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US 6,725,274 B1Granted
Fail-safe system for distributing streaming media having a dynamically reconfigurable hierarchy of ring or mesh topologies
AssigneeBycast Inc.
InventorDavid Slik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distribution network architecture resistant to component failure is provided for distributing streaming media which supports partial mesh and ring-based topologies. Data streams are provided to and transmitted from distribution router clusters employing a shared broadcast medium having one-to-many relationship between respective input distribution routers and output distribution routers. The shared broadcast medium can be a plurality of hubs configured to transmit packets and signaling on opposite, unidirectional paths.
Claims10
A system for distributing data streams comprising:
- a plurality of input distribution routers;
- a plurality of output distribution routers;
- and
- a broadcast network connecting the outputs of each of said input distribution routers to the inputs of said output distribution routers, said plurality of input distribution routers being configured to receive multiple equivalent data streams, said broadcast network being operable to provide duplicate said data streams from respective said input distribution routers to each said output distribution routers, said output distribution routers being operable to selectively queue packets from duplicate said data streams, to discard duplicate said packets, and to generate an output signal;
- wherein said input distribution routers are configured to store packets in said equivalent data streams in respective variable length queues, the length of said data queues being selected to accommodate a delay associated with providing a plurality of transmission paths for said equivalent data streams.
2 more elements
A method of distributing data streams comprising the steps of:
- opening a data stream from a plurality of sources therefor;
- transmitting said data stream as broadcast data streams to a plurality of input devices;
- identifying each of said broadcast data streams with a stream identification code;
- storing packets in said data stream received at each of said plurality of input devices in a first queue;
- reading from each said first queue to generate an output data stream;
- transmitting each said output data stream to a plurality of output devices;
- analyzing each said output data stream received at respective said output devices;
- storing said packets in the received said output data stream into a second queue when the corresponding said stream identification code matches a selected stream identification code;
- and
- discarding said packets corresponding to each said output data stream received at said output devices that is determined to be duplicative with respect said packets in said second queue.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.