Communications network
First Claim
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1. A communications network comprising:
- a first node and a second node;
in which the first node is arranged to send data to the second node via two channels;
a first unreliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to an unreliable communications protocol; and
a second reliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to a reliable communications protocol;
in which the data comprises a plurality of parts;
in which the second node comprises a data checker for identifying data parts missing from the data received from the first node via the unreliable channel; and
for obtaining from the data received from the first node via the reliable channel the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel;
in which the second node is one of a plurality N of second nodes;
in which the unreliable channel is arranged in use to operate according to RTP operating over UDP over multicast to the plurality N of second nodes; and
the reliable channel is arranged in use to operate over TCP to a subset M<
N of the plurality N of second nodes;
in which the plurality N of second nodes are arranged in use to participate in a peer-to-peer network;
in which the subset M of the second nodes is arranged in use to receive via the reliable channel from the first node the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel; and
in which the remainder N−
M of the plurality N of second nodes are arranged in use to receive from one or other of the subset M of the second nodes the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel.
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Abstract
A communications network for reliable data transfer from a first node and a second node via two channels. A first unreliable channel transfers data according to an unreliable communications protocol such as RTP. A second reliable channel transfers the same data according to a reliable communications protocol, such as TCP. At the second node, data parts missing from the data received from the first node via the unreliable channel is detected and corresponding data parts received from the first node via the reliable channel used. The RTP channel may be operated over UDP over multicast or unicast. The TCP channel may be supplemented by a multicast group or a peer-to-peer network.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communications network comprising:
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a first node and a second node; in which the first node is arranged to send data to the second node via two channels; a first unreliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to an unreliable communications protocol; and a second reliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to a reliable communications protocol; in which the data comprises a plurality of parts; in which the second node comprises a data checker for identifying data parts missing from the data received from the first node via the unreliable channel; and
for obtaining from the data received from the first node via the reliable channel the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel;in which the second node is one of a plurality N of second nodes; in which the unreliable channel is arranged in use to operate according to RTP operating over UDP over multicast to the plurality N of second nodes; and
the reliable channel is arranged in use to operate over TCP to a subset M<
N of the plurality N of second nodes;in which the plurality N of second nodes are arranged in use to participate in a peer-to-peer network; in which the subset M of the second nodes is arranged in use to receive via the reliable channel from the first node the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel; and in which the remainder N−
M of the plurality N of second nodes are arranged in use to receive from one or other of the subset M of the second nodes the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communications network comprising:
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a first node and a second node; in which the first node is arranged to send data to the second node via two channels; a first unreliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to an unreliable communications protocol; and a second reliable channel for sending the data to the second node according to a reliable communications protocol; in which the data comprises a plurality of parts; in which the second node comprises a data checker for identifying data parts missing from the data received from the first node via the unreliable channel; and
for obtaining from the data received from the first node via the reliable channel the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel;in which the second node is one of a plurality N of second nodes in which an unreliable channel, arranged in use to operate according to RTP over UDP, is provided for each of the plurality N of second nodes and a reliable channel, arranged in use to operate according to TCP, is provided for each second node of a subset M<
N of the plurality N of second nodes;in which the plurality N of second nodes are arranged in use to participate in a multicast group and in which the subset M<
N of the second nodes are arranged in use to relay via the multicast group to a remainder N−
M of the second nodes that are not included in the subset M<
N the packets received via the reliable channels.
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11. A method of reliably transferring data via a plurality of channels in a network from a first node to a second node;
- in which the data comprises a plurality of parts;
in which the channels comprise an unreliable channel and a reliable channel;
the method including;sending the data to the second node via the unreliable channel;
sending the data to the second node via the reliable channel;identifying parts of the data missing from the data received at the second node via the unreliable channel; obtaining from the data received at the second node via the reliable channel data parts corresponding to the data parts missing from the data received at the second node via the unreliable channel; in which the second node is one of a plurality N of second nodes; in which the unreliable channel operates according to RTP operating over UDP over multicast to the plurality N of second nodes; and
the reliable channel operates over TCP to a subset M<
N of the plurality N of second nodes;in which the plurality N of second nodes participate in a peer-to-peer network; in which the subset M of the second nodes receive via the reliable channel from the first node the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel; and in which the remainder N−
M of the plurality N of second nodes receive from one or other of the subset M of the second nodes the data parts missing from the data received via the unreliable channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- in which the data comprises a plurality of parts;
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16. A method of reliably transferring data via a plurality of channels in a network from a first node to a second node:
- in which the data comprises a plurality of parts;
in which the channels comprise an unreliable channel and a reliable channel;
the method including;sending the data to the second node via the unreliable channel;
sending the data to the second node via the reliable channel;identifying parts of the data missing from the data received at the second node via the unreliable channel; obtaining from the data received at the second node via the reliable channel data parts corresponding to the data parts missing from the data received at the second node via the unreliable channel; in which the second node is one ( )a plurality N of second nodes in which an unreliable channel operating according to RTP over UDP, is provided for each of the plurality N of second nodes and a reliable channel, operating according to TCP, is provided for each second node of a subset M<
N of the plurality N of second nodes;in which the plurality N of second nodes participate in a multicast group and in which the subset M<
N of the second nodes relay via the multicast group to a remainder N-M of the second nodes that are not included in the subset M<
N the packets received via the reliable channels.
- in which the data comprises a plurality of parts;
Specification