Patent ID: 7102998
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A data network comprising a source that transmits data messages to a plurality of receivers, said receivers forming a multicast group, and wherein each of said plurality of receivers comprises a first apparatus that receives transmissions of data messages from the source to each of said plurality of receivers and accumulates statistics relating to said transmissions of data messages from the source to said receiver, a second apparatus that computes a congestion control value and sends the value to the source, and wherein the source adjusts its transmission of data packets to the receivers as a function of a selected one or more of a plurality of congestion control values that it receives from respective ones of the receivers, wherein the receivers forming the multicast group also form a multilevel hierarchical reporting network that forwards a congestion control value to the source, wherein a receiver positioned at each level in said multilevel hierarchical reporting network includes apparatus that computes a new consolidated congestion control value, said new consolidated congestion control value being a function of the congestion control value that said receiver locally generates and a consolidated congestion control value that said receiver receives from receivers positioned at a preceding level in said multilevel hierarchical reporting network, and said receiver then forwarding said new consolidated congestion control value to the source via the next succeeding level in the multilevel hierarchical reporting network.