US 2011/0216655 A1 · A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AD HOC NETWORKS IN COOPERATION WITH SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORKS

Abstract

Systems and methods for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks. Multi-network devices communicate with each other as peers in an ad hoc network while each accessing a service provider network. The multi-network devices may each receive the same real-time multimedia stream, be it broadcast or unicast, while sharing stream parity information. The peers may take corrective action to maintain uninterrupted playback of the real-time multimedia stream with no or minimal loss in perceived quality. The peers may further cooperate to facilitate bandwidth and power optimization, fast channel switching, and real-time mobile traffic and network analysis, displays and alerts.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for receiving data over multiple links comprising:

a first multi-network device (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processor and a first memory and wherein the MND is configured to establish a connection with a network service provider via a first link;
an ad-hoc network of other MNDs, wherein each of the other MNDs comprises a memory and is configured to establish an ad-hoc connection to the MND via a second link and to establish a connection with the network service provider via a third link,
wherein the MND receives data from the network service provider via the first link and stores the data in the first memory,
wherein each of the other MNDs receives the data from the network service provider via the third link and stores the data in its memory, and
wherein the processor comprises instructions that cause the MND to perform operations comprising:
monitoring the data received via the first link;
determining whether the data are complete;
and
acquiring the data from the memory of one of the other MNDs via the second link when the data are not complete.

6 more elements

A system for receiving video data streams over multiple links comprising:

a first multi-network device (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processor and a first memory and wherein the MND is configured to establish a connection with a network service provider via a first link;
an ad-hoc network of other MNDs, wherein each of the other MNDs comprises a memory and is configured to establish an ad-hoc connection to the MND via a second link and to establish a connection with the network service provider via a third link,
wherein the network service provider provides low resolution video data streams generated by:
mapping pixels of a video image into blocks of M rows and N columns, wherein each block comprises M times N cells, and wherein each cell is uniquely located by a row and column number;
and
grouping the cells of the blocks having the same row and column number into one of M times N video streams having a stream identifier,
wherein the MND receives one of the M times N video streams from the network service provider via the first link and stores the data in the first memory,
wherein each of the other MNDs receives one of the M times N video streams from the network service provider via the third link and stores the data in its memory, and
wherein the processor comprises instructions that cause the MND to perform operations comprising:
monitoring the video data stream received via the first link;
determining whether the received video data stream is complete;
and
acquiring one of the M times N video data streams from the memory of one of the other MNDs via the second link when the received video data stream is not complete.

10 more elements

A method for receiving video data over multiple links comprising:

mapping pixels of a video image into blocks of M rows and N columns, wherein each block comprises M times N cells, and wherein each cell is uniquely located by a row and column number;
grouping the cells of the blocks having the same row and column number into one of M times N video streams having a stream identifier;
establishing a first link between a first multi-network device (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processor and a first memory;
receiving at the first MND one of the M times N video streams from the network service provider via the first link;
storing the data in the first memory from the network service provider via the first link;
establishing a connection with the network service provider and each of the other MNDs via a second link, wherein each of the other MNDs comprises a processor and a memory;
receiving one of the M times N video streams from the network service provider via the second link;
storing the data in the memories of each of the other MNDs;
establishing an ad-hoc network of the other MNDs;
establishing an ad hoc connection between each of the other MNDs and the first MND via a third link;
monitoring the video data stream received via the first link;
determining whether the received video data stream is complete;
and
acquiring one of the M times N video data streams from the memory of one of the other MNDs via the third link when the received video data stream is not complete.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

A system and method for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks

Life of this patent

A system and method for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22