Methods and apparatus for hybrid multicast and unicast transmissions in a data network

• US 20050259584A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, An Mei, Chandhok, Ravinder Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,423,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1868 Measures taken after transmission, e.g. acknowledgments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for hybrid multicast and unicast transmissions in a data network. A method is provided for operating a server on a data network. The method includes computing a multicast cost indicator and a unicast cost indicator that are associated with multicast and unicast transmission of data. The method also includes determining that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator, and generating a transmission schedule that describes when the data will be multicasted on the data network. The method also includes transmitting the transmission schedule, and multicasting the data according to the transmission schedule

Claims

1. A method for operating a server on a data network, the method comprising:

computing a multicast cost indicator and a unicast cost indicator that are associated with multicast and unicast transmission of data;

determining that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator;

generating a transmission schedule that describes when the data will be multicasted on the data network;

transmitting the transmission schedule; and

multicasting the data according to the transmission schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the transmission schedule comprises a step of transmitting the transmission schedule via a control channel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to establish a unicast session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the transmission schedule comprises generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in a plurality of multicast cycles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the transmission schedule comprises:

repeating the steps of computing and determining for a plurality of multicast cycles until the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator;

generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in the plurality of multicast cycles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of multicasting further comprises performing any combination of encoding the data with FEC and interleaving the data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator;

generating the transmission schedule to describe a time window when a unicast session may be established to retrieve the data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

9. Apparatus for use in a server on a data network, the apparatus comprising:

a cost estimator that operates to compute a multicast cost indicator and a unicast cost indicator that are associated with multicast and unicast transmission of data;

processing logic that operates to determine that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator, and generate a transmission schedule that describes when the data will be multicasted on the data network;

transmitting logic that operates to transmit the transmission schedule, and multicast the data according to the transmission schedule.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitting logic comprises a control channel that is used to transmit the transmission schedule.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising receiving logic that operates to receive a request to establish a unicast session.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing logic operates to generate the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in a plurality of multicast cycles.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing logic operates to determine that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator for a plurality of multicast cycles, and generates the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in the plurality of multicast cycles.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitter further comprises logic to perform any combination of encoding the data with FEC and interleaving the data.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing logic operates to determine that the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator, and generate the transmission schedule to describe a time window when a unicast session may be established to retrieve the data.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

17. Apparatus for use in a server on a data network, the apparatus comprising:

means for computing a multicast cost indicator and a unicast cost indicator that are associated with multicast and unicast transmission of data;

means for determining that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator;

means for generating a transmission schedule that describes when the data will be multicasted on the data network;

means for transmitting the transmission schedule; and

means for multicasting the data according to the transmission schedule.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for transmitting the transmission schedule comprises means for transmitting the transmission schedule via a control channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for receiving a request to establish a unicast session.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for generating the transmission schedule comprises means for generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in a plurality of multicast cycles.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for generating the transmission schedule comprises:

means for repeating the steps of computing and determining for a plurality of multicast cycles until the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator; and

means for generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in the plurality of multicast cycles.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for multicasting further comprises means for performing any combination of encoding the data with FEC and interleaving the data.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining that the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator; and

means for generating the transmission schedule to describe a time window when a unicast session may be established to retrieve the data.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

25. A computer-readable media comprising instructions, which when executed by processing logic in a server, operate to transmit data on a data network, the computer-readable media comprising:

instructions for computing a multicast cost indicator and a unicast cost indicator that are associated with multicast and unicast transmission of data;

instructions for determining that the multicast cost indicator is less than the unicast cost indicator;

instructions for generating a transmission schedule that describes when the data will be multicasted on the data network;

instructions for transmitting the transmission schedule; and

instructions for multicasting the data according to the transmission schedule.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions for transmitting the transmission schedule comprise instructions for transmitting the transmission schedule via a control channel.

27. The computer-readable media of claim 25, further comprising instructions for receiving a request to establish a unicast session.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions for generating the transmission schedule comprise instructions for generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in a plurality of multicast cycles.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions for generating the transmission schedule comprises:

instructions for repeating the steps of computing and determining for a plurality of multicast cycles until the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator; and

instructions for generating the transmission schedule to describe that the data will be multicasted on the data network in the plurality of multicast cycles.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions for multicasting further comprise instructions for performing any combination of encoding the data with FEC and interleaving the data.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 25, further comprising:

instructions for determining that the unicast cost indicator is less than the multicast cost indicator; and

instructions for generating the transmission schedule to describe a time window when a unicast session may be established to retrieve the data.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

33. A method for operating a receiving terminal on a data network, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission schedule that describes how data will be transmitted;

determining that the data is to be multicasted on the data network in one or more multicast cycles; and

receiving the multicasted data during the one or more multicast cycles.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving the transmission schedule via a control channel.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

failing to receive the data during the one or more multicast cycles; and

transmitting a request to establish a unicast session to retrieve the data.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining that the data is be transmitted to the terminal via a unicast transmission; and

establishing a unicast session to retrieve the data.

37. Apparatus for use in a receiving terminal on a data network, the apparatus comprising:

logic to receive a transmission schedule that describes how data will be transmitted;

logic to determine that the data is to be multicasted on the data network in one or more multicast cycles; and

logic to receive the multicasted data during the one or more multicast cycles.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the logic to receive the transmission schedule comprises logic to receive the transmission schedule via a control channel.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

logic to determine that the data has not been received during the one or more multicast cycles; and

logic to transmit a request to establish a unicast session to retrieve the data.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

logic to determine that the data is be transmitted to the terminal via a unicast transmission; and

logic to establish a unicast session to retrieve the data.