a set of data objects over a network, comprising:
- a server platform comprising
- a data object packetizer for generating one or more data packets from each data object;
- a receiver control data generator for generating data for controlling the operation of a receiver, the control data including a value for a listener interval that represents a maximum period over
- which the receiver may be powered down or off, and session state data that indicates the membership of the set of objects;
- and
- a transmitter controller for controlling the operation of a transmitter that transmits the one or more data packets and the receiver control data over the network;
- and
- a client platform comprising
- a data object reassembler for reassembling the data object from the one or more data packets;
- and
- a listener management module for accessing the control data and in response generating instructions for controlling the operation of a receiver that receives the transmitted one or more data packets and the receiver control data over the network.
A datacast server platform, comprising:
- a processor configured to execute a set of instructions;
- a memory configured to store the set of instructions;
- and
- a set of instructions stored in the memory, wherein when executed by the processor, the set of instructions implement a method to
- obtain a set of data objects from an application;
- separate each data object into one or more data packets;
- provide the one or more data packets for each object to a transmitter;
- provide receiver control data to the transmitter, the receiver control data including a value for a listener interval that represents a maximum period over which a receiver may be powered down or off;
- operate the transmitter to cause transmission of the receiver control data over the network for reception by the receiver;
- and
- operate the transmitter to cause transmission of the data packets over the network for reception by the receiver, wherein the transmitter is operated such that if the receiver is powered down or off for a time period less than the listener interval, then the receiver is able to receive the one or more data packets for each data object.
A datacast client platform, comprising:
- a processor configured to execute a set of instructions;
- a memory configured to store the set of instructions;
- and
- a set of instructions stored in the memory, wherein when executed by the processor, the set of instructions implement a method to
- receive a plurality of data packets;
- assemble the plurality of data packets into one or more data objects;
- and
- receive control data, the control data including a value for a listener interval that represents a maximum period over which a client receiver may be powered down or off.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.