Satellite based content distribution system using IP multicast technology
First Claim
1. A method of performing IP multicast communication, comprising the steps of:
- (a) at least one client requesting the IP multicast communication from a source via at least one bidirectional communication channel;
(b) transmitting the IP multicast communication generated at the source to at least one destination via a unidirectional communication channel that operates independently of the at least one bidirectional communication channel, wherein the at least one client is positioned in the at least one destination, and(c) converting the IP multicast communication to unicast at the at least one destination in accordance with destination information stored at the source based on data transmitted on the at least one bidirectional communication channel.
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Abstract
A method and system of performing IP multicast includes a client at one of many downstream networks that sends a request signal to an upstream network via a return channel (e.g., the Internet), and the upstream network sends the request to a media server. The media server, and for live data, a media encoder, processes a media stream to generate a real-time IP multicast communication that is output to a unidirectional satellite that transmits the IP multicast communication to the client without delay via the downstream network, and can convert the IP multicast to unicast. The bidirectional return channel allows the source to calculate billing information based on client usage statistics, and transmits confirmation acknowledgement based on a confirmation request from the upstream network. Because the routing configuration is transparent to the rest of the network, the invention applies to multi-hop networks on both sides of the satellite link.
282 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of performing IP multicast communication, comprising the steps of:
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(a) at least one client requesting the IP multicast communication from a source via at least one bidirectional communication channel; (b) transmitting the IP multicast communication generated at the source to at least one destination via a unidirectional communication channel that operates independently of the at least one bidirectional communication channel, wherein the at least one client is positioned in the at least one destination, and (c) converting the IP multicast communication to unicast at the at least one destination in accordance with destination information stored at the source based on data transmitted on the at least one bidirectional communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for IP multicast communication, comprising:
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a destination that transmits a request via a return channel and receives an IP multicast communication from a unidirectional communication channel; a source that receives the request through the return channel, and generates and transmits the IP multicast communication to the unidirectional communication channel in accordance with the request, wherein the unidirectional communication channel and the return channel operate independently; a director coupled to the source that receives conversion information via the return channel; and a conversion server coupled to the destination that converts the IP multicast communication to unicast in accordance with the conversion information and without requiring a routing table. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for IP multicast communication, comprising:
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a destination transmitting a request and receiving an IP multicast communication from a unidirectional satellite, the destination comprising, at least one downstream network having at least one client that generates the request, a reception device that receives and transmits the IP multicast communication from the unidirectional satellite to a router that is configured to communicate via a return channel, and a conversion server coupled to the destination that converts the IP multicast communication to unicast in accordance with conversion information; a source, configured to send said information to said server and to record usage statistics for a client in the destination and generate a bill in response to the usage statistics, that receives the request through the return channel, and generates and transmits the IP multicast communication to the unidirectional satellite in accordance with the request, the source comprising, a media server configured to output a processed media stream, a media encoder that receives a live media stream and transmits the live media stream to the media server for processing, an upstream network coupled to the media server that receives the processed media stream and generates the IP multicast communication, a director coupled to the source that receives the conversion information via the return channel, and a router coupled between the upstream network and a transmission device configured to transmit the IP multicast communication to the unidirectional satellite; wherein the unidirectional satellite and the return channel operate independently, and the return channel comprises the Internet.
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Specification