Optimizing communications
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- evaluating a utility function for two or more end-user nodes to determine a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be derived by a respective end-user node if a data stream is consumed by the respective end-user node, the utility function being dependent on a route of the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes;
receiving information from each of the two or more end-user nodes corresponding to the evaluation of its respective utility function;
determining an overall utility value based on the information in the evaluation received from each of the two or more end-user nodes;
selecting one of the at least two different routes based on the overall utility values of the at least two different routes; and
routing the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes via the selected route.
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Abstract
A method of transmitting a data stream to end-user nodes of a network, and a corresponding communication system, program, and distribution system for distributing the program. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of routes of the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of the consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on route and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the stream; for each of the plurality of possible combinations of routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of the plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of routes for the stream based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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evaluating a utility function for two or more end-user nodes to determine a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be derived by a respective end-user node if a data stream is consumed by the respective end-user node, the utility function being dependent on a route of the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes; receiving information from each of the two or more end-user nodes corresponding to the evaluation of its respective utility function; determining an overall utility value based on the information in the evaluation received from each of the two or more end-user nodes; selecting one of the at least two different routes based on the overall utility values of the at least two different routes; and routing the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes via the selected route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device having code stored thereon that, when executed, performs a method comprising:
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evaluating a utility function for two or more end-user nodes to determine a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be derived by a respective end-user node if a data stream is consumed by the respective end-user node, the utility function being dependent on a route of the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes, and the utility function based at least in part on one or more properties corresponding to consumption of the data stream; determining an overall utility value based on respective evaluations of the utility function of the two or more end-user nodes for at least two different routes; selecting one of the at least two different routes based on the overall utility values of the at least two different routes; and routing the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes via the selected route. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication system for transmitting a data stream to two or more end-user nodes of a network, the communication system comprising:
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an optimizer and a transceiver operatively coupled to the optimizer, the optimizer configured to; evaluate a utility function for the two or more end-user nodes to determine a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be derived by a respective end-user node if the data stream is consumed by the respective end-user node, the utility function being dependent on a route of the data stream to the two or more end-user nodes, and the utility function based at least in part on one or more properties corresponding to consumption of the data stream; determine an overall utility value based on respective evaluations of the utility function of the two or more end-user nodes for at least two different routes; select one of the at least two different routes based on the overall utility values of the at least two different routes; and the transceiver configured to route the data stream to the two or more end user nodes via the selected route. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification