Path Selection In Streaming Video Over Multi-Overlay Application Layer Multicast
AssigneeThe Chinese University of Hong Kong
InventorsYangyang Lin, Yiu Bun Lee
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Abstract
A method and a tool based on achievable bandwidth as a metric are provided for selecting paths for overlay construction in an application layer multicast system. An in-band bandwidth probing tool according to the invention can estimate achievable bandwidth, i.e., the data throughput that can be realized between two peers over the transport protocol employed. The tool can determine the amount of extra bandwidth available in the target network path so that excess data traffic can be diverted from congested path without causing new congestion in the target path.
Claims11
In a multicast data communication system, a method for selecting paths for video data between a source and ultimate destination peer nodes, the method comprising:
- providing in-band bandwidth probing tools at peer nodes between the source and the destination peer nodes, each said probing tool being independently operative, wherein paths between the peer nodes are defined at an application layer of the multicast communication system in a plurality of application layer overlays;
- at each peer node that has a probing tool,
- determining achievable bandwidth of video data directed through said peer node;
- using the achievable bandwidth as a metric at said peer node to determine useable bandwidth at the application layer for said node;
- selecting a preferred path among paths defined at the application layer to divert a fraction of video data traffic from a congested path onto another path that has the useable bandwidth.
An apparatus for a multicast data communication system comprising:
- at nodes of the multicast data communication system, a probing tool at the application layer, each said probing tool operating independently of control of other said probing tools, each probing tool for determining achievable bandwidth for video data packet traffic, each said probing tool being coupled to a transport layer having data buffers for video data packets, the transport layer being connected to a network layer in communication with a data network, the probing tool for use to cause path diversion of video data into paths defined at the application layer between a source node and ultimate destination peer nodes, the probing tool having a probe controller and a scheduler,
- the scheduler being operative to schedule delays in the sending of the video data at the data buffers to,
- the probe controller being coupled to the scheduler and being operative to control the scheduler to direct video data packets at the data buffers.
A method for a multicast data communication system comprising:
- at nodes of the multicast data communication system, determining achievable bandwidth of video data packet traffic at the application layer using a probing tool operating independently of control of other probing tools at other nodes, each probing tool for determining achievable bandwidth for video data packets, the application layer being above a transport layer having video data buffers, the transport layer being over a network layer, the network layer being coupled to a network for carrying the video data packet traffic between a source and destination peer nodes, the probing tool for use to cause path diversion of video data into paths defined at the application layer between a source node and ultimate destination peer nodes, the probing tool having a probe controller and a scheduler,
- scheduling delays in the sending of the video data from the data buffers during a probing window;
- using the achievable bandwidth to direct the video data packets at the data buffers in order to optimize usage of bandwidth on paths in the application layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.