Protocol information processing system and method information processing device and method recording medium and program

• US 7,583,666 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redwood Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kohno, Michinari
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Jr.; Otis L
• Application Number:
  US10/515,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1628 List acknowledgements, i.e. the acknowledgement message consisting of a list of identifiers, e.g. of sequence numbers H04L1/1614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1809 Selective-repeat protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1858 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of acknowledgement message

Abstract

This invention relates to a protocol, an information processing system, an information processing method for use with the system, information processing apparatuses, information processing methods for use with the apparatuses, storage media, and programs for allowing two-way network status to be known. An RTCP packet analysis unit 66 analyzes an RTCP packet in a receiver report RR received through an RTCP port 65 from a user terminal over a network. Based on an RTCP sequence number obtained from the analyzed RTCP packet, a packet loss detection unit 67 calculates a packet loss rate with respect to the user terminal on the network. An RTCP packet creation unit 69 attaches the calculated packet loss rate to a sender report SR and transmits the sender report at predetermined time intervals to the user terminal over the network. This invention applies to system that offer streaming content transmissions and real-time data deliveries over the network.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising a server for transmitting data packets over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission and a receiver for receiving the data packets;

wherein the server;

receives a report from the receiver;

acquires a sequence number from the receiver report;

calculates a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server based on the sequence number;

sets an error correction method based on the packet loss rate, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, the server sets forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, as the method for correcting transmission errors, and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, the server sets automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, as the method for correcting transmission errors;

includes the packet loss rate in a sender report; and

transmits the sender report to the receiver; and

wherein the receiver;

receives the data packets from the server,

acquires information identifying lost data packets from the data packets, and

transmits to the server a request to transmit the lost data packets, a method of transmitting the request being based upon the packet loss rate in the sender report.

2. A method for transmitting data packets from a server to a receiver over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the method comprising:

by the server;

receiving a report from the receiver;

acquiring a sequence number from the receiver report;

calculating a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server based on the sequence number;

setting a transmission error correction method based on the packet loss rate, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, the server sets forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, as the transmission error correction method, and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, the server sets automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, as the transmission error correction method;

including the packet loss rate in a sender report, and

transmitting the sender report to the receiver; and

by the receiver;

receiving the data packets from the server,

acquiring information identifying lost data packets from the data packets, and

transmitting to the server a request to transmit the lost data packets, a method of transmitting the request being based upon the packet loss rate in the sender report.

3. A server for transmitting data packets to a receiver over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the server comprising:

means for acquiring a sequence number from a report transmitted from the receiver to the server;

means for calculating a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server based on the sequence number;

means for setting a transmission error correction method based on the packet loss rate, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, the server sets forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, as the transmission error correction method, and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, the server sets automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, as the transmission error correction method;

means for transmitting a sender report containing the packet loss rate to the receiver; and

means for transmitting lost data packets in response to a request from the receiver, a format of the request being based upon the packet loss rate contained in the sender report.

4. The server according to claim 3, wherein the protocol is a combination of real-time transport protocol (RTP) and real time control protocol (RTCP).

5. A method of a server for transmitting data packets to a receiver over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the method comprising:

acquiring a sequence number from a report transmitted from the receiver;

calculating a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server based on the sequence number;

setting a transmission error correction method based on the packet loss rate, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, the server sets forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, as the transmission error correction method, and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, the server sets automatic repeat reguest (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, as the transmission error correction method;

transmitting a sender report containing the packet loss rate to the receiver; and

transmitting lost data packets in response to a request from the receiver, a format of the request being based upon the packet loss rate contained in the sender report.

6. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a server, causes the server to perform a method for transmitting data packets to a receiver over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the method comprising:

acquiring a sequence number from a report transmitted from the receiver;

calculating a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server based on the sequence number;

setting a transmission error correction method based on the packet loss rate, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, the server sets forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, as the transmission error correction method, and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, the server sets automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, as the transmission error correction method;

transmitting a sender report containing the packet loss rate to the receiver; and

transmitting lost data packets in response to a request from the receiver, a format of the request being based upon the packet loss rate contained in the sender report.

7. A receiver for receiving data packets from a server over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the receiver comprising:

means for receiving the data packets from the server;

means for acquiring information about lost data packets from the received data packets;

means for transmitting a request to the server to transmit the lost data packets, a method of transmitting the request being based upon a loss rate of packets transmitted from the receiver to the server contained in a sender report received from the server, the means for transmitting including;

means for, if the packet loss rate falls within a first range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying the same lost data packet;

means for, if the packet loss rate falls within a second range, transmitting to the server a request packet identifying multiple lost data packets; and

means for, if the packet loss rate falls within a third range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying a different lost data packet;

means for communicating in accordance with a transmission error correction method set by the server, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, is set as the transmission error correction method; and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, is set as the transmission error correction method.

8. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the protocol for packetized data transmission is a combination of real-time transport protocol (RTP) and real time control protocol (RTCP).

9. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein, if automatic repeat request (ARQ) is used for correcting transmission errors in the data packets and if the packet loss rate is greater than a reference value, the means for generating generates the request in a redundant manner.

10. A method of a receiver for receiving data packets from a server over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the method comprising:

receiving the data packets from the server;

acquiring information about lost data packets from the received data packets;

transmitting a request to the server to transmit the lost data packets, a method of transmitting the request being based upon a loss rate of packets transmitted to the server contained in a sender report received from the server and including;

if the packet loss rate falls within a first range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying the same lost data packet;

if the packet loss rate falls within a second range, transmitting to the server a request packet identifying multiple lost data packets; and

if the packet loss rate falls within a third range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying a different lost data packet; and

communicating in accordance with a transmission error correction method set by the server, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, is set as the transmission error correction method; and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, is set as the transmission error correction method.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a receiver, causes the receiver to perform a method for receiving data packets from a server over a network using a protocol for packetized data transmission, the method comprising:

receiving the data packets from the server;

acquiring information about lost data packets from the received data packets;

transmitting to the server a request to transmit the lost data packets, a method of transmitting the request being based upon a loss rate of packets transmitted to the server contained in a sender report received from the server and including;

if the packet loss rate falls within a first range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying the same lost data packet;

if the packet loss rate falls within a second range, transmitting to the server a request packet identifying multiple lost data packets; and

if the packet loss rate falls within a third range, transmitting to the server multiple request packets each identifying a different lost data packet; and

communicating in accordance with a transmission error correction method set by the server, wherein;

if the packet loss rate is greater than a first reference value, forward error correction (FEC), whereby the receiver corrects transmission errors, is set as the transmission error correction method; and

if the packet loss rate is less than the first reference value and greater than a second reference value, automatic repeat request (ARQ), whereby the receiver requests the server to transmit lost data packets, is set as the transmission error correction method.