Optimising communications
First Claim
1. A method of routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes, the method comprising:
- establishing a plurality of routes for said stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes;
at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by;
evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node, determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications, and determining whether any of said potential modifications is preferred based on the determined change, wherein the different optimising nodes'"'"' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes; and
when one or more of said preferred modifications is found, modifying one or more of said routes accordingly, and transmitting the stream to the consuming end-user nodes via the routes as thus modified.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimising nodes'"'"' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes.
50 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method of routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes, the method comprising:
-
establishing a plurality of routes for said stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by;
evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node, determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications, and determining whether any of said potential modifications is preferred based on the determined change, wherein the different optimising nodes'"'"' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes; andwhen one or more of said preferred modifications is found, modifying one or more of said routes accordingly, and transmitting the stream to the consuming end-user nodes via the routes as thus modified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A program product for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes, wherein a plurality of routes are established for said stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes, the program comprising code which when executed on an optimising node of the network will operate in conjunction with like programs executed on other such optimising nodes to perform the steps of:
-
at each of the plurality of optimising nodes, performing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by;
evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node, determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications, and determining whether any of said potential modifications is preferred based on the determined change, wherein the different optimising nodes'"'"' collections are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes; andwhen one or more of said preferred modifications is found, causing one or more of said routes to be modified accordingly, such that the stream is transmitted to the consuming end-user nodes via the routes as thus modified.
-
-
30. A communication system for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes, wherein a plurality of routes are established for said stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes, the communication system comprising a plurality of optimising nodes of said network configured so as to:
-
at each of the plurality of optimising nodes, performing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by;
evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node, determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications, and determining whether any of said potential modifications is preferred based on the determined change, wherein the different optimising nodes'"'"' collections are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes; andwhen one or more of said preferred modifications is found, cause one or more of said routes to be modified accordingly, such that the stream is transmitted to the consuming end-user nodes via the routes as thus modified.
-
-
31. A method of routing a data stream amongst a network of end-user nodes, the method comprising:
-
establishing a set of connections amongst a group of end-user nodes, each end-user node of the group establishing a connection with at least one other of said group, so as to create a plurality of routes for said stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes of said group, including at least one route via one or more relaying end-user nodes of said group; at each of a plurality of optimising end-user nodes of said group, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by; evaluating a routing criterion with respect to at least a respective sub-group of the end-user nodes, determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications, and determining whether any of said potential modifications is preferred based on the determined change; and when one or more of said preferred modifications is found, modifying one or more of said routes accordingly, and transmitting the stream to the consuming end-user nodes via the routes as thus modified.
-
Specification