US 7,680,151 B2 · Method and system for scheduled streaming of best effort data

Abstract

A system is provided for the controlling the transmission of best-effort filed data or programs on channels from one of plural controllers to one or more client nodes. A program is a group of files and has program information indicating to a client node how to use the files of the program. A channel is a virtual path, wherein a client node can receive program files from different channels in a separate fashion. Channels also have channel information. Multiple controllers are provided which self configure in rank order to control the schedule transmission of programs files on channels. Client nodes receive announcements of programs and channels from the controllers and selectively subscribe to the channels and programs. Client nodes can be instructed to positively acknowledge receipt of programs and also send back negative acknowledgements for ranges of data words in a program files not received. The negative acknowledgements can be consolidated to reduce the number of packets on the network. The format of packets carrying program files and acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement messages are specified.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for acknowledging a failure of a client node to receive portions of a program from a channel, each program being a group of one or more files and related program information specifying how to use the files, each channel being a distinct path from which a program can be received such that programs received from each channel are distinctly separable, the method comprising:

(a) preparing to receive original data of one or more files of a program from a particular channel,
(b) determining that plural ranges of data words of the original data were not received without error,
(c) generating a single packet indicating that the plural ranges of data words were not received, and
(d) transmitting the single packet on a return path to another node for causing the plural ranges of data words to be retransmitted,
wherein said steps (b), (c) and (d) comprise the steps of:
(e) setting a first range of data words indicating a first part of the information that the client node failed to receive without error;
(f) setting a second range of data words indicating a second part of the information that the client node failed to receive without error;
(g) determining whether or not the first range intersects the second range, the second range including data words not included in the first range;
(h) when step (g) determines that the first range intersects the second range, setting a third range of data words forming a union of the first range and the second range;
and
(i) transmitting a packet to the particular channel requesting retransmission of the data words in the third range to the client node.

8 more elements

A method for retransmitting portions of a program from a channel, each program being a group of one or more files and related program information specifying how to use the files, each channel being a distinct path from which a program can be received such that programs received from each channel are distinctly separable, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a network element on a return path between one or more client nodes and a source, of original data of one or more files of a program transmittable on a particular channel, an ANAK packet negatively acknowledging receipt without error of one or more ranges of data words of one or more of the files of the program,
(b) storing information pertinent to the received packet,
(c) starting a timer for the ANAK packet,
(d) if, before expiration of the timer, another ANAK packet is received which negatively acknowledges receipt without error of one or more ranges of data words that intersect the ranges of data words of a previously received ANAK packet, the ranges of the another ANAK packet including data words not included in the ranges of the previously received ANAK packet, the network element consolidating the ranges of the another and previously received ANAK packets so as to form a union of the ranges of the another and previously received ANAK packets, and selectively resetting the timer, and
(e) if the timer expires, the network element causing the retransmission of all ranges of original data in the consolidated ranges.

2 more elements

A method for transmitting original data reliably comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a plurality of packets containing original data of a file from a source node to one or more client nodes on a forward path from the source node to the client nodes,
(b) receiving one or more negative acknowledgement packets indicating that one or more ranges of data words were not received without error by at least one client node, wherein the one or more ranges includes a first range of data words indicating a first part of the information that the one client node failed to receive without error and a second range of data words indicating a second part of the information that the one client node failed to receive without error, and
(c) multicast retransmitting each of the plurality of packets containing the original data in each range indicated by the one or more packets,
wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of:
(d) determining whether or not the first range intersects the second range, the second range including data words not included in the first range;
(e) when step (d) determines that the first range intersects the second range. setting a third range of data words forming a union of the first range and the second range;
and
(f) transmitting a packet including the data in the third range to the one client node.

5 more elements

Apparatus for acknowledging a failure of a client node to receive portions of a program from a channel, each program being a group of one or more files and related program information specifying how to use the files, each channel being a distinct path from which a program can be received such that programs received from each channel are distinctly separable, the apparatus comprising:

(f) a receiver for receiving original data of one or more files of a program from a particular channel,
(g) a controller for determining that plural ranges of data words of the original data were not received without error, wherein the plural ranges include a first range of data words indicating a first part of the original data that the apparatus failed to receive without error and a second range of data words indicating a second part of the original data that the apparatus failed to receive without error, the second range including data words not included in the first range, wherein when the first and second ranges intersect, the controller sets a third range of data words forming a union of the first range and the second range,
(h) a generator for generating a single packet indicating that the third range of data words was not received without error, and
(i) a transmitter for transmitting the single packet on a return path to another node for causing the third range of data words to be retransmitted.

1 more element

Apparatus for retransmitting portions of a program from a channel, each program being a group of one or more files and related program information specifying how to use the files, each channel being a distinct path from which a program can be received such that programs received from each channel are distinctly separable, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving, at a network element on a return path between one or more client nodes and a source, original data of one or more files of a program transmittable on a particular channel, and an ANAK packet negatively acknowledging receipt of one or more ranges of data words of one or more of the files of the program,
a memory for storing information pertinent to the received packet,
a timer, said timer being started for the ANAK packet,
wherein if, before expiration of the timer, another ANAK packet is received which negatively acknowledges receipt without error of one or more ranges of data words that intersect the ranges of data words of a previously received ANAK packet, the ranges of the another ANAK packet including data words not included in the ranges of the previously received ANAK packet, the network element consolidates the ranges of the other and previously received ANAK packets so as to form the union of the ranges of the another and previously received ANAK packets, and selectively resets the timer, and
wherein if the timer expires, the network element causes the retransmission of all ranges of original data in the consolidated ranges.

2 more elements

Apparatus for transmitting original data reliably, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of packets containing original data of a file from a source node to one or more client nodes on a forward path from the source node to the client nodes,
a receiver for receiving one or more negative acknowledgement packets indicating that one or more ranges of data words were not received without error by at least one client node, wherein the one or more ranges includes a first range of data words indicating a first part of the information that the one client node failed to receive without error and a second range of data words indicating a second part of the information that the one client node failed to receive without error,
wherein said transmitter multicast retransmits each of the plurality of packets containing the original data in each range indicated by the one or more packets,
wherein when said transmitter determines that the first range intersects the second range, said transmitter sets a third range of data words forming a union of the first range and the second range, and transmits a packet including the data words in the third range to the one client node.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for scheduled streaming of best effort data

Life of this patent

Method and system for scheduled streaming of best effort data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32