Synchronization of clients to maximize multicast opportunities

• US 9,800,624 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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:
  US15/222,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• 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;

receiving requests for content from a plurality of client systems;

instructing each client system of the plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content if a quantity of the requests exceeds a first threshold;

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

counting a quantity of late client systems joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise instructing each client system of the plurality of client systems to retry their respective request at a later time if the quantity of the requests does not exceed the first threshold.

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

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise estimating a size of an earlier portion of the content.

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

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise instructing, if the quantity of the requests for the content does not exceed the first threshold, each of the plurality of client systems to request unicast delivery of the content.

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

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling a portion of the plurality of client systems to obtain an earlier portion of the content after a multicast distribution of a later portion of the content has been distributed to the portion of the plurality of client systems.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining if a second portion of the content has been lost due to a network error.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the plurality of client systems, additional requests for the second portion of the content that has been lost.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise providing, to the plurality of client systems and in response to the additional requests, the second portion of the content.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining if the content is complete after sending the content to the multicast group.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise retransmitting a remaining portion of the content if the content is determined to not be complete.

14. A method, comprising:

processing requests for content from a plurality of client systems;

notifying each client system of the plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content if a quantity of the requests exceeds a first threshold;

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

counting, by utilizing instructions from a memory that are executed by a processor, a quantity of late client systems joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining if the content is complete after sending the content to the multicast group.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising retransmitting a remaining portion of the content to the multicast group if the content is determined to not be complete.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining if a second portion of the content has been lost due to a network error.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining an amount of the content to be distributed to each of the client systems.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining when each of the plurality of client systems joins the multicast session associated with the multicast group.

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

receiving requests for content from a plurality of client systems;

transmitting a notification to each client system of the plurality of client systems to join a multicast group to receive the content if a quantity of the requests exceeds a first threshold;

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

counting a quantity of late client systems joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.