SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BROADCASTING CONTENT TO NODES ON COMPUTER NETWORKS

• US 20080063003A1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NYIAX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Network Foundation Technologies
• Inventors: O'Neal, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/408
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06

Abstract

A system and method is provided for broadcasting content in two streams to a plurality of nodes using two tree networks. The two tree networks have a plurality of nodes where each node is a repeater node or a leaf node. The first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network. The second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network. At least one of the nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network acts as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network acts as a repeater node in the second tree network.

Claims

1. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a first tree network associated with a first data stream, the first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network associated with a second data stream, the second tree network comprising the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the second tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network; and

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network and acting as a repeater node in the second tree network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of nodes acting as repeater nodes in the first tree network act as leaf nodes in the second tree network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein substantially all of the nodes acting as repeater nodes in the first tree network act as leaf nodes in the second tree network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first tree network is a binary tree.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second tree network is a binary tree.

6. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a content server, the content server capable of transmitting at least a first stream and a second stream, each of the first and second streams comprising at least a portion of the content, and the two streams together comprising all of the content;

a first tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the first data stream, the first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the second data stream, the second tree network comprising the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the second tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network; and

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network and acting as a repeater node in the second tree network; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes receives the first data stream and the second data stream.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fraction of the content in the first data stream overlaps the fraction of the content in the second data stream.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the fraction of the content in the first data stream does not overlap the fraction of the content in the second data stream.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes further comprising a data assembler or mixer wherein the data in the first data stream and in the second data stream are assembled into a single data stream for use by that node.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a traditional server operatively connected to the content server to receive a third data stream comprising all of the content in the first data stream and all of the content in the second data stream, the third data stream being retransmitted to at least one node that is not connected to the first tree network or the second tree network.

11. A method for retransmission of broadcast data within a network system including a first tree network and a second tree network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a first node, a first stream of data comprising at least a first portion of the broadcast data from an uptree source on the first tree network and a second stream of data comprising at least a second portion of the broadcast data from an uptree source on the second tree network;

retransmitting, from the first node, the first stream of data to a plurality of downtree nodes on the first tree network;

receiving, at a second node, a first stream of data comprising at least a first portion of the broadcast data from an uptree source on the first tree network and a second stream of data comprising at least a second portion of the broadcast data from an uptree source on the second tree network; and

retransmitting, from the second node, the second stream of data to a plurality of downtree nodes on the second tree network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fraction of the content in the first data stream overlaps the fraction of the content in the second data stream.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the fraction of the content in the first data stream does not overlap the fraction of the content in the second data stream.

14. The method of claim 11 comprising the further step of assembling or mixing at the first node the first data stream and the second data stream into a single data stream containing all the content transmitted by the content server.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting from a content server to a traditional server a third stream of data comprising all of the content of the first data stream and all of the content of the second data stream;

receiving, at a third node not participating in the first tree network or the second tree network, the third data stream.

16. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a content server, the content server capable of transmitting at least a first stream, a second stream, and a third stream, each of the first, second, and third streams comprising at least a portion of the content, and the three streams together comprising all of the content;

a first tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the first data stream, the first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the second data stream, the second tree network comprising the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the second tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network; and

an augmentation server operatively connected to the content server to receive the third data stream, wherein the third data stream is retransmitted to at least one node in the first tree network or the second tree network;

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the second tree network and acting as a repeater in the first tree network; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes receives the first data stream, the second data stream, and the third data stream.

17. A method for transmission of broadcast data within a network system including a content server, a first tree network, a second tree network, and an augmentation server the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from the content server a first stream of data downtree through the first tree network, transmitting a second stream of data downtree through the second tree network, and transmitting a third data stream to an augmentation server, each of the first, second, and third streams comprising at least a portion of the content, and the three streams together comprising all of the content;

receiving, at a first node, the first stream of data from an uptree source on the first tree network, the second stream of data from an uptree source on the second tree network, and the third stream of data from the augmentation server;

retransmitting, from the first node, the first stream of data to a plurality of downtree nodes on the first tree network;

receiving, at a second node, the first stream of data from an uptree source on the first tree network, the second stream of data from an uptree source on the second tree network, and the third stream of data from the augmentation server; and

retransmitting, from the second node, the second stream of data to a plurality of downtree nodes on the second tree network.

18. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

n tree networks, where n is an integer greater than 1, each tree network comprising the plurality of nodes;

wherein each node is included in each of the n tree networks as one of a repeater node or a leaf node; and

wherein at least one leaf node in each of the n tree networks is included in at least one other of the n tree networks as a repeater node and at least one repeater node in each of the n tree networks is included in at least one other of the n tree networks as a leaf node.

19. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

n tree networks, where n is an integer greater than 1, each tree network being associated with a data stream, each of the n tree networks comprising the plurality of nodes;

wherein each node is included in each of the n tree networks as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, and wherein the data stream associated with each of the n tree networks is retransmitted down the tree network it is associated with by each repeater node in that tree network; and

wherein at least one leaf node in each of the n tree networks is included in at least one other of the n tree networks as a repeater node and at least one repeater node in each of the n tree networks is included in at least one other of the n tree networks as a leaf node.

20. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a content server, the content server transmitting a first stream and a second stream;

a first tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the first data stream, the first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network operatively connected to the content server to receive the second data stream, the second tree network comprising the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the second tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein the second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network; and

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network and acting as a repeater node in the second tree network.

21. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein data transmitted down the first tree network is transmitted by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein data transmitted down the second tree network is transmitted by each repeater node in the second tree network;

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network and acting as a repeater node in the second tree network.

22. A broadcast system for broadcasting content to a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a first tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first tree network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein data transmitted down the first tree network is transmitted by each repeater node in the first tree network;

a second tree network comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being included in the first second network as one of a repeater node or a leaf node, wherein data transmitted down the second tree network is transmitted by each repeater node in the second tree network;

at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network and acting as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the plurality of nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network and acting as a repeater node in the second tree network; and

wherein any node in the first tree network or the second tree network may originate content and transmit the content in a first data stream and a second data stream, the first data stream being transmitted down the first tree network and the second data stream being transmitted down the second tree network.