Method and system for efficient data transmission in interactive networked environments

• US 20040221053A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terrace Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Codella, Christopher Frank, Popescu, George Viorel, Liu, Zhen
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/41 by acting on aggregated flows or links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Various methods to prioritize the transmission of interactive digital content to multiple users to achieve efficient usage of available bandwidth are disclosed. The present invention covers prioritization of transmission of digital content based on information transmitted from the receiver. In addition, prioritization of multicast transmission of digital content to multiple clients accessing a shared interactive environment can be realized.

Claims

1. A method for efficient transmission of digital content to clients via a computer network, the digital content associated with a virtual environment, comprising the steps of:

determining portions of the digital content to be transmitted to the clients;

scheduling transmission of the portions of the digital content so that the portions of the digital content are sent in a priority manner; and

transmitting the portions of the digital content to the clients in accordance with the schedule to enable scenes from the virtual environment to be rendered.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on client-defined interest stored at the sender.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content using a parametric model based on client viewpoint position, position of objects in a scene, and visual attributes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on predicted client navigation in the virtual environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on a correspondence of client interests.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on proximity of clients in a virtual space.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on aggregation of client interest and multicast transmission of the digital content to predefined interest groups.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step includes prioritizing the transmission of the portions of the digital content based on client-specified priorities determined according to service provider policies.

9. A system for efficient transmission of digital content to clients via a computer network, the digital content associated with a virtual environment and transmitted to enable the clients to render scenes from the virtual environment, comprising:

a scheduler for determining portions of the digital content to be transmitted to the clients and scheduling transmission of the portions of the digital content so that the portions of the digital content are sent in a priority manner; and

a queue for holding the portions of the digital content to be transmitted to the clients in accordance with the schedule.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on client-defined interest stored at the sender.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content using a parametric model based on client viewpoint position, position of objects in a scene, and visual attributes.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on predicted client navigation in the virtual environment.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on a correspondence of client interests.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on proximity of clients in a virtual space.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on aggregation of client interest and multicast transmission of the digital content to predefined interest groups.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduler prioritizes transmission of the portions of the digital content based on client-specified priorities determined according to service provider policies.

17. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable on the machine to perform method steps for efficient transmission of digital content to clients via a computer network, the digital content associated with a virtual environment, the method steps comprising:

determining portions of the digital content to be transmitted to the clients;

scheduling transmission of the portions of the digital content so that the portions of the digital content are sent in a priority manner; and

transmitting the portions of the digital content to the clients in accordance with the schedule to enable scenes from the virtual environment to be rendered.