System and method for transferring data over a network
First Claim
1. A method of transferring a set of data over a network, the method comprising:
- monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization;
identifying a maximum monitored level of actual utilization;
calculating a block size to transfer as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization; and
receiving said block size portion of the set of data over the network at one or more intervals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for transferring a set of data over a network by monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization. The method encompasses two embodiments that utilize different algorithms.
In a first embodiment, the method identifies a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculates a threshold level of utilization as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization. The threshold level represents a level below which a set of data, such as a software update, may be transferred or downloaded over the network without interfering with other network activity at the network interface. If the actual level of utilization is less than the threshold level, at least a portion or segment of the data is received over the network. If the actual level of utilization remains below the threshold level for an extended period of time, data may be transferred over the network in progressively larger segments to take advantage of unused bandwidth.
In a second embodiment, the method identifies a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculates a size for data blocks to be transferred as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization. The data blocks represent a segment of a set of data, such as a software update that may be transferred or downloaded over the network without interfering with other network activity at the network interface. The size of the data blocks are bounded by a maximum and minimum threshold value. Computed block sizes allow effective utilization of the network bandwidth while also allowing an adaptation that supports a degree of responsiveness both on fast and slow networks.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of transferring a set of data over a network, the method comprising:
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monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization;
identifying a maximum monitored level of actual utilization;
calculating a block size to transfer as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization; and
receiving said block size portion of the set of data over the network at one or more intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 27)
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16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon one or more data structures, comprising:
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a first data field containing data representing a timestamp of when the level of actual network bandwidth utilization was monitored; and
a second data field containing data representing a quantity of data that had passed through the network interface at the a time corresponding to said time stamp.
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19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for managing the transfer of data over a network, comprising:
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a bandwidth monitoring component which monitors the level of actual bandwidth utilization for a network connection;
a network speed calculating component which calculates a network transfer speed as a function of the monitored level of utilization observed by said bandwidth monitoring component; and
a transfer management component which manages the transfer of data over the network.
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21. A method of refining network utilization determination and download data block sizes in the transfer of a set of data over a network comprising:
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obtaining a network utilization rate at a plurlity of intervals;
computing an average of said network utilization rates; and
computing a block size of data to transfer during said intervals as a function of said average. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28)
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Specification