Method for ordering and transmitting of digital data amounts, particularly video signal

• US 7,304,953 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IP-Vision AB
• Original Assignee: IP-Vision AB
• Inventors: Bergstrom, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/220,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,448 Days
• Field of Search: 370/236, 370/259, 370/229, 370/235, 370/238, 370/352, 370/412, 370/415, 370419-420, 370464-465, 370/468, 370/522, 709/224, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/166 IP fragmentation; TCP segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6402 Address allocation for clients address allocation in data networks H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Method for ordering and transmission of digital data, particularly video signals, from a transmitter to a single receiver or a group of receivers where other transmission channels are searched for finding a reasonable alternative. A data signal is sent with a request for transmission of a determined video signal from a receiver to a transmitter. A data packet (I1), being a first part of the signal, is transmitted from the transmitter over a satellite channel. A following part of the signal is transmitted as another data packet (I2) over a narrowband communication channel, such as a low-cost Internet channel. Supervision of the received non-used data amount is carried out in a buffer storage at the receiver. By registering non-used data (buffer amount) at the receiver below a certain level a warning signal will be sent from the receiver to the transmitter. When receiving this warning signal the transmitter initiated transmission to the receiver of a further data packet (I1′) of the signal over the satellite channel, for thereafter continuing with transmission of a further signal amount (I2′) over the narrowband channel. This alternating transmission will be continued to save transmission capacity over the satellite connection and at the same time to maintain a transmission capacity which results in a satisfying data content in the transmitted signal.

Claims

1. Method for ordering and transmission of video signals from a transmitter to a single receiver or a group of receivers in which several transmission channels are searched to locate alternatives by choosing between unequal connection lines based on criteria for capacity and cost, comprising the steps of:

sending from a receiver to a transmitter, a data signal with a request for transmission of a predetermined video signal,

transmitting from the transmitter to the receiver a data packet which is a part of the predetermined video signal, over a channel with high capacity,

transmitting another data packet which is a following part of the predetermined video signal from the transmitter to the receiver over a lower capacity communication channel,

supervising received and non-used data in a buffer storage at the receiver,

registering non-used data below a predetermined level in the buffer storage, and sending thereby a warning signal from the receiver to the transmitter,

at receipt of said warning signal, causing the transmitter to initiate transmission to the receiver of a further data packet of the signal over the channel with high capacity, and thereafter continuing with transmission of further data packets over the lower capacity channel,

thereby alternating transmission between the high capacity channel and the lower capacity channel, to save transmission capacity over the high capacity channel, while maintaining a transmission capacity which results in a sufficient data content in the transmitted signal.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the channel with high capacity is a satellite connection.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein signals from the high and lower capacity channels are coordinated with a data program for synchronous re-setting up of an output signal.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the first data packet which is transmitted over the channel with high capacity is a starting data amount.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the data packet which is transmitted over the lower capacity channel is distributed among two or more branches by transmitting a first part over a first branch and transmitting another part over another branch.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter contains algorithms, statistics and analyzing methods for determining availability and costs for alternative transmission channels and for communicating explanations about costs to the receiver before starting of transmission to provide a possibility for options to the receiver.

7. Method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal to the receiver with an option for transmission of data signals together with one or more further data packets, including from a third party.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter carries out a coordination of two or more signals with a request for receiving of a video program, so that there is created a collective transmission to two or more receivers, after having received a confirmation signal from two receivers.

9. Method according to claim 8, including transmission of a signal which contains offers for transmission of a video program at a certain time.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the lower capacity channel is an internet channel.