US 8,477,635 B2 · Correlative anticipatory deltacasting

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for improving utilization of a communications system (e.g., a satellite communications system) are provided through techniques referred to herein as “deltacasting.” Some embodiments use a server-side optimizer to intercept and create fingerprints of byte-level content data traversing links of the communications system. The content fingerprints are used to transparently identify communications patterns (e.g., repetitious downloads of the same content, correlations between users, etc.), which may then be used in exploiting multicasting and/or other opportunities for increased utilization of the communication links.

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for multicasting over a communications system having a communications path between a server side of the communications system and a plurality of clients, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the method comprising:

intercepting a data block at the server side of the communications system, the data block comprising a header portion and a content portion and being communicated to a requesting client over the communications path;
updating a client usage model to indicate that the data block is being communicated to the requesting client, the client usage model being configured to represent which data blocks have been previously communicated and to which clients of the communications system the data blocks have been previously communicated;
generating a user correlation model by calculating correlations between the data blocks communicated to the requesting client and the data blocks communicated to other clients of the communications system according to the client usage model;
determining whether to multicast the data block by determining, according to the user correlation model, whether a correlation between the requesting client and a non-requesting client of the communications system is above a threshold level;
and
multicasting the data block from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting client over the communications path according to the user correlation model,
wherein the data block is multicast from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting user and the non-requesting client over the communications path when the correlation between the requesting client and the non-requesting client is above the threshold level.

4 more elements

intercepting a data block at the server side of the communications system, the data block comprising a header portion and a content portion and being communicated to a requesting client over the communications path;
updating a client usage model to indicate that the data block is being communicated to the requesting client, the client usage model being configured to represent which data blocks have been previously communicated and to which clients of the communications system the data blocks have been previously communicated;
generating a user correlation model by calculating correlations between the data blocks communicated to the requesting client and the data blocks communicated to other clients of the communications system according to the client usage model;
multicasting the data block from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting client over the communications path according to the user correlation model;
and
identifying a set of correlated clients according to the user correlation model, the set of correlated clients comprising non-requesting clients of the communications system for which a correlation between the requesting client and the respective non-requesting client is above a threshold level,
wherein the data block is multicast from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting user and the set of correlated clients.

4 more elements

A server system for multicasting over a communications system having a communications path between a server side of the communications system and a plurality of clients, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the server system comprising:

an optimizer module, configured to:
intercept a data block at the server side of the communications system, the data block comprising a header portion and a content portion and being communicated to a requesting client over the communications path;
generate a fingerprint using byte-level information comprised by the content portion of the data block;
use the fingerprint to make a matching determination, the matching determination indicating whether the data block matches a logged data block having previously been communicated to at least one of the plurality of clients of the communications system;
determine whether a trigger event has occurred according to the matching determination;
and
identify a set of correlated clients having system usage patterns that correlate with system usage patterns of the requesting client by at least a threshold correlation amount, such that the trigger event occurs when the logged data block has previously been communicated to at least one of the set of correlated clients;
and
a multicaster module, communicatively coupled with the optimizer module, and configured to:
multicast the data block from the server side of the communications system over the communications path when the trigger event has occurred according to the matching determination.

7 more elements

an optimizer module configured to:
intercept a data block at the server side of the communications system, the data block comprising a header portion and a content portion and being communicated to a requesting client over the communications path;
update a client usage model to indicate that the data block is being communicated to the requesting client, the client usage model being configured to represent which data blocks have been previously communicated and to which clients of the communications system the data blocks have been previously communicated;
and
generate a user correlation model by calculating correlations between the data blocks communicated to the requesting client and the data blocks communicated to other clients of the communications system according to the client usage model;
and
identify a set of correlated clients according to the user correlation model, the set of correlated clients comprising non-requesting clients of the communications system for which a correlation between the requesting client and the respective non-requesting client is above a threshold level;
and
a multicaster module, communicatively coupled with the optimizer module, and configured to:
multicast the data block from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting client over the communications path according to the user correlation model,
wherein the multicaster module is configured to multicast the data block from the server side of the communications system to at least the requesting client and the set of correlated clients.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description23,199 words

Summary647 words

#This disclosure relates in general to communications and, but not by way of limitation, to multicast optimization over links of a communications system.

#In some topologies of communications systems, groups of users share some or all of the forward link. For example, in some satellite communications systems, users share spot beams for communicating with a service provider (e.g., via a base station and/or gateway). Communication services provided to the users over the shared forward link may be affected by a number of factors, including bandwidth and other link conditions. For example, because all users sharing the forward link also share the link's bandwidth, any unnecessary redundancies in communications may cause sub-optimal utilization of the forward link.

#As such, it may be desirable to optimize utilization of the shared forward link by minimizing redundancies.

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures:

#FIG. 1A shows a simplified block diagram of one embodiment of a communications system for use with various embodiments;

#FIG. 1B shows a simplified block diagram of another embodiment of a communications system having multiple optimizer tunnels for use with various embodiments;

Detailed description22,271 words

#In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

#The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferred exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment. It is understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims.

#Embodiments are described for improving utilization of a communications system (e.g., a satellite communications system) by making certain types of byte-level multicasting determinations referred to herein as “deltacasting.” Some embodiments use optimizers (e.g., a server-side in-line or proxy optimizer) to intercept and create fingerprints of byte-level content data traversing links of the communications system. The content fingerprints are used to transparently identify communications patterns, which may then be used in exploiting multicasting and/or other opportunities for increased utilization of the communication links.

Facts

Application

12/686,744Filed 13 Jan 2010 · us provisional application

Priority

13 Jan 2009

Published

US 2010/0177642 A115 Jul 2010

Granted

2 Jul 2013

Term ends

16 Nov 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 672 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification14 codes

H04L 12/1859
For broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast: adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
H04B 7/185
Active relay systems: space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
H04L 12/1863
For broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast: comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports
H04L 12/1881
For broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast: with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management

Timeline

13 Jan 2009Priority claimedParent application 61/144,363
13 Jan 2010Application filedUS 12/686,744
22 Jan 2010Assigned to Viasat, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
15 Jul 2010PublishedUS 2010/0177642 A1
9 May 2012Assigned to Union Bank, N.A.security agreement
2 Jul 2013GrantedUS 8,477,635 B2
27 Mar 2019Assigned to Wilmington Trust, National Association, AS Collateral Trusteesecurity interest
7 Mar 2022Assigned to Bank of America, N.A.security agreement
1 Jun 2023Assigned to Bank of America, N.A., AS Agentsecurity agreement
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
16 Nov 2031Term endsEstimated, includes 672 days of adjustment

Correlative anticipatory deltacasting

Life of this patent

Correlative anticipatory deltacasting

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description23,199 words

Drawings

Classification14 codes

Life of this patent

Description23,199 words