Chaincast method and system for broadcasting information to multiple systems within the internet

• US 7,610,607 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kai-Wa Ng, Sim Wong Hoo
• Original Assignee: ChainCast Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Kiraly, Jozsef
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/253,117
• Time in Patent Office: 3,903 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.02, 709/218, 709/219, 709/252, 709/243, 709/239, 709/238, 709/240, 709/206, 709/231, 348/7, 725 86-106, 725109-120, 715/108, 714/712, 370/390
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast

Abstract

A method and system for performing chaincast communication to multiple communication systems within a system of coupled electronic devices. In one implementation the electronic devices can be computer systems and the system of coupled electronic devices includes the Internet. The present invention provides a system wherein a broadcast source communicates broadcast information (e.g., encoded audio radio content, encoded audio/video television content, program instructions, etc.) to a first group of electronic devices. The first group of electronic devices can be instructed by a transmission scheduler to then communicate (e.g., forward) the broadcast information to other electronic devices which devices can also be instructed to communicate to more devices, etc., thereby reducing the bandwidth requirements of the communication channel between the broadcast source and the first group of electronic devices. Slight communication delays may be encountered by the transmission forwarding, but these delays can typically be tolerated in broadcast transmissions (e.g., radio content, television content, seminars, etc.). The transmission scheduler, coupled to the Internet, is used to track and manage which devices are forwarding broadcast information to which other devices. The transmission scheduler is able to re-route communications when one or more devices terminates or to provide better communication load sharing across the system. The communication is “chaircast” because the forwarding from one device to another, to another, etc., creates a logical communication “chain” from the broadcast server to the receiving devices.

Claims

1. A method of communicating broadcast information, said method comprising:

receiving at a first user device a list comprising a plurality of different content selections;

sending from said first user device a content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to a transmission scheduler;

after said content selection is sent from said first user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a first communication link between said first user device and a second user device that is receiving and rendering to a second user broadcast information representing said content selection, wherein said first user device is downstream from said second user device;

receiving at said first user device said broadcast information from said second user device via said first communication link to render to a first user;

receiving at a third user device said list comprising said plurality of different content selections;

sending from said third user device a second content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to said transmission scheduler;

while receiving said broadcast information at said first user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a second communication link between said third user device and said first user device which is receiving said broadcast information representing said second content selection, wherein said third user device is downstream from said first user device; and

retransmitting from said first user device said broadcast information to said third user device to render to a third user via said second communication link.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said broadcast information is a radio program.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said broadcast information is a television program.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said broadcast information is a computer program.

5. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said broadcast information to said second user device from a server;

in response to said second user device shutting down and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a third communication link between said first user device and said server; and

receiving at said first user device said broadcast information from said server via said third communication link.

6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

sending status update messages to said transmission scheduler.

7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising

receiving at a fourth user device said list comprising said plurality of different content selections;

sending from said fourth user device a third content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to said transmission scheduler;

while receiving said broadcast information at said third user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a third communication link between said fourth user device and said third user device which is receiving said broadcast information representing said third content selection, wherein said fourth user device is downstream from said third user device; and

retransmitting from said third user device said broadcast information to said fourth user device to render to a fourth user via said third communication link.

8. A method of broadcasting information over a network of electronic devices, said method comprising:

receiving at a first electronic device a list comprising a plurality of different content selections;

sending from said first electronic device a content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to a transmission scheduler;

after said content selection is sent from said first electronic device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a first communication link between said first electronic device and a second electronic device of a group of electronic devices that are receiving and rendering broadcast information representing said content selection, wherein said first electronic device is downstream from said second electronic device;

receiving at said first electronic device said broadcast information to render from said second electronic device via said first communication link;

receiving at a third electronic device said list comprising said plurality of different content selections;

sending from said third electronic device a second content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to said transmission scheduler;

while receiving said broadcast information at said first electronic device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a second communication link between said third electronic device and said first electronic device which is receiving said broadcast information representing said second content selection, wherein said third electronic device is downstream from said first electronic device; and

retransmitting from said first electronic device said broadcast information to said third electronic device to render via said second communication link.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

in response to said second electronic device shutting down and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a third communication link between said first electronic device and a fourth electronic device of said group, wherein said first electronic device is downstream from said fourth electronic device; and

receiving at said first electronic device said broadcast information from said fourth electronic device via said third communication link.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising periodically sending status update messages from said electronic devices to said transmission scheduler.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said broadcast information is a radio program.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said broadcast information is a television program.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said broadcast information is a computer program.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said network of electronic devices comprises the Internet.

15. A method of communicating broadcast information, said method comprising:

receiving at a first user device a list comprising a plurality of different content selections;

sending from said first user device a content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to a transmission scheduler;

after said content selection is sent from said first user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a first communication link between said first user device and a first broadcast source which is transmitting broadcast information representing said content selection, wherein said first user device is downstream from said first broadcast source;

receiving at said first user device said broadcast information from said first broadcast source via said first communication link to render to a first user;

if said first broadcast source becomes unavailable and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a second communication link between said first user device and a second broadcast source which is transmitting said broadcast information, wherein said first user device is downstream from said second broadcast source;

receiving at said first user device said broadcast information from said second broadcast source via said second communication link;

receiving at a second user device said list comprising said plurality of different content selections;

sending from said second user device a second content selection whose delivery is requested at a present time to said transmission scheduler;

while receiving said broadcast information at said first user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a third communication link between said second user device and said first user device which is receiving said broadcast information representing said second content selection, wherein said second user device is downstream from said first user device; and

retransmitting from said first user device said broadcast information to said second user device to render to a second user via said third communication link.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said broadcast information is an audio program.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said broadcast information is a visual program.

18. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said broadcast information is a radio program.

19. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said broadcast information is a computer program.

20. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said first broadcast source is a third user device.

21. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said second broadcast source is a server.

22. A method as described in claim 15 further comprising:

while receiving said broadcast information at said second user device and in response to instructions from said transmission scheduler, creating a fourth communication link between said second user device and a broadcast target, wherein said broadcast target is downstream from said second user device; and

retransmitting from said second user device said broadcast information to said broadcast target via said fourth communication link.

23. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said broadcast target is a user device for rendering said broadcast information to a user.

24. A system for communication broadcast information comprising:

a transmission scheduler operable to receive content selections whose delivery is requested at a present time from user devices, wherein each content selection is from a list comprising a plurality of different content selections; and

one or more servers operable to transmit broadcast information representing one or more of said content selections, wherein said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to one of said servers to create a first communication link with a first user device based on said content selection of said first user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said first user device, and wherein while said first user device is receiving said broadcast information, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said first user device to create a second communication link with a second user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said second user device via said second communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information based on said content selection of said second user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said second user device, wherein said second user device is downstream from said first user device.

25. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said transmission scheduler is coupled to the Internet.

26. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said user devices register with said transmission scheduler before receiving said broadcast information.

27. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said broadcast information is an audio program.

28. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said broadcast information is a visual program.

29. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said broadcast information is a radio program.

30. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said broadcast information is a computer program.

31. A system as described in claim 24 wherein while said second user device is receiving said broadcast information, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said second user device to create a third communication link with a third user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said third user device via said third communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information based on said content selection of said third user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said third user device, wherein said third user device is downstream from said second user device.

32. A system as described in claim 31 wherein in response to said second user device shutting down, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said first user device to create a fourth communication link with said third user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said third user device via said fourth communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information.

33. A system as described in claim 32 wherein in response to said first user device shutting down, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to one of said servers to create a fifth communication link with said third user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said third user device via said fifth communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information.

34. A system as described in claim 24 wherein said transmission scheduler is operable to receive status update messages from said user devices.

35. A system for communicating broadcast information comprising:

a transmission scheduler operable to receive content selections whose delivery is requested at a present time from user devices, wherein each content selection is from a list comprising a plurality of different content selections, wherein said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to a first user device to create a first communication link with a second user device based on said content selection of said second user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said second user device, and wherein while said second user device is receiving said broadcast information, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said second user device to create a second communication link with a third user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said third user device via said second communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information based on said content selection of said third user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said third user device, wherein said second user device is downstream from said first user device, and wherein said third user device is downstream from said second user device.

36. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said user devices register with said transmission scheduler before receiving said broadcast information.

37. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said broadcast information is an audio program.

38. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said broadcast information is a visual program.

39. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said broadcast information is a radio program.

40. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said broadcast information is a computer program.

41. A system as described in claim 35 wherein while said third user device is receiving said broadcast information, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said third user device to create a third communication link with a fourth user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said fourth user device via said third communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information based on said content selection of said fourth user device to receive and to render broadcast information representing said content selection of said fourth user device, and wherein said fourth user device is downstream from said third user device.

42. A system as described in claim 41 wherein in response to said third user device shutting down, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said second user device to create a fourth communication link with said fourth user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said fourth user device via said fourth communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information.

43. A system as described in claim 42 wherein in response to said second user device shutting down, said transmission scheduler is operable to send instructions to said first user device to create a fifth communication link with said fourth user device to retransmit said broadcast information to said fourth user device via said fifth communication link to receive and to render said broadcast information.

44. A system as described in claim 35 wherein said transmission scheduler is operable to receive status update messages from said user devices.