Linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer system and method for optimizing throughput speed and preventing data starvation

• US 8,159,949 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABroadcasting Company
• Original Assignee: ABroadcasting Company
• Inventors: Pharn, Art
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks Harold, Marsha D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Houshmand, Hooman
• Application Number:
  US11/800,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A system and method is described for formulating a linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network that analyzes capabilities of a plurality of nodes, and creating at least two linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-networks by forming a first group of nodes of the plurality of nodes having similar capabilities and establishing serial connections between nodes of the first group of nodes to form a first linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network.

Claims

1. A network for receiving and transferring streaming audio-video content over a linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network of nodes arranged in one-to-one chains to allow for the dissemination of audio-video content to multiple peers, comprising:

a content server;

a traffic server in communication with the content server configured to;

direct the arrangement of communication between a plurality of nodes and the content server,

determine a performance rating of a performance metric for each node, and

allocate each node to a sub-network based on the performance rating and a threshold of the sub-network;

one or more sub-networks comprising one or more nodes;

a first sub-network, wherein each node of the first sub-network comprises a performance rating greater than a first threshold, the first sub-network comprising;

a first node in communication with the content server as directed by the traffic server and configured to receive streaming audio-video content from the content server and no other node, and configured to output said streaming audio-video content to at most one other node,

a second node in communication with the first node as directed by the traffic server such that the first node precedes the second node in a one-to-one connection chain, the second node configured to receive said streaming audio-video content from the content server via the first node and no other node, and configured to output audio-video content to at most one other node, and

a third node in communication with the second node as directed by the traffic server, such that the second node precedes the third node in a one-to-one connection chain, the third node configured to receive said streaming audio-video content from the content server via the second node and no other node, and configured to output audio-video content to at most one other node; and

a second sub-network, wherein each node of the second sub-network contains a performance rating lower than the first threshold, the second sub-network comprising;

a fourth node in communication with the content server as directed by the traffic server, the fourth node configured to receive said streaming audio-video content from the content server and no other node, and configured to output audio-video content to at most one other node,

a fifth node in communication with the fourth node as directed by the traffic server, such that the fourth node precedes the fifth node in a one-to-one connection chain, the fifth node configured to receive said streaming audio-video content from the content server via the fourth node and no other node, and configured to output audio-video content to at most one other node, and

a sixth node in communication with the fifth node as directed by the traffic server, such that the fifth node precedes the sixth node in a one-to-one connection chain, the fifth node configured to receive said streaming audio-video content from the content server via the fifth node and no other node, and configured to output audio-video content to at most one other node.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the traffic server is adapted to direct the sixth node to communicate directly with the content server to receive said streaming audio-video content upon determining that the fifth node has failed to transmit said streaming audio-video content to the sixth node.

3. The network of claim 1, further comprising a seventh node in communication with the traffic server, such that the seventh node can receive instructions from the traffic server for communicating with another node.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the traffic server is further configured to allocate a requesting node to the first sub-network upon determining that the performance rating of the requesting node exceeds a threshold.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the performance metric comprises input throughput speed and output throughput speed.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein the performance metric comprises physical location,

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the performance metric comprises bandwidth capacity.

8. The network of claim 1, wherein each node of the first sub-network is configured to:

repeatedly determine whether the performance rating of the node falls below the first threshold; and

upon determining that the performance rating of the node falls below the first threshold, disconnect from the first sub-network.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein each node of the first sub-network is configured to:

repeatedly determine whether the performance rating of the node falls below the first threshold;

upon determining that the performance rating of the node falls below the first threshold, disconnect from the first sub-network;

upon disconnecting from the first sub-network, repeatedly determine whether the performance rating of the node exceeds the first threshold; and

upon determining that the performance rating of the node exceeds the first threshold, initiating a reconnect to the first sub-network.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein the performance metric comprises at least one of input throughput speed, output throughput speed, physical location, and bandwidth capacity.

11. A method of transferring streaming audio-video content over a linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network of nodes arranged in one-to-one chains to allow for the dissemination of audio-video content to multiple peers, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first node to receive audio-video content from a content server;

determining a first performance rating of the first node based upon a performance metric, the first performance rating exceeding a first threshold;

determining a network hierarchy position for the first node;

directing the first node to form a first sub-network and to establish inbound communications with the content server such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the content server to the first node;

receiving a request from a second node to receive audio-video content from the content server;

determining a second performance rating of the second node based upon the performance metric, the second performance rating not exceeding the first threshold;

determining a network hierarchy position for the second node;

directing the second node to form a second sub-network and to establish inbound communications with the content server such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the content server to the second node;

receiving a request from a third node to receive audio-video content from the content server;

determining a third performance rating of the third node based upon the performance metric, the third performance rating exceeding the first threshold;

determining a network hierarchy position for the third node;

directing the third node to join the first sub-network with the first node and to establish inbound communications with the first node such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the first node to the third node; and

directing the first node to transmit streaming audio-video content from the first node to the third node.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

repeatedly determining whether the first performance rating of the first node and the third performance rating of the third node exceed the first threshold; and

upon determining that the at least one of the first performance rating and the third performance rating do not exceed the first threshold. removing the at least one of the first node and the third node from the first sub-network.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a fourth node that a fifth node has failed or is no longer active, where the fourth node is part of a one-to-one chain and is proceeded in the one-to-one chain by the fifth node;

transmitting a signal directing the fourth node to establish inbound communications with the content server, such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the content server to the fourth node; and

transmitting a signal directing the fourth node to establish inbound communications with a sixth node, such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the sixth node to the fourth node.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a fourth node that a fifth node has failed or is DO longer active, where the fourth node is part of a one-to-one chain and proceeds the fifth node in the one-to-one chain; and

transmitting a signal directing the fourth node to establish outbound communications with a sixth node, such that streaming audio-video content only moves unidirectionally from the fourth node to the sixth node.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request from a fourth node and determining a node specific performance rating of the fourth node based upon the performance metric; and

determining if the performance rating for the fourth node is lower than a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, and directing the fourth node to establish inbound communications with another node only if the performance rating for the fourth node is higher than the second threshold.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the performance metric comprises at least one of input throughput speed, output throughput speed, physical location, and bandwidth capacity.