Synchronization of clients to maximize multicast opportunities

• US 9,438,661 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glasser, Alan L., Gauld, Andrew G., Gopalakrishnan, Vijay, Lucas, John F., Ramakrishnan, Kadangode K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Julian
• Application Number:
  US14/665,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/201 Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A content monitor includes a processor that at least receives requests from a plurality of clients for content, instructs each client to retry their respective request at a first later time if the request is received before a first time, counts the requests to determine if a number of the requests exceeds a threshold if the request is received before a second time, instructs each client to retry their respective request at a second later time if the counted number of requests does not exceed a first threshold, instructs each client to join a multicast group to receive the content when the number of requests exceeds the first threshold, and counts a number of late clients joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions;

a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising;

instructing, if a quantity of requests for content is determined to exceed a first threshold, each of a plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content; and

determining, based on determining a number of client systems waiting to join the multicast group, if a first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been started within a period of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise counting the requests for the content to determine if the quantity of the requests for the content exceeds the first threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise counting a number of late client systems joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, to a first client system of the client systems, a set of instructions that indicate that the first client system should request the content again.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise increasing a count of client systems waiting for the content when the first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been determined to not be started within the period of time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise tracking when each client system joins the first multicast session to estimate a size of a first portion of the content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise instructing, if the quantity of the requests for the content is determined to not exceed the first threshold, each of the plurality of client systems to receive the content via unicast delivery.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling a portion of the plurality of client systems to obtain a first portion of the content via unicast delivery and a second portion of the content via the first multicast session.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise distributing a second portion of the content to late client systems in a second multicast session if the first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been determined to have been started within the period of time and if a first portion of the content has already been distributed via the first multicast session.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining an amount of the content to be distributed to each of the client systems.

11. A method, comprising:

instructing, if a quantity of requests for content is determined to exceed a first threshold, each of a plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content; and

determining, based on determining a number of client systems waiting to join the multicast group and by utilizing instructions from a memory that are executed by a processor, if a first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been started within a period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising counting the requests for the content to determine if the quantity of the requests for the content exceeds the first threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising counting a number of late client systems joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, to a first client system of the client systems, a set of instructions that indicate that the first client system should request the content again.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising increasing a count of client systems waiting for the content when the first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been determined to not be started within the period of time.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising tracking when each client system joins the first multicast session to estimate a size of a first portion of the content.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising instructing, if the quantity of the requests for the content is determined to not exceed the first threshold, each of the plurality of client systems to receive the content via unicast delivery.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising enabling a portion of the plurality of client systems to obtain a first portion of the content via unicast delivery and a second portion of the content via the first multicast session.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising distributing a second portion of the content to late client systems in a second multicast session if the first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been determined to have been started within the period of time and if a first portion of the content has already been distributed via the first multicast session.

20. A computer-readable device comprising instructions, which when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

instructing, if a quantity of requests for content is determined to exceed a first threshold, each of a plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content; and

determining, based on determining a number of client systems waiting to join the multicast group, if a first multicast session associated with the multicast group has been started within a period of time.