Method and apparatus for combining dedicated and shared networks for efficient data transmission

• US 20020080785A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulsent Corp.
• Inventors: Prakash, Adityo
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 using a combination of thresholds

Abstract

The utilization of an overflow link is envisioned within a communication network to increase bandwidth. In order to increase bandwidth when necessary, an alternate overflow network is utilized to transfer data between a local data center and an individual receiving location. In this process, a portion of the data packets are transmitted to a different receiving location with available bandwidth. The packets are then transmitted from this location to the original requesting location via a shared communications link between the two receiving locations, thus increasing the bandwidth between the local center and the individual receiving location until the additional demand is met.

Claims

1. A communication network system, comprising:

a content server coupled with a local center;

a plurality of lines, each having a hub end and a spoke end,

wherein each of the hub ends is coupled with the local center and each of the spoke ends is connected with one of the receiving locations;

a local stream manager for detecting demand for specific content;

an overflow link between at least two of the receiving locations.

2. The communication network of claim 1 where the overflow data link is a wireless link.

3. The communication network of claim 1 where the overflow data link is a shared communications link between at least two receiving locations.

4. The local stream manager of claim 1 capable of detecting load on individual links connecting the local center and the receiving locations.

5. The local stream manager of claim 1 capable of determining statistical usage pattern of the receiving locations connected to the local center.

6. The local stream manager of claim 1 capable of identifying receiving locations that have available bandwidth based upon direct detection of load on the link connecting the receiving location and the local center.

7. The local stream manager of claim 1 capable of identifying receiving locations that have available bandwidth based upon statistical usage pattern of the receiving locations.

8. The local stream manager of claim 1 capable of redirecting packets to one or more receiving locations with available bandwidth once the data rate on a link between a local center and the said receiving location reaches or exceeds a threshold level.

9. The stream manager of claim 1 capable initiating delivery of the redirected packets via the overflow link to the receiving location requesting the content.

10. The stream manager of claim 1 capable of stopping the redirecting of packets when the data rate in the link between the local center and the receiving location falls below a threshold rate.