Network with flexible multimedia data routing

• US 8,909,172 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMSC Europe GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SMSC Europe GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hetzel, Herbert, Klos, Rainer, Thiel, Christian, Becker, Claudius
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisner, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/106,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20050238020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,526 Days
• Field of Search: 370/390, 370/351, 370/270, 370/312, 370/389, 370328-337, 370/339, 370341-348, 370431-463, 370/310, 370/311, 455/403, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/503, 4555501- 903, 455/422.1, 455450-455, 455/464, 455/509, 455/334, 4553431-3435, 455/574, 709/231, 709/238
• US Class Current: 455/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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

Abstract

A digital network for communication between a plurality of subscribers by means of streaming data comprises at least one subscriber that is a transmitter, and at least one subscriber that is a receiver. At least one transmitter is adapted to be activated, and then to feed streaming data in the form of broadcasts or multicasts into the network. Furthermore, at least one receiver is adapted to be activated, and then to select from the network streaming data that are compatible with its data formats, and to read the selected streaming data from the network.

Claims

1. A digital network for communication between a plurality of subscribers by means of streaming data, comprising:

at least one subscriber comprising a transmitter designed to transmit data on the network, wherein the transmitter is adapted to automatically feed non-directed streaming data into the network at the moment in which the transmitter receives power via a supply voltage;

at least one subscriber comprising a receiver designed to receive data from the network, wherein the receiver is adapted to select a non-directed data stream compatible with the receiver, and to automatically read the streaming data of the non-directed data stream from the network at the moment in which the receiver receives power via a supply voltage; and

at least one transmitter having at least one facility for deactivation of said transmitter, or at least for reducing a transmission bandwidth of said transmitter, in the case of said streaming data not being received, or further processed, or at least further processed to a limited extent by any receiver, within a certain time interval.

2. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber including at least one of a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers.

3. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber adapted to receive streaming data and to transmit received data in a recoded form.

4. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber comprising a transmitter for transmitting additional information on at least one of a functionality of the subscriber, a status of the subscriber, and content of said streaming data.

5. The digital network according to claim 4, wherein the at least one subscriber is adapted to transmit the additional information either in the form of discrete data packages or incorporated in the streaming data, wherein the streaming data is transmitted as unicast, multicast or broadcast data.

6. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber comprising a receiver for emitting additional information on at least one of a functionality of the subscriber and a status of the subscriber.

7. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber adapted to receive and evaluate additional information from other subscribers.

8. The digital network according to claim 7, wherein the at least one subscriber comprises a facility for specifically requesting the additional information from the other subscribers.

9. The digital network according to claim 7, wherein the at least one subscriber is adapted to select data streams compatible with the receiver on the basis of the additional information or from a table disseminated in the network.

10. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber comprising a receiver, wherein said at least one subscriber comprises a facility for evaluating contents of particular data streams, and for selecting data streams that are compatible with the receiver according to given criteria.

11. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber comprising a receiver, wherein said at least one subscriber is adapted to perform a selection of data streams that are compatible with the receiver according to given criteria.

12. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber comprising a receiver, wherein said at least one subscriber is adapted so that a selection of data streams to be received by the receiver from activated or deactivated transmitters is effected by a user.

13. The digital network according to claim 12, wherein the at least one subscriber offers to the user a selection of the data streams to be received in the form of a menu comprising a listing of compatible data streams.

14. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter having at least one facility for adapting a transmission bandwidth of said transmitter to a capacity of the network.

15. The digital network according to claim 14, wherein the at least one transmitter has at least one facility for adapting the transmission bandwidth by at least one of increasing the transmission bandwidth, and reducing the transmission bandwidth.

16. The digital network according to claim 14, wherein the at least one transmitter has the facility of deactivating the transmission.

17. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter having at least one facility for analyzing a use of the data emitted by said transmitter.

18. The digital network according to claim 17, wherein the use of the data is that of interrogating other network subscribers.

19. The digital network according to claim 17, wherein the use of the data is that of interrogating receivers.

20. The digital network according to claim 17, wherein the use of the data is that of evaluating routing tables.

21. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber for controlling other subscribers designed as transmitters or receivers, either singly or in groups, and for activating or deactivating the other subscribers, as necessary.

22. The digital network according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subscriber for controlling at least one transmitter or at least one receiver to transmit particular data as streaming data into the network, or to receive particular streaming data from the network.

23. The digital network according to claim 22, wherein the at least one subscriber controls the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver to establish an assignment of transmitters and receivers to each other.

24. A digital network for communication between a plurality of subscribers by means of streaming data, comprising:

at least one subscriber comprising a transmitter designed to transmit data on the network, wherein the at least one subscriber comprising the transmitter has at least one facility for deactivation of said transmitter, or at least for reducing a transmission bandwidth of said transmitter, in the case of said data not being received, or further processed, or at least further processed to a limited extent by any receiver, within a certain time interval; and

at least one subscriber comprising a receiver designed to receive data from the network, wherein the receiver is adapted to automatically read non-directed streaming data from the network upon connecting the receiver to a supply voltage and determining that the non-directed streaming data is compatible with the receiver.