Retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution

• US 9,083,541 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivanti, Inc. (Ivanti Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Crimson Corporation
• Inventors: Olsen, Gregory P., Butt, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sloms, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/979,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 370228-503
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1868 Measures taken after transmission, e.g. acknowledgments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing

Abstract

A computing device configured for retransmitting lost packets for multicast is described. It includes a processor and instructions in memory. It identifies data, which it begins sending via multicast. No data is resent until all the data has been sent. The computing device requests missed packet lists and waits. It adds missed packets to a map if there are replies. It determines whether there are any missed packets and resends any missed packets. Another computing device for retransmitting lost packets for multicast is described. It includes a processor and instructions in memory. It identifies data for distribution, which it begins sending via multicast. It waits to resend any data until all of the data has been sent. A missed packet indication is requested and received. The computing device updates lists of complete and incomplete target nodes. It determines and sends a peer download instruction.

Claims

1. A computing device that is configured for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution from a computing device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

identify data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

begin sending the data for distribution via multicast;

wait to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

send a request for missed packet lists;

wait for replies to the request for the missed packet lists;

add missed packets to a map if there are replies to the request for missed packet lists;

determine whether there are any missed packets;

resend the missed packets if there are any missed packets;

determine whether to repeat operation if there are any missed packets; and

return to send requests for missed packet lists if it is determined to repeat operation.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

request one or more status messages if there are no missed packets;

wait to receive one or more status messages if there are no missed packets; and

send the status messages if there are no missed packets.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to return to send a request for missed packet lists after resending the missed packets.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein determining whether to repeat operation is based on a fixed number of repeats.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein determining whether to repeat operation is based on a time limit.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

request one or more status messages if it is determined to not repeat operation;

wait to receive one or more status messages if it is determined not to repeat operation; and

send the status messages if it is determined not to repeat operation.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein determining whether there are any missed packets is based on whether at least one missed packet list is received by the computing device.

8. A computing device that is configured for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution from a computing device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

identify data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

begin sending the data for distribution via multicast;

wait to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

request a missed packet indication;

receive a missed packet indication;

determine whether to continue based on a number of same missed packet indications;

update a list of complete target nodes;

update a list of incomplete target nodes;

determine a peer download instruction; and

send a peer download instruction.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the peer download instruction comprises an instruction for an incomplete target node to connect to a designated complete target node to obtain at least one missing packet.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the peer download instruction comprises an address of a designated complete target node.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the missed packet indication comprises a number of missed packets.

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein updating the list of complete target nodes comprises adding a target node to the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of zero packets.

13. The computing device of claim 8, wherein updating the list of incomplete target nodes comprises adding a target node to the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of one or more packets.

14. The computing device of claim 8, wherein updating the list of incomplete target nodes comprises removing a target node from the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of zero packets.

15. A method for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution from a computing device, comprising:

identifying data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

beginning to send the data for distribution from a computing device via multicast;

waiting, on the computing device, to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

sending a request for missed packet lists;

waiting for replies to the request for the missed packet lists;

adding, on the computing device, missed packets to a map if there are replies to the request for missed packet lists;

determining, on the computing device, whether there are any missed packets;

resending the missed packets if there are any missed packets;

determining whether to repeat operation if there are any missed packets; and

returning to send requests for missed packet lists if it is determined to repeat operation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

requesting one or more status messages if there are no missed packets;

waiting to receive one or more status messages if there are no missed packets; and

sending the status messages if there are no missed packets.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising returning to send a request for missed packet lists after resending the missed packets.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether to repeat operation is based on a fixed number of repeats.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether to repeat operation is based on a time limit.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

requesting one or more status messages if it is determined to not repeat operation;

waiting to receive one or more status messages if it is determined not to repeat operation; and

sending the status messages if it is determined not to repeat operation.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether there are any missed packets is based on whether at least one missed packet list is received by the computing device.

22. A method that is configured for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution from a computing device, comprising:

identifying data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

beginning to send the data for distribution via multicast;

waiting, on the computing device, to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

requesting a missed packet indication;

receiving a missed packet indication;

determining whether to continue based on a number of same missed packet indications;

updating, on the computing device, a list of complete target nodes;

updating, on the computing device, a list of incomplete target nodes;

determining a peer download instruction; and

sending a peer download instruction.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the peer download instruction comprises an instruction for an incomplete target node to connect to a designated complete target node to obtain at least one missing packet.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the peer download instruction comprises an address of a designated complete target node.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the missed packet indication comprises a number of missed packets.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein updating the list of complete target nodes comprises adding a target node to the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of zero packets.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein updating the list of incomplete target nodes comprises adding a target node to the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of one or more packets.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein updating the list of incomplete target nodes comprises removing a target node from the list corresponding to a missed packet indication of zero packets.

29. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution on a computing device comprising executable instructions for:

identifying data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

beginning to send the data for distribution via multicast;

waiting to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

sending a request for missed packet lists;

waiting for replies to the request for the missed packet lists;

adding missed packets to a map if there are replies to the request for missed packet lists;

determining whether there are any missed packets;

resending the missed packets if there are any missed packets;

determining whether to repeat operation if there are any missed packets; and

returning to send requests for missed packet lists if it is determined to repeat operation.

30. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium for retransmitting lost packets for multicast data distribution from a computing device, comprising executable instructions for:

identifying data for distribution to be distributed via a computer network to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the data for distribution comprises software files including an operating system update;

beginning to send the data for distribution via multicast;

waiting to resend any part of the data for distribution until all of the data for distribution has been sent;

requesting a missed packet indication;

receiving a missed packet indication;

determining whether to continue based on a number of same missed packet indications;

updating a list of complete target nodes;

updating a list of incomplete target nodes;

determining a peer download instruction; and

sending a peer download instruction.