Rate-controllable peer-to-peer data stream routing

A method of sending a first data stream from a first server to a client set over a computer network having at least one other server sending at least one other data stream to the client set and the first server, the method comprising:

• preparing at least one routing path set covering the client set, respective routing path sets comprising at least one routing path comprising at least one route between the first server and a client through at least zero other clients;
• and
• sending the data stream to the client set by:
• sending portions of the data stream to the clients via the routing path sets;
• detecting at least one network performance indicator of the performance of the computer network;
• and
• adjusting the apportionment of the data stream among the routing path sets according to an aggregated utility function based on the at least one network performance indicator, and according to the aggregated utility for the first server and the at least one other server.

A system configured to send a data stream to a client set, the system comprising:

• a routing path set mapping component configured to generate at least one routing path set covering the client set, respective routing path sets comprising at least one routing path comprising at least one route between the server and a client through at least zero other client;
• a data stream transmission component configured to send portions of the data stream to the clients via the routing path sets;
• a network performance detection component configured to detect the performance of the computer network while sending the portion of the data stream;
• and
• a data stream apportionment component configured to adjust the apportionment of the data stream among the routing path sets by the data stream transmission component according to the performance of the computer network detected by the network performance detection component.