Data distribution
First Claim
1. A method of operating a transmitter of data elements connected by means of a communications network to a plurality of receivers of said data elements, wherein each said data element is one of a plurality of available types of data element including a type conveying a full data set and a type conveying a data set comprising only corresponding meta-information, a meta-information data set including at least a unique identifier for a full data set to which it corresponds, and wherein each said data element includes an indication of its type, said method comprising:
- (i) receiving, from at least one of said plurality of receivers, a request to receive one of said available types of data element;
(ii) storing, in a forwarding directory, an identifier for said at least one receiver and a corresponding record of the type of data element requested at step (i);
(iii) receiving a data element to be forwarded;
(iv) from the contents of the forwarding directory identifying a receiver, as recorded in the forwarding directory at step (ii), requesting receipt of the type of the data element received at step (iii);
(v) forwarding the received data element to a receiver identified at step (iv).
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for distributing data elements from a data source (N) to receivers (H1 to H9) over a communications network. A data element may be one at least two types, including a type conveying a full data set and a type conveying a data set comprising only corresponding meta-information. The meta-information data set includes at least a unique identifier for the full data set to which it corresponds. A hierarchy of forwarding computers (P, C1 to C3) is provided to forward a data element supplied by a data source (N) to sets of receivers (H1 to H9). Each forwarding computer (P, C1 to C3) is arranged with access to a respective forwarding table for recording the requirements of receivers to receive data elements of one of the available types, each forwarding computer (P, C1 to C3) forwarding a received data element according to the contents of the respective forwarding table. A receiver (H1 to H9) of a meta-information data element may initiate a search by the forwarding computers (P, C1 to C3) for a copy of a corresponding full data set stored at another receiver (H1 to H9).
189 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of operating a transmitter of data elements connected by means of a communications network to a plurality of receivers of said data elements, wherein each said data element is one of a plurality of available types of data element including a type conveying a full data set and a type conveying a data set comprising only corresponding meta-information, a meta-information data set including at least a unique identifier for a full data set to which it corresponds, and wherein each said data element includes an indication of its type, said method comprising:
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(i) receiving, from at least one of said plurality of receivers, a request to receive one of said available types of data element;
(ii) storing, in a forwarding directory, an identifier for said at least one receiver and a corresponding record of the type of data element requested at step (i);
(iii) receiving a data element to be forwarded;
(iv) from the contents of the forwarding directory identifying a receiver, as recorded in the forwarding directory at step (ii), requesting receipt of the type of the data element received at step (iii);
(v) forwarding the received data element to a receiver identified at step (iv). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7)
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- 4. A data distribution system for distributing data elements supplied by a data source to one or more receivers, wherein the system comprises a hierarchy of forwarding computers having communication links there between, the hierarchy extending from a root forwarding computer to a plurality of end forwarding computers, said data source and each of said receivers being connected to a forwarding computer in the hierarchy, wherein a supplied data element may convey a full data set or a data set comprising only corresponding meta-information, a meta-information data set including at least a unique identifier for a full data set to which it corresponds, the supplied data element including an indication of the type of data set conveyed, and wherein each forwarding computer has access to a forwarding directory for recording the identity of at least one receiver of a data element conveying a particular type of data set and each forwarding computer is responsive to the contents of a respective forwarding directory to forward a supplied data element to a receiver selected in dependence upon the type of data set conveyed by the supplied data element.
Specification