Method and device for reliable broadcast
First Claim
1. A method for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster to a plurality of clients, the method comprising the steps of:
- the broadcaster transmitting the content data simultaneously to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway;
bi-directionally coupling the plurality of clients, each to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions, the broadcaster communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients;
determining, by the plurality of clients, a plurality of available proxy servers that may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast, wherein the plurality of clients is different from the plurality of proxy servers;
randomly selecting, by each of the plurality of clients, one of the plurality of available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast; and
contacting, by the plurality of clients, each of the selected proxy servers to initiate post-processing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is embodied in a technique for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster (including a multicaster) to a plurality of clients. After a client receives content data from the broadcaster, a plurality of available proxy servers may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast is determined. The client subsequently randomly selects one of the available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast. The client may further randomly select a delay time within a contact interval for the selected proxy server, at which time the client contacts the selected proxy server at the delay time to initiate post-processing.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for broadcasting content data from a broadcaster to a plurality of clients, the method comprising the steps of:
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the broadcaster transmitting the content data simultaneously to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway; bi-directionally coupling the plurality of clients, each to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions, the broadcaster communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients; determining, by the plurality of clients, a plurality of available proxy servers that may be contacted for post-processing after the content data broadcast, wherein the plurality of clients is different from the plurality of proxy servers; randomly selecting, by each of the plurality of clients, one of the plurality of available proxy servers to contact for post-processing after the content data broadcast; and contacting, by the plurality of clients, each of the selected proxy servers to initiate post-processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A broadcaster for broadcasting content data to a plurality of clients, the broadcaster comprising:
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a content data acquisition unit for acquiring content data for broadcast; a determination unit for determining which of a plurality of proxy servers may be contacted by the plurality of clients for post-processing wherein the plurality of clients is different from the plurality of proxy servers; a broadcast unit for broadcasting the content data to the plurality of clients along with a list specifying the proxy servers that may be contacted for post processing to permit the plurality of clients to randomly select a proxy server for post-processing, wherein the broadcast unit is adapted for simultaneously transmitting the content data to the plurality of clients via an unreliable downlink-only communications pathway; and communicating with the proxy server to provide sufficient information to handle any of the post-processing transactions requested by any one of the plurality of clients; and means for bi-directionally coupling any one of the plurality of clients to a proxy server to initiate post-processing transactions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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at least one broadcaster for broadcasting content data and post-processing instructions; a plurality of clients for receiving the broadcast content data; a plurality of proxy servers for processing requests from the plurality of clients after the content data is broadcast, wherein the plurality of clients is different from the plurality of proxy servers; wherein the post-processing instructions identify available proxy servers; and wherein the plurality of clients randomly select and contact one of the available proxy servers for post-processing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification