Method And Device For Reliable Broadcast
First Claim
1. A method for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster to a plurality of clients, the method comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously transmitting the content data to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway;
bi-directionally coupling the plurality of clients to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions; and
the broadcaster communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients. determining by the plurality of clients, a plurality of available proxy servers that may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast;
randomly selecting, by the plurality of clients, one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast; and
contacting, by the plurality of clients, the selected proxy server to initiate post-processing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is embodied in a technique for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster (including a multicaster) to a plurality of clients. After a client receives content data from the broadcaster, a plurality of available proxy servers may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast is determined. The client subsequently randomly selects one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast. The client may further randomly select a delay time within a contact interval for the selected proxy server, at which time the client contacts the selected proxy server at the delay time to initiate post-processing.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster to a plurality of clients, the method comprising the steps of:
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simultaneously transmitting the content data to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway;
bi-directionally coupling the plurality of clients to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions; and
the broadcaster communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients. determining by the plurality of clients, a plurality of available proxy servers that may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast;
randomly selecting, by the plurality of clients, one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast; and
contacting, by the plurality of clients, the selected proxy server to initiate post-processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. An apparatus for receiving content data broadcasted from a broadcaster to a plurality of clients, the apparatus comprising:
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a reception unit for receiving broadcasted content data from the broadcaster;
a determination unit for determining a plurality of available proxy servers that may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast;
a first random selection unit for randomly selecting one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast; and
a contact unit for contacting the selected proxy server to initiate post-processing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An apparatus for broadcasting content data to a plurality of clients, the apparatus comprising:
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a content data acquisition unit for acquiring content data for broadcast;
a determination unit for determining which of a plurality of proxy servers may be contacted by the plurality of clients for post-processing; and
a broadcast unit for broadcasting the content data to the plurality of clients along with a list specifying the proxy servers that may be contacted for post processing to permit the plurality of clients to randomly select a proxy server for post-processing, wherein the broadcast unit is adapted for simultaneously transmitting the content data to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway; and
communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients; and
means for bi-directionally coupling any one of the plurality of clients to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A system comprising:
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at least one broadcaster for broadcasting content data and post-processing instructions;
a plurality of clients for receiving the broadcast con-tent data;
a plurality of proxy servers for processing requests from the plurality of clients after the content data is broadcast;
wherein the post-processing instructions identify available proxy servers; and
wherein the plurality of clients randomly select and contact one of the available proxy servers for post-processing.
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Specification