Method and system for efficiently delivering content to multiple requesters

A method of relaying a packet in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a data content part of a first packet, the first packet comprising a reliable multicast packet;
• receiving a first destination network address part of the first packet, wherein the first destination network address is used for a first networked device;
• receiving a second destination network address part of the first packet, wherein the second destination network address is used for a second networked device;
• receiving a first reliable unicast header part of the first packet that corresponds to the first destination network address;
• receiving a second reliable unicast header part of the first packet that corresponds to the second destination network address;
• forming a packet including the data content part of the received first packet;
• and sending the formed packet to a next hop in the network.

A method of relaying a packet in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a packet that includes a data content part, a plurality of destination addresses, and a plurality of reliable unicast header parts corresponding to the plurality of destination addresses;
• separating the plurality of destination addresses and the corresponding plurality of reliable unicast header parts into a set of groups each of which corresponds to a next hop address;
• and
• composing a set of packets, each of which includes a group of at least one reliable unicast header part and corresponding at least one destination address, and each packet corresponding to a next hop address.

A network device comprising:

• a comparator for comparing an item of information associated with a first destination network address with an item of information associated with a second destination network address;
• a packet merger for combining the first destination network address, the second destination network address, and the item of information in a packet comprising a reliable multicast packet, the reliable multicast packet including a packet header comprising the first destination network address and the second destination network address, wherein the item of information is to be received at the first destination network address in a first ordinary unicast packet and at the second destination network address in a second ordinary unicast packet;
• and
• a network interface for transmitting the packet.

A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for distributing information over a network, the computer readable medium including programming instructions for:

• receiving a first request for a first item of information from a first networked device, the first request requesting the first item of information to be delivered to the first networked device as an ordinary unicast packet;
• receiving a second request for at least a part of the first item of information from a second networked device, the second request requesting the at least a part of the first item of information to be delivered to the second networked device as an ordinary unicast packet;
• and
• forming a combined packet, in response to the first request from the first networked device and the second request from the second networked device, the combined packet comprising a reliable multicast packet including a packet header comprising a first network address used for the first networked device, a second network address used for the second networked device, and the combined packet further comprises a data payload that includes at least a part of the first item of information, for delivering the data payload to multiple networked devices, wherein the at least part of the first item of information included in the data payload being destined for reception by the first networked device in a first ordinary unicast packet, and further wherein the at least part of the first item of information included in the data payload being destined for reception by the second networked device in a second ordinary unicast packet.

A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for relaying a packet in a network, the computer readable medium including programming instructions for:

• receiving a data content part of a first packet, the first packet comprising a reliable multicast packet;
• receiving a first destination network address part of the first packet, wherein the first destination network address is used for a first networked device;
• receiving a second destination network address part of the first packet, wherein the second destination network address is used for a second networked device;
• receiving a first reliable unicast header part of the first packet that corresponds to the first destination network address;
• receiving a second reliable unicast header part of the first packet that corresponds to the second destination network address;
• forming a packet including the data content part of the received first packet;
• and sending the formed packet to a next hop in the network.

A method in a network server for distributing information over a network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first request for a first item of information from a first networked device associated with a first TCP header information;
• receiving a second request for the first item of information from a second
• networked device associated with a second TCP header information;
• providing a combined packet including
• at least one address information corresponding to the first networked device and the second networked device,
• the first TCP header information and second TCP header information, and
• a data payload that includes at least a part of the first item of information being requested by the first networked device and by the second networked device;
• and
• sending the combined packet into the network.