Method and apparatus for transparently multicasting identical data streams originating from different or common sources
First Claim
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1. A method for multicasting identical data streams, wherein each data stream is comprised of a plurality of packets, at a router for simultaneous receipt by multiple users comprising, at the router:
- receiving a first data stream requested by a first client;
receiving a second data stream requested by a second client;
determining that the first data stream and the second data stream are identical;
multicasting the first data stream and the second data stream into a single multicast data stream; and
transmitting the single multicast data stream to the first client and to the second client.
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Abstract
A first data stream (26) requested by a first client (1) is received at a router (16). A second data stream (24) requested by a second client (2) is also received at the router (16). The router (16) determines that the first data stream (26) and the second data stream (24) are identical. The router (16) multicasts the first data stream (26) and the second data stream (24) into a single multicast data stream (28). The single multicast data stream (28) is transmitted to the first client (1) and to the second client (2).
67 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for multicasting identical data streams, wherein each data stream is comprised of a plurality of packets, at a router for simultaneous receipt by multiple users comprising, at the router:
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receiving a first data stream requested by a first client;
receiving a second data stream requested by a second client;
determining that the first data stream and the second data stream are identical;
multicasting the first data stream and the second data stream into a single multicast data stream; and
transmitting the single multicast data stream to the first client and to the second client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
receiving a third data stream in replace of the first data stream; and
sending the first client the single multicast data stream and the third data stream.
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11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:
transmitting a signal to the first client indicating that the first client should ignore the single multicast data stream.
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12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:
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after a predetermined period of time, unicasting the third data stream to the first client; and
unicasting the second data stream to the second client.
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13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
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detecting that a source of the first data stream has not transmitted any data streams for a predetermined period of time;
ceasing transmission of the single multicast data stream; and
unicasting the second data stream to the second client.
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14. A method for comparing multiple data streams, wherein each data stream comprises a plurality of packets and each packet has a checksum, at a router comprising:
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receiving a first data stream at a first time;
modifying each checksum in the first data stream to create a first plurality of modified checksum values;
storing the first plurality of modified checksum values for a window of time in a first memory;
receiving a second data stream at a second time;
modifying each checksum in the second data stream to create a second plurality of modified checksum values;
storing the second plurality of modified checksum values for a window of time in a second memory; and
comparing the first plurality of modified checksum values with the second plurality of modified checksum values to determine if the first data stream is identical to the second data stream. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for multicasting data streams comprising:
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a network having a plurality of sources; and
a router coupled to the network operable to;
receive data streams from the plurality of sources; and
multicast identical data streams into a single multicast transmission for simultaneous receipt by multiple users, wherein the identical data streams multicast by the router originate from a common source which does not support multicasting. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for comparing multiple data streams, wherein each data stream comprises a plurality of packets, at a router comprising:
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a first memory for storing a modified checksum value for each packet received from a first data stream;
a second memory for storing a modified checksum value for each packet received from a second data stream; and
a processor, coupled to the first memory and to the second memory, programmed to compare the modified checksum values from the first data stream with the modified checksum values from the second data stream and add the modified checksum values from the first data stream with the modified checksum values of the second data stream to determine if the first data stream is identical to the second data stream. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification