Apparatus and method for selecting an optimum telecommunications link
US5974460A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/101
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method 401 and implementing system 101 are provided in which a site selection program is operable to selectively initiate sample data transfers from a plurality of mirror sites 313 on the Internet, and to make a determination, prior to a selection of a site to be contacted for a download, as to which of the sites exhibits the best transfer rates at the time of the site selection. The methodology includes a cut-off time 507 process for terminating a sample operation of any one site if the transfer time for a predetermined number of bytes "X" exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of time "Y" for the sample operation for any particular site. When the maximum time is exceeded, the program stores the number of bytes transferred during that time for comparison with other site data. After all sites have been sampled, the program determines a selected site which exhibits the best rate of data transfer, and selectively initiates the establishment of a communication link with the selected site.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.