Method and apparatus for reliable multicast distribution
US7385978B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/66
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for reliable multicast distribution includes a primary content engine and a backup content engine sender. The primary content engine sender sends out a multicast message of content to selected content engine receivers. The sender waits for negative acknowledgments from the selected content engine receivers declaring that content was not received. If a negative acknowledgment is received, the sender resends the multicast message a predetermined number of times. If the content is still not received after the number of multicast passes is exhausted, the sender sends out unicast messages to those receivers still requesting content. If the primary sender does not respond to a negative acknowledgment, the receiver sends a second negative acknowledgment to the backup multicast sender. The backup responds with the data requested in the negative acknowledgment and so is able to begin data distribution at the point where the primary sender left off without maintaining synchronicity with the primary sender.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.